[TEC] Getting rid of the hardcoded reticles (Yes, it can be done!!!)

Hitman · 02-01-10, 12:52 AM

When I consider how simple the solution was, I feel almost stupid for the time (years!) it has taken to figure it out

I guess I'll never get accepted at MENSA ... oh well

On to the topic:

THE PROBLEM:

As most modders know, the reticles seen in the periscopes and UZO in SH3 and SH4 (german uboats, not american ones) are hardcoded and can't be removed away. This has given more of a headache to the modders who wanted to change the look of the reticles, because the old ones would still show, no matter what. The only solution we found for this was to reduce the field of view, and make it smaller than 30º for the periscopes (Because the graticle leaves a space of approximately that size in the centre, where you only see the crosshair). But that of course meant losing field of view at the expense of historical reality, where periscopes had some 38º (In the game it is 40º)

THE SOLUTION:

Well, as you also know, when you zoom in with your mouse wheel, the hardcoded reticle does NOT change its size. It is scaled to display in the proper size of the default zoom you have, which is usually 1.5x

Soooooo

if you think that the high power zoom is way less than 30º (Normally 8º-9º) and will as such never show the reticle ....

the simple solution is to INVERT the order of the zoom levels in cameras.dat, making the high power (6x) the default one (First zoom entry in cameras.dat), and the low power (1.5x) the second one (Second zoom entry in cameras.dat) you get when moving the wheel mouse. That way, the reticle is scaled to the 6x default one, and actually is moved off the screen, leaving only the central crosshair

And you won't see it either when switching zoom to low power, because it doesn't rescale

That's it gentlemen

karamazovnew · 02-01-10, 01:30 AM

Brilliant!

keltos01 · 02-01-10, 01:59 AM

incredible !

well thought out of the box Hitman !!!!

will ask Peabody to implement that on our scope right away !!!

thanks

keltos

Reece · 02-01-10, 02:40 AM

Excellent find Hitman,

funny when the answer for something that has eluded many for years was right under our noses!!

Stiebler · 02-01-10, 03:41 AM

Brilliant again!

Stiebler.

h.sie · 02-01-10, 03:54 AM

Excellent. Hope I may use your idea in my work?

02-01-10, 12:52 AM	#1
Hitman Pacific Aces Dev Team Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Spain Posts: 6,109 Downloads: 109 Uploads: 2	[TEC] Getting rid of the hardcoded reticles (Yes, it can be done!!!) When I consider how simple the solution was, I feel almost stupid for the time (years!) it has taken to figure it out I guess I'll never get accepted at MENSA ... oh well On to the topic: THE PROBLEM: As most modders know, the reticles seen in the periscopes and UZO in SH3 and SH4 (german uboats, not american ones) are hardcoded and can't be removed away. This has given more of a headache to the modders who wanted to change the look of the reticles, because the old ones would still show, no matter what. The only solution we found for this was to reduce the field of view, and make it smaller than 30º for the periscopes (Because the graticle leaves a space of approximately that size in the centre, where you only see the crosshair). But that of course meant losing field of view at the expense of historical reality, where periscopes had some 38º (In the game it is 40º) THE SOLUTION: Well, as you also know, when you zoom in with your mouse wheel, the hardcoded reticle does NOT change its size. It is scaled to display in the proper size of the default zoom you have, which is usually 1.5x Soooooo if you think that the high power zoom is way less than 30º (Normally 8º-9º) and will as such never show the reticle .... the simple solution is to INVERT the order of the zoom levels in cameras.dat, making the high power (6x) the default one (First zoom entry in cameras.dat), and the low power (1.5x) the second one (Second zoom entry in cameras.dat) you get when moving the wheel mouse. That way, the reticle is scaled to the 6x default one, and actually is moved off the screen, leaving only the central crosshair And you won't see it either when switching zoom to low power, because it doesn't rescale That's it gentlemen __________________ One day I will return to sea ...

02-01-10, 01:59 AM	#3
keltos01 Silent Hunter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Milan Italy Posts: 4,999 Downloads: 114 Uploads: 18	incredible ! well thought out of the box Hitman !!!! will ask Peabody to implement that on our scope right away !!! thanks keltos __________________ "Honorable Builder of Sinking Ships"

02-01-10, 02:40 AM	#4
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,704 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Excellent find Hitman, funny when the answer for something that has eluded many for years was right under our noses!! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

02-01-10, 03:41 AM	#5
Stiebler Fuel Supplier Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,237 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 4	Brilliant again! Stiebler. __________________ NYGM Tonnage War Mod - More than a mod: it's an experience!

02-01-10, 03:54 AM	#6
h.sie Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,192 Downloads: 131 Uploads: 0	Excellent. Hope I may use your idea in my work? __________________ My Mediafire page: http://www.mediafire.com/hsie

02-01-10, 01:30 AM	#2
karamazovnew The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,403 Downloads: 151 Uploads: 0	Brilliant!