Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:30 pm
New Starspheres
I don't know wether there is a post like this, so if there is, just delete this one.
Even with all those possible combinations of existing starspheres, it could create an entirely new experience of new systems, if there would be new thing in the background.
So let's do an analysis:
In the system inis, there are three references: One to the basic stars, one to the system stars and one to the nebulae in the background. These are CMPs with very much sub-objects. My guess is the three they are somehow combined to show the final background.
Now the star background has two textures: stars.tga (for simple stars) and stars_large01.tga (complex backgrounds like distant galaxies). Both of them consist of multiple versions: MIP0 to MIP6 (stars.tga) and MIP0 to MIP8 (stars_large01.tga). When exporting these, you get the the same picture all the time just in different sizes. These have to be the multiple version to show the player how far away the star is. The interesting part is: The stars are always ordered in the same pattern.
Now, why are there two references to star background files? Comparing the extracted textures of the basic stars with serveral distinct system backgrounds, the file is always the same. But the CMPs have different sizes, so there has to be a differnece. This seems to be located in the number and positioning of the sub-models of the CMP. With their positioning, they seem to affect which texture gets where on the final background sphere.
The third CMP is the one of the nebulae. It works pretty much the same. There are a number of models and textures in different versions. At this point I begin to think the multiple MIPs where used before DDS came into use, which combines the MIP maps in one file. Anyway, instead of two different star patterns, there are .tga-entries of all nebulae in the background, in different sizes again.
So, to create new starspheres, one would have to copy one of the CMPs and replace the textures, using the patterns already there.
That's all very theoretical and I don't know if there are any more steps to do when copying the CMP. So could the professionals here maybe try this out or give me an opinion? And by the way: I would like to know if the deliberations above are right. Maybe we can achieve something in this direction.
Even with all those possible combinations of existing starspheres, it could create an entirely new experience of new systems, if there would be new thing in the background.
So let's do an analysis:
In the system inis, there are three references: One to the basic stars, one to the system stars and one to the nebulae in the background. These are CMPs with very much sub-objects. My guess is the three they are somehow combined to show the final background.
Now the star background has two textures: stars.tga (for simple stars) and stars_large01.tga (complex backgrounds like distant galaxies). Both of them consist of multiple versions: MIP0 to MIP6 (stars.tga) and MIP0 to MIP8 (stars_large01.tga). When exporting these, you get the the same picture all the time just in different sizes. These have to be the multiple version to show the player how far away the star is. The interesting part is: The stars are always ordered in the same pattern.
Now, why are there two references to star background files? Comparing the extracted textures of the basic stars with serveral distinct system backgrounds, the file is always the same. But the CMPs have different sizes, so there has to be a differnece. This seems to be located in the number and positioning of the sub-models of the CMP. With their positioning, they seem to affect which texture gets where on the final background sphere.
The third CMP is the one of the nebulae. It works pretty much the same. There are a number of models and textures in different versions. At this point I begin to think the multiple MIPs where used before DDS came into use, which combines the MIP maps in one file. Anyway, instead of two different star patterns, there are .tga-entries of all nebulae in the background, in different sizes again.
So, to create new starspheres, one would have to copy one of the CMPs and replace the textures, using the patterns already there.
That's all very theoretical and I don't know if there are any more steps to do when copying the CMP. So could the professionals here maybe try this out or give me an opinion? And by the way: I would like to know if the deliberations above are right. Maybe we can achieve something in this direction.
:
So it's just my curious and deprived modder-side that's itching to know.