[WIP] OLC Environment for GWX 2.0 (BETA)

[onelifecrisis]

The beta test is now closed to applications. Thanks to all who have offered to help!

This is a complete environment (graphic) upgrade for GWX 2.0. It changes lighting (and, by extension, lighting effects) and reflections, and all the environment colours, among other things. As well as making the game look nicer, the mod includes a lot fixes. As most of these simply make things look better I won't list them all, but some notable fixes are:

• The sun and the moon are now the correct size.
• The sky no longer flickers when water washes over the scope at night.
• The horizon in the 16km Atmosphere has been fixed (the sea goes all the way to the horizon and the sky has haze).

This mod will not affect any sensors. However, tiny adjustments have been made to the visual range of the player to bring it closer to the visual range of the crew. For example, in 8km mode your crew can see ~8.1km, but you can (normally) see about ~9.4km, making your crew seem blind in comparison. In OLC Environment you will be able to see ~9.0km (and your crew, being unaffected by the mod, will still see ~8.1km).

The beta is currently underway. The screenshots below were taken using the beta. They're unaltered in-game screenshots (no photoshopping ). Click on an image to enlarge it.

Cheers
OLC

[Mikhayl]

Now that sounds interesting ! The only reason why I didn't install your night fix is precisely because I like watching the stars, but that blinking thing is still damn annoying.
Oh well now you make me wondering about how and what, can't wait for some shots

[Wilcke]

Looking forward to it!

[Alex]

Quite interesting, Sir ! :hmm:

Let's see what you can come up with !

[Graf Paper]

OLC, you are indeed a genius!

With all the brilliant mods being done around here lately, I'm going to need to have a scorecard just to keep up with it all!

I'd have to say that you're easily in the top ten modders list, at least in my book.

Could you do a more naturally dark night sky version as well? I'm not sure if it's simply due to the North Atlantic latitudes or GWX having a "light night" mod built in but it sure seems awfully bright during the night for me, like the sun has just set.

I would take a shot at darkening the sky, but I have absolutely no idea where to begin.

Perhaps you could document your knowledge for the benefit of the community.

I just draw u-boat emblems. No matter how much I study it, all this "hex" and other esoteric matters of modding remain pure witchcraft to my calcifying neurons.

[Adriatico]

100% supported OLC...

After years of Env. tweaking, sharpening the clouds(?),...etc, we could barely say that latest Environment achievements look better than "original" ones...

With a full respect to technical achivements of GWX, we could hardly say the same for "meteorology" side

Looking forward to your effort... if you make 30% visual success compared to your sea textures - I'll be happy...

Go for it mate

[Adriatico]

Like your night sea

Are these "compared screens" in the same weather condition, or you have sacrified clouds density ?

[Venatore]

Good luck with this matey, I hope it works to your intent

[onelifecrisis]

Originally Posted by Adriatico

Like your night sea

Are these "compared screens" in the same weather condition, or you have sacrified clouds density ?

The screenies are taken in the *exact* same time/place/conditions as each other. As I said the cloud texture is stock which, yes, is less dense than the GWX texture. However, dense clouds suffer a problem in SH3 which is the all-too-visible line between the normal coloured clouds at the top and the fog-coloured clouds near the horizon. This is very visible in the screenies on the left, especially the one in the middle and the one at the bottom.

However I'm working on an alternative solution to this which may allow the best of both worlds... will keep you posted.

Edit: Thanks Ven!

[Mikhayl]

That looks most promising, the clouds in daylight look pretty real :hmm:
The night may be too blue as you said, but still way better looking than the original. I don't know if it's the screenshot or what but I like the "hazy" feel.
Very different bit of work than the GUI stuff but looks like it's also gonna turn into an "indispensable"

[Alex]

Your night sky looks very cool, would look even better if you decide to darken it a bit later, but you still deserve congratulations, Sir !

[Adriatico]

*However I'm working on an alternative solution to this which may allow the best of both worlds... will keep you posted.*

...

[Alex]

Please do so, Sir !

[onelifecrisis]

Originally Posted by Alex

Your night sky looks very cool, would look better if you decide to darken it a bit, but you still deserve congratulations, Sir !

Thanks. The night sky itself is actually the exact same colour as the GWX one. :hmm: If you look at the screenies above and imagine the clouds aren't there in the GWX shot, you'll see what I mean. What I've done is made the night-time clouds almost the same colour as the night sky - which after all, they are (IRL) - and I've removed the black colour from the haze on the horizon. On a clear night the sky itself looks exactly the same as GWX except for the lack of black haze.

[Letum]

No more pitch black horizon!
We will be able to see ships at night without daft gamma adjustments!

OLC! I love you! ....errr....*cough*.....I mean I love your work!