[REL] Real volumetric clouds&fog!! (and is almost done!)
 

Update 29/10/13
Version 2.2 is up!

From the readme:

Link version 1.0:
Version 1.0

Link version 2.2:
Version 2.2

I forget to add/say: to have something like the pics below I also suggest that you use this tiny mod:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=159136
(some big mods like NYGM already have it i think)


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Old first post, pics&movies:
(i reduced the amount of pics to maintain this first post more readable)

Update 02/10/13

Beta candidate is ready! I decided by a foggy discrete env that can be used with any sh3 wheater/env (well, it is not visible at sh3 heavy fog, see below comments on this situation). This discrete foggy env can be enable and forget, it will be always there in complement of stock sh3 "clouds" and wheather, works very well.

Below two new videos showing it "in action". It was a clouds clear&no fog wheather. Even at this extreme, the foggy effect merge very well. I guess that in real life the high seas is always (or almost the time) a bit foggy by the wind, waves spray, evaporation, etc. This was the idea here, and also the best that i could make to accomodate the mod limitations and sh3 odds.

Notice the planes, look at the high foogy (not real clouds indeed); the planes and the sky are much more immersive now.

Here:
http://youtu.be/dVfM6EE0_O0
http://youtu.be/kglU50nQ8Ns
(try to see it in HD)

ETA in few days ahead, i will go again on my 36 hours work turn tomorrow, so we need to wait a bit.
The heavy fog wheater will have a different file that can be enabled in such situation by the player (or just ignore it).
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Hy guys,

Today I wakeup very early in the morning, 5:30hrs, my youngest son Gabriel went in a trip with his friends at scholl ... then after he goes inside the bus and all "goodbyes and kisses" I look for a place to drink a cup of coffe and was thinking about an old desire, an idea to have real clouds in Sh3. Could be this possible?

I turn on my PC at 7:30, my mouse is broken but with an effort and the correctly way it startup sh3 and S3D. At 10:30 I becomes to smile! More and more! Now at 11:30 I start this thread with the below pics! Soon in a PC near you!:woot:


http://imageshack.us/a/img818/1066/7525.jpg


The effect is totally customizable, we can have low fog, high clouds, etc, they have wind movement, are very "natural". I made all these pics using only one texture that is far from the ideal to make clouds.

Please, if someone have good skills with textures (3 or 4 are enough) help me (help all us here) to finish this mod. They must be in simple sh3 format (tga with transparency) more or less 2048x2048 or 1024x1024. I tried some at the net but I just found this one.

The mod is very simple, it is only one file again, and compatible with any sh3 installation, because it´s not in conflict with anything.

Ahoy!!

Rubini.

Update 28/9/13:

Heavy clouds/heavy fog video:
http://youtu.be/b-rYTOqqVh4
(notice that the compressed video don´t show all fog grey nuances in all it´s glory. See it at HD resolution for best view. )

Partial cloud/light fog video:
http://youtu.be/xldB21HSqBM
(notice the clouds slow random movements and the clouds discrete reflections and ambient oclusion by sun light).

:o

Wow. Dude are you even mortal?

Amazing:rock:

First the underwater particles and then moon light and now this :timeout:

I think Onkel Neal should raise You to a status of Subsim demigod :yeah:

really cool, Rubini!:up:

does my eyes telling me the thruth, Rubini ? :o

Thanks guys!
I´m just a very stuburn guy with curiosity.

Anyhow, spent last few hours trying to refine some odd behaviours and it´s going ok but not perfect as the majority of mods. Crossing fingers to achieve to make it yet better.:up:

I will start a 36hrs work turn in an hour, so, no modding work for almost 2 days ahead.!:/\\!!:/\\!!:/\\!!.

See you later!

Rubini , this is awesome.
People , like yourself - modders - are those who keep the game alive for us - players!

I can't thank you enough!
Looking forward to using this one!:up:

Amazing what talent can squeeze out of the old SH3 engine :o:o:o:o:o:o

Better than talent, it's pure genius. YOU :rock::rock::rock::rock:

Awesome, Rubini!!! :o:o:o:o:o:o:o :up:

There are some nice clouds textures in www.flightsim.com or www.avsim.com, for Flight Simulator X, and are free download. I think these textures could be adapted to SH3 formats.

Many thanks and best regards!

Fitzcarraldo :salute:

Thanks again mates!

@Fitzcarraldo: avsim and others FS related foruns were the first place that I looked for clouds textures. But FS format don´t have transparency and are small ones. We need medium/big ones (1024x1024 or 2048x2048 for example) with good alpha channels. Isn´t dificultty but needs some time to find (or build) ones. So, if someone have them or make one let me know. :up:

Rubini, your mod looks very good but story about creating it shows us genius during work :D
Your head is full of ideas and fortunately for us they become real addons for SH3.
Thanks for your superb work mate :up:

Hi Rubini nice work. Here are some simple Clouds maybe for Sh3 (1024x1024). If you like ... i upload them.

http://s14.directupload.net/images/130927/yrvd6w2r.png

This has amazing potential Rubini...wishing you fair winds and following seas :sunny:

@Testpilot
Hi mate,
Yes, of course they are ok. They just must be individual clouds. Please send the link here or by pm.

@ Update on the mod:

At first, i am at RL work yet for the next 24hrs and i am typing from my cel phone.
Yesterday i had some hours at night and have made some more progress. At current state i noticed some bugs/limitations:

1. The clouds are particles and have the same behaviour from smokes on sh3. The more noticiable is that they vanish when you look to them very close.

Continuing... (#%&* cel)

2. The clouds are generate in a e area more or less 8 km around you ( even using 18 km env). Its very ok for 8km but a bit odd for 16 km. obviously this is only. noticiable at high altitudes or using object view for distant contacts.

3. No fps drops! And i have only a middle end machine ( i5 8gb gtx560 1 gb)

4. By particles system limitation they are "reseted" from save load games or if you leave the area (object view) for long time.But they are generated again in few seconds. For normal game perspective it will work ok.

5. They dont alter sensors in anyway. Are really an eye candy immersion type of thing only.

6. My next step will be try to overpass these exposed limitations by adding more particles controllers ( for now its only one with only one texture), varing the places on 3d space to generate them, more d textures and layers. Also will try to attach them to others places like cameras or others tricks.

7. They can have reflexion but as the clouds are "white" they end in. making the entire env to much clear mainly at night. Needs a work/solution here.


6.