[drakfyre]

Hello everyone.  As you can tell from my post count, I am quite the newb here, though I have been lurking since about a year ago when I first learned of the Freespace SCP.  Recently, I decided to take the plunge and attempt to set up an XT build with the latest beta mediavps.  I believe I have everything working, but I can't tell the difference when I turn Normal Maps on and with Normal Maps off.  Here's what I have, maybe someone here can point me at what obvious issue I am missing.  (Also, feel free to yell "NOOB, RTFWiki/Post" and link me to the information I missed, I won't take offense.

I have installed:
The 3/14 XT build from here: http://icculus.org/~taylor/fso/willrobinson/Xt0314-win32.rar
The MediaVP 3.6.10 from the release thread on this forum (I am not using the advancedeffects.vp)
I got my base Freespace 2 assets from Turey's FSOinstaller.

My computer:
MacBook Pro running Windows XP
2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo
2 gb ram
Geforce 8600 mobile with 256MB ram

I am currently using the Loki as my main test model, though I wasn't able to tell on any model I've tried yet.  I am viewing it in the ship viewer you get when you press F3.  I also tried in-game, but was unable to tell on the ships that were slow enough for me to get a good look at them.

Everything else seems to be working, I definately have high-poly models with the little pilot in the cockpit (So cool...), I have new laser effects, etc.  I just don't see a difference with the Normal Maps on or off.

Thank you for your help.

[Jeff Vader]

Have you remembered to enable the appropriate command-line options (-normal and -height)? That might be the issue. Though personally, I too can't seem to get much difference between the 3.6.8 and the 3.6.10 MediaVPs. And I'm also running a laptop. Maybe it's mobility graphics card related? I don't know. Maybe my screen sucks somehow. You could, of course, grab a few screenshots for us (just hit Prt Sc and the screens will appear in \freespace\screenshots).

[drakfyre]

Okay, took two screenshots of the loki, attached to my post.  The first (WithNormal) was taken with the following options:
C:\GAMES\Freespace2\fs2_open_3_6_10-Xt_0314.exe -mod mediavps -spec -glow -mipmap -missile_lighting -normal -no_vsync -dualscanlines -targetinfo -rearm_timer -ballistic_gauge -3dwarp -warp_flash -snd_preload  -height

The second (NoNormal) was taken with these options:
C:\GAMES\Freespace2\fs2_open_3_6_10-Xt_0314.exe -mod mediavps -spec -glow -mipmap -missile_lighting -no_vsync -dualscanlines -targetinfo -rearm_timer -ballistic_gauge -3dwarp -warp_flash -snd_preload

[attachment deleted by ninja]

[Zacam]

Look at the Ulysess fighter instead.

I don't know if VA's new normals for the loki are in the beta's.

You can also look at the Hatshepsut.

[blowfish]

Normal maps should be pretty obvious.  Try running in window mode.  That's what I had to do to get normal maps to show.

[drakfyre]

Yeah, normal maps still aren't working.     I tried looking at the Ulysess fighter and the Hatshepsut, no dice.  Also tried running it in a window, again, no dice.  Any other ideas?

[blowfish]

Could be that shader VP ... I forget if you still need it.  I also forget where to get it.

[Vasudan Admiral]

I think blowfish is right: stick this in with your MVPs and see if that helps.
http://icculus.org/~taylor/fso/misc/sdr1119.rar

[ARSPR]

Yes, you need the shader pack. At least in latest Xt builds, Taylor hasn't embedded any shader, (a difference from the previous 10-28  build which had default shaders inside). You need the external shaders or you won't have anyone available.

[Talon 1024]

Yeah, normal maps still aren't working.     I tried looking at the Ulysess fighter and the Hatshepsut, no dice.  Also tried running it in a window, again, no dice.  Any other ideas?

Try getting the latest drivers for your video card

[drakfyre]

The shader vp worked!  Thank you everyone for your help.  Special thank you goes to blowfish for mentioning the shader vp, and to Vasudan Admiral for giving me a link!