Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Dr.Zer0 on June 22, 2002, 04:59:25 am

Title: Background limit?
Post by: Dr.Zer0 on June 22, 2002, 04:59:25 am
is there a limit to backgrounds, I have 64 backgrounds and only 60 show up, were did my other 4 go, they are still working right but just not showing up
Title: Background limit?
Post by: CP5670 on June 22, 2002, 08:04:52 am
Yeah, it's around 60; I had the same problem several months ago.
Title: Background limit?
Post by: Dr.Zer0 on June 22, 2002, 08:25:55 am
Quote
Originally posted by CP5670
Yeah, it's around 60; I had the same problem several months ago.


only one thing left now, replace those ugly nasty nebulas with pretty planets
Title: Re: Background limit?
Post by: karajorma on June 22, 2002, 09:10:24 am
Quote
Originally posted by Dr.Zer0
is there a limit to backgrounds, I have 64 backgrounds and only 60 show up, were did my other 4 go, they are still working right but just not showing up


64 backgrounds? What on earth are you doing? :)
Title: Background limit?
Post by: phreak on June 22, 2002, 09:30:01 am
#define MAX_STARFIELD_BITMAPS         60
Title: Background limit?
Post by: Dr.Zer0 on June 22, 2002, 08:44:47 pm
Quote
Originally posted by PhReAk
#define MAX_STARFIELD_BITMAPS         60


and were can I find that to change it(and dont say source code, I cant edit those things ;) )
Title: Background limit?
Post by: Fineus on June 23, 2002, 03:03:58 am
I'd say that came from the source code....

Then again, should this be changed to to higher number? We don't know what happens when you have 200 background bitmaps.. could be bad news for the game trying to run it like that....
Title: Background limit?
Post by: Killfrenzy on June 23, 2002, 03:38:22 am
Maybe it was initially done to keep the req specs down.....
Title: Background limit?
Post by: Bobboau on June 23, 2002, 03:56:09 am
I think we can think of better things to waist polys on than background images
Title: Background limit?
Post by: TheCelestialOne on June 23, 2002, 04:14:37 am
I usaully use around 3 backgrounds and it looks very good. Better then most of the backgrounds i've seen that use 10+ backgrounds... :D I don't like it if too many different backgrounds are used...
Title: Background limit?
Post by: Dr.Zer0 on June 23, 2002, 04:38:50 am
Quote
Originally posted by TheCelestialOne
I usaully use around 3 backgrounds and it looks very good. Better then most of the backgrounds i've seen that use 10+ backgrounds... :D I don't like it if too many different backgrounds are used...


I personaly hate placing backgrounds(mainly those nebulas) I usealy just stretch them out a lot, but Im talking about backgrounds in the tbls
Title: Background limit?
Post by: StratComm on June 24, 2002, 10:51:42 am
In a long campaign, especially one that takes place over many systems, having a lot of backgrounds is important to differentiate one system from another.  Like unique planets, specifically colored nebulas, and so on.  I don't really know why the table limits are in the code, but they are there for every table.
Title: Background limit?
Post by: phreak on June 24, 2002, 11:10:20 am
Interplay required FS2 to run on a machine with 32mb of ram
Title: Background limit?
Post by: beatspete on June 24, 2002, 03:50:27 pm
I make each system individual, for example an instalation that appears a few times would be identifiable because it is very close to a gas giant (which fills up half your screen).
Also things like 3 stars in a system help to create a sence of identy.
As for nebula's, i stick a few around some stars (to create the effect of gas clouds), but generally i place 6 or 7 of the pretiest ones, then stretch them to scales of about 10X10.  Sometimes i create band nebuals, using scales such as 2X11.
Title: Background limit?
Post by: StratComm on June 24, 2002, 07:55:46 pm
What I meant was that each star system should have a distinct nebula (or lack thereof) background that shouldn't change from one mission to another within the system.  Because of the vast distances of space, the relative positions of the nebulas wouldn't change so long as you remain in one system.  Planets can be changed around within a set background pattern, but they should not be used alone to define the system.

As for binary/triple systems, those should be avoided unless it makes the system true to reality.  For imagined systems this doesn't matter, but almost all of the FS systems are real (I don't know what Vasuda is supposed to be though).  Alpha Centauri should be a binary system (unless you count Proxima Centauri, which would make it a triple system), while Sirius should be a single star system.
Title: Background limit?
Post by: karajorma on June 25, 2002, 03:26:36 am
Quote
Originally posted by StratComm
while Sirius should be a single star system.


[Pedant] Sirius is a binary system. [/pedant]

Although to be fair sirius B is quite small :)
Title: Background limit?
Post by: Dr.Zer0 on June 25, 2002, 04:10:56 am
Quote
Originally posted by PhReAk
Interplay required FS2 to run on a machine with 32mb of ram


well everyone here has 64mb+ :)
Title: Background limit?
Post by: LAW ENFORCER on June 26, 2002, 06:14:57 pm
well that HAS to be true, even my old 233 server has 80MB!
;7
Title: Background limit?
Post by: Killfrenzy on June 27, 2002, 05:11:31 am
Quote
Originally posted by karajorma


[Pedant] Sirius is a binary system. [/pedant]

Although to be fair sirius B is quite small :)


It's a pulsar isn't it?

Anyways - I think Capella is a binary system too.....but I'm not sure.
Title: Background limit?
Post by: karajorma on June 27, 2002, 12:27:46 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Killfrenzy


It's a pulsar isn't it?

Anyways - I think Capella is a binary system too.....but I'm not sure.


It's a white dwarf. Very small compared to the size of sirius (hard to spot too since sirius is so bright. It was discovered by radio telescope IIRC).

Capella is a quad system consisting of two pairs of binary stars. Two yellow giants and two brown dwarfs. (or should that be dwarves :confused: )
Title: Background limit?
Post by: Killfrenzy on June 27, 2002, 05:22:40 pm
There's nothing more satisfying than pointing out the shortcomings of :V:'s systems is there? :D:D