Combined SH4 Scene for SH3 version 3. [Archive]

Reece

03-30-08, 02:59 AM

Hi All, this release includes a new version of the sun that in past versions the sun halo was decreased in size but when behind clouds & setting, the bloom would gradually shrink to a small glow in the center of the large red ball of the sun & wasn't very pleasing to see, this version attempts to fix that but unfortunately in SH3 the daytime sun, even by default, is smaller than the setting sun, should be the other way around, this is a trade of but looks better than stock IMO::yep:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Reecehk/Sunset2.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Reecehk/Sunset3.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Reecehk/Sunset4.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Reecehk/Sunset5.jpg
And this shot behind clouds:
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Reecehk/Sunsetbehindclouds.jpg
Not related but a shot with the Arctic Env:
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Reecehk/Arctic.jpg

I didn't release as a separate mod due to the fact that the scene.dat file had to be edited, also have done some further tweaks to improve the overall effects and some reported texture problems.
Also the "SH4 16k Atmosphere for SH3 v2" version has the slightly lighter night incorporated.
Downlod:
Removed!
See readme for credits.
Cheers,
Reece.

NOTE: This version was corrupt, a new 16k version is now available here, 8k later:
http://files.filefront.com/SHIV+Scene+for+SH3+16k+v3brar/;10000633;/fileinfo.html

3Jane

03-30-08, 05:03 AM

Is the 'smaller moon' option amalgamated into the mod as a standard fixture. In the readme file it says select the option if wanted, but the folder is absent. I prefere the smaller moon anyway.

von Zelda

03-30-08, 06:28 AM

Must I wait until I get back to port to install 2.6 version?

Also, in looking through the mod files for the 8k version, I noticed a new sensor.dat file. This file was not in the 2.5 version. What changes have been made to the sensor.dat file?

I also motived that this new 2.6 version has env and sky files; so does this now include the greener atlantic mod? I liked the stock GWX Atlantic colors and did not use the greener atlantic mod; do I need to remove the folder with sky and env files to retain the stock Atlantic colors?

Reece

03-30-08, 07:50 AM

Is the 'smaller moon' option amalgamated into the mod Yes, it seems to be the one most popular, the download is 10mb so I was keeping the size down, sorry I overlooked the readme still having the option.:oops:
Must I wait until I get back to port to install 2.6 version? It should be ok, but I'd wait for a new patrol to be on the safe side!:yep:
I noticed a new sensor.dat file. This file was not in the 2.5 version. What changes have been made to the sensor.dat file? The stock visual sensors are at 8k & if using GWX the 8k is set to 16k, so your crew has super human vision, this dat has the visuals at 11k as on a clear day you can see to that distance. The 16k is too easy, the crew can see aircraft at near 16k & can dive to a safe depth by just taking your time, the stock is the opposite, the crew call aircraft at the same time as a bomb drops on your deck!:lol: This version by hitting crash dive you can usually get down to a safe depth before they drop their load, sometimes before your detected & sometimes just too damn close, I think it's more realistic!:up:
I also motived that this new 2.6 version has env and sky files; so does this now include the greener atlantic mod? I liked the stock GWX Atlantic colors and did not use the greener atlantic mod; do I need to remove the folder with sky and env files to retain the stock Atlantic colors? Just remove the "EnvColors_Atl.dat" file from the Env folder or you could remove all three EnvColors files, all three files are basically the sea colors below and above, the other 3 Env files contain the light night. The main reason for the included Env files are just incase someone has 16k files installed, this would replace them so as not to cause problems - a fail safe if you like!:D

Pablo

03-30-08, 09:46 AM

Wait!

Where's the Green Flash!? Don't you guys have the Green Flash? :p

Pablo

von Zelda

03-30-08, 06:41 PM

Must I wait until I get back to port to install 2.6 version?

Installed at sea during a patrol and mod worked just fine.

Sailor Steve

03-30-08, 10:04 PM

Wait!

Where's the Green Flash!? Don't you guys have the Green Flash? :p

Pablo
I saw it once. At least I convinced myself I did.

Subject

03-31-08, 06:18 AM

Hi Reece!

Have been "figting the sun" here too and rather pleased so far...

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Sunset.jpg

...but when clear sky and sun is up high I get like a green halo around it? Is that related to the SHIV scene? Do you have it?

Otherwise like the scene-work very much. :up:

There are settings in scene.dat regarding sun-size at different angles on the sky, but haven't had the time yet to test it out...

Reece

03-31-08, 06:30 AM

There are settings in scene.dat regarding sun-size at different angles on the sky Have tweaked this area to suit the smaller size! but by all means if you find a better set of values just post em!:yep:
Have been "figting the sun" here too
Actually is this a sun mod your working on or are the comments related to this version?:-?
when clear sky and sun is up high I get like a green halo around it? Is that related to the SHIV scene? Do you have it? I have never seen it, so I can't comment, might help to post a screenie.:)

Subject

03-31-08, 11:13 AM

The green halo...
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Green.jpg

And re. "my" sun.... :rotfl:

I have tested every sun found anywhere and have 5 different of own creation - just had a look to see which one, I'm actually using now.

And it's.... Krillers... ! :rotfl:

So no story to be told there... :oops: http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/biggrin.gif

Will go test yours now. Thanks for your work! :up:

Reece

04-01-08, 04:33 AM

No problems, if you want to fiddle some more then try exporting & importing obj files or the sun_b.tga from the scene.dat file!:up: If you extract the sun_b.tga file then mod it I think you can just place the modded version in the data\Textures\TNormal\tex folder & SH3 will use this over the one in the dat file, don't quote me on this I haven't tried it!:yep:
Cheers.

vickers03

04-05-08, 05:46 PM

hi reece,
i don't know if this was intentional but checking with
s3edit your scene.dat doesn't show any properties
for the EnvSim node?

Subject

04-06-08, 05:17 AM

Hi Reece! Me again! http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/biggrin2.gif

"Problems" solved, but have a few questions, if you don't mind.

Weather.
Feels like stuck here. What settings do you use or recommend in campaign-files?

Banding.
It has clearly been reduced, but still visible in morning and evening transitions. And *very* clear underwater. Running 1600x1200 probably don't help, but is banding cureable at all? Can't remember how it was in SH IV.

... and finally the fog!
Now we're using SHIV scene, can we have real fog? Would love to have this:
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/118/118940/pages/1018083/Foggy.jpg

Image's stolen from the thread "Really environmental 4.0 MOD" here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=133388

It looks stunning (nice to have something to look forward to), but SHIII looks really good with WaterStreams and this SHIV Scene V3.
Thanks a lot! Owe you guys big one! :up:

Reece

04-06-08, 07:32 AM

Hi Subject, regarding weather I'd set the 3 campaign files to stock:

Fog=0
FogRand=0
Clouds=0
CloudsRand=0
Precip=0
PrecipRand=0
WindHeading=0
WindSpeed=7.000000
WindRand=0
WeatherRndInterval=5
SeaType=0

Then apply the Real Weather Fix Mod, by Stiebler and SubType Zero or if you are familiar with minitweaker or S3D adjust the folowing in the Scene.dat file:

Change WindSpeedChangeSpeed to 0.0015.
Change ChangTimeMin to 2.0
Change ChangeTimeMax to 5.0
Change RandomWindSpeedMax to 0.005
Change RandomWindSpeedVariationSpeed to 0.007
Change RandomWindHeadingVariationSpeed to 0.007
Change RainIntensityChangeSpeed to 0.017

This really does work but only after a new patrol.
Banding, I've heard of the term but don't know what it is, post a screenshot of the problem if you like, I only use 1024x768.:-?
The fog in the latest version should be a vast improvement over the previous.

@ vickers03, PM sent.:yep:

Reece

04-06-08, 08:54 AM

Hi, sorry but I made another blunder with the 16k version of the Sunhalo, I used the 8k version & the sun will appear with a square around it,:oops: could you please replace with this: http://files.filefront.com/16k+Sunrar/;9960067;/fileinfo.html
Thanks to Vickers03 for pointing it out.:roll:

Subject

04-06-08, 11:18 AM

Thanks for your reply! :up:

But when I open scene.dat, I have the same issue as Vickers03.
The settings, you are referring to, are in EnvData\Properties, but data shown is Byte [4591]... can scene.dat be corrupt? Has tried a redownload, but got same result.

Re. banding issue.
Under water horizontal bands: - and here the sky in evening transition:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Banding.jpg

Thanks in advance.

3Jane

04-06-08, 02:52 PM

I have been seeing this white fuzziness with v2. I can't recall having seen it before. Is this supposed to be there or do you think my game installation needs renewing. I am using the 16K GWX version 2. The rest of the mod seems to be working well, especially the new cloud textures.
Is it possible to have a version with the darker nights and the moon perhaps a quarter smaller so it looks more balanced with the size of the sun. Overall I think it all makes the game look a lot better especially when used with the water streams mod.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/4195/fuzzwithv2ot7.jpg

Reece

04-06-08, 08:55 PM

Hi all, yes there are a few problems to iron out still, in the interest of the community I am going to hand over the reins to someone else, (if I get any takers) I've done a lot of work on this and losing interest. It is always the way it goes that fixing one problem seems to introduce another, and it's getting a little frustrating now!:-? So please refer to this thread for future developments:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=134649

3Jane

04-06-08, 11:01 PM

Sorry to hear that. Thanks for all the excellent work so far though. This mod has added something great to the game.

Subject

04-07-08, 01:28 PM

Hope I didn't cause that! :huh:

Btw. scene.dat opens just fine in MiniTweaker :up:

Thanks again for your work, Reece. Though "complaining a lot" http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/biggrin3.gif I do find the issues small and easily ignorable.

The game has gained a lot by your modding! :up:

Reece

04-07-08, 08:07 PM

Well I have had so many people rushing in to take over it's amazing, you only have to check out the thread!:lol:
@ Subject, no worries at all there, the problems exist I just not sure how to deal with.
@ Jane, yes somewhere in the 16k atmosphere this was introduced, it may have been the imported file from OLC's 16k scene, may have to test with older versions.

Well if I get no offers to take the job over I will take a break for a while then take another look at these 2 remaining problems in the 16k version, the problem you mentioned Jane I know well, it's one of those things that by adjusting certain settings one area looks great & another like crap & vise versa, the rows of waves in the sea is very noticeable in the 16k scene & the more I try to eliminate this effect the white blur on the horizon shows!:damn: Yes it's a little frustrating but after a rest I will have a closer look at the code.:yep:
Cheers.

Reece

04-07-08, 11:17 PM

Well that was a big rest!!:lol: I think the problem is with OLC's fog, I have gone to a prior version & retweaked, rather than posting a new version I will release as a test, could you please disable the prior version & try this one:
http://files.filefront.com/SHIV+Scene+for+SH3+16k+v3brar/;10000633;/fileinfo.html (http://files.filefront.com/16k+Scene+Test+v1arar/;9970430;/fileinfo.html)
I have included a moded version of the Naval Academy for testing having partial clouds, choppy sea, time set for midday with nights that get dark, sunrise time is 0738 & sunset at 1710, if you want to try in your career it should be ok to use mid patrol.:yep:
Please report your findings.
Thanks.

Wolfehunter

04-08-08, 12:22 AM

Can this be put ontop of OLC's mod? I will test it now if its cool.:smug:

Reece

04-08-08, 12:30 AM

It's an exact opposite to OLC's Environment mod, you would have to disable his first.:yep:

Wolfehunter

04-08-08, 01:03 AM

It's an exact opposite to OLC's Environment mod, you would have to disable his first.:yep:I done that testing now. I just wanted to be sure.;)

Update;

I don't see any problems? What am I suppose to find? Looks good to me. Water moves lovely and it feals alive.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff110/WolfeXhunter/Testreece1.jpg
Here is the test naviation tweak you made. I showing S-Boot AI's ingame.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff110/WolfeXhunter/Testreece2.jpg
Here is the destroyer at final way point. ;)

So what am I looking for? I can't see anything wrong....:hmm: Wait the clouds moving too fast. Unless there is a major storm there too fast.

Looks great dude.:rock:

Reece

04-08-08, 03:22 AM

Thanks, I'm hoping there is nothing wrong, I'm not sure about this banding problem that Subject has been having, I may have it too but not real sure what I'm looking for, unless he is referring to the layers under the water, I certainly see nothing on the surface shot except the light fog effect, maybe cleared up in this version, will wait for his response.:-?:yep:

3Jane

04-08-08, 05:23 AM

Just downloaded the new version. I would be using the 'less reflective' verision my self, but checking through the 'more reflective' folder seems to be empty.

Reece

04-08-08, 05:35 AM

The link is in post #22:yep:

Barbac

04-08-08, 05:52 AM

Just downloaded the new version. I would be using the 'less reflective' verision my self, but checking through the 'more reflective' folder seems to be empty.

Hi 3Jane,

If I am right, the version 3 does not use any new "more reflective" file so just use the one or the "less reflective" if you prefer from the version 2 of the Combined SH4 Scene for SH3 version 2

Am I right Reece ?

Barbac

3Jane

04-08-08, 06:22 AM

Gave the test version a run through, all seems to be fine. The colours, clouds etc look great. The white fuzzyness and the flickering on the horizon are gone. The sun to my mind looks a tiny bit too large once it's above the horizon, but not by much. Otherwise all seems fine. Will give it another run through later this afternoon when I have some more time.

Reece

04-08-08, 07:00 AM

Yes I think most of the problems have been with OLC's fog, probably not compatable with SH4 Scene.dat file.:-?
@ Barbac you are correct however the new test version is on post #22, all prior versions will probably be removed later to clean up as well as less confusion.:yep:

3Jane

04-08-08, 11:15 AM

Just finished testing the new sun size, to my mind it is just right. If it would be possible to make the moon exactly the same size it would be great.

Wolfehunter

04-08-08, 11:35 AM

Reece

04-08-08, 08:23 PM

I don't know if you can fix that underwater layering error?:hmm: At the moment my career is in the Arctic region & this means that all missions, including the naval academy is set with arctic Env, & is too dark (another job) to see this, I wonder if this is present in stock SH3?:-?
@ Katherine, an even smaller moon would take a lot of work, I may try this later!:doh:

Edit: I gave in, very small moon done, maybe I should do a version just a bit smaller than the Sun, PM sent Kathrine.
Edit: OK I did!!:lol:
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Reecehk/Small_Moon.jpg

von Zelda

04-09-08, 05:57 AM

Reece, correct me if I'm wrong. But, it appears that your v3 is exactly the same as v2.6 for the 8k mod. If there are any changes to the 8k portion of the mod (v2.6 to v3.0), please let me know what they are.

By the way, excellent work!

Reece

04-09-08, 06:19 AM

Hi Von Zelda, please refer to post #22 for the latest developments, although the new sun & moon sizes have now been worked out they will not appear till the next version, please test this new version & post your findings.:yep:
Many thanks.

@ WolfHunter & Subject, the layering/banding problem may actually be in the Env files, more testing for this later.

Subject

04-09-08, 11:35 AM

:rotfl: Reece! You Old toughie!

What you call a break, we over here call a nap! http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/bowdown.gif

3 hours!! :rotfl:

--------------------------------
Re. the banding - just for the "fun" of it, I found my old crt-monitor (can't get myself to toss it away) and surely the banding is almost invisible. Even at 1600x1200. Guess you have a crt-monitor, since you can't see banding on my surface shot (no offense!)?

Though my old CRT is a professional 20" monitor, an Eizo T67 (+3000$ :roll: ) it is totally outclassed in every aspect by this cheap 800$ piece of plastic I'm using now, a LG L2000CN.

From the old days I still have the Nokia Screen Tests and especially the contrast-screen shows clearly how superior the LG is. On the Eizo I can only seperate the columns when setting light way up high, while the LG shows each and every column at normal light and view setting. Quite impressive to see them side by side.

Sometime in near future I'll installl my SHIV again with the U-boat Mission and check how it looks.

Re. my question about corrupt scene.dat... I asked skwasjer, why his editor S3D shows Envsim as a chunk of bytes[4591] and he confirmed, it is indeed a corrupt file! I recreated the chunk by reading settings in MiniTweaker and transferred them to the 8K scene.dat. If anyone wants this edit, please pm me (if Reece approves this :oops: ).

Will test your updates later tonight - after Champions League football :rock:

Good to see you back!

3 hours... man... :rotfl:

Wolfehunter

04-09-08, 12:08 PM

Can't you guys remove the corrupted data?:hmm: Or fix it if you know what it fixes? Wheres RB when you need him hay.;)

Reece

04-09-08, 07:31 PM

I have just installed .NET & S3D, will have to familiarize myself with it first before proceding, thanks for the find Subject!:yep: PM sent!

skwasjer

04-10-08, 06:56 AM

Here's what I replied to Reece in a PM, I thought it might be useful for everyone to read and understand the behavior of one key aspect of S3D (regarding controllers and it's data). Unfortunately, due to limited time I don't have sufficient documentation that explains some of the fundamentals to keep in mind when editing the game files (both with and without S3D). In the future I hope to write up more documentation though...

If S3D shows a byte array as controller data this means one of the following:

The controller is not supported. However, most controllers are, and EnvSim surely is supported.
The properties chunk is not tied to a valid controller chunk. However, S3D is smart enough in 99% of the cases to still be able to read the properties. Only 3 out of ~200 property chunks must in fact be tied to a controller chunk or they otherwise can't be read properly. This can usually be fixed by simply linking them to the controller chunk, saving the file and then reload it.
The most common cause I've seen, is simply that the data of the chunk is corrupted because of the use of other tools, like MiniTweaker or a hex editor. With MiniTweaker, the problem isn't so much the tool, but the tweakfiles that are incorrect. So in essence, some settings made with MiniTweaker are written to the incorrect offset. The result is that S3D signals the data is corrupt (using a byte array to keep the rest of the file editable), and the game also is not able to fully read the data correctly, so it will use default values where possible (or CTD if it can't recover), also resulting in behavior that may not be expected by the modder. For example, you change a wave setting, you think it's ok, but the game doesn't and uses a default or faulty value.The last case applies to your scene.dat I guess, because the EnvSim controller is fully supported by S3D. You have two options, one is to fix the chunk manually with a hex editor, or rebuild that chunk (you can import this chunk from the stock file and change it again, this time in S3D). This is what Subject probably means, transfer the values from MiniTweaker (from the old scene.dat) to the new scene.dat (with a stock EnvSim chunk) in S3D.

Important: Keep in mind once a file is saved with S3D, it is no longer compatible with existing tweakfiles! But to be honest, you won't be needing MiniTweaker any longer...

Reece

04-10-08, 10:09 PM

Thank you very much skwasjer, for a most excellent program and for your personal help with this file.;):yep:
Also many thanks to Subject for his help,:yep: hopefully a new version is soon to be released, however before importing, and tweaking for various tastes, I have to learn a lot more about S3D!:up:
Cheers.

Reece

04-13-08, 07:22 AM

Hi, this latest 16k version has new moon & sun. All prior versions (8 & 16k) have been corrupt, it's not known if any problems would have actually shown up, but atleast it's been fixed thanks to skwasjer & his S3D tool!:up:
Please report any problems, or other remarks, this release contains a GWX version & an "all other" version, the latter contains a set of ENV files that I have edited more to my taste, if you don't like you can always revert to the Env files from a previous version. please let me know what you think anyway as eventually I would like to do a final version.:yep: The 8k version will be released soon, sorry for any inconvenience caused!:oops:
Cheers,
Reece.
Download:
http://files.filefront.com/SHIV+Scene+for+SH3+16k+v3brar/;10000633;/fileinfo.html