War Plan Orange back in production

[Tankerace]

After hours of fiddling, I finally got the first WPO scenario loaded, and began to do some testing... and, sadly, it turns out that War in the Pacific has a limit to the new ship graphics it can accept. In the scenario, Japanese ships classes can only exist in slots 1 -172. and 501-1299, and consequently their graphics can only exist in slots 1-172, which are filled up 90%, and Allied ships 172-499, which are filled up almost full thanks to stock graphics and my OOB mod.

What does this mean?

It means that if this mod is to continue, for anyone to play it they would need to create a copy of the WiTP folder, and thus have a double installation. The advantages of this are that I can in fact improve the mod, as I was originally going to have to make certain concessions which would hamper the realism of the mod, but in my view not what it was to achieve. So, I would like some feedback here, both from you the players and Matrix staff.

My question to the Matrix staff: If players created a 2nd installation, on the same computer, would this break any of the rulse in the EULA that none of us read in the begging of the install.

My question to you, the players: Would you still play this mod, even though you will have to have a second installation? I understand that some people cannot due to hard drive constraints, but I also know some people will not want to do a second install for a mod.

Until the results of this thread (which I will monitor for the next several days), work on the War Plan Orange mod is officially suspended until further notice. If there is still a large amount of interest, I will resume it ASAP (assuming I truly stop). However, should due to this interest die down substantially, I will continue to work on the mod for myself, and will no longer put in extensive hours trying to get it finished in a few weeks.

Does this mean the WPO mod is dead? Hell no. It just means that I want to know if people will still play it, despite needing a second install, before I can go on killing myself to get it finished. Thank you, and I eagerly await replies.

-Tankerace
Designer of the War Plan Orange Mod.

[Bombur]

-It still possible to play the mod if you modify existing graphic files and the player make a backup of those original files. When playing Plan Orange you copy the custom files and when you want to go back to original WiTP you restore original files. Time consuming, but your scenario offers a lot of new gameplaying

[Tankerace]

If people would be willing to do that, I have no problem doing that either. It all works the same.

[Bombur]

-The complete Art folder is 463MB, but I think the modifications will be restricted to some directories, maybe with 100MB (instead of 1GB) it would be possible to do the necessary backups. My impression is that you should backup the following directories:
1-Alliedship_back 7,56MB
2-Alliedship_transp 7,56MB
3-Alliedship_classes 35K
4-Japship_back 5,91MB
5-Japship_transp 5,91MB
6-Japship_classes 457K
7-The plane graphic filed
A_planeside 4,33MB
Aptop 2,16MB
Aptop alpha 2,16 MB
J_planeside 2MB
jptop 1MB
jptop alpha 1MB

-I vote for you to go on with the mod

[Tankerace]

Oh, here is a screenshot of the current test.

[RAM]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

My question to you, the players: Would you still play this mod, even though you will have to have a second installation? I understand that some people cannot due to hard drive constraints, but I also know some people will not want to do a second install for a mod.

no problem at all on this end. If a second installation is needed, I'll do it. I've gotten so addicted to this game that I no longer run anything else on the computer, so disk space isn't a problem...just erasing a couple of games I'm not playing anymore will be enough.

[edit]I just read the Bombur's answer...no problem from this side either if that is what it takes to play the game...

BTW

It still possible to play the mod if you modify existing graphic files and the player make a backup of those original files. When playing Plan Orange you copy the custom files and when you want to go back to original WiTP you restore original files. Time consuming, but your scenario offers a lot of new gameplaying

there's a way to avoid this...you could only one backup of original files and play the game changing the files almost immediately. You simply change the names of the folder in question. You can have that folder twice in your HD. One with the original WITP game data, other with the Mod data. If you want to play the original game, you simply change teh names of the folders.

For instance, if the folder to be backuped it's called "ART", then you have two folders...let's say ART (the original game), and ART2 (the Mod). You launch the game, you play original WITP...

Tired of carriers&Zeros&stuff?...simple...you change the name of the Mod folder to ART, and the Original game one to whatever (Art2, art3, or BITE_ME)...you launch the game, and there you go...Orange Plan Mod, ready to play.

Heck, even someone with a bit of programming skills can make an utility that makes it automatically with a couple of clicks...

That would save a lot of boring HD saving&restoring times...

[Don Bowen]

Are you sure about the graphics limitation. I am currently running a highly modified scenario with 180 Japanese Ship Graphics and 326 allied Ship Graphics. I've added new ship graphics in the ranges:
JnSide0200-0208
AnSide0001-0046
AnSide0400-0461 (yours)

NO PROBLEMS. Perhaps there is another cause? memory??

Don

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

After hours of fiddling, I finally got the first WPO scenario loaded, and began to do some testing... and, sadly, it turns out that War in the Pacific has a limit to the new ship graphics it can accept. In the scenario, Japanese ships classes can only exist in slots 1 -172. and 501-1299, and consequently their graphics can only exist in slots 1-172, which are filled up 90%, and Allied ships 172-499, which are filled up almost full thanks to stock graphics and my OOB mod.
-Tankerace
Designer of the War Plan Orange Mod.

[Tankerace]

I don't think so, but I'll do more tests.

Oh, just FYI, I don't think I'll stop it, and just to let you guys know, I am starting the first surface action ever in the WPO mod. IJNS Kongo and Haruna take on the HMS Tiger and Lion! Screens and AARs to follow!

[Arsaces]

Hello Tankerace,

War Plan Orange is a terrific concept for a mod. I'm certainly looking forward to it ! All the nice screen shots you've shown us (the Tiger in Colombo !)simply increase its desirability.

Some of the new games out there use up 4 or 5 Gigs on one's hard drive. By these standards even a double installation is nothing to shake a stick at. But as Ram points out, simply renaming a few folders could do the trick, should there be any legal issues with double installations.

My modest spin on these weighty issues.

Arsaces

[Tankerace]

Alright then.... I will continue the mod, and I think we'll just have to backup the graphics, as my second install graphics aren't working... anywhoo, the first test:

The two British Battlecruisers met the Japanese in a confused night action. I didn't observe the battle (the graphic problems), but apparently a 13.5" shell from Tiger struck Haruna, penetrated her belt, and she blew up with a magazine explosion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 29,27

Japanese Ships
BC Kongo, Shell hits 1
BC Haruna, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BC Lion, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
BC Tiger, Shell hits 1


The Lion was heavily damaged, but did not sink. I will run more tests, and post screens as soon as I get it fully working (should be in < 10 minutes).

[von Murrin]

You make it, I'll play it. A second install is inconsequential to me as I already do this for many games.

Keep it up, it looks great so far![:)]

[Tankerace]

ORIGINAL: Don Bowen

Are you sure about the graphics limitation. I am currently running a highly modified scenario with 180 Japanese Ship Graphics and 326 allied Ship Graphics. I've added new ship graphics in the ranges:
JnSide0200-0208
AnSide0001-0046
AnSide0400-0461 (yours)

NO PROBLEMS. Perhaps there is another cause? memory??

Don

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

After hours of fiddling, I finally got the first WPO scenario loaded, and began to do some testing... and, sadly, it turns out that War in the Pacific has a limit to the new ship graphics it can accept. In the scenario, Japanese ships classes can only exist in slots 1 -172. and 501-1299, and consequently their graphics can only exist in slots 1-172, which are filled up 90%, and Allied ships 172-499, which are filled up almost full thanks to stock graphics and my OOB mod.
-Tankerace
Designer of the War Plan Orange Mod.

Ok, it appears that each side can have graphics number 0-499. In that case, the entire problem just went away. Woo hoo, we are back in action full swing.

[CobraAus]

as I already have a 3 installs on other drives for backup and test reasons
a 4th wont worry me kept going it would be pity to waste all the work and anticipation

Cobra Aus[&o][&o]

[bstarr]

I'm in.

Go for it.

[steveh11Matrix]

If necessary I'll make the ultimate sacrifice and remove Championship Manager....
[;)]

I'm really looking forward to playing around with this mod.

Steve.

[mutterfudder]

What ever it takes.
I look forward to playing this mod[;)]

[Skyros]

Tankerace, here are some stats on the Akron. When I dig up more on her and her sisterships I will post them.

Characteristics of USS Akron:


Dimensions: Length, over-all, 785 feet; Diameter of Hull, 132 feet 9 inches; Designed operational gas volume, 6,500,000 cubic feet of helium.

Weights: Structure, 242,356 pounds; Total lift, 403,000 pounds
Powerplants: Eight 560 horsepower Maybach 12-cylinder V-type water-cooled engines, mounted inside the hull and driving their propellers via extension shafts.
Performance: Maximum Speed (designed), 75.6 knots; Maximum Range, 5940 nautical miles at 55 knots speed.
Flight Crew: 10 Officers and 50 Enlisted Men, plus a Heavier-Than-Air group of 4 Officers and 15 Airplane Mechanics.
Airplane Complement: Up to four Curtiss F9C-2 "Sparrowhawk" fighters, launched and recovered via a mechanical trapeze extended below the airship's hangar compartment.

[Skyros]

Here's the Los Angeles with the Lady Lex.

[Skyros]

And the Akron recovering aircraft.

[SpitfireIX]

ORIGINAL: Skyros

Here's the Los Angeles with the Lady Lex.

Just out of curiosity, how do you know it's Lexington? Because she was there at that date? Or is there a tell in the pic that gives her identity away?