Gary's New Graphics Thread

[GaryChildress]

STAFF PACK II: Files attached

[GaryChildress]

And here are the previews for the files attached above.

[Ormand]

Two comments. For the American leader, I would put a helmet on him. Generally speaking, US officers wore helmets in the field, including the generals.

For the vehicles, I would prefer a view that is more coming at you. So, tilted up more. That is just a preference.

I'll finish up more insertions tonight.

[Tac2i]

Could you make the German staff image look similar to this, especially the cap. Alternatively, put a helmet on him or a cap similar to the Soviet.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Ormand

Two comments. For the American leader, I would put a helmet on him. Generally speaking, US officers wore helmets in the field, including the generals.

For the vehicles, I would prefer a view that is more coming at you. So, tilted up more. That is just a preference.

I'll finish up more insertions tonight.

Sure, I'll put a helmet on the US officer. I'll probably attach him as an addendum in a later post, though. I don't want to redo the pack I've already put up.

The vehicles; I'll try doing them both ways, one coming straight on and one at a bit more top-down angle. The thing I don't like about the "head on" angle is that it hides a lot of detail, especially on such nice models I've been able to get my hands on so far. [:)]

@ Webizen: I don't have all the medals and ribbons to do a staff officer up close like that. I could make them, but it will take a bit longer to do. Maybe once I get finished with my current projects I'll add some different staff officers.

EDIT: As far as the German officer's cap, maybe it's hard to see but the cap in your pic is almost exactly what I already have on the German staff officer above. [&:]

[GaryChildress]

RIFLE PACK II: Files attached

[GaryChildress]

And here is the preview of the riflemen in the pack directly above.

[GaryChildress]

AMERICAN OFFICER ADDENDUM TO STAFF PACK II: Files attached

[Tac2i]

Well, I guess what really gets me is that the German staff guy looks more like a LT leading troops or a military policeman, which is OK but if a LT he wouldn't be wearing a cap like that I don't believe, unless he was in a more formal uniform. I need to find a better graphic to show what I mean. I could be wrong of course. Regardless, appreciate your effort!

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

EDIT: As far as the German officer's cap, maybe it's hard to see but the cap in your pic is almost exactly what I already have on the German staff officer above. [&:]

[GaryChildress]

I suppose I could dress up my officers a bit more with medals, ribbons and rank pins. (I'll have to make most of them myself. And it will take a while to do.) I was sort of thinking of the officers as captains, majors and people like that (part of the general's staff) instead of the Generals themselves. The original picture used in the game doesn't appear to be a very high ranking officer.

[mgaffn1]

Congrats Gary, looks like you've been bitten by the ATG Editor bug! Be prepared to spend many hours of your life tinkering with this cool game editor.

[GaryChildress]

ELITE FORCES PACK I: Files attached

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: mgaffn1

Congrats Gary, looks like you've been bitten by the ATG Editor bug! Be prepared to spend many hours of your life tinkering with this cool game editor.

Thanks mgaffn1, This is definitely a great game. [8D]

[GaryChildress]

Here's the preview of the elite forces pack (posted above).

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Ormand

As for paratroopers, I didn't create a separate SMG, MG, Bazooka, Mortar unit for paradrops, I just made the standard units droppable. I could do make them, but it would mean more SFTs and items, which may not be a good idea since in one of the posts regarding models, Vic says they eat memory. I would suggest you go ahead and make them, since they look to be part of the template, and we can decide what to do later.

Hi Ormand,

I was doing some thinking (it's quite a rare event in my life), wouldn't it use up less memory to use only "overlay files"?

In other words, instead of having two graphics files per unit (one "base" and one "overlay"), what would happen if all unit graphics only used one file? So, for example, normally when ATG loads the graphics for a rifle unit, I assume it loads both the Base file and the Overlay file. Each file is approximately 18kb (in most cases) from what I can tell. So that's two 18kb files using 36kb of memory. Instead of two 18kb files I can reduce the size of my files to 18kb also (using a 256 color palette instead of 32 bit color or whatever) and put all the graphics for a single unit into one 18kb file so that when the game loads my graphics it should only use 18kb of memory instead of 36 to show one sub-formation graphic. Theoretically wouldn't that make it possible to create two units instead of one for the same amount of memory space?

[Ormand]

Gary,

Two things.

First, something has come that will make it difficult for me to work on this for a while Sorry, it can't be helped. Consequently, It will go slower than I thought.

But, your work looks great. I am somewhat envious, and need to learn how to do 3D modeling.

As for the SFT's. For the graphics, I think you have to load two files. But, the second one can be transparent, which is what I have been doing. This is only 286 bytes, so it doesn't eat much. I thought maybe he was referring to the data itself. Each SFT has quite a lot of data associated with it to specify all the parameters, and the data for models might even be more per SFT. Unfortunately, I can't find his post to check it. He was more or less saying that he made the cost a little higher in order to keep players from going hog-wild with models since too many STF's could be a problem. That is my memory of the post at least. I agree that it would seem that 22 KB is a fair amount of data, so it might that the pictures are the biggest factor.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Ormand

Gary,

Two things.

First, something has come that will make it difficult for me to work on this for a while Sorry, it can't be helped. Consequently, It will go slower than I thought.

But, your work looks great. I am somewhat envious, and need to learn how to do 3D modeling.

As for the SFT's. For the graphics, I think you have to load two files. But, the second one can be transparent, which is what I have been doing. This is only 286 bytes, so it doesn't eat much. I thought maybe he was referring to the data itself. Each SFT has quite a lot of data associated with it to specify all the parameters, and the data for models might even be more per SFT. Unfortunately, I can't find his post to check it. He was more or less saying that he made the cost a little higher in order to keep players from going hog-wild with models since too many STF's could be a problem. That is my memory of the post at least. I agree that it would seem that 22 KB is a fair amount of data, so it might that the pictures are the biggest factor.

Hi Ormand,

No worries. I sincerely hope it's nothing too serious and all is going well for you. Please keep up the great work on your mod when you find the time. [:)]

As far as 3D modeling there is a really great freeware program that I use called Wings3D. You can DL a copy here: http://www.wings3d.com/

I use it for creating some of the simpler 3D models I use (the more complex models I often end up purchasing). Unfortunately there aren't any good freeware programs I know of for actually rendering the models into bit map images so I had to buy Poser 9. Poser 9 is not exactly the Cadillac of 3D modeling programs but it gets the job done for me and only cost me about $100 (compared to about $3000 if I went with a high end program). If you're interested you can get a copy of Poser 9 for about $33.00 now on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Micro-Softw ... ords=poser

I will be happy to help where and if I can if you have any questions on how to use these programs. I don't t think they are too difficult to learn and there are tutorials available out there also. If I can learn them I'm sure you can.

I haven't gone with the latest versions of Poser because my understanding is that they no longer support DAZ 3D figures such as Michael 4 which I use for my human models.

[lion_of_judah]

These are fantastic and cannot wait to play with these new graphics. I'm curious on where these new files
should be placed, thanks

[lion_of_judah]

when should these be ready for download and are there plans too do tanks, planes and others.. I must say this is nothing short of greatness in my book. I just read an earlier post, so this question has now been answered.....

[lion_of_judah]

also some Korean war era graphics would be nice. Any planes on making more Asian forces for different theaters