Pretty strange...
Shine maps are not compulsory in any way. If they exist and -shine flag is present they are used. If they don't exist OR -shine flag is not used, you don't get specular brights over the ship, that's all.
As example, I've just run FS2 with only MV_Core.vp from mediavps 3.6.10 (in order to have working shaders). In this way, I'm using FS2 original data which have no spec, glow, normal or whatever maps, just the base maps. And here you have a pretty screenshot of a retail Artemis in game.
The only thing I can think of is -ambient_factor flag. Maybe it's too high and then you have nearly no shadows. The former Artemis screenshot was taken with -ambient_factor 35, I also post another one without it (default value is 120 IIRC). See how the second screenshot is much clearer (less shadows) on the upper part of the ship.
(I've also checked lighting differences between shaders/fixed render pipeline in the F3 lab. Although they exist, there's no way you can say one of them is "flat" lit).
I just can think of two things:
- Make a custom test mission with a FS2 ship and your A-wing at the same time. Then post a screenshot with them BOTH.
- Also run a debug build and post the fs2_open.log. (Maybe it can give us some clue).
- Check within FRED that the mission you are using to take screenshots don't have an ambient light multiplier. Go to background editor and check all the sliders.
OTOH you know about F3 lab, don't you? If not, just press F3 key while in mainhall and enjoy
. Play a little with it. It's fantastic for some game debugging work. You can see how every kind of map affect your model and much more...
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