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Archived Boards => The Apocalypse Project => The Archive => Archived The Apocalypse Project Threads => Topic started by: USS Alexander on November 11, 2002, 02:57:41 pm

Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: USS Alexander on November 11, 2002, 02:57:41 pm
Because the project is almost dead :0 and that it seems like lots of our staff just vanisht

Whe currently have some jobs availbe:


Where looking for a effects/animation artist who nows his way  
around in photoshop and a render program to help out with creating the HW and CAT backgrounds and explosions used in tap.


If you interested contact me then by email: [email protected] or icq: number in my siggy
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: JTBob on November 11, 2002, 08:59:29 pm
I've said it once and I'll say it again, if you want some help I would really really like to convert some more ships. Once we have ships I know some friends that can do wonders with fred and make a campaign. SO CAN I DO IT PLEASE?
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: JTBob on November 13, 2002, 11:23:35 pm
I have gotten a couple friends to agree to help, one can probably help with models and the other with the campaign.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: USS Alexander on November 14, 2002, 05:21:40 am
Quote
Originally posted by JTBob
I have gotten a couple friends to agree to help, one can probably help with models and the other with the campaign.


Ok let them email me with info of what they can do.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Lonestar on November 14, 2002, 07:45:19 am
Im good with Photoshop, what you need exactly?
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: USS Alexander on November 14, 2002, 07:47:46 am
Quote
Originally posted by Lonestar
Im good with Photoshop, what you need exactly?


Whell whe need someone who can help with the backgrounds of HW and CAT (there a ***** thats for sure)
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Lonestar on November 14, 2002, 07:56:04 am
Im sorry my acronyms havent been updated, what is HW and CAT?
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: USS Alexander on November 14, 2002, 07:57:51 am
HW:is Homeworld and CAT: Cataclysm or Homeworld Cataclysm
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Destrol on November 15, 2002, 04:43:42 pm
I have some advice about the mod.

Do not recreate the Homeworld backgrounds. Its a waist of time and im guessing not too many people care if the backgrounds do not match homeworlds. I know that when I played both HW and CAT, i disabled the backgrounds so i could see the ships more clearly against the black background and the stars.

BTW if you are going to recreate the backgrounds, DO NOT recreate the junkyard lvl background in the first Homeworld. I do not see how that fits into the environment of space, cause it looks like a huge plate of ****.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: RandomTiger on November 16, 2002, 08:06:14 am
I disagree, the backdrops where great and really made the game look different. While I would prefer more time to be spent on gameplay, I think the backdrops should be recreated as far as possible.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: StyffyDawgIX on November 16, 2002, 04:59:34 pm
i would be honored to help out tap with testing for hw and cat authenticity! :D

also, i have a friend who probly wouldn't mind doing the scripting for the single player campaign.

email is [email protected], icq=91945131, msn = [email protected], aim = StyffyDawg





how do you make backgroudns for FS2?  in HW there's a special bg editor that uses geometric shapes and vertices shadded with differen RBG values....it's flat then in the game the bg is wrapped around the inside of the 3d game sphere.....it's not hard to learn how to use the program....it just takes a long time to make any specific background.

you could just take the already used bg's and modify them to be used with FS2..cause i mean...the homeworld backdrops are already there...would be a waste of effort to have to totally redo them ya know?
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Corhellion on November 17, 2002, 10:38:09 am
I'd like to help test too, I'm an experienced Homeworlder, and I rock at Cataclysm(Somtaaw w00t!!)

Would it be possible to change the "battle music" in FS2 to the battle music from Homeworld? Just a suggestion.

Cor

*edit: [email protected] you can contact me there if you want me to test it also*
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: USS Alexander on November 17, 2002, 11:31:23 am
Would it be possible to change the "battle music" in FS2 to the battle music from Homeworld? Just a suggestion.

Yeb that wil also change:nod:
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: elorran on November 18, 2002, 03:14:45 am
Music extraction from homeworld and cataclysm and porting them into FS2 can be done.  The trick is to align the music tracks so that they can play together smoothly and without much difference between switching.

Homefully the release of Homeworld 2 will add to this music collection if TAP is still in production at that time.  I am also working on complete remixes and new pieces for TAP in the event that we can get the tracks to sound right together.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Thorn on November 18, 2002, 11:21:32 am
I can do the renders and whatnot.. I just need to get all the files to extract the ships and convert them.... dont have internet at home... I'm getting them today, so I can do stuff when I get home...
Alex.. we need to talk..... I'll try and catch you on ICQ or MSN once this comp decides to let them work...
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: StyffyDawgIX on November 19, 2002, 11:07:48 am
oh btw, i have one question that's totally OT but i didn't want to make a new thread for it.

have any of the FS2 mods on this board ever actually been finished?
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Knight Templar on November 19, 2002, 11:49:06 am
PI is about to be released (soon hopefully) :nod:
Title: That depends...
Post by: Star Dragon on November 19, 2002, 04:34:11 pm
I have almost every mod made rolled into 1 Big A$$ mod (Except for 3 I have to get to Tech-sp, S.H.A.,and for got 1 other). But YEAH a ton of mods have been made for your FS2 pleasure.

    BUT if you mean entire campaigns and not demos then not yet (unless you can count Robotech and babylon5 and all the stuff from VW archives). What do you mean by THIS board - The HOSTED mods? There are links from them to peoples pages you know ;)
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Nuclear1 on November 19, 2002, 06:44:16 pm
heh heh heh.... Need a FREDDER? I'm up!

[email protected]
Title: Re: That depends...
Post by: StyffyDawgIX on November 20, 2002, 02:26:10 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Star Dragon
I have almost every mod made rolled into 1 Big A$$ mod (Except for 3 I have to get to Tech-sp, S.H.A.,and for got 1 other). But YEAH a ton of mods have been made for your FS2 pleasure.

    BUT if you mean entire campaigns and not demos then not yet (unless you can count Robotech and babylon5 and all the stuff from VW archives). What do you mean by THIS board - The HOSTED mods? There are links from them to peoples pages you know ;)


well i was just too lazy to go look ;)  Just browsing the other forums it seems a lot like every one has a 'is this mod dead' thread....i dunno i hope TAP keeps going cause i really...really want this mod :D
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Bishop Gantry on November 22, 2002, 11:06:07 am
Quote
Originally posted by Destrol
I have some advice about the mod.

Do not recreate the Homeworld backgrounds. Its a waist of time and im guessing not too many people care if the backgrounds do not match homeworlds. I know that when I played both HW and CAT, i disabled the backgrounds so i could see the ships more clearly against the black background and the stars.

BTW if you are going to recreate the backgrounds, DO NOT recreate the junkyard lvl background in the first Homeworld. I do not see how that fits into the environment of space, cause it looks like a huge plate of ****.


its your poinion that the backgrounds are not important... my opinions is they made the game so much better...

so basiclly you didnt want to play the game its meant to be played you wanted to give yourself every edge you could just so you could win:doubt: seriosly dosent that get boring

that huge plate of "****" is a massive construction that very well could challange the deathstar in size comparison...
---
ohh I really want to see the Elite Taiidan Squadrons again:thepimp:
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: StyffyDawgIX on November 23, 2002, 03:05:30 am
I'll defend the HW bg's too.

Do you know that it takes at least 3 or so weeks to create one background?  Do you know how much f'n trouble went into making those backgrounds so SO pretty?

I will say this, the backgrounds were an INTEGRAL part in my first SP experience.  If you look you can see the nebula getting closer and closer, until you're right in it.  Afterwards the same goes for every other level, things get closer and closer until you're there.  That's a nice touch on the dev's part, I was really pleased to see that much thought put into the creation of the backgrounds.

They give the game a 'feel' if I may say so.  They add so much to the feeling of being in a large universe that's very colorful and alive.  Anyway space isn't dead black you know.  Just check out some of the Hubble telescopse shots and that new Shandra infrared one, nebulae and stars and whatnot are very colorful, down right beautiful if you ask me.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Rampage on December 13, 2002, 03:11:10 pm
Hmm... TAP will NEVER be a MOD without it being a campaign.  I'll FRED, after I give my students their doomsday American History mid-term exams (and grade them, curve them, etc.)
Title: Hmm
Post by: Star Dragon on December 13, 2002, 08:57:48 pm
This might get me interested if the mod team picks up.  I really disliked HW and CAT even with mods (I thought I could make mymown missions, all mods do is REPLACE ships used.) so I quickly got bored and moved on to ARMADA1&2. Now I find I want to extract ships out of the HW mods and maybe weapon effects but don't know if there are any tools available for DL that can open them. I can do texture transfers, I open a .lif in 3dexploration and save it as a bmp then use ifranview to save as 8bit .PCX. only problem is when I save the model to .cob and try to .pof it with pcs it say  I forgot to group the objects... I don't model so is ther a way around this? If so this would help many different mods.  

     If you get a script together of mission outlines I can do basic fredding. Also Textures for models ready to recieve textures (it that called mapped?)... I've posted around samples..
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Nuclear1 on March 11, 2003, 06:07:10 pm
Old topic, but I was considering maybe Fredding for TAP. In between SA and my own campaign, I think I can spare some time to help out. PM me if anyone is interested.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: elorran on March 11, 2003, 09:53:12 pm
We'll keep options open, but for the moment primary concern is with the mods themselves.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: SKYNET-011 on March 27, 2003, 07:04:38 pm
What spots are still open?
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Nuclear1 on March 27, 2003, 07:19:47 pm
I'd guess primarily modelling and the like.

Or heck... just check the "Want Help" thread a bit down.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: SKYNET-011 on March 27, 2003, 07:21:04 pm
Err... Heh. :nervous: Right.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: elorran on March 29, 2003, 08:09:09 am
Primarily people with model knowledge and skills are preferable since we can use people to help convert the models faster and make alterations where they are needed.  Textures might also need to be altered in the near future.

But pretty much anything is open, question is do you have the skills to get the jobs done.  This is where the problem for most mods starts, people sign up to do a job and then don't know how to do things.

If you only want to join the project for the sake of it then the answer it no.  We need people who can get the job done.  Everyone is entitled to a fair hearing and a chance, but if you are just in it for the credit and nothing else then you'll get more than just dumped (and we have had a person(s) like that).

Now, with the 'evil' out of the way, if you are interested in trying to help with something just ask and we'll see whats available.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Grug on April 02, 2003, 06:36:29 am
Quote
Originally posted by elorran
...Now, with the 'evil' out of the way...


Hey! I resent that!
Hehe... :mad2: mwuh ha haa

...yes ill go now... :(
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: elorran on April 02, 2003, 12:54:21 pm
Ooh, look like we have some spare evil left now that he's gone.  Evil anyone? :D

j/k
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Grug on April 04, 2003, 10:48:51 pm
You can never get rid of me... :devil: haha ha!

j/k anti evil spray usually gets the job done ;P
Title: I'll help
Post by: jc4jc on May 21, 2003, 01:01:41 pm
I have All kinds of Ideas for weapons and what not. I have been working on how to do the special stuff for HW and CAT, and I'm almost done. if you'd like I'll e-mail the what I have as soon as I can. I also have Ideas for the ACV, MCV docking; Beast converstions. And I have ideas for making all the missions work. Again if I see an ok I'll get as much together as possible. At preasent I am also working on another Mod and I need something to give me more to do when I need a break from It.:)
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Petrarch of the VBB on May 21, 2003, 01:04:55 pm
I believe I speak for the whole project when I say that any help you acn give us would be greatly appreciated.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: jc4jc on May 21, 2003, 01:07:55 pm
great As soon as you need me to do something PM me And I will get to id as soon as possible.:D
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Petrarch of the VBB on May 21, 2003, 01:13:20 pm
I'll have a word with our leader, the good captain elorran, and see if he has a task for you.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: elorran on May 21, 2003, 01:23:25 pm
Well, a number of the dorment staff has started to return from the dark side, so I don't won't to jump the gun and start over loading the project with staffers.  But for the moment I see no problem with you jumping on to the train :)
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: jc4jc on May 21, 2003, 01:33:06 pm
Thank you Sir, I will do what I can to help. As soon as you have something I will be waiting.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: TonViper on June 06, 2003, 07:26:59 pm
I may be able to help you with the homeworld backgrounds. It depends on how FS2s backgrounds are done.

What do you need to put the backgrounds ingame? (i.e. a 256*256 texture to be wrapped on the inside of a sphere or whatever) If so, I can definately help you. If it is something else, then I might still be able to, but I'll need to know what you need as output ;)

e-mail and ICQ number in profile...
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Grug on June 07, 2003, 11:13:29 pm
Background effects and textures have been a bit tricky to apply, because unlike HW where the effects are wrapped all around the level as one texture, FS2 comprises of many smaller nebula effects placed around the 'sphere', this also includes planets etc. All bitmaps. They are all .pcx and all are 256 index coloured, which can decrease the detail if not converted properly.

So when trying to recreate a HW style background it can sometimes be quite difficult to get a realistic result. So when I (or someone else) gets around to trying to get some decent ones working again, its either gonna be many smaller HW effects carefully placed in the mission editor or a 'thats the best u can get it theme' :p.

However if you manage to find a way to implement some backgrounds successfully, it would save us a lot of time and effort trying to get to it.

In FS2 they have to be 256x256 width @72res(not sure if that makes a terrible dif) and saved as a 256 index colour .pcx. (i might try to make a 512x512 version, and if it doesnt work see if we can change some source code around to make it work).

The best idea I've had so far was to take screen shots inside HW and then try and use them as inspiration when making a new one inside photoshop or other similar programs like gimp (which has a few more special effects filters etc.)

But yes, if you have any success, PM or email me (or post a messege), and I can check it out how u'v done. (hey, if its good i might even be able to talk elorran into recruiting u ;) )
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: elorran on June 08, 2003, 02:11:45 pm
If we could figure out how to apply new backgrounds using the nebula script then we'd be set since they are basically one texture.  That would also solve the problem of ion trails being present without having to resort to source coding alterations.

The problem is figuring out how to do the nebula scripting, I'm not sure if anyone has figured out how to do that yet for FS2, not that I am aware of anyway.  Someone care to enlighten me?
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Grug on June 08, 2003, 05:55:44 pm
hmm... i may just try switching the backgrounds...

this wouldnt solve the problem of puffs though. +I will have to see if FreeTerran can increase the resolution, because it would still lack a great deal of detail.

But what would be best is if you could add a background in just a normal mission anyway...

hmm....
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: elorran on June 08, 2003, 06:55:35 pm
True.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: TonViper on June 10, 2003, 06:06:51 pm
Hmm, so that's how it's done in FS2. I don't think I can help you there... I can easily get any background out of HW as a single texture in any size, since there's an editing program for HW backgrounds, which shows the entire background as a rectangular area with or without stars on it IIRC, though the edges would be distorted, since HW's backgrounds are sphere wrapped. It'd be much easier if FS2 just used a similar system for its backgrounds.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Thorn on June 10, 2003, 06:13:23 pm
I'll just do what the TBP guys did.. make some with Lightwave...
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Grug on June 11, 2003, 08:01:51 am
if that works then go for your life.

there is one type where the fs2 engine works with one image. inside nebs but im not sure if there is such a program that can edit or create these .nebs, which are just the background to the mission (+clouds etc that pop up)

so the best chance we having of getting closest to the original is by getting someone at SCP or freeterran at implementing a high res background system...
Title: Beginner
Post by: PVTMorgan1861 on July 26, 2003, 11:13:23 pm
To USS Alexander,
 My name is Roger.  I have worked with Photoshop extensively around with school developing photos for our newspaper.  If you need any help you can email me at [email protected]
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Liberator on July 27, 2003, 02:23:04 am
Quote
Originally posted by Bishop Gantry

that huge plate of "****" is a massive construction that very well could challange the deathstar in size comparison...


It's an uncompleted Dyson Sphere!

You could do it like the planets used to be done before Inferno raised the bar.(Holy God that mission in Earth Orbit rocks!)
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: elorran on July 27, 2003, 10:53:42 am
The 'panels' you see in the background from the ships' graveyard at Kadesh are just the, really big panels (probably metal, though they could be made from something else).

There are three (or so) of them that actually overlap from the perspective of the graveyard's location.  There is no evidence to suggest that they are part of a dyson sphere construction.  More likely they are a drop off location for either recycled materials from the derelict ships or construction materials for new ships brought in from else where.
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Grug on February 29, 2004, 07:26:11 pm
looks purty I thought anywho...

hehe... just had to get my name after all of the posts :D
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: TrashMan on March 02, 2004, 05:23:26 am
Good Day
Title: TAP is looking for some staffers!!!!
Post by: Grug on March 03, 2004, 09:29:56 pm
lol, thats cheating. :p

hehe. btw, i might post an update sooon... internally things slowly moving along... :D

hopefully playing tap wont be a myth afterall... :D hehe

-Grug