This is why loading time takes so long

08-27-22, 03:21 AM

These functions reads textures, but doing it in very slow way. Any suggestions how it cant be optimised?

Fifi · 08-27-22, 04:29 AM

Reducing tga weight is the only way

Photoshop, image size, and find good compromise without loosing too much quality rendering …
Very long job to rework textures tga for all ships (as well as library tgas)

(I know I did it)
Loading times is very good as result

Kal_Maximus_U669 · 08-27-22, 07:07 AM

Hi Fifi I'm not experienced like you but is it not possible to compress them?
For my part your work works very well it is true that if you activate all the options it will be slightly longer but with regard to the work carried out on the mod it is largely acceptable is comprehensive...

Fifi · 08-27-22, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kal_Maximus_U669

Hi Fifi I'm not experienced like you but is it not possible to compress them?
For my part your work works very well it is true that if you activate all the options it will be slightly longer but with regard to the work carried out on the mod it is largely acceptable is comprehensive...

Hi Kal, nope, we can’t compress them … cause game will not uncompress them!
As far as I know anyway.
Only way is lighten each tga, resizing them so weight is lighter.
Some ships have 2048x1024 tgas … enormous weight! Rezising them smaller divide weight by almost 2 …
1024x1024 tgas can be transformed 512x512 without big quality lost (depending for what it is assigned) and weight gain is always welcome for faster loads

FUBAR295 · 08-27-22, 10:45 AM

Fifi,

Have you looked at possibly reducing the size of the ship TGA files in the Sea File?

I notice that they have a 32 bit color depth which could be reduced to a 24 bit color depth and reduce the file size down by at least 1/3 ( i.e. file size 1024KB goes down to 759KB ) without affecting any noticeable difference in rendering. Is it really needed to have 32 bit, as you could save some space and speed up loading. I have done this with my uniform files.

Something to look at.

Good hunting,
FUBAR295

Fifi · 08-27-22, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUBAR295

Fifi,

Have you looked at possibly reducing the size of the ship TGA files in the Sea File?

I notice that they have a 32 bit color depth which could be reduced to a 24 bit color depth and reduce the file size down by at least 1/3 ( i.e. file size 1024KB goes down to 759KB ) without affecting any noticeable difference in rendering. Is it really needed to have 32 bit, as you could save some space and speed up loading. I have done this with my uniform files.

Something to look at.

Good hunting,
FUBAR295

Sea files are already optimized

Some are 24 bits, others 32… all can’t be 24 (mainly when some transparency needed)
Strangely, I tried same file at 24 & then 32, No change in weight!

On other hand, NYGM have actually the faster loading times still… so no need to loose some more quality imho…

FUBAR295 · 08-27-22, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fifi

Sea files are already optimized

Some are 24 bits, others 32… all can’t be 24 (mainly when some transparency needed)
Strangely, I tried same file at 24 & then 32, No change in weight!

On other hand, NYGM have actually the faster loading times still… so no need to loose some more quality imho…

Then I will be quiet and go back into my hole.

Fifi · 08-28-22, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUBAR295

Then I will be quiet and go back into my hole.

No! I need your suggestions & advices!

08-28-22, 11:58 AM

Interesting. This is example of game loading in SH4. These functions is way more faster, for 98% or more.

propbeanie · 08-28-22, 01:22 PM

The big difference between SH3 and SH4 is that SH4 has "dynamic loading". It only loads assets that it has to for the immediate roughly 32nm radius around the player's sub, and the campaign files based upon date. Hence, the "efficiency" of starting the game... The "bandwidth" of the actual game engine is the same though, so anything too busy around the player lags just as much in SH4 as it does in SH3, as the game tries to keep up with the world around the player...

08-30-22, 09:54 AM

Quote:

The big difference between SH3 and SH4 is that SH4 has "dynamic loading". It only loads assets that it has to for the immediate roughly 32nm radius around the player's sub, and the campaign files based upon date. Hence, the "efficiency" of starting the game... The "bandwidth" of the actual game engine is the same though, so anything too busy around the player lags just as much in SH4 as it does in SH3, as the game tries to keep up with the world around the player...

Very interesting information, thank you.

Doolar · 08-30-22, 12:12 PM

First off, I'm not a Modder, but I'm a beneficiary of The Mods created by some very talented people. And for this I want to thank you all. I play SHIII with several Big Mods and appreciate everything that each Mod bring to the table.

The load time can be a tad long, no problem here. I hook up with a bud that lives about an hour away from my house, for some SHIII gameplay and a bull session, and he doesn't mind neither. The wait is well worth it. Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I've reading through this thread, so I figured this was the correct place for what's been on my mind for a while.

CapZap1970 · 08-30-22, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doolar

First off, I'm not a Modder, but I'm a beneficiary of The Mods created by some very talented people. And for this I want to thank you all. I play SHIII with several Big Mods and appreciate everything that each Mod bring to the table.

The load time can be a tad long, no problem here. I hook up with a bud that lives about an hour away from my house, for some SHIII gameplay and a bull session, and he doesn't mind neither. The wait is well worth it. Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I've reading through this thread, so I figured this was the correct place for what's been on my mind for a while.

Agree 100%...

Hitman · 09-01-22, 02:48 PM

Textures are a big part of the load times, but not the only one. The size of your campaign files (i.e. how many ships/convoys around the world are loaded) also matters. If you use the "only" mediterranean or black sea campaign files you will notice much quicker loading times. It's true in those scenaries not all units of the roster are used, but still it makes a huge difference.

08-27-22, 03:21 AM	#1
rainbowjose Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	This is why loading time takes so long These functions reads textures, but doing it in very slow way. Any suggestions how it cant be optimised?

08-27-22, 04:29 AM	#2
Fifi Navy Seal Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: France Posts: 5,742 Downloads: 456 Uploads: 0	Reducing tga weight is the only way Photoshop, image size, and find good compromise without loosing too much quality rendering … Very long job to rework textures tga for all ships (as well as library tgas) (I know I did it) Loading times is very good as result __________________ https://www.mediafire.com/file/gvwii...N_V5.7.7z/file

08-27-22, 07:07 AM	#3
Kal_Maximus_U669 Sea Lord Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: France Nord East Posts: 1,672 Downloads: 817 Uploads: 0	Hi Fifi I'm not experienced like you but is it not possible to compress them? For my part your work works very well it is true that if you activate all the options it will be slightly longer but with regard to the work carried out on the mod it is largely acceptable is comprehensive... Last edited by Kal_Maximus_U669; 08-27-22 at 07:17 AM.

08-27-22, 10:45 AM	#5
FUBAR295 Krusty Krab Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Decks awash in the North Atlantic Posts: 1,286 Downloads: 442 Uploads: 0	Fifi, Have you looked at possibly reducing the size of the ship TGA files in the Sea File? I notice that they have a 32 bit color depth which could be reduced to a 24 bit color depth and reduce the file size down by at least 1/3 ( i.e. file size 1024KB goes down to 759KB ) without affecting any noticeable difference in rendering. Is it really needed to have 32 bit, as you could save some space and speed up loading. I have done this with my uniform files. Something to look at. Good hunting, FUBAR295 __________________ Good judgment comes from experience. Unfortunately, the experience usually comes from bad judgment.

08-28-22, 01:22 PM	#10
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 9,749 Downloads: 440 Uploads: 2	The big difference between SH3 and SH4 is that SH4 has "dynamic loading". It only loads assets that it has to for the immediate roughly 32nm radius around the player's sub, and the campaign files based upon date. Hence, the "efficiency" of starting the game... The "bandwidth" of the actual game engine is the same though, so anything too busy around the player lags just as much in SH4 as it does in SH3, as the game tries to keep up with the world around the player... __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayer/s" - Jimbuna

08-28-22, 11:58 AM	#9
rainbowjose Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Interesting. This is example of game loading in SH4. These functions is way more faster, for 98% or more.

08-30-22, 12:12 PM	#12
Doolar Expert Shipsinker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baltimore,Md./ CA45 Posts: 803 Downloads: 360 Uploads: 0	My 2 cents First off, I'm not a Modder, but I'm a beneficiary of The Mods created by some very talented people. And for this I want to thank you all. I play SHIII with several Big Mods and appreciate everything that each Mod bring to the table. The load time can be a tad long, no problem here. I hook up with a bud that lives about an hour away from my house, for some SHIII gameplay and a bull session, and he doesn't mind neither. The wait is well worth it. Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I've reading through this thread, so I figured this was the correct place for what's been on my mind for a while. __________________ ONEALEX 1.53 ARB / NYGM Enhanced "Steel Coffin" v5.7 DGUI / CCom12 DGUI / WAC 5.2 DGUI / Toyotagt86 v2.2 ARB / GWX3 DGUI

09-01-22, 02:48 PM	#14
Hitman Pacific Aces Dev Team Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Spain Posts: 6,099 Downloads: 109 Uploads: 2	Textures are a big part of the load times, but not the only one. The size of your campaign files (i.e. how many ships/convoys around the world are loaded) also matters. If you use the "only" mediterranean or black sea campaign files you will notice much quicker loading times. It's true in those scenaries not all units of the roster are used, but still it makes a huge difference. __________________ One day I will return to sea ...