Backdrop revolution!

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Backdrop revolution!

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DTM
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Post by DTM » Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:40 pm

Thanks to JeremyaFr's editors, I'm working on new backdrops...and starfield!
After 15 years of boring starfilield, finally...





These images show pictures of the first Azzameen Campaign mission, with a new starfiled added. The new starfiled requires only 1 backdrops' slot. Best using 2 slots, one for the galactic horizon, one for the galactic poles.
This starfiled works in combination with every star and planet deafult backdrop.

Next step:
- new high definition planets, stars and nebulas
- new atmospheric skies :D

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Vince T
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Post by Vince T » Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:16 pm

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?!?

Damn that's awesome! You guys finally broke down the walls!
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Rookie_One1
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Post by Rookie_One1 » Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:27 pm

i'm voting to include that in the project
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DTM
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Post by DTM » Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:31 pm

You have to know that it does not work in skirmish mode, because it's a backdrop.

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DTM
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Post by DTM » Tue Jun 17, 2014 5:15 pm

Do you remember the sky made by Frakel?
Now it's possible to have an high definition sky with terrain using only 4 backdrops!!!




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Atx
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Post by Atx » Tue Jun 17, 2014 6:36 pm

Thumbs Up! :)
The Navbuoy is closed...long live the XWAU!!!

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Post by Maktaz » Thu Jun 19, 2014 10:16 pm

I was wondering the other day if this was actually possible, I guess here's my answer. It looks great so far!

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Post by Fek'LeyrTarg » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:46 pm

Rookie_One1 wrote:i'm voting to include that in the project
I agree.

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Post by rmorali » Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:19 pm

Awesome!!!

This doesn´t work in skirmish mode? Why?

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Post by Rasalas » Sat Jun 21, 2014 2:31 pm

rmorali wrote:This doesn´t work in skirmish mode? Why?
Backdrops are randomly chosen by XWA's engine each time you change something in the settings of the skirmish. Also their scaling is more or less random. Backdrops in need of a specific setup will not work because of that.

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JaggedFel
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Post by JaggedFel » Mon Jun 23, 2014 4:45 am

Have you tried building the "temp.tie" skirmish mission file with backdrops in an editor and then setting it to read-only? Same trick to make multiplayer missions. I'm pretty sure the backdrops do carry through and aren't overwritten.
Ye Olde Galactic Empire Mission Editor v1.15.6
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Libraries / Format specs: *.tie, *.plt, *.tfr, *.lfd , *.act, *.dat image files, *.fnt

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DTM
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Post by DTM » Mon Jun 23, 2014 2:52 pm

I'm working on new 1024x1024 backdrop DAT files, devoting 2 not-used slots for the starfield system. When the DAT files are ready, I will add the starfiled backdrops to all Campaign missions. To install these files a new patch will be required to fix backdrop's dimension (I'm testing it in these days).

This is an experiment... :?
IF everything will be ok, THAN I will propose the new backdrop's and mission's files to the other team members.

The new starfield will not work using normal skirmish mode, because the system choose randomly the mission backdrops. If everything will be ok, than I will release an empty mission file, with the backdropos for the starfield, as example to build new campaign mission. I confirm it's also possible to create skirmish missions with the new starfield, building the "temp.tie" skirmish mission file in an editor and setting it to read-only. I'm useing this little trick to test the backdrops. ;)

I will keep you informed!

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Post by Bman » Tue Jun 24, 2014 12:19 am

Awesome. DTM, have you also tested the "WrapBack.dat" file? I think this could be key to getting some enhanced starfields and surrounding nebulae(s) effect. Assuming default images sizes can be changed to 1024x1024.
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Post by rmorali » Mon Jun 30, 2014 11:01 pm

if I understood well you can´t set a entire new backdrop in Skirmish but I think that an enhanced starfield and some random effects would be great tough.
I´m looking forward for your tests ;)

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DTM
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Post by DTM » Tue Jul 01, 2014 3:55 pm

Update: I collected all new high resolution images to replace the original TG backdrops. I will release a new 256x256 backdrop system with advanced starfield system soon. I hope it will become part of the project.

I still don't know about the 1024x1024 version: according with my calculation an high resolution dat file should have a size of 600-800 Mb!!! More test will be needed, but I don't think it will be part of the project. If it does work, I will release it as separate advanced version of the upgrade.

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Driftwood
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Post by Driftwood » Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:09 pm

OOoooooohh... That looks niiiice.

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Post by Griffin » Sun Jul 20, 2014 3:05 am

Looks great!

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Post by Rogue62095 » Sat Sep 06, 2014 6:31 am

Beautiful, can't believe it looks so good.

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Post by Ramshu » Sun Sep 07, 2014 11:02 am

I'm lovin it!!

"Nasios pa vola"

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DTM
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Post by DTM » Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:37 am

The patch will use 512x512 images as standard size for the backdoprs. I'm testing all campagn missions.
I will release an ALLIED Library file to give you the ability to insert the starfiled to all custom missions.








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Ramshu
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Post by Ramshu » Mon Sep 08, 2014 12:04 pm

I don't wait more!!! release this starfields!!

"Nasios pa vola"

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Rookie_One1
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Post by Rookie_One1 » Wed Sep 10, 2014 2:00 am

a proof that we are still alive! :D
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Post by Bman » Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:36 am

Nice. Now we have to redo some of our DAT files for TFTC. :-) Keep up great work. Like bespin sky opt you did, great to see battles take place in planet atmospheres besides everything being in space. Even planet surfaces. Using a big opt file + new backdrops = great combo.

Question... can XWA display *.bmp files saved as *.png format within DAT files? This is highest quality and best compression format around which could get around the large .DAT file size problems especially if using up to 1024x1024 pixel sizes. Isn't every .DAT file basically a mini-database of images and attributes types etc. ? There a solution ?
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JaggedFel
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Post by JaggedFel » Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:41 am

DAT archives are basically composed of images in a modified ACT format with some wrappers. I don't know about trying to get XWA to load a format it's not expecting...
Ye Olde Galactic Empire Mission Editor v1.15.6
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Libraries / Format specs: *.tie, *.plt, *.tfr, *.lfd , *.act, *.dat image files, *.fnt

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Post by rogue518 » Thu Sep 18, 2014 3:21 pm

DTM... this looks great can't wait to have this in-game..... ;)

Sincerely, Rogue518
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