Oolite Bulletins

Charlie wrote:

-Guess what I do in the real world-

repair bruised book sellers toes?

@DH: I hope everything's fine and well again.

@Doc - pretty much - thanks for asking - missus still has 3 broken ribs (result of old rugby injury she can, on occassion, crack her own ribs by coughing), she has pleurisy, the steroids for asthma have temporarily given her diabetes and now I remember why it took her 5 yrs to persuade me to do this baby thing again However, the baby is now the right way up (it was kicking its way round under her broken ribs that started the contractions off in the first place) and has dropped somewhat which means she can breath again - so her asthma has settled down which is a bonus.

7 weeks to go (or 5 in consultant has his way)

Man o man DH, hope everything works out ok for you and your missus! Personally I'd prescribe some double and triple malts occasionally as well.

@Charlie, would your ocupation be a midhusband?

@ TGHC:
The other half of Mr Hyde...

Now:- 'pute working again, back to Oolite and Dr Nil's idea to update the basic set.

@ The link under my sig is a new version for general comments...

As before it's a .oxp containing a demo CobraIII.

For this version I have gone for a much more 'traditional' look than S...'s.

Why?
-Because I prefer it...
-Because that seems to be the general opinion ( do correct me if I'm wrong )
-Beacuse I can release a texture pack that should allow this style to be easliy duplicated ( and modded ) by any who wish to help now, or for any future ships to follow that wish to have the 'Oolite look'.
( If this is how you want it to be )

-As a result of the above you could argue that this look is a bit plain.

Comments?

they look pretty damn good. simple but distuinctive. dunno bout the barcode tho, the idea's canny (long-range swipe of a reading-laser from the cops etc) but i thing the placement on the dorsal plates is a bit jarring.

while we're on the subject of ships, if i can digress a little...
when i'm browsing OXPs, i notice a lot have descriptions but no screen shots. if i load an OXP ship for eye canndy, i'd like to know what it looks like first. what does anyone think about a "showroom" thread, where your dump a couple of smallish pics of the actual ship and a link to the OXP - cos it's hard in some cases to tell what the thing's like just looking at an unzipped UV map.

@DH: Huh. I'm not really squeamish but sometimes it's just nice to be a bloke and not have to do any of the carrying. Reading your post did give me flashes of a famous 8th passenger kicking it's way out of John Hurt. (shudders). Take care.

@Charlie: I like it Good job.

Wouldn't mind to go a bit more nuts though - But traditionalists probably already think that you've gone way too far...

Some of the edges could do with being smoothed imo.

@KW: Take a look at the newly updated ships and stations pages in the wiki to get a look at how the ships look.

Thanks for the comments.

Bar code? just an idea - what would number-plates look like in the future?
Mind you all Oolite ships are supposed to have Id transponders...

Mostly I added it because while doing the texture I had trouble making it interesting while keeping it easily reproducible ( something I'm keen to maintain )

The 'default texures' I'm using are basically variations on a metallic theme. I've got another texture that would add pannels etc for more interest - I'll do another version shortly to test opinion on that.

Another option would be to do a bunch of add-on bits - may look a bit jarring though...

Yeh - current texture is a bit rough...

Back in a bit.

PS
Is the model in its currrent form to general liking?
( Currently is all one .dat file but a final version wold be split up into frangable s-e's )

Ok - another update

Look to the link under my sig...
The demo .oxp will be found in 'The Basic Set' folder.
Latest version is: UpdatedShips v2.zip

Please read the ReadMe
With those comments in mind I think this is close to the 'final look'.
Do you agree?
Yes? - I'll crack on...

The textues are 512x512 -> The whole pack could be a big download
I'd appreciate comments regarding this texture @ 256x256. Does it work?
( My system runs an unfeasibly high resolution so I'm not in a good position to comment )

Charlie wrote:

Ok - another update

Look to the link under my sig...

Quote from your Readme.txt

23.2.2007

Plan 'B'

No S... textures?

Ok.
-Updated Model + UVMap
-Demo texture.
Based on a more 'traditional' Oolite look.

I think my decission was the best way. The discussion is kidding. I have removed the packs from Oosat, because i don't want to get harmed my work here longer. By the way I'm working on a exciting version of Oolite with state of the art look, incredible sounds and music, by the small german community. If anybody wanted to join he is welcome.

so....you come here, do a few textures, take a strop when someone tries to help you get exposure by uploading your work, but come back to ask questions when you need help and invite us to abandon this community and join you in Germany?

Don't come back please. dunno what sort of ego you got mate but lemme tell you, your textures aren't the defining feature of Oolite so don't expect everyone to come hurrying after you.

Hmmm...

Is Sung better @ this stuff than me?
Yes! - He says this is what he does for a living & I'm doing this because it's supposed to be fun!
( It worries me that he may be trying to turn this into a commercial project - a disaster in the making! )

I'm a little tired of being dissed for trying to be helpful.
( I suspect one or two others have more reason to be aggrieved than me )

I know there are people in this community who are better @ modeling, texturing, & .plists than me - funny to say I've had nothing but kind words & support from those people!

On the two specific subjects in hand:
-If any geniune member of this community thinks this attempt to update the basic set is the wrong way of going about it, or indeed they believe they could do a better job - that's not a problem, say so. I'm simply interested in seeing this done. ( pref as a community project hence some of the descisions I've made with regard to the demo.oxp I've posted )
-@Sung: I've tried to be polite ( as have many others ) I've tried to be helpful ( as have many others ) I've tried to be understanding ( as have many others )
NOW PISS OFF!!
.
.
.
BAN THE SUNG!

Just edited the starting lineup and sold a 3rd rate player off to a fifth rate continental team - this was supposed to be a dream team - not a nightmare.


@Charlie: I like your work. IMO your greatest strengths in OXP'ing are lights (or subents generally) and shipdata plists.

Edges I think should be smoothed: The bottom 'intakes' (both in themselves and where they meet the hull) and the engines.

I'd also suggest the the front view is moved (eg. a little forward) to not have the throbbing gun visible in that view.

Textures: Not too fond of the small plates/weld-lines - it was one of the things I disliked most in someone-not-to-be-mentioned-again's package.

I hope that you can use my comments for something. If they're too non-constructive just say so

--
I still think that the whole thing could benefit from more dream team members being involved. Synergy

@Dr Nil:
My thanks - TBH I agree with all your comments.
( I'm not sure I'm that happy with the plates in the latest demo )
-Textures could do with smoothing? - Yeh, quite agree.
-Smooth the ship? - Agree too.
-I'll poss release another update this pm. Basically verion 1 but with no bar code. I'll do it with a 256x256 texture. ( That'll smooth it a bit & reduce memory overhead )
-I may redo based on a much, much bigger texture then reduce down lots to help with the jaggies. ( May case some issues with the metallic textures )
-Other contributiors? I think I'm nearly done faffing now so after the next 'demo' is out I'll release a proposed texture pack + 'how to' & see who bites.

I just played a bit of Oolite for the first time in months in order to test this. I agree with Dr. Nil on the smoothing of scoops and engines, and also on textures – I favour the use of plates which are designed in for a reason, not just random.

As for Sung, I still see no need for a ban – he wasn’t the one being agressive. If he posts again, you’re free to ignore him.

This exchanging of files on freebie upload sites will get old pretty quickly. Some options:

• Start a Yahoo! group or similar, like the TionislaGY one.
• Insert third option here for nice balance.
• If you’re really serious about a replacement of the basic set, version control, a dedicated forum/mailing list, bug tracking etc. might be useful. Much like what we’ve got for development at Berlios. For instance, as part of the main repository (specifically, as a branch). I could raise this on the developer mailing list if you wish. (This would probably come down to what Giles feels about a full replacement.)