[Rel] Enhanced Ocean Effects for GWX 16km ver 1.0

[MackTheGovnah]

Enhanced Ocean\Environment mod for GWX-16km Atmosphere
Ver 1.0

Hi, first off, thanks for downloading this mod.

This is a new Ocean\Environment effects mod for GWX 16km users that I've been working on that makes subtle changes to the ocean and environment effects within the game. Its boasts improved reflections, slightly changed sea states and other small changes. The list of changes is as follows:

1) Improved\stronger reflections. All objects that cast reflections: ships, land, searchbeams, clouds etc are now more pronounced.

2) Ocean state 1 (windspeed 0-4ms) is now changed to be slightly more active. There is no more "cruising on a pond" effect. Because the ocean, as a very large body of water, has a variety of forces acting upon it, it never has a completely calm surface like a glass of water sitting on your desk. Now even on a clear day with no wind there is 'some' ocean surface activity.

3) I have changed the way the ocean surface reflects general atmospheric light. Again the sea, as a massive, constantly moving body of water with a depth of several miles in some places, does not reflect the light of the sun like the undisturbed six foot swimming pool in your back yard. I have strived to strike a balance between normal surface light reflection and the impression that you are sailing on the ocean, a huge, endless body of water. As a result the ocean is now a tad more blue and richer looking. Also, in heavy seas, very large waves will cast a slight shadow on the ocean surface according to the position of the sun.

4) All waves for all waves states are "peakier" and form more distinct tips when coming together.


5) The LOD factor has been increased. Textures are now sharper and visible viewing distance has been increased. Visibility will still be hampered in heavy fog. Notice that this is only a graphical change. For instance, land that is 4000 yards away wont be obscured in mysterious haze\fog on a clear\cloudless day. On a clear day a ships mast and funnel smoke can be spotted on the horizon more clearly.


6) The MINIMUM time for lighting strikes has been reduced, the MAXIMUM time has been increased so, there is a CHANCE you may find yourself in a lightning storm with strikes happening more often. Also the height of the lightning itself has been increased so you cannot see the top of the bolt itself. When viewing from the uboat bridge this looks more natural.



Performance Issues: I have a very modest P4 3.2ghz, 1.5gb Ram, ATI x1950pro 256mb AGP and framerates are perfectly acceptable.



Instructions for use

1)download the file
2)extract to your mods folder
3)enable using JGSME
4)If you use SH3 Commander or any other mod that changes the wave height ie, 256,512,1024 it is important that you do not set wave height to 2x (1024) as a graphical anomaly on the tips of the waves will appear in heavy seas. I have included the settings I use for the "Seasonal" option within SH3 Commander below. To change these go to ubisoft\silenthunterIII\sh3commander\cfg and open the "SH3 options" file. Scroll down 3/4 of the way and find [Wave height] as shown below. Here is an example of the settings I use:

;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[WAVE HEIGHT] ;TURN FEATURE ON/OFF FROM WITHIN SH3 COMMANDER
;Values used by "Seasonal" wave height setting, by month
;1x = base 1x value. Month settings are multiplier values
;Current settings suit Atlantic conditions
;Written to scene.dat
;**NOTE: 2x model is really 1.875x
1x=256

01=1.6
02=1.55
03=1.45
04=1.35
05=1.2
06=1.1
07=1.1
08=1.15
09=1.25
10=1.35
11=1.5
12=1.6


Open the file with notepad, make these changes and save it. As you can see this gives you a nice variety in wave height with heavy winter seas and fairly calm summer waters. What is missing is the massive monsoon waves which, to me, make the game almost unplayable. When sailing at full time compression during a storm you shouldnt see your CE saying "current depth 10 meters" every 10 seconds.


This mod is NOT compatible with any other mod that makes changes to SCENE.DAT such as "SH4 scene.dat for SH3" or anything other than GWX 16km. This mod ONLY changes the SCENE.DAT file.

ATTENTION!!! I have not been able to get this mod to work with the recently released "Improved wave textures" mod. I would very much appreciate the community's help in resolving this issue.


This mod is freeware. SH3 Mini-tweaker was used in the making of this mod.

Go to this web address to download the file http://files.filefront.com/Enhanced+.../fileinfo.html


Enjoy!!!!!!

P.S I almost forgot, you can view screenshots of this mod by going to my filefront page and clicking on "IMAGES"

[KrvKpt. Falke]

ATTENTION!!! I have not been able to get this mod to work with the recently released "Improved wave textures" mod.

Are you talking about OneLifeCrisis mod? The one which is in racerboys sh4 effects for sh3?
Whats the problem with it?

[MackTheGovnah]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

And where is that?

Here http://gallery.filefront.com/MackTheGovnah/

The image files are all incorrectly named as "dusk" but if you look at the pics you can clearly see what time of day the pic was taken. Only the first one is actually dusk.

[MackTheGovnah]

Originally Posted by KrvKpt. Falke

Are you talking about OneLifeCrisis mod? The one which is in racerboys sh4 effects for sh3?
Whats the problem with it?

No racerboy's mod modifies the particles of the game. This mod is the scene.dat for GWX 16km only. Im speaking about this mod... http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...+wave+textures

I seem to be getting a CTD when using both this mod and the Improved Wave Textures mod listed above at the link. Im SURE there is some kind of workaround for this however. So if you try this mod please first disable the "Improved Wave Textures" mod (if you have it) please until we can find a solution.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by MackTheGovnah

Here http://gallery.filefront.com/MackTheGovnah/

The image files are all incorrectly named as "dusk" but if you look at the pics you can clearly see what time of day the pic was taken. Only the first one is actually dusk.

Sorry my original post is missing; I found a link from the download page, came back and deleted my post...apparently at the same time Mack was quoting it!:rotfl:

Nothing like a little confusion to brighten things up.

[JCWolf]

Screens +lease...

is there any screens mates!

[Wolfehunter]

It also conflicts with the Moon_reflections mod. :hmm: Unless I missed and update somewhere.

[skookum]

I installed this mod and got the old scubadiving bridge crew bug.

[Adriatico]

The same question as always:
- can somebodey present 2-3 descent, large screenshots, in a full daylight, in a various wave conditions ?

(It's better to see once, than to hear 100 times...Chinese saying)