Author Topic: Best files for best graphics?  (Read 5545 times)

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Best files for best graphics?
Hello!

First i want to say thank you to all who have made their hard work public to us!

I'm new to Freespace2 (got it 2 days ago on a cover of a pc-magazine) and want to play the campaign with the best replacements for the original graphics.

I've already downloaded the FS2Open_3_6-Installer and found some really impressing enhancements.

After reading a lot of forum posts i've found some more addons with even better grapics but i've no clue how to install them or which one  are the better ones :wtf:

1)
These files a already on my HD ;):
GlowLTL-build8.0
mv_kpack
mv_zpack_a
ShineLT-build13.0

The readmes are sometimes really confusing (maybe only for a newbie) but they say if you are using this you have to delete that or you will have this conflict and so on  :nervous: but no hint what to with them...

So please can one of you veterans explain a newbie (step by step)
a) which files should be downloaded (for best graphic sensation  ;) ) and what to do with them
b) what graphic flags should be set in the Launcher for best results
 

After reading all the FAQs i still have no clue how the launcher uses another VP-File, PCX, ANI, POF  than the one(s?) delivered with  FS2Open_3_6-Installer.


2) I've already read some forum post complaining about the last ATI drivers and no shining effects in D3D. So is it better to use OpenGL on ATI to see the shining and other effects or is it better using older drivers and runing D3D?  (I have a 9800Pro)

Thank you to the brave soul that can help me.
Maybe this thread will also help other newbies to get a quick start.

PS: I hope my english is good enough to be understandable :)

 

Offline Taristin

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Best files for best graphics?
Basically, unzip the files in the Shine and glow packss to your data/maps/ directory, and for the *.vp files, place them in your root (Games/fs2/) directory.

Also, in the shine packs, there are a few pof files, put those in the data/models folder, and put the tbl file in the data/tables/ folder. And you should be set. Then all you have to do it set spec and glow in the launcher.


Files in the regular directories are read before files in the VP's, and similarly, files in the VP are read in alphabetical order. So files that are in a.vp will be loaded in place of files in b.vp, and so on. :)

If you have no problem with using older Cat drivers, get the 4.4's and they will run Shinemapping in D3D. But if you want the latest drivers for other games, you may be forced to use OGL until a programmable pipeline is established.

I'll wait for others to tell you which builds are the most stable, but enjoy your stay here... and before I forget:

:welcome:

[wiki]Snake_Plissken[/wiki]


Also... Which magazine is giving out FS2? :D
« Last Edit: November 20, 2004, 03:07:25 pm by 273 »
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Offline Lightspeed

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Best files for best graphics?
Welcome :)

Stick around and try multiplayer at some point. ;)
Modern man is the missing link between ape and human being.

 

Offline Taristin

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Best files for best graphics?
You know.... that has to be one of my most helpful posts ever.

I only hope it's atleast 70% accurate. :p
Freelance Modeler | Amateur Artist

 
Best files for best graphics?
The Glowmaps on the KPack Media VP have a little High Memory and Grafic Requirement and you have a few Slowdowns within a Mission. It's better when you download the Single Media VP's and not the complete Pack.
Shivan here, Shivan there, Shivan everywhere.

My english isn't very well, so sorry for a few mistakes.

FreeSpace Let's Plays on my Channel:
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Offline Lightspeed

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Best files for best graphics?
The best option is to trash mediaVPs altogether and put individual stuff together. But that's only if you know what you're doing. :)
Modern man is the missing link between ape and human being.

 
Best files for best graphics?
Wow that are fast responses :eek2:

thank you for the first hints and welcome! :)

so to make a short summary:
(i am missing a simple up to date txt or html file for this ;) didn't found this in the FAQ :()

****summary****
Files to copy:
*.VP: root
*.POF: data/models/
*.TBL: data/tables/
*.PCX: ? (data/maps/?)
*.ANI: ? (data/maps/?)

Hint: Files in the regular directories are read before files in the VP's, and similarly, files in the VP are read in alphabetical order. So files that are in a.vp will be loaded in place of files in b.vp, and so on.

Drivers for ATI: Cat 4.4 (if you want shining in D3D) else use OPenGL
****summary****


And for example if i want to use mv_zpack_a.vp do i have to delete the other VPs delivered with FS2Open_3_6-Installer since VPs are read in alphbetical order?

And i will wait for hints which packages should be downloaded for best graphics/stable results :)

Thank you very much for your help!

@ Raa: http://www.gamestar.de (German PC games magazine has it on DVD ;))

@ Lightspeed: Multiplayer of course after some offline training :nod:
And one VP Package with all eye candy would be great :)

@ Deepstar: I've no problem with some slowdowns and high memory if it is still playable? 1GB RAM here :) though thanks for the hint!

 

Offline aldo_14

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Re: Best files for best graphics?
Quote
Originally posted by Snake_Plissken

I'm new to Freespace2 (got it 2 days ago on a cover of a pc-magazine)


What magazine?

 
Re: Re: Best files for best graphics?
Quote
Originally posted by aldo_14

What magazine?

Quote
Originally posted by Snake_Plissken

@ Raa: http://www.gamestar.de (German PC games magazine has it on DVD )



Btw does someone know why i get white ships when i use ShineLT-build13.0 (by removing the dds files from data/maps/ they become normally)? :confused:

 

Offline Lightspeed

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Best files for best graphics?
Quote
Originally posted by Snake_Plissken
Wow that are fast responses :eek2:

so to make a short summary:
(i am missing a simple up to date txt or html file for this ;) didn't found this in the FAQ :()


Try my quite detailed SCP installation guide and the SCP Files page.

The Files page is slightly outdated (namely the ShineLT build), but else than that it links to the most important individual files, and the rest of the necessary stuff is linked from the SCP installation guide. You should be able to set everything up without most mediaVPs.

Looking at the mediaVPs, I suggest the following:

mv_core_b.vp - Install this. (Also linked from the Install Guide)
mv_effects_c.vp - personal taste, you can get most of the stuff individually from The SCP Files page. Personally, I dislike some of the effects included.
mv_models_a.vp - don't recommend it. The glowpointed models are horrible. Better go and search the hi-poly models yourself for now. Some are in the ShineLT build, but not all of them (I should really remember putting them in there :p)
mv_textures_b.vp - DO NOT INSTALL. Contains out-dated stuff which would be used rather than the new files. Not recommended under any circumstances.
mv_hieffects_a.vp - Recommended for install.
mv_loplanets.vp - you won't need this if you install mv_hieffects_a.vp
mv_kpack.vp - You can install this if you like.

You can check what's in the VPs at the Wiki page to find out which individual files you need to get.

File directories:
(generally, you can almost put everything anywhere, it's just sorted to keep things tidy and organized.)

VP Files: root directory
POF Models: data/models
TBL Tables: data/tables
PCX/TGA/DDS Images: data/maps or data/effects or data/interface, depending on content.
ANI Animations: data/maps or data/cbanims or data/hud or data/intelanims or data/effects, depending on content.

(But as has been said, a texture technically also would work from /data/fonts :nod:)

Driver Issue with ATI Cards: A lot of people have problems with shinemaps not working with any Catalyst Drivers later than 4.4.
Quote

@ Lightspeed: Multiplayer of course after some offline training :nod:

There isn't any skill around on multi anyway at the moment. It's (sadly) not too active at the moment. Hopefully that will improve once a chat lobby is reimplemented.

Quote

And one VP Package with all eye candy would be great :)


It would all be much, much easier if someone kept the mediaVPs up to date. It used to be WMCoolmon, but he left (and discontinued the VPs even before that). Since then, practically nobody's picked it up. That's also one of the reasons why individual files are better.
Modern man is the missing link between ape and human being.

 

Offline Lightspeed

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Re: Re: Re: Best files for best graphics?
Quote
Originally posted by Snake_Plissken
Btw does someone know why i get white ships when i use ShineLT-build13.0 (by removing the dds files from data/maps/ they become normally)? :confused:


Are you using OpenGL or did you disable HT&L?
Modern man is the missing link between ape and human being.

 
Best files for best graphics?
Thank you for your time Lightspeed :)!

I am using OpenGL at the moment since i am using Cat 4.7 at the moment....

and thanks for the list of files that was it what i was searching (a info about the best graphicaly files to install)...
« Last Edit: November 20, 2004, 06:29:40 pm by 2308 »

 

Offline Lightspeed

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Best files for best graphics?
Do not use OpenGL.

It's ages behind on the feature side. (also very likely the reason why DDS won't work properly for you)

Try and see if you get shinemaps working with the Catalyst 4.7 (it has worked for some people). If you can't, you'll either have to revert to 4.4 or live without shinemapping.
Modern man is the missing link between ape and human being.

 
Best files for best graphics?
Well already made a new installation of Freespace2
with your recommended files and reverted back to Cat 4.4.

DDS works now but no more glowing effects in D3D (worked on previously install under OpenGL) :wtf:
example: "SF Mara" maybe i've missed something

Btw: D3D looks much better now than OpenGL :)
(i belive to remember that it looked like now already with Cat 4.7 once but after installing some files the shining was away)


Now at FS2Open_3_6-Installer i checked only the "Main Files".

After that i've installed these files:
mv_core_b.exe
mv_kpack.zip
mv_hieffects_a.exe
NebulaPatch.zip
Suns_FS2_2.0c.zip
Bobboau_Lightspeed_Maps_V1.2.zip
FS2_new_weapon_FX_v0.5a.zip
WeaponFXmulTfix.zip
FS2-HighExplosive2.0.zip
GlowLTL-build8.0.zip
ShineLT-build13.0.zip

Flags i've set in launcher:
-spec -glow -pcx32 -jpgtga

The -env Flag like stated on SCP installation guide doesn't exist anymore? Because i don't have it in launcher list and it isn't known when entered under custom flags.

PS: Your SCP installation guide and the SCP Files page
were really helpful for :), don't know why i've not seen them...

One hint: http://scp.indiegames.us/download.php?list.2 the mv_hieffects_a is linked wrong but i got it anyway :) over the directory
« Last Edit: November 20, 2004, 09:08:09 pm by 2308 »

 

Offline karajorma

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Best files for best graphics?
-env isn't in 3.6 It was introduced after 3.6 was released and can be found in the builds available in the new builds forum. Be warned that the builds in that section are much more beta than 3.6 is. Most of the people on the board do prefer to run one of them to 3.6 though so we can test them for bugs and enjoy the newest features.
Karajorma's Freespace FAQ. It's almost like asking me yourself.

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Offline Lightspeed

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Best files for best graphics?
No glows? What do you mean? Glowmaps?
Modern man is the missing link between ape and human being.

 
Best files for best graphics?
@ karajorma:
Thank you for the explanation! Can you recommend one of the new versions?

@ Lightspeed:
I mean a red glowing animation i had on the ship "SF Mara" under
OpenGL, now the red textures on "SF Mara" are only red without animation.

Again thank you all, for your helpfull hints :)

PS: Playing the campaign with the new effects under D3D is really breathtaking. Don't know how i could miss this game, as a Wing Commander Fan in my younger years :D (Still have them ;))
Currently converting the videos to AVIs - to get the whole story :cool:

Link for other newbies - how to convert videos and why:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/freespace/movies.html
so all infos are in one thread :)
« Last Edit: November 21, 2004, 12:26:00 pm by 2308 »

 

Offline Lightspeed

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Best files for best graphics?
Quote
Originally posted by Snake_Plissken

@ Lightspeed:
I mean a red glowing animation i had on the ship "SF Mara" under
OpenGL, now the red textures on "SF Mara" are only red without animation.
 


You don't seem to have installed the animated glowmaps then - The static glowmaps (which is what you see now ingame) are included in the ShineLT build, whereas the animated ones are in the GlowLTL build :)
Modern man is the missing link between ape and human being.

 
Best files for best graphics?
I have extracted them into data/effects mayme wrong?
Quote

ANI Animations: data/maps or data/cbanims or data/hud or data/intelanims or data/effects, depending on content.


By thinking again about this ... the ship ANIs should go into data/maps? But how do i know which ANIs should go where? Any explanation about the different folders for ANIs?

 

Offline karajorma

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Best files for best graphics?
Quote
Originally posted by Snake_Plissken
I have extracted them into data/effects mayme wrong?


Yeah. Data/maps is where animated textures go. Data/effects used to be fine but then it was found that techroom animations were being pasted onto missiles cause the game thought that they were textures so they had to code in that Data\maps was the only folder in which a texture would be found.

As for which build. I personally use Taylor's latest build as it has some rather nifty pilot code in it which makes it a lot easier to run several different mods without needing a new pilot file for each one. You should back up your pilot file (look in data\players\single\) before using it though in case your pilot file gets corrupted and you have to play the main campaign from mission 1 again.
Karajorma's Freespace FAQ. It's almost like asking me yourself.

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