Matrix Games Forums

Simply Outstanding! Well Done, Bravo, Standing Ovation!

(The Dark Side is stronger than before... NO, must resist!... but the ship art is going to be more beautiful than ever, you must return!... NO!!! Stop! Help! look how beautiful she is, the Essex Class 1944, give in!)

As an art teacher, traditional and digital, and a newish player, I am really impressed. That's a lot of detail but I will truly appreciate it. Part of what I've grown to love in this game and in the forum is the amount of attention everyone gives to the visuals.

One thing I wonder when I hear you say rotating artwork - Is there a way to rotate the art of some of the info screens, putting up various pics of the actual ships in action, similar to the ones there now, but changing?

Also, for the bombing screens in the animations, would there be a way to see the actual port or kind of land being bombed? Probably way too much work, and not that critical, but in the era of Google Earth, it makes me wonder.

Thanks for all of the hard work.

ORIGINAL: obvert
Is there a way to rotate the art of some of the info screens, putting up various pics of the actual ships in action, similar to the ones there now, but changing?

Yes, please see the ART MOD thread in the "Senario and Design Modding" section of the main forum.

ORIGINAL: obvert

Also, for the bombing screens in the animations, would there be a way to see the actual port or kind of land being bombed? Probably way too much work, and not that critical, but in the era of Google Earth, it makes me wonder.

Specific Base

You can build a Base bombing screen to be displayed for a specific base, and if wanted, for a specific time period.

A base specific screen will have a file name of Air9999Bombardment_512.bmp, where 9999 is the base number from the Editor.
For example, you wanted a bombing screen for Sydney (Australia), the image would be stored in the file Air0955Bombardment_512.bmp.

However, you can go further by actually creating images for specific months and/or years for the base.
To further define Sydney, you may want to use a specific image during 1941, but change it a different one in 1943 to represent a higher built up port.
To do this, you would use a file for Dec 1941 (Air0955Bombardment_512_4112.bmp) and a similar one for 1942 (Air0955Bombardment_512_42.bmp).
And for the rest of the time, you want to use the default base file (Air0955Bombardment_512.bmp)

From this you may infer that there is an order to how the game decides which image to use. And you are correct.
The image files are attempted to be loaded in the following order:
(a) File exists for the current game month and year, or
(b) File exists for the current game year, or
(c) File exists just for the base (default).

(c) Special case for Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is handled specially for the opening stages of December 1941 to show the damage of the initial attacks.
For December 1941, there are 3 possible screens that could be drawn.
Date File
7 December, 1941 Air0584Bombardment_512_1.bmp
8 -12 December, 1941 Air0584Bombardment_512_2.bmp
13 - 31 December, 1941 Air0584Bombardment_512_3.bmp

These images highlight the Battleship row around Ford Is and the various stages of damage and repairs done by end of December, 1941.

I'm going to have to go back and run an AI game just to bomb Pearl Harbor on different days now!

Hi All,
Ok, here's the haps'...before ship-art can be released - it seriously needs a new surface combat screen. The original does not work at all to ship art advantage (which is why there are all those irritable light shadows on the edges, oddly enogh - it's not so visible on the air-sea screen).
So we are working feverishly on a new surface combat screen that will show ALL ship art to better advantage in-game.
There are two examples with the new screen - the first is the main phase of Savo Island, the second is the main phase of the Battle off Samar (both with liberties) on the new screen.

ALL comments - positive and HARSH are welcome...and needed to get this guy going.
Thank you,
B

Below Savo Island;

And Battle Off Samar;

Any comments or opinions are sought after -- need to know what you all think..

ORIGINAL: Big B

And Battle Off Samar;

Any comments or opinions are sought after -- need to know what you all think..
Any feedback?

I'd say what we see here is pretty much the top of the line of Witp-AE graphics, the definiteve word. To add some constructive criticsm I'd prefer a bit more contrast on the background, but probably it's just the jpg-s quality reduction that makes it look this way.

I hope we can have in game separae art for ships in the same class, and also the boring US white star replaced with the USN badge.

This camo art really makes for a completely new feel of the game!

Now this is what I have been looking for, thanks csatahajos.

To address your concerns let me explain from an artists position;
In-game sides can look good against the sky because of color and lighting contrasts - you try to duplicate that gaianst the dark hues of the sea - and suddenly all that naval grey/blue paint becomes crystal clear as to why they painted them in those schemes...they freakin' disappear!
So the only alternative we are left with is to make the sea not too indifferent from the sky - or - follow the example of UV/WitP original and make them mere silver silhouettes on black.
By the way, this screen was made from an actual color photo of the sea - same colors.

In-game the contrast in the sea won't be too different, but that was necessary to keep the ships details from disappearing.

On last note - I can see a possible need to re-detail the Japanese as well to keep down the sky-blending light edges as well...
It's always something! But I think we are on the right track - and thanks.

Any other comments are most welcome - be they scathing dissent or not.


B

ORIGINAL: csatahajos
I hope we can have in game separae art for ships in the same class...

EDIT - if you look at post 25 above - you will see three different paint jobs for the same class - New Orleans 1942.
It could be done for all - But that would take a 'mod'....
By the way - the reality is that most classes were actually painted to one or two camo schemes mandated by the bureau...google http://www.shipcamouflage.com/index.htm It's amazing.

ORIGINAL: csatahajos

I'd say what we see here is pretty much the top of the line of Witp-AE graphics, the definiteve word. To add some constructive criticsm I'd prefer a bit more contrast on the background, but probably it's just the jpg-s quality reduction that makes it look this way.

I hope we can have in game separae art for ships in the same class, and also the boring US white star replaced with the USN badge.

This camo art really makes for a completely new feel of the game!

BigB, if anything I'd consider darkening that background just a bit, may just be my poor eyesight, it seems to all blur together a bit (keep in mind I have some mild color deficiencies). May be the fact that the lightest blue looks almost grey to me. So either a darker shade or a slightly different hue might help with that. It looks good, but the colors blurring together are giving me problems.

Well I think this stuff looks great, you guys are true artists, and I really appreciate the effort you put into this. It makes the game that much more enjoyable.

I just poured myself a Cognac in y'alls honor !

Guys this is all good feedback - please don't be shy - we kind of need to know....

ORIGINAL: Shark7

BigB, if anything I'd consider darkening that background just a bit, may just be my poor eyesight, it seems to all blur together a bit (keep in mind I have some mild color deficiencies). May be the fact that the lightest blue looks almost grey to me. So either a darker shade or a slightly different hue might help with that. It looks good, but the colors blurring together are giving me problems.

ORIGINAL: stuman

Well I think this stuff looks great, you guys are true artists, and I really appreciate the effort you put into this. It makes the game that much more enjoyable.

I just poured myself a Cognac in y'alls honor !

Since the screens are on the last page - I'll repeat them;
Savo phase 2;

and screen 2 Battle Off Samar;

And guys I don't post it for praise (nice) but I really need to know if you guys (and gals) accept the screens?

Will this be the final delay or do you guys anticipate another, with another batch for screens for the community to view? I'll be sure and thank you guys if this ever gets released count on it.

Big B....love the ship art...don't like the striations of the background so much. Seems like it needs a smoother color blend or something.

It always seemed to me that the 2-D side view art never really worked with the orthographic projection in the background anyway. Maybe a blue-washed or even black and white nautical chart of Ironbottom sound with very low contrast or something.

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Big B....love the ship art...don't like the striations of the background so much. Seems like it needs a smoother color blend or something.

It always seemed to me that the 2-D side view art never really worked with the orthographic projection in the background anyway. Maybe a blue-washed or even black and white nautical chart of Ironbottom sound with very low contrast or something.

I have to agree with the fine Captain here. The background does a disservice to your fine artwork. Not being a computer whiz kid, I don't know what to suggest. I think Cap maybe onto something here as towards looking at something "out of the box" so to say. It is said that "because we've always done it that way" is the poorest reason there is to justify a process. Perhaps taking look at some other ideas may be the way to go

[&o]
Amazing...taking a great game to another level ...Thanks for all the work [:)]

Very, very excellent work, can't wait to see them in the game .

For me the biggest problem is the big white glow in the middle. I'm guessing it represents sunshine reflecting off the surface of water, but here it doesn't actually add anything to the background. I'd say that it'd be a lot better if you'd use the sea's light blue that's on the side of the screen for the whole of the sea. And than maybe darken it a bit, but really just maybe .

Thanks for all the work you're putting into this. It is definitely appreciated!

ORIGINAL: Zsolo007

Very, very excellent work, can't wait to see them in the game .

For me the biggest problem is the big white glow in the middle. I'm guessing it represents sunshine reflecting off the surface of water, but here it doesn't actually add anything to the background. I'd say that it'd be a lot better if you'd use the sea's light blue that's on the side of the screen for the whole of the sea. And than maybe darken it a bit, but really just maybe .

Thanks for all the work you're putting into this. It is definitely appreciated!

I'd like to second this opinion.