[Galemp]

They could have done better for something that big. Hexagonal gun barrels that are meant to be round? Sure. A design element on a centerpiece model that is, by itself, larger than most of the game's other ships? They could have rounded it off if they needed to. Plus the texture mapping and model smoothing backs up the Hex-intention theory.

That said, RagingLoli's model could make a nice post-Capella Arcadia retrofit.

[Skarab]

While I think a updated Arcadia could be made to look fantastic either way, I have to disagree with the idea that the devs originally wanted the center piece to be hex.  I think, like a few others, that poly limits of the day probably had more to do with that decision than anything.  Design elements around that hex shape were likely put there to offset the low-poly blockiness of it.  I believe that were FS2 being made now by the same devs, with our current crop of available hardware in mind, you wouldn't have seen a Arcadia with a hexagonal opening like that.  I have to believe that they would have ended up with something closer to resembling ragingloli's.  Nevertheless, going with the hex shape isn't necessarily a bad thing.  That can be made to look good as well, so I'm definitely looking forward to see how this turns out.

[Droid803]

Hex for Mediavps, then make a rounded one for people to use if they want to.
So simple, why are people still arguing about it? 

[Skarab]

Doesn't seem like any argument is going on really, just different ideas being tossed around.  Regardless, the idea of having 2 models like that is probably the best route to take, whatever someone's preference between round or hex might be.  Perhaps take an approach similar to the Cain/Lilith, having it essentially the exact same model with the only real difference being that center area.

[Kolgena]

While I think a updated Arcadia could be made to look fantastic either way, I have to disagree with the idea that the devs originally wanted the center piece to be hex.  I think, like a few others, that poly limits of the day probably had more to do with that decision than anything.  Design elements around that hex shape were likely put there to offset the low-poly blockiness of it.  I believe that were FS2 being made now by the same devs, with our current crop of available hardware in mind, you wouldn't have seen a Arcadia with a hexagonal opening like that.  I have to believe that they would have ended up with something closer to resembling ragingloli's.  Nevertheless, going with the hex shape isn't necessarily a bad thing.  That can be made to look good as well, so I'm definitely looking forward to see how this turns out.

Following this logic, the Fenris should be made of cones and tubes. Personally, I'd find that distasteful.

[Hades]

While I think a updated Arcadia could be made to look fantastic either way, I have to disagree with the idea that the devs originally wanted the center piece to be hex.  I think, like a few others, that poly limits of the day probably had more to do with that decision than anything.  Design elements around that hex shape were likely put there to offset the low-poly blockiness of it.  I believe that were FS2 being made now by the same devs, with our current crop of available hardware in mind, you wouldn't have seen a Arcadia with a hexagonal opening like that.  I have to believe that they would have ended up with something closer to resembling ragingloli's.  Nevertheless, going with the hex shape isn't necessarily a bad thing.  That can be made to look good as well, so I'm definitely looking forward to see how this turns out.

Following this logic, the Fenris should be made of cones and tubes. Personally, I'd find that distasteful.

Depends on how it's done.

Still, the hexagonal shape has not been reworked for FS2, and has been assumed to be what the designers wanted. Changing it, especially given those extensions that were made to fit them, is a bad idea for the mediavps model.

You do know Volition didn't even touch any of the od FS1 models, and that they just ported them over to the FS2 engine, right? I'm just making sure.

[Woolie Wool]

While I think a updated Arcadia could be made to look fantastic either way, I have to disagree with the idea that the devs originally wanted the center piece to be hex.  I think, like a few others, that poly limits of the day probably had more to do with that decision than anything.  Design elements around that hex shape were likely put there to offset the low-poly blockiness of it.  I believe that were FS2 being made now by the same devs, with our current crop of available hardware in mind, you wouldn't have seen a Arcadia with a hexagonal opening like that.  I have to believe that they would have ended up with something closer to resembling ragingloli's.  Nevertheless, going with the hex shape isn't necessarily a bad thing.  That can be made to look good as well, so I'm definitely looking forward to see how this turns out.

The Arcadia was a huge (for FS1) model that you would never see more than one of at a time. If they wanted more detail on the tunnel bit, they could've added it, the polycount upgrade required to change the tunnel to 12 sides or so would not have much. They didn't. The texture mapping actually accents the hexagonal shape rather than hiding it, suggesting that it was there by design. The entire way the model is textured draws the viewer's attention directly to the center bit and its hexagonal shape. It's not a "limitation"; it was made that way on purpose.

[blowfish]

The genreal aesthetics of fs1 terran ships would suggest that such things would be angular.

[Mongoose]

I agree that ragingloli's model looks fantastic, but even putting the center hole aside (I'm in the hexagonal camp, for the record), I think it almost looks too smoothed-over, too render-ish, to be used as a MediaVP model.  It's one thing to smooth out curves that were obviously on the model in the first place (see: just about every Vasudan ship), but reducing everything on the Arcadia to big sweeping curves makes it lose that big blocky FS1-Terran feel that the retail model conveyed.  I'd personally much prefer something like a combination of VA's framework and FSF's overall layout.

[Skarab]

Poly limits in a given mission featuring an arcadia wouldn't be broken by a few more polies in the hex section, but making that section nice & round would have looked a bit out of place when all the other ships at that time were pretty blocky overall, terrans in particular.  Back in that day, polycount in a certain scene could get out of hand in a hurry with the average hardware on a pc of the time.  Plus, in this situation, to me it's a showdown between "rule of cool" while at the same time avoiding straying too radically from the original design.  Staying with a hex-shaped center satisfies both of those, as I know without a doubt that maintaining that shape doesn't at all mean a new Arcadia is going to look any less great for that reason alone.  However, if the only thing on the model different was a circular opening as opposed to a hex, that won't come anywhere close to making it unidentifiable for me.  Once again the best idea is one that's already been stated... make one of each.

[mjn.mixael]

One of each is cool, but it's easy to request that when we aren't doing the work. I know what it is like to have everyone calling for something that requires a TON of work but may or may not be worth the gain... (Just go read the cutscene upgrade topic).

RgaNoris does some really fantastic work, but we don't want to overwork him. He has a life of his own and should not be at our beck and call whenever we want something our way...

RgaNoris: I would say to only do the round version if you've got the time and/or desire.

[Hellstryker]

You do realize making a circular and hexagonal hole is not 'a ton of work', right?

Either way, why not make a poll about it?

[The E]

You .... haven't read the thread, have you?

[mjn.mixael]

You do realize making a circular and hexagonal hole is not 'a ton of work', right?

You are forgetting everything down the line that needs to happen... Changing the model that much will probably require new UVs, then there is everything involved with the conversion process and getting it into the game.

But if it's really not 'a ton of work'... why don't you do it?

[Rga_Noris]

This whole thing is a ton of work. Neither model is anywhere near even smelling like a convertable mesh. Neither is completely UV'ed. Ragingloli's is Hole-O-Riffic. Once I finish that part, I can make the hexagon. But only then.

[Maverick]

All i can say is that once either one of the models are complete, round or hex, its going to be sex for the eyes.... this has been a long time coming.

[Nyctaeus]

Ok, I'm trying to convert it and I find some bug.

Docking points on the landing plate, from the bottom side. They're seems to be uvmapped from the inner side. I'm not a modeller or uvmapper, so I don't know whether it is a bug but it doesn't look good.

[General Battuta]

Ok, I'm trying to convert it and I find some bug.
*snip* Docking points on the landing plate, from the bottom side. They're seems to be uvmapped from the inner side. I'm not a modeller or uvmapper, so I don't know whether it is a bug but it doesn't look good.

I think your answer may lie here. 

This whole thing is a ton of work. Neither model is anywhere near even smelling like a convertable mesh. Neither is completely UV'ed. Ragingloli's is Hole-O-Riffic. Once I finish that part, I can make the hexagon. But only then.

The models aren't finished or ready for conversion.

[FreeSpaceFreak]

Ok, I'm trying to convert it and I find some bug.
*snip*
Docking points on the landing plate, from the bottom side. They're seems to be uvmapped from the inner side. I'm not a modeller or uvmapper, so I don't know whether it is a bug but it doesn't look good.

The normals are facing the wrong way, you need to flip them. But indeed, that model is not intended to be used in-game as is, especially the big plate needs more work.

[Nyctaeus]

Converted

It's not a bad placeholder. I'm going to import and adapt glowpoints from low-poly Arcadia.