[Aardwolf]

I'm working on the Knossos! Despite the fact that the Knossos is not seen up-close very often, and despite the fact that there are numerous cb-ani illustrations depicting the retail model, I figured it would be an interesting experiment.

So far, I haven't really done much other than making some parts of the big piece smoother, but I've got some vague ideas of how I might proceed beyond that.

I'm probably going to make a model based on the little round wheel-like things in the 3rd texture, and copy/paste/scale/distort that in various places, when I get to doing those parts.

The glowy electric-looking things I'm thinking will be indented, and may have cable-like strands running along them. On the front of the big piece, I'm thinking about making the two glowy sections that come from the sides meet up with the one on the bottom in some maybe-interesting way.

Some of the greebles in the textures look not-too-alien, so I may do those as exposed/indented areas as well. The sort of shell-like layered patterns I haven't really figured out yet, whether they should be modeled in or left as texture-only.

I haven't really got anything screenshot-worthy, but once I've got something I'll upload pics.





Edit: some reference images, since I haven't got much better to show at this point...

   

[Droid803]

What happened to the Azrael? Did you finish that?

[FreeSpaceFreak]

Yay, another Ancient to be upgraded
I think the shells will be just fine with normal maps, no need to model them in.

[Snail]

The electric bit would look better with an animated glowmap than cables. IMO.

[SypheDMar]

Actually, I think the textures look great. I kinda want to see it on the whole thing before making my opinion, though.

[FreeSpaceFreak]

Actually, I think the textures look great. I kinda want to see it on the whole thing before making my opinion, though.

These are the retail textures

[SypheDMar]

 

[Colonol Dekker]

I need reference to base an opinion, it's like showing me a birds knee and asking me if i think she's hot

[Mongoose]

I don't think I've ever looked at the Knossos closely enough to notice any of those texture details.

[Davin]

Last time I saw a Knossos that close up my fighter turned into a shortlived fireball a few seconds later.

[Aardwolf]

In the mission where the second Knossos is discovered (I think it was "Straight, No Chaser") I often find myself getting uncomfortably close to the Knossos.

[Snail]

Honestly I think the more often seen details would be glows rather than indentations. I don't think too much detail on the engravings etc. is necessary.

[Aardwolf]

First screenshot!



As you can see, I haven't deviated much from the shape. I've been focusing on smoothing out some parts. One change I did make, however, is a bit hard to illustrate with a single screenshot; the thin, flat part in the middle I've made into a sort of I-beam shape, because the retail model's 6-polygon shape was a bit uninspiring.

Edit: Second screenshot!



This is a "front" view of the same piece. You can see the little electric-like bits running along both sides and converging underneath... I'm thinking that could probably look pretty cool...

[Snail]

Comparison shots would be cool. Though, I'm hoping when this is further along we won't need them to tell the difference.

[Droid803]

Textureless render please?
Can't really tell what happened right there so it's hard to comment either way.

[Aardwolf]

'Lo and be-holde, mine un-textured comparison Shottes:

[The E]

Looks like lots of polys, but little to no added detail to me.

[Aardwolf]

Well yeah, so far all I've been doing is trying to avoid needlessly sticking to the original's edges/verts by smoothing the faces that I reckon ought to be smoothed, in advance.

[Snail]

Looks like lots of polys, but little to no added detail to me.

Yeah. A lot like the Sobek.

[Stormkeeper]

... To be absolutely honest, despite the fact that the Knossos is probably one of the major plot objects in FS2, I've always payed little to no attention to it.

But you can never have enough high-poly stuff, so bring it on!

On a side note, I actually thought this had something to do with the code or something for the Knossos ......