Graphics Enhancement Mod (GEM) v2.4. Updated: December 22, 2012

[Martian]

to w1p, Ardilus

Thank you, guys! You feedback is appreciated.

[Dd_01]

AWESOME. Really must-have-thing, man [8D] Totally love ui, stars, ruins and lands.
If only game used more than 2-4 landscape images...

[Martian]

to Dd_01

Thanks!
I guess it's very easy for Elliot to remove "landscapes" limit. If he is aware of this issue, I'm almost sure it will be fixed in Shadows.

[nadia911]

All images of the planets are exactly the same as the Baleur mod with a slight variation of color ...
"I used real space photos and some great sci-fi art for inspiration" [8|] and Baleur's mod... [:-]

[Darkspire]

ORIGINAL: nadia911

All images of the planets are exactly the same as the Baleur mod with a slight variation of color ...
"I used real space photos and some great sci-fi art for inspiration" [8|] and Baleur's mod... [:-]

Wondered when someone else would mention it. Ive been collecting DW resources for the last couple of years.
A simple credit would have avoided all the handbag swinging [8|]

Darkspire

[Haree78]

You guys accusing him of copying Baleur realise that both Baleur and Martian are using the original Distant Worlds images as base? Neither of them generated them planet images from scratch.
It would have been an odd thing for Martian to have based his images on those released by Baleur who had just recoloured the original Distant Worlds images.

They look to me to be a vastly different colour palette. I really can't see what the fuss is about.

[Martian]

ORIGINAL: nadia911

All images of the planets are exactly the same as the Baleur mod with a slight variation of color ...
"I used real space photos and some great sci-fi art for inspiration" [8|] and Baleur's mod... [:-]

to nadia911

Honestly, even if you are a troll, I recommend you to read & think carefully before posting a message, it will help you to avoid looking so stupid as you do now:

If you read carefully, you will notice that Baleur didn't mention just planets, he mentioned the planet's atmospheres. And that's for the reason, because planets themselves are based on original DW images, both in his mod and mine. And that's why I called them improved planets (not new planets) in my mod description. Even more, if you check the my changelog on the same first page you will find clear statement: "Upgraded original graphics for all planets...".

So as you can see I've never claimed I made planets in my mod from the scratch, but I don't understand why I should give credit to Baleur. Is he a creator of original DW planets?

If you really don't see difference between his mod and mine then I guess you are either blind or mentally disabled person. Or most probably a very fat troll.

[Martian]

ORIGINAL: Darkspire
Wondered when someone else would mention it. Ive been collecting DW resources for the last couple of years.
A simple credit would have avoided all the handbag swinging [8|]

Darkspire

Please explain me why I should credit someone who has completely no relation to my mod.
Can you also point clearly what makes you think my mod is based on his one? Otherwise you are just another troll.

[Martian]

to Haree78

Thank you, Haree.

It would have been an odd thing for Martian to have based his images on those released by Baleur who had just recoloured the original Distant Worlds images.

Exactly! You may not believe me when I say I didn't even know about his mod, but you can't deny this simple logic, written in Haree's comment.

Especially in a view of the fact that I completely disliked the look of the planets in Baleur's mod.

[Gareth_Bryne]

To Martian:

Whoa, friend!
You're doing a good job, and while I agree with you and Haree, please forgive me, but IMHO you overreacted a bit to those three critical statements. I would not use the terms "troll" and "stupid" in any first reply to any message. Then on second thought, in any second reply either[:)]...
Anyway, happy Orthodox Easter, everyone!

[Sarissofoi]

Great job.

[Martian]

ORIGINAL: Gareth_Bryne

To Martian:

Whoa, friend!
You're doing a good job, and while I agree with you and Haree, please forgive me, but IMHO you overreacted a bit to those three critical statements. I would not use the terms "troll" and "stupid" in any first reply to any message. Then on second thought, in any second reply either[:)]...
Anyway, happy Orthodox Easter, everyone!

Thank you, Gareth!
I appreciate your conciliatory opinion, and basically I agree that my reaction was a bit too strong. But I prefer to call a spade a spade.

These guys have publicly accused me in stealing of other's content without even bothering themselves to provide any proofs. Basically, they call me a thief. To me this is a very serious accusation and should never be made lightly. And I find it much more insulting than "troll" or "stupid".

If they are sincere and sane people they could first try to talk to me nicely to figure out if I really "used" Baleur mod. But from the very beginning they chose another way: without any reasons they started to insult me. Why would normal people do that?

I am generally quite a mild person and usually respond politely to any stranger, but don't expect me to be "politically correct" to impudent slanderers. Unless they prove their accusations or bring their apologies I have no reason to think otherwise about them.

Added:

P.S. I don't want to boast myself but I work as CG artist for quite many years, I love to create things myself and respect other artists work. I don't have any need nor motivation to steal someone else content. As you probably noticed, other than this mod I am not very active in the forums. I just enjoy doing this mod for myself in my spare time and happy to share it with everybody who likes it. I get no profit from this. And then someone appears and tells me I stole it from his mod which I didn't even knew about. Of course, I was upset. And if people on this forum really think I've stolen Baleur's work then I have no problem to stop releasing this mod publicly.

[Martian]

to Sarissofoi

Thank you!

[Peef]

thanks a lot, installing right away tonight!!

[Cpt Sherwood]

Thank you Martian, this is a great improvement.

[Martian]

To Peef and Cpt Sherwood:

You are welcome, my friends!

Next update for this mod I am going to make after release of the "Shadows".

[Buio]

ORIGINAL: Martian
Next update for this mod I am going to make after release of the "Shadows".

Sounds like a good idea to wait. Who knows what is changed in the expansion.

[harshmyth]

Wow what an superb job, looks great. downloading now

[Erik Rutins]

Just saw that we had a bit of a fracas in this thread. First, our forum rules do not allow personal insults. We're trying to keep a civil community here.

Martian, you did go over the top in your response. Baleur's initial post was not extreme and could have been responded to much more diplomatically, even if you disagree with him 100%, same goes for your response to Nadia911. I can appreciate that their posts may have upset you, but responding with insults is never going to go well. Insults as a first recourse lead to a forum warning and then a ban.

I've tried most of the DW mods and I've certainly appreciated all the work of the modders since we first released DW. Art is rarely completely original, especially when there is a shared base like the in-game art for Distant Worlds, but each modder adds his own take. Baleur's mod is great and certainly has some similar ideas to what Martian did, but as Haree said I don't see that Martian copied Baleur's work, rather that great minds simply think along similar lines. Martian has also taken the idea quite far now and IMHO made a positive contribution to DW modding.

I don't think it will help the modding community or DW to have a feud about this. I don't see any evidence of genuine malice on either side, just a misunderstanding that has caused some hard feelings. I'd like to encourage everyone to start fresh, let bygones be bygones and try to make friends. The community and the game benefits from graciousness and a spirit of cooperation.

If I've missed the mark here, please feel free to e-mail me at erikr@matrixgames.com for further discussion.

Regards,

- Erik

[Martian]

Erik, I just want to make sure if I understood you correctly:

It is OK to publicly insult someone by accusing him in stealing, without any proofs, if you do it in "diplomatic" way, without using a "thief" word, but it's wrong to respond to such slanders by non-diplomatic words "troll" and "stupid" to honestly describe what the accuser is doing?

Do words have more value for you than their meaning?

Erik, I am sorry if I've violated forum rules. I understand, "rules are rules" and should be followed. But why do you apply these rules only to me. Baleur and Nadia911 did insulted me very much. And their posts were actually extreme. It's a pity you can't see this.

P.S. And there was no need for you to mention about the ban. It is not the fear of being banned that motivates me to speak politely, but mutual respect to a person.