Sticks & Twigs for T3D Updated HD Video
by Alan James · 09/04/2009 (12:40 am) · 32 comments
Hey Everyone!
As noted in the preview, I've managed to put together a better quality YouTube Video of the "Sticks & Twigs" Environment Pack for T3D. At this point things are coming together fairly well.
I am having a bit of trouble with moving from Advanced Lighting to Basic (Black textures, relights not happening, etc.) I'm not sure exactly how much of this I'm going to address regarding the Pack or not, considering this has been a whole load of work rebooting all the missions from scratch and creating twenty four brand new T3D Environments for this Update and they are really focused on the Advanced Lighting side of things.
A couple things to note. There are a few models in the video that "probably" will make it into the pack, but they're really from other ones (a guard tower & brick building from the "Bunkers & Barricades" Military Content Pack, a water tower from the "Goldmine" Pack ). I figure since they're not too fancy yet, it wouldn't be a problem to include them.
There are also about a half a dozen new trees in the pack that haven't been backward integrated into the TGE/TGEA packs. They should work great in those Engines also, I just haven't been working on the updates for them specifically. Also some new Skyboxes/Skycubes...not sure how many less than a half a dozen but there actually may be more also, since I'm not really sure if I'm going to go ahead with a sequel to the "Sticks & Twigs" Pack that had tentatively been called the "Storms & Seasons" Pack. It's been canibalized a bit, and so some of it's content has ended up in this update.
Anyway, I've nearly completed the primary work on nineteen of the twenty four missions for this Update, then I'm going to go back through and try and see what I can do with the Basic lighting and move things around a little to optimize how they run/load. I'll probably have Derek B./Garage Games pass this update through their Q&A Dept. since it is such a substantial update before it goes live in the "Sticks & Twigs" Download Section. I would really like to be finished with it in the next week or two, since there is a lot of things that I really need to get back to working on, but when it's gold I'm sure I'll let you all know!
So witout further ado...
I will also be updating the original "Really Really Good Things" Site, so that I can set up some screenshot pages where I can go wild with the screenies and stop pimping so many here...=)
Alan
As noted in the preview, I've managed to put together a better quality YouTube Video of the "Sticks & Twigs" Environment Pack for T3D. At this point things are coming together fairly well.
I am having a bit of trouble with moving from Advanced Lighting to Basic (Black textures, relights not happening, etc.) I'm not sure exactly how much of this I'm going to address regarding the Pack or not, considering this has been a whole load of work rebooting all the missions from scratch and creating twenty four brand new T3D Environments for this Update and they are really focused on the Advanced Lighting side of things.
A couple things to note. There are a few models in the video that "probably" will make it into the pack, but they're really from other ones (a guard tower & brick building from the "Bunkers & Barricades" Military Content Pack, a water tower from the "Goldmine" Pack ). I figure since they're not too fancy yet, it wouldn't be a problem to include them.
There are also about a half a dozen new trees in the pack that haven't been backward integrated into the TGE/TGEA packs. They should work great in those Engines also, I just haven't been working on the updates for them specifically. Also some new Skyboxes/Skycubes...not sure how many less than a half a dozen but there actually may be more also, since I'm not really sure if I'm going to go ahead with a sequel to the "Sticks & Twigs" Pack that had tentatively been called the "Storms & Seasons" Pack. It's been canibalized a bit, and so some of it's content has ended up in this update.
Anyway, I've nearly completed the primary work on nineteen of the twenty four missions for this Update, then I'm going to go back through and try and see what I can do with the Basic lighting and move things around a little to optimize how they run/load. I'll probably have Derek B./Garage Games pass this update through their Q&A Dept. since it is such a substantial update before it goes live in the "Sticks & Twigs" Download Section. I would really like to be finished with it in the next week or two, since there is a lot of things that I really need to get back to working on, but when it's gold I'm sure I'll let you all know!
So witout further ado...
I will also be updating the original "Really Really Good Things" Site, so that I can set up some screenshot pages where I can go wild with the screenies and stop pimping so many here...=)
Alan
About the author
#22
@Brett S.
I'll try that "smooth-rotate" camera thing and see how it goes...I was twitching all over the place trying to get a nice track...I even sized the player up several times and walked forward to get a different perspective angle with less jumpiness! =P
@Jason P.
Quite a few are things I've shot with my Canon Rebel, but there are also quite a few are from cgtextures, the cliff models and the cracked mud/floor texture in particular since I'm around some pretty cool terrain where I live, but haven't shot that type of variety.
@fiammybe & Michael H.
I don't know, telling me to go ahead and post away with screenshots is like handing a box of matches to an pyromaniac! =)
@Steve A.
Oh Man! Yeah...I didn't even realize that I'd had the sound capture on with fraps until my son Josh and I watched it on our big screen TV and then heard that! I didn't even realize what it was at first (the audio on my PC is tied into our stereo, so it's off most of the time) and then I did the proverbial face-palm...
@Michael H. & James F.
Thanks for the hot keys/command line info. But wait...without that rifle hud icon you might not be able to tell it's T3D.
...that would be a joke there...=)
Thanks again everyone...now back to work on mission twenty through twenty four...
Alan
09/04/2009 (7:12 pm)
Hey Everyone! I'm home from work! Yeah!@Brett S.
I'll try that "smooth-rotate" camera thing and see how it goes...I was twitching all over the place trying to get a nice track...I even sized the player up several times and walked forward to get a different perspective angle with less jumpiness! =P
@Jason P.
Quite a few are things I've shot with my Canon Rebel, but there are also quite a few are from cgtextures, the cliff models and the cracked mud/floor texture in particular since I'm around some pretty cool terrain where I live, but haven't shot that type of variety.
@fiammybe & Michael H.
I don't know, telling me to go ahead and post away with screenshots is like handing a box of matches to an pyromaniac! =)
@Steve A.
Quote:... save for awful tinny splash sound
Oh Man! Yeah...I didn't even realize that I'd had the sound capture on with fraps until my son Josh and I watched it on our big screen TV and then heard that! I didn't even realize what it was at first (the audio on my PC is tied into our stereo, so it's off most of the time) and then I did the proverbial face-palm...
@Michael H. & James F.
Thanks for the hot keys/command line info. But wait...without that rifle hud icon you might not be able to tell it's T3D.
...that would be a joke there...=)
Thanks again everyone...now back to work on mission twenty through twenty four...
Alan
#23
09/05/2009 (11:30 am)
Really Really Awesome ! I just wish I had a project to give my wife a reason to buy this pack.
#24
09/06/2009 (2:02 pm)
Wow, amazing work! Really beautiful! Great variety of environments. I especially love the terrain textures.
#25
...Back to work...
09/06/2009 (9:07 pm)
Ok, so the smooth rotate camera is off the croakusapokus! (Thanks to Travis V. for the level inspiration):...Back to work...
#26
09/08/2009 (11:20 am)
Alan, really great work, I would like to buy the kit, let us all know when this version get to the download section I would like to have it, another think is how do you create that path camera, I'm new but I could find a easy way, maybe a tip will help. Thanks
#27
Thanks. Regarding the video, it's not actually a cam path setup, just one of the camera options that I didn't know about until several of the folks here mentioned it.
I guess I should break down and learn how to finally set up a cam path after being around here for nearly five years, huh? =)
The smoothed rotate camera is here in the drop down for the camera:
Also as some have mentioned, it's "floats" a little and it's a little different to control at first, but it's really is smooth and makes for a lot better videos!
I'll definitely post when this is complete!! =)
09/08/2009 (12:14 pm)
Hey John,Thanks. Regarding the video, it's not actually a cam path setup, just one of the camera options that I didn't know about until several of the folks here mentioned it.
I guess I should break down and learn how to finally set up a cam path after being around here for nearly five years, huh? =)
The smoothed rotate camera is here in the drop down for the camera:
Also as some have mentioned, it's "floats" a little and it's a little different to control at first, but it's really is smooth and makes for a lot better videos!
I'll definitely post when this is complete!! =)
#28
The new, smoothed camera has a few parameters you may tweak if you'd like:
mass = camera mass (default: 10)
drag = drag on camera while moving (default: 2)
force = force on camera while moving (default: 500)
angularDrag = drag on camera while rotating (default: 2)
angularForce = force on camera when rotating (default: 100)
So if you'd like your camera to slow down faster when you stop moving it or rotating it, increase the drag or angularDrag fields. This will also have an affect on the overall camera acceleration. If you want it to turn faster, increase angularForce, etc. You could also change the camera's mass to increaes or decrease the amount everything is damped without affecting the overall relationship between the parameters.
Hopefully that helps!
- Dave
09/08/2009 (3:17 pm)
Wow, nice looking stuff. I especially like the scene you posted just above with the river and trees.The new, smoothed camera has a few parameters you may tweak if you'd like:
mass = camera mass (default: 10)
drag = drag on camera while moving (default: 2)
force = force on camera while moving (default: 500)
angularDrag = drag on camera while rotating (default: 2)
angularForce = force on camera when rotating (default: 100)
So if you'd like your camera to slow down faster when you stop moving it or rotating it, increase the drag or angularDrag fields. This will also have an affect on the overall camera acceleration. If you want it to turn faster, increase angularForce, etc. You could also change the camera's mass to increaes or decrease the amount everything is damped without affecting the overall relationship between the parameters.
Hopefully that helps!
- Dave
#29
09/09/2009 (1:27 am)
Allan, I always buy your products, they are first rate, and high quality. Never had a complaint, and never had a regret buying them. I am looking forward to you new T3D products!
#30
Hey!Thanks for the settings info. I think I'll mess with it a bit for the next video, actually once I got the hang of it, I like just about everything about the smoothed rotate except in general I'd like to have a speed somewhere between the slowest and next up. So that's what I'll be shooting for next.
@John, really appreciate that!
I'm also hoping to give all the previous packs a nice "re-boot" for T3D also, like the "Sticks & Twigs" Pack, which will also work backwards for a nice update for the TGE/TGEA versions. Same file names, same dimesions and scale, just updated texturing, details, updated normal/spec/AO mapping and such (Since the original shader maps I've gotten a little bit better feel for what's ok and what's a little over the top).
I've also have the a bunch of of other stuff I'm working currently...it's just a matter of getting it all done! They just have to start making those 36 hour days...
09/09/2009 (1:52 am)
@David,Hey!Thanks for the settings info. I think I'll mess with it a bit for the next video, actually once I got the hang of it, I like just about everything about the smoothed rotate except in general I'd like to have a speed somewhere between the slowest and next up. So that's what I'll be shooting for next.
@John, really appreciate that!
I'm also hoping to give all the previous packs a nice "re-boot" for T3D also, like the "Sticks & Twigs" Pack, which will also work backwards for a nice update for the TGE/TGEA versions. Same file names, same dimesions and scale, just updated texturing, details, updated normal/spec/AO mapping and such (Since the original shader maps I've gotten a little bit better feel for what's ok and what's a little over the top).
I've also have the a bunch of of other stuff I'm working currently...it's just a matter of getting it all done! They just have to start making those 36 hour days...
#31
09/11/2009 (3:20 pm)
Amazing art Alan! It's very inspirational to see what such talented artist can do with T3D. Most certainly looks worthy of my cash. But man, just looking at your environments makes me want to make some of my own... Hope you don't mind if I attempt to follow in your footsteps one day!
#32
My suggestion, don't wait to follow, take the lead now! I waited until I was 40 to get involved with the kind of things I really like to do (computers, art, games, creating stuff, etc., etc.) and spent a good portion of my adult life just "going to work" and hoping to have a little time here and there to do the things that I really enjoy and would have loved to have done as a career.
Do it now...however old you are, do it now. Obviously don't abandon your life or income or whatever, but make that goal much sooner than you could ever possibly imagine, this year, six months, three months, next week...just jump in with both feet and start doing what you really, really want to do and savor every moment!
I checked out your post in the T3D showoff thread. Very nice work, keep at it. Create those environments that are unique to you and make games, sell content, enjoy your life and do what brings you joy, not just what you have to do to get by.
Don't mind the cheerleading rant, sometimes being 45 just gets to you. =)
09/11/2009 (7:16 pm)
@Brian,thanks!My suggestion, don't wait to follow, take the lead now! I waited until I was 40 to get involved with the kind of things I really like to do (computers, art, games, creating stuff, etc., etc.) and spent a good portion of my adult life just "going to work" and hoping to have a little time here and there to do the things that I really enjoy and would have loved to have done as a career.
Do it now...however old you are, do it now. Obviously don't abandon your life or income or whatever, but make that goal much sooner than you could ever possibly imagine, this year, six months, three months, next week...just jump in with both feet and start doing what you really, really want to do and savor every moment!
I checked out your post in the T3D showoff thread. Very nice work, keep at it. Create those environments that are unique to you and make games, sell content, enjoy your life and do what brings you joy, not just what you have to do to get by.
Don't mind the cheerleading rant, sometimes being 45 just gets to you. =)
Associate James Ford
Sickhead Games
A little tip for the next time you do some frapsing, you can use hideHUDs(true) to get rid of the extra in-game guis, and the smoothed camera Brett recommended is also great.