Hard Light Productions Forums
Community Projects => The FreeSpace Upgrade Project => Topic started by: FSU Staff on February 19, 2011, 11:07:01 am
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This is a thread where you can make requests as to what you would like to see added/changes in the FSU. Remember, all requests are just that; requests, which means there is no guarantee we'll agree or have the manpower to implement every request.
Jumpin' on the bandwagon.
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Shadows - but writing a code for that is a pain in the ass, I guess :doubt:
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Uh, I think requests that are not currently possible to implement should be excluded, no? Otherwise they should be SCP requests.
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Bringing back the old tiles from previous FSU versions that aren't available in current versions--Aten, Hatshepsut, etc. The lack of these tiles breaks several models.
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Tiles are part of the past. And fixing those is a 5 min job anyway. However having a separate pack containing all those unused tiles could be good.
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Yeah, maybe a "upgraded retail tiles" pack, separate download, containing, well, the upgraded versions of all retail textures would be nice.
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Kinda of a waste of time. If you are using an outdated mod, feel free to download an old version of the MVP's and get them there. That's how I feel anyways.
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That's really annoying when you're having to do this with multiple mods some of which aren't even yours, just so you can play them - using the Older MediaVPs doesn't work as they don't even run with the latest builds now (some decal error **** prevents even non-debug builds from starting up). Don't tell me to just use an older build cause I don't get sound at all on builds 3.6.12 or older with vanilla FS2. :(
Thus, I feel it is rather necessary, else a lot of old mods are just, well, unplayable.
I'd do it myself but I don't even have some of the older mediavps where some of the textures are anymore...
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1) Find old MVP
2) Find the Maps folder
3) Copy it to the MOD directory
That should work for all of your mods, without having to find each tile.
OR, just copy the old maps directory into the new MVP directory. If it ask you to replace anything click 'no' so it will only add the missing ones.
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You're assuming a lot of the average end user who already finds FSO's installation procedure stupidly complex.
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No. I'm assuming that a person who can effectively use the multimod function with old, outdated MODs is capable of doing what is described.
And I have an idea. Droid803, follow these instructions:
Use Maja, or some other VP editor. 3.6.8 Zetas should have the tiles in them, so grab that. Extract the Maps directory and pack back into another VP. Put it somewhere for download.
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That's really annoying when you're having to do this with multiple mods some of which aren't even yours, just so you can play them - using the Older MediaVPs doesn't work as they don't even run with the latest builds now (some decal error **** prevents even non-debug builds from starting up).
That is kinda a special case, since a feature that was deprecated is being referenced by tables of said mod. I'm afraid blame lies in SCP this time though, as deprecation of a feature should not make a mod crash in agony, only ignored and a notice put into debug log. The latter shouldn't pop up even if a debug build is ran. The problem should be corrected by SCP.
Don't tell me to just use an older build cause I don't get sound at all on builds 3.6.12 or older with vanilla FS2. :(
Err, wat? I'm pretty sure there should be reasonable explanation and solution to that, but this is not to be discussed in this topic.
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Tiles are part of the past. And fixing those is a 5 min job anyway. However having a separate pack containing all those unused tiles could be good.
Unless you can bring in at least 10 good texturers with a lot of free time, tiles will never be part of the past.
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I would love to see squadron colors. For example, the Tuskegee Airmen had their entire tails painted red, or the Yellow Squadron from Ace Combat 4, things like that. Not outlandishly overdone stuff. Little things, like sections of the wings as a special color, or tail sections, etc. :) (Though an all red Perseus as the GTVA's Red Baron would be fun to see, lol.)
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No. I'm assuming that a person who can effectively use the multimod function with old, outdated MODs is capable of doing what is described.
You expect end users to download additional MediaVPs and old 3.6.10 builds to play stuff the Installer gives them (but gives no instructions on how to use)? That's not exactly user-friendly.
I trawl forums for user reactions to the SCP and so many of them are just utterly turned off by the install process or by getting bizarre errors the first time they select a mod and try to play it. Very few mods are safe to play these days, it's basically just Wings of Dawn, BP, Vassago's Dirge or straight MVPs.
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And Transcend, which I've played three times with no problems, and Derelict, which two people have informed me works once beam fade is removed.
Although, yeah, we are still in that gray area where a bunch of campaigns have to be tested and/or fixed.
Also, Desura.
Also, I wanna see the SJ Space Flea ^____^
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Fair enough. My issue is that the FSU, an effort that is in place to make the retail assets prettier, is being asked to make everyone's mods prettier too. Sure, it helps with backwards capatibility, but the MVP's are growing as it is, and these tiles do not help our effort to make retail assets prettier.
I'm not saying it is bad idea and that no one should do it. It just does not make sense doe the FSU to take time to do it. What astounds me the most is that the people asking are perfectly capable of creating this VP. They just want a group, whose project has no need for these tile, to do it for them.
So Woolie, Droid, and you too Battuta: If you think it is needed to help other MODs (again, I reiterate it does not help the FSU visuals AT ALL) then please make it. The community would love you for it.
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I can't see a hosted VP with the old maps, and short blurb on how to use them could possibly be so much trouble that it's not worth looking into. What's wrong with a backwards compatibility patch that is released along-side the mediavps?
Glass textures on some cockpits of terran fighters. I'm not sure if it's my lighting settings or what, but with cockpit view, there are big fat white streaks all over the diffuse of the glass and it's ugly.
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I trawl forums for user reactions to the SCP and so many of them are just utterly turned off by the install process or by getting bizarre errors the first time they select a mod and try to play it. Very few mods are safe to play these days, it's basically just Wings of Dawn, BP, Vassago's Dirge or straight MVPs.
I don't get it.
Why are FS mods compared to individual stand-alone games? It's apples to oranges. If you want to draw comparisons, compare the total conversions to games. If you want to compare mods, compare them to mods of other games. To my knowledge there is not a single game out there that has some kind of installer setup for their mods to handle version conflicts, dependencies, etc.
Games like WoW come close, but even those tools are made by 3rd parties like Curse, not Blizzard. Managing mods in other games is more often than not, even more difficult than in FS.
I know you didn't compare to other games in this particular post, but I've seen it happen in other posts. The point stands however, FS mod management is really well off compared to a lot of games out there, better than most in fact.
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The 3.6.8 Zeta don't seem to have Normal Maps, (unless I'm wrong) and the download is no longer functioning, at least on the release thread.
I have uh....3.6.10 mediavps, but I don't know how many of the retail maps were replaced already in that one.
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Yeah, maybe a "upgraded retail tiles" pack, separate download, containing, well, the upgraded versions of all retail textures would be nice.
This, though it should be a separate project obviously.
What I'd like to see in FSU is a resource policy for modders.
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Yeah, it's pretty disconcerting to release your magnum opus that works flawlessly with whatever MVP release, then come back a year later after say, you go to Iraq or something and find it's all broken and nobody has fixed it.
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Droid:
... then which version had normal maps? Also I think Zacam may have some older versions lying around.
Tutta:
Good point. You should help Droid to make a tile pack.
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Some way to implement debris hulks, dense debris fields and bodies left by capital ships on detonation sites.
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3.6.9 Mediavps should have normal maps (and I used to have them).
3.6.10 Mediavps should have all that's needed to make models which don't have "a"s at the end of their texture names work.
And I think that old texture upgrades should be fully supported by Mediavps team.
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Some way to implement debris hulks, dense debris fields and bodies left by capital ships on detonation sites.
Guys, these are FSU requests, not code requests.
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3.6.9 Mediavps should have normal maps (and I used to have them).
3.6.10 Mediavps should have all that's needed to make models which don't have "a"s at the end of their texture names work.
And I think that old texture upgrades should be fully supported by Mediavps team.
There were no 3.6.9 MVPs, it went from 3.6.8 (had no normal maps) straight to 3.6.10, where normal maps were first implemented.
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This is a thread where you can make requests as to what you would like to see added/changes in the FSU. Remember, all requests are just that; requests, which means there is no guarantee we'll agree or have the manpower to implement every request.
Well, I can think of about a dozen different models that have been shown in one degree of detail improvement (I.E. High-Polification) and while a certain number are likely to make their way in, others I believe are kinda sitting in limbo such as the Typhon and Demon. It is these that I'd like to see finished and included. Most other improvements I have in mind would be dependent on code additions which are not currently in the engine.
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Typhon is actively being worked on.
Not sure about the Demon. I've also put the Arcadia work on hold for a bit.
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Hi-poly NTF Boardicea.
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The NTF Boadicea is on hold, as is the Hermes, Medusa, and Demon. I still need to go over my old Hermes mesh a bit and improve it, no one has claimed the Boadicea, the Demon is to be modeled by peterv AFTER he uvmaps my Medusa (which he said, not me). The Typhon is well on its way, the new Hades and Colossus are both mostly done, my Deimos is on hold (for now, may pick it up again tomorrow). That's all I can think of right now.
That being said, I didn't make this thread for the request of models already being finished to be requested to be finished. It can relate to a model, say you want a new Hhigh-poly model or an upgrade of an already high-poly model? Post that here. Have some grips about an old model? Post that here.
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A modular mod-manager like device, and/or the ability to quickly integrate a custom ship into the ship.tbl file. It would scan for a .tbl file in an archive and then add it to the list. This would make live a lot easier for people that want to make mods with more custom ships, but are having trouble to locate, use or correctly add to, the ship.tbl file.
Wonder if something like this could be made.
Edit: Ah, sorry. Seems this is the wrong section for it.
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A modular mod-manager like device, and/or the ability to quickly integrate a custom ship into the ship.tbl file. It would scan for a .tbl file in an archive and then add it to the list. This would make live a lot easier for people that want to make mods with more custom ships, but are having trouble to locate, use or correctly add to, the ship.tbl file.
Wonder if something like this could be made.
How does that relate to FSU?
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A modular mod-manager like device, and/or the ability to quickly integrate a custom ship into the ship.tbl file. It would scan for a .tbl file in an archive and then add it to the list. This would make live a lot easier for people that want to make mods with more custom ships, but are having trouble to locate, use or correctly add to, the ship.tbl file.
Wonder if something like this could be made.
Its called notepad and a brain. \o/
Seriously.
Finding all the textures the POF uses is harder than making a table.
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A modular mod-manager like device, and/or the ability to quickly integrate a custom ship into the ship.tbl file. It would scan for a .tbl file in an archive and then add it to the list. This would make live a lot easier for people that want to make mods with more custom ships, but are having trouble to locate, use or correctly add to, the ship.tbl file.
Wonder if something like this could be made.
Its called notepad and a brain. \o/
Seriously.
Finding all the textures the POF uses is harder than making a table.
And a suggestion like that would belong in the tools board anyway.
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I've seen some pretty awesome skyboxes in the wiki screenshots page (I haven't play any mod with them though). I would like to see something like that as standart skyboxes for most common retail stellar systems.
I mean, look at these:
http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/File:RScreen0068.png
http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/File:RScreen0072.jpg
http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/File:RScreen0048.png
http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/File:RScreen0043.jpg
http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/File:RScreen0059.jpg
:)
But I also like Lightspeed's Nebulas a lot, so it's not urgent. I've seen a modified subspace whirl somewhere too, I'd like to see something like that. And maybe a new weapons effect for the Prometheus Cannon (the regular one, not the advanced nor retrofit). It looks like your shooting green glowsticks in my opinion.
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The NTF Boadicea is on hold, as is the Hermes, Medusa, and Demon. I still need to go over my old Hermes mesh a bit and improve it, no one has claimed the Boadicea, the Demon is to be modeled by peterv AFTER he uvmaps my Medusa (which he said, not me). The Typhon is well on its way, the new Hades and Colossus are both mostly done, my Deimos is on hold (for now, may pick it up again tomorrow). That's all I can think of right now.
Boadicea needs some UV mapping redone, and textures baked then. Not much apart from that. Apart from LODS and debris that is.
Besides, i've claimed it ages ago, its just on hold till i get all the other **** done first.
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Boadicea needs some UV mapping redone, and textures baked then. Not much apart from that. Apart from LODS and debris that is.
Besides, i've claimed it ages ago, its just on hold till i get all the other **** done first.
Yeah, it's all the POF data that's gonna be the most difficult to do. Are you using RagingLoli's model or starting from scratch?
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Personally, I'd settle for someone finally fixing that missing Ulysses edge texture issue that seems to have slipped its way through the past two MediaVP releases. :p
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Personally, I'd settle for someone finally fixing that missing Ulysses edge texture issue that seems to have slipped its way through the past two MediaVP releases. :p
The Ulysses is textured -exactly- as intended. Nothing is missing. But seeing as how one of the Insignia needs to be corrected on that model, it may be possible to "correct" what you feel is a defect. I personally think it adds some nice character to the vessel.
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I'd rather have newer HTL models rather than revamped outdated HTL models. Get them all out and then fix the ones that looks too old.
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Personally, I'd settle for someone finally fixing that missing Ulysses edge texture issue that seems to have slipped its way through the past two MediaVP releases. :p
The Ulysses is textured -exactly- as intended. Nothing is missing. But seeing as how one of the Insignia needs to be corrected on that model, it may be possible to "correct" what you feel is a defect. I personally think it adds some nice character to the vessel.
I have to wonder if we're talking about the same thing, as what I'm referring to is the strip of completely-flat gray along the front edge of the model. (See here (http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/File:Gtfulysses.jpg).) It looks for all the world like someone forgot to map a texture to that tiny strip...I certainly can't see any justification from a stylistic standpoint, because it sticks out like a sore thumb and looks completely unnatural. What's more, I'm fairly certain that someone on the FSU team mentioned it being an oversight in the past and stated that it would be fixed eventually.
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Yup. Right here:
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=47060.msg1234311#msg1234311
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Personally, I'd settle for someone finally fixing that missing Ulysses edge texture issue that seems to have slipped its way through the past two MediaVP releases. :p
The Ulysses is textured -exactly- as intended. Nothing is missing. But seeing as how one of the Insignia needs to be corrected on that model, it may be possible to "correct" what you feel is a defect. I personally think it adds some nice character to the vessel.
I have to wonder if we're talking about the same thing, as what I'm referring to is the strip of completely-flat gray along the front edge of the model. (See here (http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/File:Gtfulysses.jpg).) It looks for all the world like someone forgot to map a texture to that tiny strip...I certainly can't see any justification from a stylistic standpoint, because it sticks out like a sore thumb and looks completely unnatural. What's more, I'm fairly certain that someone on the FSU team mentioned it being an oversight in the past and stated that it would be fixed eventually.
if you ask me, the quickest fix for that is just to weld those vertices together and be done with it.
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Dammit. Cannot unsee.
I NEVER noticed that before.
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I've noticed it before though I'm not sure if I ever mentioned it or not. I have always thought it looked pretty terrible and should be removed, not only from there but from the gunbarrels as well. The Ulysses does have some pretty terrible mapping as it uses the retail map, so a full remap to a new texture sure wouldn't hurt.
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Boadicea needs some UV mapping redone, and textures baked then. Not much apart from that. Apart from LODS and debris that is.
Besides, i've claimed it ages ago, its just on hold till i get all the other **** done first.
Yeah, it's all the POF data that's gonna be the most difficult to do. Are you using RagingLoli's model or starting from scratch?
ragingloli's. the model is fully textured, but i didnt yet compare it to the retail boa, or if the NuIceni fits in it in any case :p
as i've said, i have a fair bit of models to go through first.
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Yeah, so for all intents and purposes, it's not claimed until you or someone else starts working on it.
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Is the problem with the meson bomb glow map fixed?
[attachment deleted by ninja]
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I don't believe so. In fact, the Meson bomb could actually use an entire reuvmap and new texture as it is.
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Destructable ships... that will be awesome... ships and warships that breaks apart when they start taking damage. That will be a huge step forward.
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Destructable ships... that will be awesome... ships and warships that breaks apart when they start taking damage. That will be a huge step forward.
This is for MediaVPs requests, not code requests.
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And that's, technically, doable since retail, with destroyable subsystems.
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And it was done, sort of, with the Boadicea.
But the amount of work needed makes it completely infeasible.
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This would be useless for the FS2 campaign itself, but it would be an asset for campaign designers who wish to use MVP assets with their campaigns... expand on the derelict Orion model, and create damaged and derelict versions of all primary capital ships. Ideally, this would be incorporated with code and PCS2 support so that the derelict hull can be merged in with the primary model to serve as an alternate to debris, so ships can destroy to hulks rather than blow to bits like they do now. It would reduce the number of table entries required and give modders some new options, but as was said above, this is for MVP requests, not code requests so the solo derelict models would stand as the suggestion for now.
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Finish the Collossus already :P
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The Colossus has been finished for a while.
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Btw, what is the expected release date for 3.6.14?
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Destructable ships... that will be awesome... ships and warships that breaks apart when they start taking damage. That will be a huge step forward.
This is for MediaVPs requests, not code requests.
ups sorry, i just trought it will be cool to have something similar to Destruction 2.0 in BC2 or Red faction guerrilla itself.
but you right that code, no mediavps.
them, what about new visual interface's and menus graphics? The HUD graphics, briefing and all other in-game menus, tech room, weapons and ships selection interface's look old by now. That the first thing that my friends notices when i show the game to them for the first time.
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The Colossus has been finished for a while.
Diligent HLP workers proudly present to you... :hammer: :
This AWESOME PIC of the colossus following this post:
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Destructable ships... that will be awesome... ships and warships that breaks apart when they start taking damage. That will be a huge step forward.
This is for MediaVPs requests, not code requests.
ups sorry, i just trought it will be cool to have something similar to Destruction 2.0 in BC2 or Red faction guerrilla itself.
but you right that code, no mediavps.
them, what about new visual interface's and menus graphics? The HUD graphics, briefing and all other in-game menus, tech room, weapons and ships selection interface's look old by now. That the first thing that my friends notices when i show the game to them for the first time.
3.6.14 will have a high-res HUD.
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Hopefully we will finish all the HTL Shivan strikecraft in a timely fashion for the release of 3.6.14 MVPs. But as for smooth groups, animated glow maps, shine/env maps, and normal maps we will leave to you.
INFTeam
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I think he was referring to the Stable Engine Release.
Though yes, the MediaVPs will support the HUD Overhaul code, though it's still being worked out how exactly.
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Oh right, speaking of which, I should probably finish that resolution calculator that's sitting on my desktop. But only if you think it'll still be useful.
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Oh right, speaking of which, I should probably finish that resolution calculator that's sitting on my desktop. But only if you think it'll still be useful.
It would be highly useful. And it would get you into the credits, I'm sure. So please, I'd love a link.
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How practical would it be to add nameplate spotlights to Terran capital ships a la Star Trek movies? They are often hard to see, or entirely unlit.
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Not a bad idea, but far better improvement would be to STOP using the STOP font. It's ugly, impractical and hard to read.
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But it's as close to canon as we have, so...
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BankGothic would work equally well...
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So... when is the release scheduled?
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The Colossus has been finished for a while.
Awesome!
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The release isn't 'scheduled', the MediaVPs will be ready when they are ready and when 3.6.14 is also set to go.
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The release isn't 'scheduled', the MediaVPs will be ready when they are ready and when 3.6.14 is also set to go.
Seems absolutely fair. Do you have any ideas when is it coming out? Next month? Next six months? Next year?
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The release isn't 'scheduled', the MediaVPs will be ready when they are ready and when 3.6.14 is also set to go.
Seems absolutely fair. Do you have any ideas when is it coming out? Next month? Next six months? Next year?
I would say 6 months to 1 year.
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I actually prefer the STOP font, since we do see it used on ships in cutscenes and such. (Of course, we're re-rendering those cutscenes, but STOP font on ship nameplates is almost a freespace trademark)
I'll get you guys the calculator some time before the release date of 6 months to 1 year. Actually, probably expect an update within the next month for triple head and FSPort. What's already done by Fury and I is posted in the Freespace Modding forum. (yes, that's stupidly long for an excel calc, but RL takes priority)
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STOP font is only used on the Orion in-game...
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STOP font is only used on the Orion in-game...
Really?
/me loads up all of the Nameplate DDS files used in game...
Well crap, that must be the GO font then. My bad.
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I think he meant in Retail.
There were no nameplates except for the Orion ones in retail.
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STOP font is only used on the Orion in-game...
Really?
/me loads up all of the Nameplate DDS files used in game...
Well crap, that must be the GO font then. My bad.
Weren't the Orions the only one - yeah what Droid said.
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Yeah I meant in retail
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Oh right, speaking of which, I should probably finish that resolution calculator that's sitting on my desktop. But only if you think it'll still be useful.
It would be highly useful. And it would get you into the credits, I'm sure. So please, I'd love a link.
'tis done. Both FSPort and FS1 HUDs have calculators now.
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=73961.msg1484948#msg1484948