Hard Light Productions Forums
Community Projects => The FreeSpace Upgrade Project => Topic started by: technopredator on August 29, 2017, 06:57:00 am
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I should know about like in 3.6.12? or there is none and waiting for the next major release? I haven't been here in years
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You could perhaps search a bit for an upgraded GTM Hipocrates and perhaps Leviathan too. I think there also was an alternate Sathanas somewhere, but it was impacting performance a lot. Other than that, maybe just use a PBR build for next-level shinyness.
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OK Thank you for the guidelines, I'll wait for a final official release then
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If you're using MediaVPs 2014 (the current newest) then grab these: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=91262.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=91262.0), http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=92587.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=92587.0), and I think this also this http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=89583.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=89583.0). Use them with a 3.8.0 Freespace Open build, 0.12 wxLauncher and I can perhaps suggest some lighting settings.
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Anuket (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=92474.0), Ptah (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=80959.0) and Edjo (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=86325.0) too ;)
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Kind of you both, thanks :)
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Anyone from FSU team still wish to continue the project? Lots of stuff has been made after release of MVP2014 and someone should collect them all and pack into MVP2017 or something like that.
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I suggest making a thread with only the links and small description to improvements on individual parts of MediaVPs and Stiky it, we could also call it MediaVPs [2014+|Update|MM.YYYY|Update MM.YYYY], where MM.YYYY Month.Year, but let's keep it together and on record, pretty sure several upgrades get put on the second or further page to never seen again, so this is only a logistics problem, and only knowledgeable people that are in contact with the developers of the MediaVPs can do this. I think it's important because would serve as an incentive for developers knowing that their work won't be lost but appreciated and seen by the Community, a typical case of us for us, or win-win, or everybody wins :) Here would be registered the finished work
Also would be good to create another thread for WIP, also with only links to the threads where the developer describes its work/improvement. This could be considered the "nightly" versions of the MediaVPs.
Anyone from FSU team still wish to continue the project? Lots of stuff has been made after release of MVP2014 and someone should collect them all and pack into MVP2017 or something like that.
Exactly
+1
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If you're using MediaVPs 2014 (the current newest) then grab these: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=91262.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=91262.0), http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=92587.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=92587.0), and I think this also this http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=89583.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=89583.0). Use them with a 3.8.0 Freespace Open build, 0.12 wxLauncher and I can perhaps suggest some lighting settings.
How do I install them? I got answered here (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=91262.msg1854120#msg1854120)
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If you're using MediaVPs 2014 (the current newest) then grab these: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=91262.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=91262.0), http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=92587.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=92587.0), and I think this also this http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=89583.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=89583.0). Use them with a 3.8.0 Freespace Open build, 0.12 wxLauncher and I can perhaps suggest some lighting settings.
How do I install them? And sure, I'd take advice on lighting.
Add them to your MediaVPs 2014. Create "data" folder where all VPs are, than create proper subfolders inside "data" folder and put there all the files you need.
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The real problem is that there is a lot of testing that the models have to go through, probably in each mission the new models appear, to make sure that balance has been preserved before they can be officially added. This is a lot of work and as a community we did not react very gratefully to the 2014 release. So the members are likely very burned out.
Starting a thread with links to all the newly updated models is not a bad idea, but you need to have a disclaimer that some missions may be unbalanced, and you just need to get started making it, and then commit to updating it. Otherwise it's not going to happen, or it's going to have a bunch of outdated information.
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@Nyctaeus Thank you for the info, I read another post about it and I can confirm with this one.
@Cyborg17 Well I'd do it but I'd need to be an admin, and that's not the point, as I mentioned, all the modders of the MediaVPs should be able to add a link to their contribution on a single post so we have a preferably locked thread of just the release links, and each mod would have its own thread for discussion, so it doesn't depend on me, a foreigner and newb that don't even know how to make a simple mod, nor any other single admin, but the true creative people, is just a matter of information logistics, have it ordered, neat, collaborative, coordinated for the benefit of the entire Community and newcomers, us for us, is that simple. This has to be set up by moderators, I as a simple member can only come as far as to suggest it, I'm pretty ignorant of what's going on, so I'm probably 1 of the least qualified members for this, otherwise I'd like a lot to give back to so much I was given by the SCP, included the MediaVPs group, moderators, users and modders.
So what I proposed is 2 sticky threads:
1) A link thread for finished improvements, link to their own threads of course. And if an improvement is being improved again add (example):
[url=Leviathan thread - WIP finished post]Leviathan 1.0[/url] (1.1 Update/Upgrade WIP, see [url=Leviathan thread - WIP next Update/Upgrade description and objectives post]Leviathan WIP Thread[/url])
2) Another link thread for WIP improvements:
[url=Leviathan thread - WIP next Update/Upgrade description and objectives post]Leviathan 1.1 WIP[/url] (description of objectives for this Update/Upgrade)
Similar examples of what I mean are these threads, it's not really something new:
Current MV Assets Thread[ (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=73731.0)
Instructions for manually installing FreeSpace Open and mods (Windows) (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=78710.0)
Release: 3.8.0 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=93812.0)
I'M SO GREATFUL FOR THE MEDIAVPS_2014, THE MEDIAVPS GROUP OUT DID THEMSELVES OVER THE ALREADY AWESOME MEDIAVPS_3612, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND COMMITT TO QUALITY FOR TOTAL STRANGERS THAT BENEFIT GREATLY FROM,LIKE ME, AND MAYBE DON'T GIVE APPRECIATION WHERE AND WHEN MERIT IS DUE, THANK YOU ALL, AND BEST OF LUCKS ON FUTURE ENDEAVORS, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, IT'S VOLITION QUALITY :v:
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The real problem is that there is a lot of testing that the models have to go through, probably in each mission the new models appear, to make sure that balance has been preserved before they can be officially added.
I don't really think that it is something that would matter a lot, since the only things that could break balance with a new model are table values for the ship, its size and shape and perhaps weapon placement. If we assume that there are no bugs with it, and we just make a much prettier "skin" for a vessel, retaining the general geometry, then... Where's the balance issue?
[...] it doesn't depend on me, a foreigner and newb that don't even know how to make a simple mod [...]
[...] This has to be set up by moderators, I as a simple member can only come as far as to suggest it, I'm pretty ignorant of what's going on, so I'm probably 1 of the least qualified members for this [...]
What is obvious for us, longtime users of HLP and players of Freespace, isn't obvious for most newcomers, so it's actually very good that someone "from outside" decided to share his opinion on how everything is done around here. This allows us (community) for some fresh view and finding ways to improve.
I must admit, these 4 additional assets that you can add to MediaVPs should be a mandatory part of them, or at least linked to somewhere where the user could see that they exist right away. Yea, it's kinda messy at the moment.
There's nothing wrong with sharing your opinion even if you aren't a specialist, you see something not right - then it probably isn't right, and even if it is - thanks for vigilance, we'll do something to make it more obvious that it's correct. Constructive criticism.
You don't know how modding Freespace works, but it's pretty simple. A mod should overwrite the retail content, and it's like that: There's retail FS2 (.vp files in main directory), it can be overwritten by FS2/data, then that can be overwritten by FS2/mod/.vp files, and that one by FS2/mod/data. So we can call the retail FS2 a base of hierarchy, and the highest one in that hierarchy are unpacked files in FS2/mod/data.
Then you should place your new vessels in MediaVPs directory - .vp archives (something like a .zip file), if the modder decided to make his ship into a single file, together with the rest of .vp files, but if it is unpacked, then models (.pof) go into MediaVPs_2014/data/models and maps (.dds, you can open them and look at them) into MediaVPs_2014/data/maps.
Mod.ini is a file informing the launcher about which mods should it load and in which order (and some misc stuff like mod description, link to mod's website and logo). Primarymod and secondarymod are used for loading mods automatically. Secondarymod points out which mods are to be overwritten by that one mod you're loading now, and a primarymod will overwrite your mod. For example, Blue Planet requires MediaVPs, so it'll have that mod listed in secondarymods, because it requires MediaVPs to work, but it'll need to insert some stuff onto it. Primarymod works kinda the opposite way, mods listed in it will overwrite the mod you're loading, and it isn't used nearly at all. Oh, and the order of listing multiple mods in these lines also is important (the first one being "on top" IIRC).
You might want to check out some advanced settings in your launcher, as you can enable gorgeous graphical options there (or disable the ugly ones, which are in my opinion: motion debris and environment maps), add some features to your ingame HUD, get an FPS counter running or troubleshoot something. As for lighting presets, you can select one of these in the launcher right next to flags under Advanced settings, or just paste my own into custom command line:
-ambient_factor 55 -no_emissive_light -spec_exp 15 -spec_point .2 -spec_static .8 -spec_tube .2 -ogl_spec 100 -bloom_intensity 60It's pretty dark - no unrealistic ambient lighting illuminating everything in space, the ambient is set up mostly from suns, which makes every single mission look unique, depending on the background. Plus, the lighting coming from weapons and beam fire is muted to an extent - i just find a single shot illuminating whole ships a bit annoying and tiring to look at.
Man, BtA is so climatic with that preset.
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The real problem is that there is a lot of testing that the models have to go through, probably in each mission the new models appear, to make sure that balance has been preserved before they can be officially added.
I don't really think that it is something that would matter a lot, since the only things that could break balance with a new model are table values for the ship, its size and shape and perhaps weapon placement. If we assume that there are no bugs with it, and we just make a much prettier "skin" for a vessel, retaining the general geometry, then... Where's the balance issue?
The geometry is always going to change with an upgrade, otherwise you're just remaking the original with maybe new textures (and what's the point in that?) :) And see the new Sathanas for an example of how this can affect balance, the main beam cannons now have a cool looking set of prongs as the tip of the cannon, which unfortunately are far enough apart for Helios bombs to fly between then, and thus Bear Baiting (I can't recall if this has been fixed) was much harder than it used to be.
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I'm still around. Might be the only one, though. Not sure if/when I'll have time to repack the MVPs. Use the links for manual installs right now and perhaps I can get an official update out by the end of the year.
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Thank you, mjn. I'm thrilled that you're still here after all this time doing good work for us, HLP, and FS2. We appreciate you!!
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I should learn to model (or better yet, texture; that seems to be a skill that's even more in demand). There are still ships that need HTL versions. The Demon in particular really bothers me. I actually have a pretty clear idea of what I'd do with the model, but I don't have anywhere near the skill to accomplish it...So I suppose I should start practicing with smaller stuff.
Also...people reacted badly to the 2014 release? ...why? Or do you just mean that there wasn't much response at all?
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I'm pretty sure that there was an upgraded 3d shockwave model and an animation somewhere around... But I can't find it. :/
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Also...people reacted badly to the 2014 release? ...why? Or do you just mean that there wasn't much response at all?
Some people disliked new explosions and some other effects if I remember correctly. The biggest problem was actually lack of previously used textures and some additional features, which makes lots of older mods incompatible.
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So I suppose I should start practicing with smaller stuff.
If you're looking to Hi-Polify something that hasn't been done before, try the Argo.
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So I suppose I should start practicing with smaller stuff.
If you're looking to Hi-Polify something that hasn't been done before, try the Argo.
Oh, that's a really good idea. I used to do a little bit of modeling, several years ago, and the only thing I was ever any good at was really mechanical shapes. The Argo is right up my alley -- albeit maybe not that helpful if I'm trying to learn how to model things like Shivan ships...
Also, there are a whole bunch of really good and fairly important models that are just kind of...languishing in a nearly-complete state. Like, I think the new Orion and Deimos models are basically done. There's the Moloch, too, which is in dire need of an update. That model was pretty far along, but it was being made by rga_noris and he's MIA.
...huh. I just Googled his name to figure out how precisely it was spelled, and apparently it looks like he's active on the ARMA forums? That's interesting; I played 3 a little while back and had a lot of fun with it.
Anyway. Yeah, so, point is, there are all these models and I really really hate to see them half-abandoned like this.
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I seem to remember someone making an aborted attempt at the Argo a long time ago as well, though I don't think it got very far.
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The real value of the MediaVPs was always in usability for the new FS2 Consumer. Even myself, veteran of HLP, really do not want to merge single models into my installation on a regular basis. Let alone managing my backups.
Not sure if/when I'll have time to repack the MVPs. Use the links for manual installs right now and perhaps I can get an official update out by the end of the year.
This gives me a lot of hope and I wanted to make my encouragement known! A fresh new single-package, a MediaVPs 2018 for christmas or something, would be very appreciated.
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Yeah, it would be appreciated at some point. I've managed to slap together something that works, but the new models I've installed don't seem to play nice with the new 3.8.0 release. It's nothing intractable, but it is an appreciated convenience to not have manually play to get the new models to work right.