Hard Light Productions Forums

General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: jdjtcagle on November 04, 2003, 04:56:20 pm

Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: jdjtcagle on November 04, 2003, 04:56:20 pm
There is something that bothers me like a splinter in my mind. All freespace models especially the Orion what is with the red, orange, yellow lights coming off it? I know they aren't windows ofr anything like that I mean come on red orange lights! :confused:
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Flipside on November 04, 2003, 05:34:18 pm
It's eye candy, better some red and orange lights (though I only remember yellow, the Red and Orange may have been people shooting at you). To be honest, it's better to have some pointless lights than to be flying against this.....shape thing.

Flipside :D
Title: Then I guess I'm the only one
Post by: jdjtcagle on November 04, 2003, 05:55:24 pm
I just think its more realistic. And it's not just the Orion it can be anything? Does anybody feel my pain:doubt:
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Taristin on November 04, 2003, 06:03:40 pm
...no?  I like the little lights...
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Deepblue on November 04, 2003, 06:18:49 pm
I hate the little light actually it makes it look like the thing is gonna blow. However I do think light placed in LOGICAL areas are cool.
Title: Exactly DeepBlue
Post by: jdjtcagle on November 04, 2003, 06:28:22 pm
Exactly my point!:nod:
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: DeepSpace9er on November 04, 2003, 09:54:18 pm
Since we're talking about the Orion, how about someone coming up with a reskin that gets rid of the purplish hull and mustard yellow turrets littered all over it. Make it an old Terran skin similar to the Fenris but something darker.
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Goober5000 on November 04, 2003, 10:00:41 pm
Heh, I thought this thread was going to be about some weird psychological thriller. :p
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Black Wolf on November 05, 2003, 02:16:02 am
Quote
Originally posted by DeepSpace9er
Since we're talking about the Orion, how about someone coming up with a reskin that gets rid of the purplish hull and mustard yellow turrets littered all over it. Make it an old Terran skin similar to the Fenris but something darker.


:eek: Dude...no...
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Setekh on November 05, 2003, 05:08:33 am
I think it's been done already, in fact. IIRC, someone skinned the Orion with Deimos and Leviathan textures...

Yeah, try this.
http://dynamic4.gamespy.com/~freespace/hlp/item_show.php?itm=173
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Sandwich on November 05, 2003, 06:55:27 am
Quote
Originally posted by Setekh
I think it's been done already, in fact. IIRC, someone skinned the Orion with Deimos and Leviathan textures...

Yeah, try this.
http://dynamic4.gamespy.com/~freespace/hlp/item_show.php?itm=173


Those downloads really need pictures. Where's that Styxx gone to?
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: magatsu1 on November 05, 2003, 12:30:42 pm
yeah, I hate downloading new skins without first seein' a preview.
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: jdjtcagle on November 05, 2003, 05:23:59 pm
:no: I really wouldn't recommend it. The textures are pretty ugly. My opinion.
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Hellbender on November 05, 2003, 06:46:05 pm
To be honest, imho most of the ships and so on in the game do not look the least bit military.  Most of them look more civilian than anything else, gun turrets not-withstanding.  The small craft look like refugees from a WW I flying circus.  

The Shivan, Ancients, and Vasudan schemes can be excused a bit due to the "alien-ness" of the cultures they came from, but there are very few militaries on Earth (if any) that have the type of diversity in appearance as represented by GTA vessels.  

The Fenris/Leviathan come close to a military appearance...for a surface navel vessel at least.  Even with those though there are too many open, unplated areas for any warship expected to accept enemy fire in battle, to say nothing of protection from collision with debris.

As far as windows go, each one constitutes a weaker area in the hull structure than the surrounding armour, and when lit, a nice little area for enemy gunners to target in the darkness.  Same obviously goes for lights in general, at least for the targetting aspect.

That said, the Freespace textures look to have been created by "artsy" people as opposed to anyone with military experience.  It's a pretty well established fact that pretty outsells drab in most consumer markets - sci-fi video games are no exception.

Hmm, I do have to wonder what the game would look like if a more military feel were used in the theme of its ship designs.  Might not be bad at all - the missions themselves have a good US Navy style of play to them, though the ships seem a bit less specialized than current practice.  Might fit in very well though.
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Black Wolf on November 05, 2003, 10:41:20 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Hellbender
Might not be bad at all - the missions themselves have a good US Navy style of play to them, though the ships seem a bit less specialized than current practice.  Might fit in very well though.


I've always seen them as more Royal navy, with a touch of RAAF thrown in...
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Johnmike on November 06, 2003, 06:11:57 am
No matter what the designs would look like, they still look cool.  o.o
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Styxx on November 06, 2003, 06:40:59 am
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich
Those downloads really need pictures. Where's that Styxx gone to?


You're willing to make all preview pictures? :p
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: Sandwich on November 06, 2003, 09:59:48 am
Quote
Originally posted by Styxx


You're willing to make all preview pictures? :p


:wtf: 'Course not! We should outsource the task to some measly forumite.



...Oh, is this a public thread??!? :nervous:
Title: Splinter in the Mind
Post by: TrashMan on November 07, 2003, 03:59:06 am
Quote
Originally posted by Hellbender
To be honest, imho most of the ships and so on in the game do not look the least bit military.  Most of them look more civilian than anything else, gun turrets not-withstanding.  The small craft look like refugees from a WW I flying circus.  

The Shivan, Ancients, and Vasudan schemes can be excused a bit due to the "alien-ness" of the cultures they came from, but there are very few militaries on Earth (if any) that have the type of diversity in appearance as represented by GTA vessels.  

The Fenris/Leviathan come close to a military appearance...for a surface navel vessel at least.  Even with those though there are too many open, unplated areas for any warship expected to accept enemy fire in battle, to say nothing of protection from collision with debris.

As far as windows go, each one constitutes a weaker area in the hull structure than the surrounding armour, and when lit, a nice little area for enemy gunners to target in the darkness.  Same obviously goes for lights in general, at least for the targetting aspect.

That said, the Freespace textures look to have been created by "artsy" people as opposed to anyone with military experience.  It's a pretty well established fact that pretty outsells drab in most consumer markets - sci-fi video games are no exception.

Hmm, I do have to wonder what the game would look like if a more military feel were used in the theme of its ship designs.  Might not be bad at all - the missions themselves have a good US Navy style of play to them, though the ships seem a bit less specialized than current practice.  Might fit in very well though.


I agree... I try to make my warships as military looking as possible (alltough it's not that well aceppted among the comunity - just look at my military outpost). Sadly, people prefer more colorful-like textures. In the end it looks like a flying circus.
The best thing to do is to find a middle between relistic military look and coolness....

And yeah...FS2 ships are way undergunned. A typical WW2 battleships (260m) has twice as much turrets as a 2km long Orion...;7