[DaBrain]

I need help with some tests concerning EFF.

First I need a mass renaming programm. I hope there is something like this out there. Otherwise I'll have to rename thousands of frames.

I'm short in time, so I need you to test some things and do the rename work. I'll try to be at least one time online each day.
Also you'll have to write a EFF file, nothing more complicated than a table.

Here is everything you need to know:
http://www.sectorgame.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1230&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=52d9ceea1ffebf9a97a168f358645108

What you get: The effect itself. And you are allowed to use the effect for your mod without any further permission. At one point you'll probably get preview or Beta effects.
As soon as all effects are done, I'll release a complete build. You'll find your name under 'Special thanks'



I'll start with the shockwave.

http://www.8ung.at/dabrain/shockwave_test.rar DOWN
(101 fames 512² DDS, DXT5 compression)
Note: This effect has a size of 25 MB! (1,6 MB with RAR compression.)

Use this one
92 frames, DDS DXT5, 23MB in-game memory usage. (1,1MB compressed DL size)
->Download<- (New version)

Please give me some feedback, or I can't start working on this until next year or even later.

[Mongoose]

Looks like the Eye of Sauron.

[aldo_14]

ACD See supports mass renaming (it's an image viewer).  Should be fully functional shareware, the version I use the only limitation is a nag box IIRc.

[DaBrain]

Thanks.
Could be just what I need.

[Taristin]

Irfanview is a renamer too... AFAIK.

[Black Wolf]

PSP 8 has batch processing/renaming capabilities that I've found invaluable for post production when animating.

[Bobboau]

you could just make a batch file

[karajorma]

Irfanview's batch rename is pretty easy to use. If you have any trouble with it just catch me on ICQ.

[DaBrain]

So, is anyone here interested in running some quality tests with the effect?

[DaBrain]

Uh, well that slows me down.

Anyway:

It's a shame what DXT5 did to my uncompressed frames, but still better than what Bright (256c converter) did to them.

No performance problems so far. They should be there, but I had no problems (and I'm not running a uber-system) . Even more confusing is, that there is no slowdown, when I'm close up to the effect, like what happend for ANIs.



BTW the frames are now renamed and the EFF file is included. That means you just have to extract everything in the package to your /data/effects folder.
Download Final version!
(99 fames 512² DDS, DXT5 compression)
Note: This effect has a size of 24 MB! (1,75 MB with RAR compression.)

As Lightspeed guessed the comression quality loss is lessened by the animation.











Just to compare. The 256c shockwave (blue version)

Note: Perfect palette opimization.


You can find better shots of the new effect here:
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,25406.0.html

[wolfdog]

Shockwave goes a little too fast IMO.....  but that's not your fault...
 it looks great:) actually.. I love it.

oh, and btw...   i think you need this build to see it: (for people too lazy to actually read the thread linked to in the first post:D)

http://icculus.org/~taylor/fso/willrobinson/20041029-win32.zip

[redmenace]

[DaBrain]

Originally posted by wolfdog
Shockwave goes a little too fast IMO.....  but that's not your fault...
 it looks great:) actually.. I love it.

oh, and btw...   i think you need this build to see it: (for people too lazy to actually read the thread linked to in the first post:D)

http://icculus.org/~taylor/fso/willrobinson/20041029-win32.zip

It should work with all new builds.

[aldo_14]

Sorry to be dense, but where do these files go?

NB: re speed, does the game store the entire effect frameset or just the one frame in ram when it plays?

[DaBrain]

All files come to the \effects folder.


I have no clue about the storage system...


Btw, what does "NB" stand for?

[aldo_14]

Nota bine; side note

[DaBrain]

I should try to rembemer this.




Topic: I found a much better way to create better results, with less space.
(1024² effect, 14 MB). But it's to big for my tiny webspace with it's 6 MB even compressed.

[Grimloq]

as a semi-random thought:

is it possible to code/animate stuff so that we would actually have 2 shockwaves for each shockwave? like, one how it is now (or how dabrain is doing it ) and the other one kinda smokey, maybe have some debris animated in it for coolnesss sake?

i hope that made sence

i also hopee you can read my typing, myy fingers are VERY vold.

[DaBrain]

Yeah, nice idea. (If I got it right )


Uhm, well  is there somebody willing to host this effect?

I've 'improved' my shockwave and it now consits of 8-bit PCX frames. But each frame has an unique palette! It looks great.

[Grimloq]

ooohh, very nice. illl host it for you, but i only got about 3 megs of storage space, and i cant host it for long. want me to PM you me email addy? (id post it up, but im really paranoid )


BTW, what build are you using in those shots? the thruster glow looks... different...