Here the first pics of the already done beta of that debris.dat approach. This approach, using an idea from Privateer and implemented using the "solution" for Life Boats described here on this thread have some goodies and few bads:
1. Itīs compatible with ALL mods or even stock game out of the box!
2. Works imediatly just adding one file and replacing the debris.dat that is the same for any mod (JSGME). No external textures, etc
3. It spawn a lot of "new" debris after a ship sink and also LifeBoats (futurelly with crew). The overall effect and feelling is very good even that the LB just spawn after/during ships sinking.
4. the bads are few (the main one is that the LBs spawn only after during a ships sinking as i said), but also that sometimes you can not have LB in the end, or even have a bit so much of them. But isnīt frequent and like i said the overall result is very good. You will see!
5. things that needs to be checked: airplanes crash on water...what will be spawned now?:hmm:
6. Things that will made it yet better: a good crew on Lifeboats. We are working on this.
7. And to finish, after we play with this first approach a bit we can then start that more refined solution (but that also yet needs some more deep tests) where the LBs will spawn before ship sink. Anyway all the work made until now will be totally useful for this approach too.
8. Note that all the debris have reflection, refraction and ondulation under water (caustics)!
9. I will only release this beta after DivingDuck agree because I used his debris tga and 3D models from his great Debris' 1.2 mod. I hope that you like them and also the idea DD!
10. if someone more have more debris to share will be good too!
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These pics were made after a small freight sunk:
