moonlight effect solution - theretical

[WernerSobe]

Hi guys.

Ive tried to render moonlight in my environment mod in the past but i couldnt synchronise it to the moon so ive given up someday. Im still trying to find a solution so i want to share my findings with other moders and hope to ignite someones idea.

the theory:

- neither the moon nor the sun is rendered dynamic.
there are just three kinds of static light effects.
1. being ambient light wich covers 360°
2. being sun direct light wich covers 115° towards the sun
3. being sun reflect light wich covers 55° on the opposite to direct light.

- the color and intensity for each light effect at different daytime and weather are controlled in env\Env_Colorsxxx.dat

- sun reflect light effect is almost unused. It is overshined by ambient light during the day and it is gone at night. You can however increase its brightness at night and turn it into beautiful directional moon light effect, you can even make it appear only at clear nights.

now the problem:

sun reflect light is synchronised with the sun. Of course you dont see the sun at night but it is there, its just invisible. The moon follows its own orbit which is very different to the sun ones so the moonlight does not match to the moon itself.

my conclusion:

there must be a hard-coded formula (which i didnt found yet) that describes the orbit of the sun and another one for the moon orbit. I think there is one more for the stars.

the sun orbit formula controlls the direction of light effects, the sky texture, sky reflection texture and the sun bitmap itself. While the moon orbit formula controlls just the moon bitmap.

the trick is to find where the sun reflect color is tied to the sun orbit and connect it to the moon orbit. The process itself shouldnt be hard but i just cant find that place.

thoughts? ideas?

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by WernerSobe

there must be a hard-coded formula

We are allowed to mod everything else but the hardcoded stuff. Playing around with the SH3.exe is a big no-no.

[WernerSobe]

well we dont have to change that formula but the index where the connection between sun reflect color and the sun orbit. It might be hardcoded might be not but i dont think so.

And where does it say that we are not allowed to alter hardcoded areas? I think we may do anything as long we dont charge money or call someone elses work ours...

[Dowly]

Someone else can answer about the 'invisible rules of modding', but that´s what I´ve heard.

[melnibonian]

Originally Posted by WernerSobe

And where does it say that we are not allowed to alter hardcoded areas? I think we may do anything as long we dont charge money or call someone elses work ours...

I think if you check the licence agreement you signed with Ubisoft (when you bought and install the game) there is a clause that doesn't allow the modification of the code. In any case playing with the source code is illegal as there are copywrite issues involved. If you want to do it you're obviously free but you should know that none of the modders will accept a mod like that. After all don't forget that Ubisoft and SH will be around for years to come and I don't think anyone would like to piss the Devs off There are also issues with respect of the Devs' work and so on but the important thing is that playing with the code is a BIG NO NO

[WernerSobe]

huh? please quote where it does say that.

1. there are already mods around that have changed hard coded areas and noone cried.
2. nonone was going to deal with the source code. Just becase the source code was never published. Im talking about disassembling the game files while propably it wont be necessery.

Anyway this is all going off topic. If you want to talk about what we may do and what we may not lets start another thread for that. please stay at topic guys.

[Dowly]

Mate, just believe Mel. He knows about it. And as far as I see, this has all been on-topic. Go ahead, make the mod, but if you change the hardcoded parts of SHIII, you are doing something illegal and you can forget the support of 90% of the community´s modders.

And please, point me out to the mods that have changed hardcoded stuff?

Your idea is great, but if it is hardcoded, you cant do nothing about it LEGALLY.

Not trying to bring you down or anything, just telling you how it works.

3- Use of the Multimedia Product

The User is authorised to use the Multimedia Product in accordance with the instructions provided in the manual or on the packaging of the Multimedia Product.
The Licence is granted solely for private use.

It is not permitted:
- To make copies of the Multimedia Product,
- To operate the Multimedia Product commercially,
- To use it contrary to morality or the laws in force,
- To modify the Multimedia Product or create any derived work <--- Meaning in today´s games that modding is OK as long as you dont touch the hardcoded parts without the permission of the rights holder, in this case Ubi.
- To transmit the Multimedia Product via a telephone network or any other electronic means, except during multi-player games on authorised networks,
- To create or distribute unauthorised levels and/or scenarios,
- To decompile, reverse engineer or disassemble the Multimedia Product.

The User cannot sell, sublicense or lease the Multimedia Product to a third party.

[zombiewolf]

Originally Posted by melnibonian

I think if you check the licence agreement you signed with Ubisoft (when you bought and install the game) there is a clause that doesn't allow the modification of the code. In any case playing with the source code is illegal as there are copywrite issues involved. If you want to do it you're obviously free but you should know that none of the modders will accept a mod like that. After all don't forget that Ubisoft and SH will be around for years to come and I don't think anyone would like to piss the Devs off There are also issues with respect of the Devs' work and so on but the important thing is that playing with the code is a BIG NO NO

Wow like the the "Brain Police " will come and arrest you for thought crimes.As long as you don't charge for it you can modify anything you want.
So if I buy a toaster open it up look a the guts,change something to operate better and tell a friend about it I could be sued?

[melnibonian]

Originally Posted by zombiewolf

Wow like the the "Brain Police " will come and arrest you for thought crimes.As long as you don't charge for it you can modify anything you want.
So if I buy a toaster open it up look a the guts,change something to operate better and tell a friend about it I could be sued?

No one talks about "Brain Police" and no one will come and arrest you. If you read my post carefully you will realise that what I am talking about is not the source editing part. Strictly speaking changing a program (even the code) is not illigal if you do it in your own computer and your own copy. The moment you give it to someone else (free or not makes no difference) you breaking the rules. It's exactly the same as in the music case. You can copy your own CD (assuming you have the original to start with) but you cannot distribute it to others. Now from the moment you're in a public forum these kind of discussions are 'dangerous' to say the least.