[jkalltheway]

Hey guys, I've been playing freespace for a relatively short amount of time. I recently started the derelict campaign, and i noticed that my graphics didn't look as sharp as some other peoples. i was wondering if you guys could tell me what i could do to make things look, for lack of a better term Prettier. I will provide additional screenshots if requested. Also, one thing i noticed is that the stars in the background dont seem to work. I remember lobo helped me with this problem earlier, but the problem with the stars was never solved.

[attachment deleted by Tolwyn]

[blowfish]

Firstly, you don't have mediavps enabled.  I'd recommend looking at the "How to get the most graphics-wise out of Freespace" thread...

[Jeff Vader]

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,53294.0.html

The instructions are almost the same for the 3.6.8 MediaVPs and the 3.6.10 MediaVPs. Except that the 3.6.8's lack normal maps.

Also, see Karajorma's FreeSpace FAQ, particularly the part about using mods. You'll need mod.ini files in mod folders so that the MediaVPs are used in conjunction with the mod.

[jkalltheway]

okay, will try. thanks

[jkalltheway]

Theres a problem with a planet in one of the derelict missions, it just looks really odd. More annoying than anything. Also, thanks for the help on previous problems. it has solved most of my other graphical wants.

[attachment deleted by Tolwyn]

[Mongoose]

That's probably more a symptom of your resolution than anything else.  FS2 was designed to be run at 1024x768 resolution, and even quite a bit of the fan-created content was intended for that size.  If you run at a widescreen resolution, things tend to get stretched out horizontally...as you can tell from the fact that your radar isn't a perfect circle.

[Jeff Vader]

What build were you using? 3.6.10 builds (such as the Recommended build linked in my signature) have an implemented widescreen fix. It will resolve all other stretching problems except the HUD and interface art (for obvious reasons).

[Herra Tohtori]

Actually there's a bug that causes round background objects to become ellipses on widescreen resolutions. And no, it's not that the planet is squeezed flat horizontally in regards to monitor frame, but it actually is distorted on the background...




Bizarrely, changing the background parametres in the mission to

ScaleX=100% (ie. 2.00000)
ScaleY=110% (ie. 2.20000)

makes the planets very close to round, at least on this particular resolution (1680x1050), but fixing a code issue by deforming the media is something Microsoft would do rather than what should be done.

On another topic that planet looks like the retail PlanetA1 rather than any MediaVP variant of it, so question arises whether you have any mediaVP's actually working after all...

[jkalltheway]

hm... the reoccurring problem seems to be my mediavps. I think that i have them all installed correctly, and placed in the correct folders but one can never be sure. I am using the 3.6.10 version of the game, also how do i change the background parameters? Part of the problem might be the whole "mod.ini" part of it. What exactly is mod.ini, and how do i go about changing that?

[Jeff Vader]

Part of the problem might be the whole "mod.ini" part of it. What exactly is mod.ini, and how do i go about changing that?

Described in Karajorma's FreeSpace FAQ's modding section. Has certain functions, such as showing campaign description, campaign web site link, campaign forum link and campaign banner under the Launcher's MOD tab, when the specific mod is selected. And, most importantly, allows the usage of two or more mod folders simultaneously. For example, if you have FSPort and the MediaVPs installed and you want to play FSPort with the MediaVP enhancements, you'll need a mod.ini in the \fsport\ folder telling the game engine to also read the \mediavps\ folder.

Mod.inis really shouldn't cause issues like this, in short.

[jkalltheway]

Screens of my folders. maybe it might help?

[attachment deleted by Tolwyn]

[Wanderer]

Your mediavp directory is a mess. It seems to have atleast 3.6.8 zeta mediavps, 3.6.10 betamedia vps and then some additional vp files spread all over.

[Jeff Vader]

1. Remove mv_cell.vp.
2. Files beginning with MV_ are 3.6.10 MediaVPs. Files beginning with either mv_ or mp-710_ are 3.6.8 MediaVPs (most likely). Please select one release and move the other one away. Mixing two separate MediaVP releases is never fun.
3. Where did you get sdr003.vp? From the filename I'd assume it's a rather old one. Can't remember a good link for the recommended shader at the moment, though.

[Wobble73]

1. Remove mv_cell.vp.
2. Files beginning with MV_ are 3.6.10 MediaVPs. Files beginning with either mv_ or mp-710_ are 3.6.8 MediaVPs (most likely). Please select one release and move the other one away. Mixing two separate MediaVP releases is never fun.
3. Where did you get sdr003.vp? From the filename I'd assume it's a rather old one. Can't remember a good link for the recommended shader at the moment, though.

Isn't that one of the shader VP's?

[Jeff Vader]

It is. I was just wondering. If the shader vps are numbered in order of appearance, 003 would sound rather old compared to 1119, for example.

[Wanderer]

Hmm.. IIRC 003 is the 'id number' of the shader vp... while the 1119 was simply the date when that vp was compiled.. (ie 19th Nov). So IIRC the 003 is more recent than the 1119

[Jeff Vader]

Ah, ok then. So, if you, jkalltheway, want to use the 3.6.10 MediaVPs, leave the shader vp to \mediavps\. Otherwise it would be good to move it away.

[jkalltheway]

so say that i wanted to use the 3.6.10 vps, which ones should i move away? if i took everything but the MVs, i would only have 2 of them and that seems a little light. Or would that be the correct amount?

[Jeff Vader]

The release thread for the 3.6.10 MediaVPs is here. You'll need at least Core, Assets and Effects to have a working set. AdvancecEffects can be used if your rig can take it. Music has some higher-quality tracks but at least a while back it did **** up at least the main hall track of Blue Planet with its mighty .tbm.

[jkalltheway]

yeah, thats the link i got the mediavps off of originally, but would this solve hte problem with the planets? somehow i doubt it.