[chief1983]

I just mean command line options are a bad way of controlling things.  In the general sense, mods typically have a hard time making sure that certain options are on when they need to be, even if it doesn't break retail having them on or off.  If a mod wants to include them, or use a table file to require them, that should be up to the mod, not a command line option.

[Herra Tohtori]

2D shockwaves look more real. They look better and are easier on the machine. I vote for 2D.

In fact, the simple version of 3D shockwave is less stressful on the hardware since the animation is simply the expansion of the model rather than a series of memory hogging frames. It's more memory efficient than the retail shockwaves even. However, I agree to the sentiment that at the moment, 2D shockwave looks more real...

Ideally, a shockwave would be a roughly spherical, expanding model with a shader that makes it look volumetric rather than limited to the mesh surface. Fresnel and blur or something.

[JGZinv]

Would this then not be an issue of people haven't made decent enough graphics
to go with the 3D version... in order to match or be better than the 2D.

Tis not a fault of the system itself.

[pecenipicek]

the difference between the two is that the 2D shockwaves look like expanding waves of sorts.

3D ones are orange and lack that "fine" wave effect of the 2D ones + the minor detail known as "They dont care which way your ship is facing.

[ShadowGorrath]

Ok, what about having a good looking 2D shockwave as default in the mediavps, but have the 3D one an optional download?

[pecenipicek]

i dont think that there exists a good looking 2D shockwave nowadays... -.-

[Romanmolf]

Wait...

[ShadowGorrath]

Well, those who want a 2D shockwave can make one. But as I said- 3D as an optional download.

[Zacam]

i dont think that there exists a good looking 2D shockwave nowadays... -.-

Actually, there does. It stands to look a little better (Some DX Compression issues ironed out of the image) but there is one.

[Romanmolf]

Where?

[TrashMan]

In fact, the simple version of 3D shockwave is less stressful on the hardware since the animation is simply the expansion of the model rather than a series of memory hogging frames. It's more memory efficient than the retail shockwaves even. However, I agree to the sentiment that at the moment, 2D shockwave looks more real...

Ideally, a shockwave would be a roughly spherical, expanding model with a shader that makes it look volumetric rather than limited to the mesh surface. Fresnel and blur or something.

So?
How hard would it be to simply have the 3D shockwave on a 90° angle to the viewer, instead of on random planes?
It would look like a 2D shockwave, but performance would be improved.

[chief1983]

What about when you have more than one viewer?

[JGZinv]

3D model with only part of the the model textured to reflect the shape of a 2D wave?
The rest would be textured with (what was it pure black or green?) so it would be invisible?

Just tossing an idea out.

[Mobius]

Dammit, 2D shockwaves are more realistic and don't cause massive slowdowns! Why would people prefer 3D ones?!?

[Romanmolf]

So?
How hard would it be to simply have the 3D shockwave on a 90° angle to the viewer, instead of on random planes?
It would look like a 2D shockwave, but performance would be improved.

Do whatever you want, the only thing I want is GOOD performance.

Oh, and Mobius, I voted 2D and I don't undersand why others prefer the 3D either

[Mobius]

I propose a color change, too. Red/orange shockwaves are more appropriate. Why would they be blue?

[Jeff Vader]

I has a dejavu.

Because they're pretty.

[Mobius]

Prettier than red ones?

A ship explodes. You see random blue plates coming from it. Is it pretty to you?

[Jeff Vader]

 

The purpose of the FreeSpace Upgrade Project is to make FSO pretty. They put pretty stuff in the MediaVPs. If blue shockwaves are pretty, they're included in the MediaVPs, and in the same manner if blue shockwaves aren't pretty, they're not included in the MediaVPs.

[Mobius]

It's not like everyone agrees on using blue 3D shockwaves, you know. They're not like any other upgrade...someone might have a different opinion.