Hard Light Productions Forums
Community Projects => The FreeSpace Upgrade Project => Topic started by: Psychonaut on January 08, 2006, 05:58:08 pm
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I´m just playing around with some moons and planets (especially the solar system ones), but i got some problems to implement them properly into the game. The problem is, that the black background (a black square) is displayed, too. I´ve defined them as $BitmapX in the stars table, otherwise the starfield shines through the planet. Normally i use tga 24bpp. I´ve seen other planet-images (from the new inferno-patch e.g.), which are looking exactly as mine, but don´t show up the black square, so i think it must have something to do with the image. Any idea? Which program is the best for playing around with this stuff, especially if i want to use dds?
Help would be nice: :)
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Pure green = transparent in FS2. Like this.
Might want to try that.
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Pure green = transparent in FS2. Like this.
That is for PCX files only. Green = green for all other image types.
Having it black normally works but since that means it's filtered, all of the dark parts will blend transparently, and that's why the stars show through. If the planet does't fade to black or anything (no night side) then you can get away with it being black. Probably the best thing in your case is to make it a 32-bit TGA or 32-bit DDS with a full alpha channnel and let the alpha provide the transparency.
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Thx for tzhe replies. Any suggestion, what program is best to be used for dds and tga?
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Photosphop can be used for them, dds requiring a plug-in.
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Or the Gimp, if photoshop lies outside your price range. It's DDS exporter plugin is a little funky, but it's a lot better than nothing.
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Try Paint Shop Pro. You can get a free thirty day trial. With the help of certain..."illegal cracks" (Nudge nudge wink wink) you can extend that out to as long as you need it.
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Nothing spells out ambiguous like "illegal cracks".
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:D Thanks for your suggestions. I think i have an early version of PSP somewhere in my archives. I´ve purchased it with a print magazine long time ago. Maybe this will do the job. Hopefully it´s worth all the work, but i´ve found a nice image from saturn (i think from cassini) and tweaked it a bit. Looks quite descent in 2048x2048.
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Try Paint Shop Pro. You can get a free thirty day trial. With the help of certain..."illegal cracks" (Nudge nudge wink wink) you can extend that out to as long as you need it.
Now, now. Let's not be too subtle... you don't want him to miss your meaning...
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Now, now. Let's not be too subtle... you don't want him to miss your meaning...
HLP, now with the subtlety of a sledgehammer to your face
(pun, if it exists, intended :p )
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This thread is now going to appear in 45% of all google searches :nervous:
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Derek Smart!
Up to 88% now.
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Er, while we're on the subject... has HLP's policy on that stuff changed at all now that we're no longer in thrall to Gamespy?
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There was a discussion in HL...the basic consensus by the admins was that if you want to do illegal stuff, you head to nodewar or somewhere else.
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what about advices and such? :nervous:
from what i gathered from that thread, we arent allowed to post any links but we're allowed to mention it, right?
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Let's put it this way. HLP frowns upon the promotion and use of warez, illegal stuff, etc. While we're not gonna go ape over the mere mention of such things, we most definitely will not allow active (links, etc) promotion such things. Pointing people to locations and resources where they can aquire illegal software (i.e. "*cough*{PIRATE_SITE_NAME_BUT_NO_LINK}*cough*") is also frowned upon. However, we're not gonna be totally anal about such things. Also, we cannot control what is said in PMs.
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...we're not gonna be totally anal about such things....
I´d always knew, that hanging around in "foreign" forums will be useful for my knowledge of the english language one day :lol:
Tomorrow, when i have to speak to an obsessive patient i can say: "damn it...don´t be so f...ing anal"
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Psychonaut, thanks for the f_shockwave.pof Fix in the Inferno update, yes, it worked. It's my curiosity, but, are you trying to update Sol: A History ?. I have the Hi-Res Backgrounds for almost every Solar System Planet and every Planet's Moon, remember Moons, not only Earth have one, I remember I search those Backgrounds before I started updating INF. (The real goal was Sol: A History)
I'll make a pause here, so lets go slow, I know creating Backgrounds is easier than Models, and other things..., look at it, it's basic 3D (unoptimized Model):
http://www.fileh.com/Shadow00000/Earth3D_Video.avi
Enconded using X-Vid v1.1.0 Beta 2, last version is v1.1.0 Final, at (www.xvid.org), download it at the official page. Also comes with newer versions of K-Lite Codec Pack, v2.67 is the lastest, at (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm)
(***) it has the NightLight Shine in the night face, but not glow (it should be), strange I didn't find how to that.......
Before really reading, the sure facts, forget about them, it will happen, and there is probabily not much to do about it:
A - A 3D Planet will consume more memory than a Background
B - The Coordinates are so big, that you'll probabily see the game behavior goes a little weird
C - If you can't go around it, and see the Day/Night face of the Planet, then there is no point, use a Background
Now, to the Points:
A - A planet like Earth (not Jupiter, not the Sun) have circumference around 12,400,000 m
B - If a SubSpace or LightSpeed Drive would be implemented it would be perfect, do Wing Commander use it?, I don't mean a Speed of Light, but a non-normal High-Speed, like 5000m/s or 1000m/s
C - Impleting both of this thing would finally allow the "Space's Natural Cathatrospe" to be re-created, like a really huge meteorite (more bigger than Juggernaut) going at really High-Speed (XXXXm+), while you would try to keep around and near in order to destroy it, before it makes the real Collision, not a Flag Time Elapsed against a Background. I would prefer to chase an Ice Blue Comet, with Fog and Trail (but that would be thousand of times more difficult than a SJ rock).
D - Earth Atmosphere, and other Planet Gas/Fog Atmosphere, that's impossible for me with my actual knowledge.
There should be a simulated gravitational field for every ship, something like IF Alpha 1 distance to Earth 01 less than 45000, boom Alpha 1 for proximity.......
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You´re right, i was updating some stuff for inferno (solar wars, to get it to the point). But i did it not for an official release, just for me. Creating plantes was just another attempt by me to find my place in the community and do some useful stuff. But as always, all i got was another proof for my lack of talent :sigh:.
After all: after many years i got some "talented" skills in beta-testing. Actually in know, where to put the files and which things have to be edited in the tables to make things run, like i wanted it to run :D.
You did really a nice job in updating inferno. Using "real" planets seem to be an inspiring plan. I really enjoyed flying around planets in Freelancer or I-War EOC (though both games had major weaknesses, like the huge planets and the tiny ships and stations in I-War). But i really doubt, that the engine is capable of that. And planets with hard edges (instead of blury atmosphere edges) would not look that good, wouldn´t they. But maybe you find a way to surprise the community.
6 months ago, nobody have thought, that there is a way to implement 3d-shockwave. And now look, what the code wizzards and DaBrain did :nod:
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I love the name of this thread. So innocent. :p
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Yes, I have used a 3D Program, and noticed that the Base of the Texture for the 3D Shockwave seems to be a "RingWave", what surprise me is how good the game manages the 3D expanding animation on the Model, I would believe rotating with Turrets and Barrel was the only thing that could be modified about the models in-game.
Oh.....I didn't have the change to play any of those, but I have to say I wanted always to play StarLancer, do is that the 2nd Release of FreeLancer ??
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Actually, my goal, remains unknow (not to me), but I have a series of step to follow in order to get closer to it.
One of it was not to make a Huge Asteroid Rock, colliding hitting the Earth, the real thing was to make a Blue Comet (composed of Ice mostly), like a Comet you know, the problem is the Fire and Trail about it....
It could be done easily be just making the Thruster Cone and Thruster Angle generating from the Center of the Blue (Ice) Textured Comet, so an Asteroid to be managed as Ship.........I should need to make an animated Blue/Ice EFF/DDS effect, to give some life, like Fire
That way, by making a Huge engine cone Glow, and adding a Trail (ships can, and it would be managed like so), we could be able to see that kind of effect. It won't be Fog, but it will better than a Textured Rock with no Fire/Ice Particle effect, not to say, it would be thousands time easier....
The question is:
Q: If an Engine Cone is generated from the Center (inside) of an 3D Object, will it be visible ?
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Another one:
The Atmosphere as an Active Glow generating from the Center of the Planet, that overlay a little until fading ?, the 3 effects would be the same, so it looks like that while you're seeing or not seeing it in any angle.......Would this work ???. I'll have to wait......wait and see.....since the Earth it's round, and a glow it's round too, it shuld be seen both should be static, not really rotating.....
It's incredible, but if this can be done, it's all thanks to the Intersection Bug problem, I didn't really believe I could find something that's is supposed to be wrong useful. The same thing could happen with the Comet cone atmosphere.
I need time to check this......
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Another one:
The Crater, when you fail of course, could be simulated with a really Huge decal, even if it falls in the Ocean, below water there is more earth.
I think this doesn't really depend in 3D at all, but some imagination to apply the Effects/maps, the whole Idea, etc...
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Not, I not playing to be the god of creation and destruction, yes, creating a 3D planet with the whole purpose of making an Asteroid or Comet collide with it sounds like that. But, well, not only Shivans can destroy everything in their way, I have some right to place some thousands of fictional lifes in danger, after all you're supposed to save them
I would better say "How to simulate a Planet??" ("Create" reminds me to the Gods)
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Finally regarding HyperSpeed Drive:
I know Volition uses SubSpace, but also a HyperVelocity Drive should be available, both should co-exist, you can't bother SubSpace for everything, also you need a Jump Node, so...), for great distances, Systems and Galaxy, HyperVelocity or HyperSpeed traveling is useless...
In space, better, in the void, speed should be Incremental, because of the friction....blahblahblah, that means High Speed is not a problem, the Problem is Space Debris, going at High Velocity at even touching an small fragment of something, could rip you and your ship.
It's the same I say in other forums, the actual use of shields is: "To prevent enemy fire to damage your ship's hull", shield can be also used, not only for that, but for pressure, gravity, and almost everything, it should be a little more than a normal shield, it would be exactly like using a kind of Reflector Shield, to shoot a Beam at your Ship and making it be reflected to the Point you want (depends on Shield surface Angle), or to Reflect a Huge Beam into multiple Beams going everywhere, it can be done in the real World, so...(it's just spreading energy in multiple points).
I don't have any Idea of how look that effect, even if it an effect, so.......it's somewhat stopping me........
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Well.......Double-post, sorry, again.....(but if someone prefer one of my 35,000+ characters single posts, feel free to request it). I'll post a link in the other related thread to this one.....
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Total Image Size: 300KB , so it won't really slowdown much this page:
The Glow, a 2D Atmosphere (There is a really difficult way to improve this to 3D........), this is the OLD Model, using a better Texture (not the Hi-Res one, just Mid-Res), this Glow is Blue, but Earth Glow is Cyan, I know, but since the Texture don't have applied (blended) the Cyan Atmosphere Map to it, I decided to match Colours....
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/Earth2DAtmosphere00.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/Earth2DAtmosphere01.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/Earth2DAtmosphere02.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/Earth2DAtmosphere04.jpg)
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To the ones that look more correct (not exactly):
What is this? (It's the 1st try, it's really unfinished, the center needs to have an alpha with low oppacity, so we can barely see the rock/comet model, plus in that section I need to do a Fire EFF, that goes from the forward center spreading to the sides and backwards, and keep repeting, like flames)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/Comet01.jpg)
Earth:
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/screen0463.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/screen0464.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/screen0465.jpg)
Moon:
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/screen0466.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/screen0467.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/screen0468.jpg)
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There is a way of doing a Star (Sun) poof, with the Star's core (a model), actually is the $Explosion Flag:, If you do a round animated Explosion, that turns white-yellow-light red, and set it to it, and make a Sub-Sphere like a Core, it seems to look like Sun's Fire/Plasma Surface until the Core.
It seems that even things that are really hard to do, can be simulated very simple..........
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I would post the Model for Generic Planet, I have it, but I do it using 3DS Max 8, the export for 3DS Max 6 works, but it crashes if the Model has too many polys (more than 5400) or if radius is too big, and the Radius calculation goes wrong by a setting of 10% and 20%, so.............I don't know what to do (yes, go and buy 3DS MAX 6), no I mean, if to post or not the Model........
Day and Night face was really simple to emulate........
Moon looks good, Earth, well is the more complicated of all the planets.....is the wrong Model to start with......
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Gravity Field (Feature?, or there is a way?):
My curiosity again, this time is gravity simulation:
I have think of this, will this work ? (for generic gravity):
1 - Around the Earth I do a another sphere, (Radius+400,000m than the Previus one)
2 - Low Poly and no texture, and "Hidden from Sensors" Flag, like a shield (so it will be invisible)
3 - I set Gravity's Mass to a negative value, and a Flag "no_collide", like - xxxxxxxxxx, so when you touch that 400,000m Sphere, which would be gravity Field, you would be pulled to the Earth's core/center point, the velocity and Impact would kill you then...
THE PROBLEM: well this work fine for Weapons, specially ones based on a gravity effect, but since Models always will Collide and not pass thought its mesh (opposite to a 3D Shockwave), the problem is Mass is used when you Collide, if you set a "no_collide" Flag, then you won't collide, and don't get attracted to the center of Point of the Invisible Model (which emulates Custom Gravieties)
Sorry, that's the easier way I can think of implementing Custom Gravity without really bothering the code...
Gravity: Works with Weapons but no with Ships, yes it would need some code change, in order to work properly, until someone finish my idea, or post a better one.........
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Earth needs glowmaps, and you really have to clean up those seams.
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Earth needs glowmaps
Galemp, do you mean for the NightLights ?
If so, yes, but the Problem is that the Glow needs to go in the section with no light, like a Glow at non-shine Section, and there is no feature for that.......(actually GlowMaps are applied to all the surface, it doesn't check if there is light ot not)
This is a Low-Res example, of how it should be:
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/Earthasitshouldbe.jpg)
and you really have to clean up those seams.
If you mean in the Old Model (the 1st four pictures), it's not needed, I am using another Model (the one in the Pictures below, it's a little away, but it's a different one).
Also, there is no need to use a -shine, texture is useless.........the right effect is as it is in the last 4 pictures
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Tell me, is there any way to have an in-game stellar surface? Dancing with Shivan fighters just outside of a star's corona, something like that?
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I already catch how to the Atmosphere Effect, it's 3D and it's really OK, so please.......give me time......I'll take care of this, it's interesting and possible....... (except for the Glow on the Dark face....that's not possible with current Effects, I think a Shader is used for that in the Example I post)
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Size: 1,77 MB, it's a GIF so you can see the Colour Change, or Flame Motion, it has been reduced to 256 Colours......sorry if I would know somoeone would have been interested in this I would have maked a video (not like everyone want to heat a Star's Core in order to make a SuperNova to destroy all of the enemy ships, in order to activate an HyperSpeed Jump, while the SuperNova is chasing you from behind........)
Tell me, is there any way to have an in-game stellar surface? Dancing with Shivan fighters just outside of a star's corona, something like that?
Does this answer your question?
To simulate this, and a Earth Core, you make a small planet, set it to after has-time-elapsed 0, and assing Self-Destruct. Over that Planet you set another another one that Envelops its, the active one, the Core, one that has HP....
I'll best suggest trying doing a round shape EFF (a Low intesity Glow combined with a Explosion, simulating particle spew), this is seeing like this because the Explosion is Huge and the Planet is round, but if you see it from far away it's a Explosion........so it needs the round shape EFF.........
You can go inside it, and you get the Nebula Effect but with the Bitmap Colour, in any case, it's perfect for what I wanted, a Nebula poof with a Fixed range (not all the Universe......)
If you change the Bitmap to a Poof.......you'll see it very much like a Nebula, I think this can be used for the SuperNova Poof (Sathanas FMV), just if only there would be a way of progressively increment the Size of the Poof....
Yes, it was one of the things I was going to do..........now everyone know....(not, my true goal is much harder than doing a Mission exact like the Sathanas FMV)
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If you would need to a Ship be destroyed when it touches it's fire, well I don't know, the Gravity effect would fix this problem if only I could do it...........
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EDIT
The GIF here, sorry I have problems uploading it:
http://www.fileh.com/Shadow00000/SunCorona.gif
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I am getting Hull Intersection Problems, how the Earth is supposed to be (the Model):
A - It's composed 3 Layers (3 Spheres):
1- Earth (Solid Ground), texture without Clouds, only earth, water and Ice
2- Clouds, a 256 White Texture MAP, using an Alpha Chanel to simulate Clouds (this Model or SubObject has a Radius +40,000 than the Previous one, and it rotates 10 times or more faster than the Earth)
3- The Atmosphere Map, an Alpha Chanell Map of the Earth, there are two ways of do this:
A- The Map is set at Radius +200,000 m than Clouds Sub-Object, or at Radius -1, I prefer white Clouds, more than Cyan....This Model
All of those Alpha Model, fuse in Game to give a Realistic effect
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How are the Alpha Texture effects for Models done ???, I am getting Intersection Preoblems, I think this can be cause be 2 things:
A - The Model is too BIG
B - The center point of all the Spheres is at the same point which generates intersections.........
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/screen0492.jpg)
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Origanal, (as taken from Space):
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/globe_east_2048.jpg)
Here is an Image of how it looks with MAX, using only FSSCP features, using Low-Res/Low-Colour textures (and the JPG format):
With Clouds only (Notice the Clouds are a few Pixels above the earth, that few distance is 80,000 m), the Atmosphere also is away:
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/Earth_No_Bump.jpg)
With Bump Map (if it is implemented.........):
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/Shadow0000/Earth__Bump.jpg)
I still don't get how to apply a Glow in a non-shine surface, the dark face of the Earth for the Nights Lights.......