Sticks and Twigs

[benpark]

http://www.monsterpacks.com/index.php?p ... ails&id=18

This is a 3rd party pack containing trees and such. The EULA looks like it allows use on mods. Is it possible to sub out the PzCK trees with something like these without destroying the FPS? It says it contains various levels of detail.

[Stridor]

Ben,

Looks nice. How much are they asking? I would read the EULA very carefully however before using it in your maps.

I see that they have MS3D versions & the textures are pngs. I don't think you would have any problems making them work in PCK at all (MS3D->Dx is easy enough and so is png->dds). You wouldn't even need to *sub* them, you can just add them as another tree or grass type. The MM will even make use of them to generate new maps. The tree system in PCK is lod compatible (for one level) so they shouldn't destory performance.

Biffa if you get a chance check out the grasses they look real nice [;)]

S

[Stridor]

Actually Ben I just read the EULA and it is totally contradictory, full of loop holes.

Witness section 1 and then 1b.

PCK is pretty open by design. Models/textures are not encrypted. That is a big sticking point in a lot of these "model pack" EULAs for obvious reasons.

S

[benpark]

It's very ambiguous, but I wouldn't use it without a clarification. I tried emailing them, but my message bounced back. There's another address on there that I'll try.

[benpark]

I got this reply back from the person responsible about using the pack in any maps that I make:

Hi Benjamin,

Yes, that would be no problem. Modding is where I got involved in game development. As long as you include the EULA like you mentioned it would be completely fine. Let me know if you have any troubles with the models in regard to getting them into the particular engine that Panzer Command: Kharkov uses (I'm not familiar with what it might have been made with). If they don't work out for your needs let me know within a week or so of the purchase (basically within the same month) and I can do a refund. I hope they work out for you, but don't hesitate to let me know if they don't, no use in you picking up something that you aren't able to use.

And if they do work out I'd love to see some screen shots and have a little more info on how they worked out.

Thanks,
Alan

He is a class act. I'm buying the pack now. Note if you wish to use these same models, support this kind gent and buy the pack (after I see if they work)- about $30 USD.

[Stridor]

Sounds good they'll work

[Biffa]

Omg, that's a life time of work, they look very similiar to what I was planning tho maybe not quite so hi res.

Lovely stuff.

[benpark]

I just downloaded the pack. There is a heck of a lot of stuff here. These guys did a great job. I'll try to see if I can get a tree added to a map this weekend.

[benpark]

The models import into a test map easily, they just need to be rescaled.

The problem is going to the the textures, which are .jpegs and .Png files. The .jpegs are easily converted to .dds files, but the .Png files are going to be tough to deal with. They are saved as a layer, with the texture making up the "solid" areas (leaves mostly), and the background is blank. PzC seems to use the color black to achieve this, but in one texture. It's going to take some tinkering to get something, but if it works these are some nice looking trees.

[Stridor]

ORIGINAL: benpark

The models import into a test map easily, they just need to be rescaled.

The problem is going to the the textures, which are .jpegs and .Png files. The .jpegs are easily converted to .dds files, but the .Png files are going to be tough to deal with. They are saved as a layer, with the texture making up the "solid" areas (leaves mostly), and the background is blank. PzC seems to use the color black to achieve this, but in one texture. It's going to take some tinkering to get something, but if it works these are some nice looking trees.

Ben,

What program are you using to convert to dds? DDS (and therefore PCK) use an alpha channel with DXT1 4bit 1 alpha, not a color. In a pinch you can just use the png directly as the texture provided it is referenced correctly, but that will be more video memory expensive. If you have photoshop all this is taken care for you with the nvidia dds plugin (which is what I use).

If you get really stuck just up the pngs you want and I will convert them for you.

Regards

S

[benpark]

I have Photoshop with the .dds plugin- what settings should the .png be saved as to retain the layer?

[Stridor]

Ben,

Load the png up into photoshop.

File->Save As

Format DDS

then select the options as below

Save the file then update the MS3D model to point to the new dds texture, export to DX. Update your media.xml and there yo go!

[Mraah]

Bumped up to first page ... in regards to Ryan's Tree Improvement thread.

[Mobius]

I'm just wondering if each woods plane a ray intersects counts toward a woods tally. Too many polys in trees might change the woods factors.

[Mraah]

ORIGINAL: Mobius

I'm just wondering if each woods plane a ray intersects counts toward a woods tally. Too many polys in trees might change the woods factors.

Good point ... I think it does ... I've tested the ray's months ago and noticed it ...

Of course, it does need to be retested and considered into the whole thing.

EDIT NOTE .... Frankly, I think it's a good thing if the extra polys block LOS ... I always feel that woods are "too thin" from the beginning.

[RyanCrierie]

So for that tree pack you bought Biffa, what other 3d model formats did they come in?