Hard Light Productions Forums
Community Projects => The FreeSpace Upgrade Project => Topic started by: Rga_Noris on June 09, 2012, 08:10:50 am
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The Shivans are very close to attaining completion. That being said, I am announcing that I (and another individual who I will not publicly commit to the project without his nod) will be focusing on bringing all Shivan assets up to par. Meaning that if it is retail, or a very dated HTL, I'm gonna have a whack at it.
Rakshasa should get released next week. Also:
(http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af118/RgaNoris/Moloch_Const.png)
:cool:
EDIT: This will also serve as the Moloch thread.
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THE MOLOCH?
Truly this is an awesome venture. Hope you get it all done! Is there a list somewhere of what's left to do?
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I thought we already HAD a hi-poly Moloch. Go for the Demon... its long overdue.
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Each their own turn, Trivial Psychic, do not be too greedy. The Moloch we currently have is a very old HTL and we could use a new one.
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Great to see the retail assets becoming HTL, much needed indeed. I wonder if you could move on to custom assets too after this, as there's always the lack of custom HTL Shivan assets. The more the retail assets get upgraded, the more the difference becomes visible.
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*Nods*
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Any plans on rebuilding the Ravana? I have a unfinished one, that was meant to build upon the current HTL Ravana, and would be more than happy to donate it :)
Edit: As for the Moloch, I believe all it needs is a UVMap and a decent texture, because the model is very good as it is.
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Meh, do not try and stop us. We -want- to make a new mesh... Also, there's nothing I hate more than remapping someone else's mesh that should have gotten a decent map in the first place. (I'm not talking about tiled, here.. there are blatant flat black spots on the current Moloch...). I would rather make a new mesh than try and figure out someone elses.
And besides, the you could make the same argument about the Ravana.. and yet here you are offering a new Ravana mesh!
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yes, if it's getting upgraded, then you might as well go ahead an do everything from scrach.
Good on uoi guys! :yes:
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Just finished playing ASW2 and thought "Hmm... the Moloch could use some HTL treatment".
And then this.
That's why I love you guys. :yes:
And I agree that it's better to start from scratch if possible.
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Meh, do not try and stop us. We -want- to make a new mesh... Also, there's nothing I hate more than remapping someone else's mesh that should have gotten a decent map in the first place. (I'm not talking about tiled, here.. there are blatant flat black spots on the current Moloch...). I would rather make a new mesh than try and figure out someone elses.
And besides, the you could make the same argument about the Ravana.. and yet here you are offering a new Ravana mesh!
I don't try anything. I just gave my opinion which, by the tone I read above, is not welcome. I'll remember to spare my keyboard in the future...
The Ravana and Moloch aren't comparable, because as they stand, the Moloch is about 6500 polys, for a 730m ship (good for a Corvette). The Ravana is 7000 polys for a 2400m ship.
Which means the Ravana has only +500 polys when it is triple the lenght of the Moloch (not to mention surface area, which is about 4x or 5x the Moloch).
Fly close to a Moloch and your eye will be entertained by variations in shape. If you fly close to the Ravana all you see is huge planes.
Sure, the current Moloch mesh may need some detailing here and there, but nothing major: Even at its current poly count, it feels like something which was built, and thus makes sense visually. The same can't be said for the Ravana.
And I didn't offer a new Ravana mesh. I offered a highly unfinished Ravana mesh.
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*sigh*
Yes, because I disagree with your reasoning and said not to try to stop us, clearly what I said was a personal attack against you and every opinion you might ever give.
You are overreacting, and I suggest if you or I have anything more to discuss about this, that it be taken to PMs.
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I considered just a new texture for it, but I really don't feel that would bring out up to par. While it may improve the look, I don't feel we would get the mileage out of just a new texture that we want.
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Out of curiosity, what are the current plans, if any, for the bigger shivan ships like the Demon and Ravana?
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There are plans to do both. The Ravana has not been started. The demon was last seen with peterv, who had been out of contact for a while. If no one starts either by the time I finish the moloch, I intend to do so.
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We were talking about the Demon on the Inferno internal forum last week. And out of all Shivan capital ships, people seem to ignore it like the plague.
R
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The potential for both the Demon and Ravana, as well as the Moloch, is amazing in the hands of someone like Rga based on the previous work he's demonstrated. I'll be keeping an eye on all of this with great interest.
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We were talking about the Demon on the Inferno internal forum last week. And out of all Shivan capital ships, people seem to ignore it like the plague.
R
Probably because it's nothing more than a giant fat ass...
(sorry, I accidently hit modify your post instead of quote.. :lol: )
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IIRC, Trashman made a HTL Demon. It was a long time ago and knowing Trashman, it's not without issues, but the model was pretty.
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From what I remember of some replies regarding that model it was in .cob which most modelers do not and will not deal with.
Even if that's the case, knowing Rga, the Shivans will be in good hands.
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Any plans on rebuilding the Ravana? I have a unfinished one, that was meant to build upon the current HTL Ravana, and would be more than happy to donate it :)
Edit: As for the Moloch, I believe all it needs is a UVMap and a decent texture, because the model is very good as it is.
I'd actually like to take a look at that Ravana mesh, if you don't mind. Obj or 3ds formats are preferred. :)
IIRC, Trashman made a HTL Demon. It was a long time ago and knowing Trashman, it's not without issues, but the model was pretty.
No it wasn't. It was basically a smoothed Demon with slightly different mapping in areas.
I wish peterv was still around so I could ask about his, but sadly he seems to be AWOL. Hope the guy's okay.
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Not that I'm a modeler dude, but I think the hard thing with the Demon is that even the original FS1 model is an extremely well-realized design, probably one of the best in the game, to the point where there's not some glaringly obvious major overhaul. Yeah, there are some spots that plainly suggest some greebling or modeled hull plating, but beyond that, it requires quite a bit of thought.
That point aside, I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with. :)
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Not that I'm a modeler dude, but I think the hard thing with the Demon is that even the original FS1 model is an extremely well-realized design, probably one of the best in the game, to the point where there's not some glaringly obvious major overhaul.
Except for the missile launchers and single part turrets.
That aside, I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with. :)
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I'd actually like to take a look at that Ravana mesh, if you don't mind. Obj or 3ds formats are preferred. :)
Sure thingy, although I'm afraid you'll be underwhelmed. I'll fire up a PM.
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Not that I'm a modeler dude, but I think the hard thing with the Demon is that even the original FS1 model is an extremely well-realized design, probably one of the best in the game, to the point where there's not some glaringly obvious major overhaul. Yeah, there are some spots that plainly suggest some greebling or modeled hull plating, but beyond that, it requires quite a bit of thought.
That point aside, I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with. :)
I don't think I would ever call it "well-realized"... It's just a big round thing. But yes, you are correct that there is very little texture detail or otherwise from which to glean ideas and that it will take some thought.
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I guess I mean that in the sense that its shape fits into its role. It's a big hulking slab of a ship, something that looks like it can take one hell of a pounding, and the claws hanging down call to mind a nasty bulbous spider. Or maybe I just have a strange imagination. :p
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I'm a bit curious, when it comes to the textures, what's the current line of though on implementing (or not) the animated / flashing red glows present on some of the older htl shivan ships. Personally I love the idea if done right, but I haven't seen them on any of the current crop of updated Shivan assets.
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The problem with animated glowmaps (as awesome as they are) is that they're immense ressource hogs. There are possible ways of doing them that do not involve dozens upon dozens of textures that the engine needs to cycle through, but to do them, code support is needed.
In other words, we kinda want to do them, but given that they're rather work- and ressource-intensive, we think it's better to hold off on them until easier and cheaper (in terms of game ressources) ways of doing them have been implemented.
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That makes perfect sense. Indeed they are awesome, hopefully at some point in the future there's a better way to implement them. They really made the Shivan ships stand apart from the other races even more than they already do.
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It's probable that on some of the ships that had a very distinct animated glow.. (Rahu, Ravana, etc) we can UV them in such a way to retain it. For fighters, I'm really not to stressed about losing the animated glow for now.
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I'd agree on the fighters for sure... looks great in the ship lab but glows on something the size of a fighter during actual gameplay would be near impercieveable.
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It is noticeable, but not important. Animated glowmaps are best left for Advanced VPs.
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A little late to the party there, eh Dragon? :lol:
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Yeah. I guess the humidity is doing a number on me. :)
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Hello FSU Team,
I have UVmapped most of the HTL Azrael** except for the bottom "canisters". Right now b/c of Inferno and other RL responsibilities, I can't work on UVing the mesh anymore. So whoever wants to take up the mantle, the DAE (only half the ship) file attached herein.
R
**As seen here (original thread): http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=60250
[attachment deleted by a ninja]
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I'll take a look. I've already begun UVing the Azrael myself too...
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So maybe not worth the bump, but I am resuming work on Moloch now that I'm back. Should have some progress over the next few weeks, and as it gets closer to completion I'll be sure to post screens.
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So maybe not worth the bump, but I am resuming work on Moloch now that I'm back. Should have some progress over the next few weeks, and as it gets closer to completion I'll be sure to post screens.
Give that man a six pack of beer! I can't wait to see the result :D