Hard Light Productions Forums

Community Projects => The FreeSpace Upgrade Project => Topic started by: manwiththemachinegun on September 06, 2020, 05:42:09 pm

Title: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: manwiththemachinegun on September 06, 2020, 05:42:09 pm
A few people had mentioned that the Discord had a working list of targets, I thought it might be fun to pass some time to see which ships the community might like next.

I discounted ships that heard were actively being worked on like the SJ Sathanas, SD Lucifer and SF Mara. I put these to vote because they are fairly significant player fighter craft in the base campaign. And they sadly are starting to look pretty dated when compared to the newly updated fighters.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Mobius on September 06, 2020, 06:05:59 pm
Axem is working on the Ares, AFAIK.

I voted for the GTB Ursa, because its outdated design is kind of amplified by its size. The other spacecraft are quite small compared to this bomber, therefore their current lack of detail can't be noticed at all times.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: mjn.mixael on September 06, 2020, 07:06:53 pm
Sathanas is not being worked on and really doesn't need an update.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: perihelion on September 06, 2020, 07:13:13 pm
Sathanas is not being worked on and really doesn't need an update.
QFT. We already have two hi-poly models, and they are awesome!
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Su-tehp on September 06, 2020, 07:34:07 pm
Voted for the Ursa. I don't see why the Ares or the Erinyes need updates, they look damn cool as they are. I'm not sure that any of the Shivan fighters need updates; hell, I was surprised to hear that presently someone is working on the Mara as I thought it looks fine as is.

The Sathanas is also fine as it is. Ditto the Dragon (or at the very least, the Dragon can wait a while as I there are ships that need updating more than the Dragon).

But I think that the Ursa and the Lucifer could definitely use some love.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: AV8R on September 06, 2020, 08:51:56 pm
Have you seen the molten mess that is the hull plating for the Ares? It looks like it was applied with a trowel for Pete's sake. While almost every terran fighter/bomber looks like it's actually made of interlocked hull plating, the Ares is an absolute disaster. Sure it's got cool red coloring up front and an amber-glass cockpit, but it needs a reskin - bad.

And okay, compared to some of the most recent releases, the Ursa is looking a little tired/dated. But at least in-game its skin looks like a true ship's hull - not the slathered-on, lumpy metallic gravy that the Ares has to endure.

My vote: Ares.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 06, 2020, 09:13:47 pm
My vote goes to the Ursa - its the one of the most untapped potentials in terms of in-game usage... Runner up would be the Dragon.

Both the Ares and the Erinyes are barely interesting to use from a campaign design perspective, other than an excuse for the player power trip, or top tier enemy ships - but when you think about expanding mission design outwards from "doing pew-pews", e.g. by thinking in terms of synergetic formations and campaign progression mechanics, there is no need to use them.

The Ursa, and by expentsion of the Medusa, Osiris and Amun, actually present an interesting angle of attack with their turrets - the PVN bombers with 2 turrets each more so than the GTA ones - as they could make better non-player combatants. The Ursa's high HP also make it a less annoying escort prospect, I think - or a particularly enduring threat.

The Dragon could use a "bolder" interpretation, but that is purely aesthetics.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Trivial Psychic on September 06, 2020, 09:53:57 pm
If we're not staying restricted to fighters & bombers, I say the Aten needs some TLC.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Su-tehp on September 07, 2020, 12:16:08 am
If we're not staying restricted to fighters & bombers, I say the Aten needs some TLC.
+1. Of all capital ships in Freespace, I think the Aten is one of the most neglected, if not the most neglected ship in the game. Could be there’s a reason for that...
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Trivial Psychic on September 07, 2020, 12:30:13 am
During said hypothetical upgrade, I think it would be beneficial if a considerate and forward-thinking modeller added turrets to the front prongs, and the rectangular space in between for a 'Heavy' model for campaign designers.  I have seen an up-gunned Aten, with prong turrets and a couple on the aft protecting the engine, but its based on the original low-poly model.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: starbug on September 07, 2020, 12:34:20 am
My vote the ares.

Though I feel the aten, shivan freighters, lucifer and NTF asteroid base could do with some love. I do know there is complications with the asteroid base, because of the iceni
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 07, 2020, 02:35:52 am
I voted Erinyes,  but I wouldn't mind if Ursy-poo got a facelift.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Asteroth on September 07, 2020, 02:52:08 am
No love for my boi dragon. Get on it, DahBlount.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 07, 2020, 04:36:37 am
Initially voted for all the shiny ships, but then I changed my vote to the Ursa.

Of the list of individual ships in the vote, the Ursa appears to be the ship that demands the most attention. Its textures are showing their age, even in the presence of normal maps.

Of the rest, the Ares and Erinyes still don't really look out of place, while the Dragon looks modern enough that a facelift seems unnecessary.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: CT27 on September 07, 2020, 05:52:20 pm
I like the Erinyes.

However, if it's not going to get a full update...maybe just change the paint scheme from brown to a more grayish color (to make it fit in a little more with the rest of the GTVA Terran fighter lineup)?
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Goober5000 on September 07, 2020, 07:00:57 pm
What the MediaVPs really need is a high-poly Snuffleupagus.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Colt on September 08, 2020, 12:47:27 am
Voted Ursa. Axem's already working on the Ares, and the Erinyes and Dragon both hold up nicely still.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: mjn.mixael on September 08, 2020, 01:27:10 am
I like the Erinyes.

However, if it's not going to get a full update...maybe just change the paint scheme from brown to a more grayish color (to make it fit in a little more with the rest of the GTVA Terran fighter lineup)?

There is zero chance Erinyes would get a recolor in FSU. That goes against our mantra of maintaining canon.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 08, 2020, 02:44:20 am
Uhm... while changing the default texture in colour might go against FSU policy, an update to the model and textures would be the time to make a variant texture.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: X3N0-Life-Form on September 08, 2020, 03:19:17 am
I rather like the fact that the Erinyes and Ares' color scheme is different from most other Terran fighters, it makes them stand out more.


I voted for the Eri, as I think both it and the Ares are more visible than the Ursa or the Dragon, both in retail & in user-made campaigns, but I can see the case for updating the big ol' bear.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Nightmare on September 08, 2020, 06:03:21 am
Upgrade ALL the ships~
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Strygon on September 08, 2020, 06:09:45 am
I vote Amazon, needs another update  :P

all seriousness though, would probably go with Ursa. It has the visual appeal of a brick covered in milk.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Iain Baker on September 08, 2020, 06:54:26 am
Ursa. She is 'Boxy but good', but the 'ol gal could do with a facelift  :p

As an aside, has anyone thought of using AI upscaling for the older models? It might improve their visuals as a stop-gap until they can be re-done properly.

These mods for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. suggest it can make quite a difference:

https://www.moddb.com/mods/stalker-anomaly/addons/high-resolution-stalkers

https://www.moddb.com/mods/stalker-anomaly/addons/high-resolution-mutants

NB - both are best viewed on desktop.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: manwiththemachinegun on September 09, 2020, 12:25:30 pm
Talk about whichever requests you have, I just wanted an excuse to make a poll. :P
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Strygon on September 09, 2020, 03:40:42 pm
guess ya could say your own desires were "polling" you to make this thread  :D
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: manwiththemachinegun on September 09, 2020, 09:18:09 pm
Well, I did leave a 4th option open so if I was doing psychological influencing, you've only yourself to blame. :P
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Mobius on October 25, 2020, 05:18:07 am
:bump:

Alright, so... who's working on the Ursa?  :nervous:
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Logrus on April 20, 2021, 06:47:35 am
Argo transport, please! It frequently appears in campaign, but still looks way too low-poly:(
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Iain Baker on April 20, 2021, 07:46:28 am
I heard someone is giving Lucy a facelift. Any news on that?
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Colonol Dekker on April 20, 2021, 07:52:31 am
Current one is splendid.  I'm surprised it keeps getting revamped.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Iain Baker on April 20, 2021, 07:58:00 am
Current one is splendid.  I'm surprised it keeps getting revamped.

True, it doesn't need a revamp. That said, a higher polly model to match the more recent releases would make it look a little better and  consistent :-)
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Mito [PL] on April 20, 2021, 01:37:47 pm
I believe Oddgrim has shared some absolutely stunning WIP shots of Lucy somewhere some time ago.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Trivial Psychic on April 20, 2021, 09:25:02 pm
I agree that the Lucifer is starting to show its age compared to the rest of the designs.  Its hull looks too segmented, rather than having it all flow together.  If you look on the belly its a series of elliptical cylinders connecting different bulged sections.

That said, the Argo has received NO attention at all, while the Lucifer has undergone at least one face-lift.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Colonol Dekker on April 21, 2021, 02:14:54 am
Agreed, get everything to the same standard at least.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Asteroth on April 21, 2021, 09:32:54 am
That's the pragmatic answer of course, but the reality is, as always, that people work on whatever they want to, which is why the Argo is always left behind because no one cares about that ugly piece of crap.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Colonol Dekker on April 21, 2021, 10:37:28 am
Is there a universal raw model pool all set to standardised sizes, like the docking collars? That'd be nice to get hands on as it'd take a fair sized chunk of the work out of the argo.

I wish I had the patience to sit down and learn blender.  I'd love to have my name on an MVP asset.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: BrotherBryon on April 21, 2021, 11:48:05 pm
The Argo is in progress, slowly at that though.
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Trivial Psychic on April 22, 2021, 06:31:39 am
So 10 m/s?
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: Goober5000 on April 22, 2021, 10:01:43 pm
*rimshot*
Title: Re: What should be updated next? [vote]
Post by: manwiththemachinegun on April 27, 2021, 08:36:35 am
At the very least the curse of the Demon has been broken. :V