improving existing mod - Rubini's water streams mod

[TheDarkWraith]

I came back to SH3 to once again start designing new mods and improving existing mods. How long I stay depends on the mentality of this SH3 Mods workshop forum. While I was away I designed for myself - it was peaceful, no one complaining, no one saying I stole this or that, no one saying this idea or that idea was stupid or 'a waste of time'. During this time I also found a good 32-bit disassembler so I could 'see' what was going on in the SH3 binaries in order to learn some more new tricks and methods.
I browsed through the new topics all day yesterday and some of today to see what all has transpired while I was away and there have been many, many excellent mods made. One of which, by Rubini, caught my eye. It's his water streams mods. I've decided to take his idea and improve upon it. I fired up the Hex Editor (Hex Workshop v4.23) and started typing away.
I've done a total re-write of his mod and thus condensed the 'code' for the water streams (I call them water drains) into it's own file (water_drains_subs.dat). In this file I have re-worked the FPG to make the water look and behave like draining water with mist. I also took all the 'code' (added/removed 'code' as necessary) needed to instantiate the water drains and cleaned it up and placed it in the xxxx.cam file instead of the xxxx.dat file so that it's more user-friendly with other mods.
The water drains use one TGA for the water - water_drainage.tga. A 'blank' TGA is included in the xxxx.cam file and the TGA itself is located in \data\Textures\TNormal\tex (of the mod). This let's the end-user use their own TGA for the water if they so choose by over-riding the TGA provided (user provided TGA must have same name as original TGA provided).
Credits for Rubini's idea of this mod and method used to implement it are embedded in the hex files themselves.

If this mod is to be successful then it's going to take community involvement. What I mean by this is I'm not going to do all the 'coding'. I will recruit whoever wants to help and show them how to do what needs to be done so that they can develop a certain portion of the mod. Collective thoughts and ideas are much better than individual thoughts and ideas.

The next post will contain screenshots, updates, bugs, etc.

Racerboy

[TheDarkWraith]

for now only the TIIA sub has been re-worked and included (and only for the left side of the sub). This 'teaser' is just to show the revised idea and effects.

I had to include files that are in common use now which is GWX 2.x. The NSS_Uboat2A files are from GWX 2.0, they are not my work.

Current version in use for testing (uploaded 7/2/08) - includes physics modelling for left side only:
http://rapidshare.com/files/12664009...0_BETA.7z.html

to install:
unzip to desktop. Copy the folder 'Racerboy_Rubini_TIIA_Water_Drains_1_00_BETA' to MODS folder. Enable via JSGME.

bugs:
none noted

what to look for in testing:
This is just a 'proof-of-concept' as we call it where I come from. I'm looking for feedback on the water behavior, color, streams, etc.

Screenshots:
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/e...ter_drain1.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/e...er_drains4.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/e...er_drains2.jpg

[Laufen zum Ziel]

Welcome Back.

[Koondawg]

RB u have a PM...and glad your back...
I have a ? for ya since your improving...say Im using one of my subs which I myself have always added more water holes or vents where the game doesnt have them...will this show up for the modded sub ( water coming out of the holes ) or just for the default subs in game..
Koon

[TheDarkWraith]

Originally Posted by Koondawg

RB u have a PM...and glad your back...
I have a ? for ya since your improving...say Im using one of my subs which I myself have always added more water holes or vents where the game doesnt have them...will this show up for the modded sub ( water coming out of the holes ) or just for the default subs in game..
Koon

here's where the community involvement part also comes in. I have currently only added water streams to the TIIA sub's texture provided in Rubini's mod. To add more streams for more holes is not a problem. I show you how to do it, you add the streams to the holes you need and all the code is in the xxxx.cam file for your sub. You decide if you want to publish and release your addition! I've been using a neat little tool with my techs in my area (skype with desktop share) to show them how to do things. I can use this same tool to show you how to do this in real time.

[Koondawg]

Lets get to work then...follow my pm and let me know...

Koon

[nikbear]

Welcome back chapyou have been greatly missed

[vickers03]

would it be possible to let the water flow down the
conning tower when surfacing or when it get hit by waves?
maybe even down the conning hatch inside the sub-
so you know when it's stormy outside:hmm:

[TheDarkWraith]

Originally Posted by vickers03

would it be possible to let the water flow down the
conning tower when surfacing or when it get hit by waves?
maybe even down the conning hatch inside the sub-
so you know when it's stormy outside:hmm:

water flowing down the conning tower can be modelled Great idea actually!
Down the conning hatch to inside the sub......keep the thought in mind.
Ready to start using a hex editor and making this idea of yours come to life?

[coronas]

Wellcome back, master! It's good you are here again!

[bert8for3]

Will check it out, tks

[TheDarkWraith]

Originally Posted by vickers03

would it be possible to let the water flow down the
conning tower when surfacing or when it get hit by waves?

vickers03, is this what you had in mind? Realize this is first proto-type and not finalized Another proof-of-concept if you will.....once again, only for left side currently.

it appears when you surface the sub or anytime the left side conning tower upper lip goes under water (mean sea height level of 0)

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/e...wer_drains.jpg

[Wolfehunter]

Interesting Idea.:hmm: Maybe he's talking about the floor from the rear tower ends a runoff?

[StarLion45]

Why do you care what other accuse you of / means ? , you are a master regarding mods . The importent thing is the thoughts and your meaning behind it when you are making Mods etc . For me personally who comes from Norway , I`m not use to this mods , because if you ' re going in a gaming store here in Norway and asking for a patch or file for SH3 they ' re looking funny at you , and don't understand nothing that is my personal feeling . It is because of you Racerboy and all the other Modders that we still have interest of the game , and the game is growing remember that the game is 3 years old . I promise you one thing , I'm gonna play this game till I'm least 80 years old So keep up the good work and make a lot of " Heavenly " Mods to us all . By the way ;

WELCOME BACK

[Philipp_Thomsen]

During storms, sometimes the water rises up to the zero ground of the conning tower, due to big waves. So you can set the animation of water stream down the hatch to start on that specific scenary. Then we can see the water stream coming down the hatch, coming down the stair, while standing on the command room. Sure the water stream in this case have to be much larger, it's much more water coming in. Some scenes in Das Boot show that very well, very detailed.

Racerboy, if there's someone that can do that, it's you. And sure it would be one of the best mods of all times. Hope you have the patience and the time to do that.

By the way, great work with Rubini's mod, it's now looking much better, much more realistic! Thank you very much for this!