3D Graphics

[OneBloodyHero]

Hi.

I do not enjoy the graphical changes to the 3D map and units since 2.0.

Is there a mod or a way to use the pre-2.0 3D graphics for the map and units?

[Jason Petho]

Terrain, no. Unfortunately with 2.0 the way terrain has been done and the additions make it impossible.

Units, you could create a mod for the graphics from the old version, athough there may be new units that don't have the older graphics, as they were added after.

[Crossroads]

I don't believe there's much if any difference with 3D units in 2.0 compared to 1.x.

The new terrain model with larger hexes might make them look different, but IIRC it is only the 3D terrain tiles that were resized for the version.

[OneBloodyHero]

Hi.

Thanks for the replies.

I definitely notice a difference in how the units and the maps look after 2.0; for me, they are not an improvement. Perhaps I got used to how everything looked as I have played this game (or some version of it) for nearly 20 years. The 2D map improvements are awesome, but that is not how I play.

I also noticed "artifacting" or some sort of graphical glitches or tearing whenever there are explosions on the 3d map. I am fairly confident it is not my PC or GFX card as this is the only game with such issues. These tearing instances really hamper my immersion.

Do not get me wrong, there are lots of good things about 2.0 but the look of it is not one of them, at least for me. I may have been hoping for a new game engine and/or graphical improvements that really brought it to the times.

[Jason Petho]

We are still working on the engine side of things to make that a far better experience. With the new CSEE and capabilities of scripting the battle plans for the various scenarios now an option (coming in an UPDATE after CS Vietnam is released), game play is really entering territory the game has never been in before, especially for solo players.

We do have a new 3D graphics guy starting with Vietnam, which, I suspect, will revisit some of the graphics for Middle East and those will be incorporated into a future UPDATE.

[Crossroads]

I should have an alternate set of explosion graphics somewhere, give me a day or three to get back on this.

[Warhorse]

Gotta remember, I am working with a very finite amount of pixels to make these unit graphics. Even though it says 3D, we aren't talking the modern games with hi poly rendering! Typically a graphic, which is 6 different facings in one file, is in a less than 1200x100 pixel file!! If you want to see how far it's come, just look at some of the original old stuff, blobs of color. I spend most of my free time building these things, sorry OI can't please everyone, but do what I can. Some of these have taken a WEEK to make one graphic, in the case of the one U.S. Riverine unit.

[DM729]

You're right about that Mike!

These units require intensive work to display properly. Literally one pixel out of place can make or break the correct angle of a turret or superstructure.

But once you get it right and see them rolling across the battlefield it sure is satisfying!

[Big Ivan]

ORIGINAL: DM729

You're right about that Mike!

These units require intensive work to display properly. Literally one pixel out of place can make or break the correct angle of a turret or superstructure.

But once you get it right and see them rolling across the battlefield it sure is satisfying!

+1[;)]

[OneBloodyHero]

I can't imagine how much work goes into developing this game; I appreciate that it is still being developed and worked on.

Glad to hear there may be improvements to the 3D side of the game.

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

I should have an alternate set of explosion graphics somewhere, give me a day or three to get back on this.

Sorry it took me a while, but do try this Animated0d.bmp to see if it alters the explosion graphics on your setup, AVAILABLE HERE.

[*] Back up your existing Animated0d.bmp at ...\Campaign Series Middle East\graphics\units\3D
[*] Download the zip from the provided link, unzip, and place it in the above mentioned folder.
[*] See how it plays.

I'd appreciate if you'd have the time to report this back to me as if it helped at all [:)]