FOTRS question

[Fifi]

Hi,

Is there any difference in sea rendering between FOTRS 1.3 and FOTRS 2 ?
And between FOTRS 1.3 and FOTRSU?

Just about the sea graphical rendering.

Thanks for the info

[CapnScurvy]

I can't speak for the other FOTRS versions, but Fotrs Ultimate definitely has changes made to the environmental graphics!

Not just the sea, but distant environmental view capabilities too.

Not to get into the weeds too far, but as an example Ultimate has the moon in it's night sky......FOTRS does not.

[Fifi]

Yes the moon missing is very strange. Everything seems to be ok in the folders for the moon though.
I still don’t understand for the moment.
I should download FOTRSU to see what difference in the folders (or in the scene data) makes the moon appear for FOTRSU, but my internet is so slow that’s a pain...
I can check on TMO nevertheless

[CapnScurvy]

Yes, compare....or just take a look at these images. These are taken from the first patrol of the game, at Pearl, at the "Sea" start position. You're looking from the Bridge Station back towards the Oahu Island, about 5 nm away:



Here's the Stock game:




This is the same view in TMO 2.5:





Here's Ultimate's view:





Notice the difference.....like, where's the island in the previous top images?? You can see there's a "reflection" in the water, but no island?! AT 5 nautical miles distance, you should be able to "see" the Oahu Island.

This wasn't by "accident" for Ultimate. I made sure what you'd expect, is what you'll get with the environment. You may also notice the difference in the Island "size" when comparing the Stock game image to Ultimate's. The fact is the optics in Ultimate is as close to real life as it comes when measuring objects. 1000 yards wide is 1000 yards wide in Ultimate.

Speaking of the moon, here's the Stock moon compared to Ultimate's using the same test mission:







I think the images speak for their selves?

[Fifi]

Yes CapnScurvy, the difference is enormous! Looks like an other sim...

As for FOTRS 1.3 by the way (except the moon missing)

Talking about environment, FOTRS have the best SH4 sea rendering by far.
Colors seem to me perfect, only the night sky is not dark enough IMHO. I used to prefer the TMO nights better. Just my taste (even lowering gamma in FOTRS)

I’m completely stuck at getting back the moon in FOTRS. I tried everything i could think of. But i’m not such a good modder than you...
The only thing i did with success, is to give TMO the exact sea rendering as FOTRS (and by the way i have the TMO moon)

[CapnScurvy]

I'll have to get back to you...….I forget what I did, but I can find it.

I've been up to my ears in making the Hydrophone work for all ships, at all reasonable speeds, for Ultimate. We're in the final phase with good results. You'll finally "hear" that slowed down 5 knot Destroyer as it passes by.

[Fifi]

Originally Posted by CapnScurvy

I'll have to get back to you...….I forget what I did, but I can find it.

About getting back FOTRS moon?
That would be awesome

[CapnScurvy]

Fifi, when I checked the original FOTRS files, I noticed something out of wack with the Moon.dds images that are in the Data/Texture/TNormal/tex folder. There are two images used, one containing the moon in its different moon phases (moon.dds) and it's hallo counterpart (moon_hallo.dds). What's out of wack was the size of the moon_hallo.dds.....it's a 1024x1024?!? The actual moon.dds that has the various moon phases is only 512x512....same as the Stock game (by the way....if you ever need to see "What's a good thing to do with the game??", just follow what the Stock game does!! 95% of the time, the Stock game is correct).

So, someone decided to use their own images for the moon, the FOTRS created date's for the "moon.dds" is 10/25/1008 and the "moon_hallo.dds" is 9/30/2008.....the Stock game "moon.dds" and "moon_hallo.dds" both have a created date of 1/30/2007. Along with one image being a larger size than it should be, when compared to the Stock game....there's your trouble.



I simply copied back into the mod the original Stock game moon images for both the TNormal and TLowRes folders and POOF......you've got a moon when it's supposed to be.

I'll admit, the Stock game does render the moon when it's historically accurate VERY WELL!! The moon phases are spot on, and so is the difference between what the moon should look like between the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.....They did a great job rendering the thing. I have no idea if the time of day is accurate for a moon rise/set, but I think it is!! They did a whale of a job with it!

I did "fudge" around with the moon size in the Data/scene.dat file, but I'm not going to give away ALL my secrets!!

[Fifi]

That’s excellent find CapnScurvy!

Thanks a lot for this

The tip should even be sticky for those who want the moon back in FOTRS

[Fifi]

Hummm... replaced the files but no result...
Did exactly what you’ve explained.

[propbeanie]

Do a temporary test New Career, and see if it doesn't pull the files in.

Originally Posted by Fifi

Hummm... replaced the files but no result...
Did exactly what you’ve explained.

Did you forget something?
Hope you have built it for testing as a single mod - so you can always activate and deactivate it via JSGME and control the path of your work at any time...

[Fifi]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

Do a temporary test New Career, and see if it doesn't pull the files in.

Yep, still nothing...

@ Bleiente: did as you said

Mhmm ... I do not remember, as I did in my mod pack two years ago. In my memory TMO / RSRDC the moon did not work at all.

You could alternatively download FortsU or my pack and compare the corresponding files, as described by CapnScurvy.

Or even easier - try this...
Real Environment RSRDC_TMO by Kriller + Caustic
http://workupload.com/file/kdwbDXp
This environmental mod should also work on the older versions of Forts.

[CapnScurvy]

Fifi, which specific FOTRS mod are you attempting to add the moon to? I'll need to run the same one you have in order to "see" what you're "seeing"?

A couple of things:

*Have you confirmed your Stock game is exactly as you had it when it was first installed....no corruption to the files, no "left over" mod files in the Stock game. I'm going to assume you know how to easily check this?

*Are you using any other mods with the version of FOTRS you're using now?

*Have you deleted your "Document/SH4" folder, and allowed the game to rebuild it's files there after it restarts with the FOTRS mod (with the changes included)?