Fallout 1/2 Visual Enhancement Mods?

[encinodude]

We've seen mods for combat animations and plenty more for gameplay (F2RP and the MegaMod being by far the most expansive ones), but why is it barely anybody bothers with backgrounds? It would enrich the game if there was more variety to locations; especially towns: many of them look the extremely similar. (It's a wasteland, yeah, but towns miles away from each other all had the same paint scheme in mind for their buildings?)

New background art seems a hell lot easier to pull off than new combat animations, which require a ton of frames apiece. I'd love to see some, and I'm sure many others would, too.

 

[Josan12]

Strangely enough i agree (as i spend so much time on animations) - Fallout's weak point seems to me to be it's scenery, not its animations - which i think are rather good.

Particularly the roofs. Way back when i first played FO i remember being appalled by the roofs. If there was one thing i could improve it would be those dull, monotonous roof tiles. At least a gable roof here or a tin roof there....

 

[rogerg2]

Good idea. I have played mods in all types of games, i.e. RA2, Diablo, etc. and most of those mods are map related and I do not see why anyone has not spent any time in creating different maps or just modifying the ones that are present.

I really have no room to spout anything concerning I am extremely ignorant on modifying or creating anything gaming relevant, but I agree with you both.

 

[Grayswandir]

Good idea. I have played mods in all types of games, i.e. RA2, Diablo, etc. and most of those mods are map related and I do not see why anyone has not spent any time in creating different maps or just modifying the ones that are present.

Fallout fan expectation are a bit different from others game.
While it is "relatively" easy to make/modify maps, if there are empty of quests/ meaning, they are useless.
So i think a lot of people makes maps, but never finish and release them.

For me, adding any new elements (protos, arts) is a pain in the ass, so I don't do it, even if I have some new wall. (when i say new, I just changed the color, I am no grafic designer...)

But yeah, me and others would love see someone do new background art...

 

[rogerg2]

Grayswandir, I was contemplating that same reasoning after I had written my post. That is one of the major factors that this game has that a great majority of the other games that I listed do not have. (I cannot pinpoint what the word that would fit this subject)

Then wouldn't that be an easier opportunity or more simplistic to redo the designs of the existing maps? Like the previous poster said about redoing the roofs and such?

 

[Dude101]

Then wouldn't that be an easier opportunity or more simplistic to redo the designs of the existing maps? Like the previous poster said about redoing the roofs and such?

While "they" are at it, can they expand the maps for the high res patch.

Grayswandir, any chance of releasing more of your re-coloured graphics if it is going spare?

 

[Grayswandir]

Grayswandir, I was contemplating that same reasoning after I had written my post. That is one of the major factors that this game has that a great majority of the other games that I listed do not have. (I cannot pinpoint what the word that would fit this subject)

Then wouldn't that be an easier opportunity or more simplistic to redo the designs of the existing maps? Like the previous poster said about redoing the roofs and such?

To be honnest, I am fine with the design as there are. What I am missing is diversity, like the OP said, i can't accept that necropolis, adytum, SF, etc have exactly the same design, hence my work on the color.
But i think Dude101 pinpoint the core of the problem...
Who's exactly going to do that? I personaly was THAT near to flame the OP because of the "wouldn't it be nice", like if it was as easy as the song.

Personnaly I don't have the skills, but if you know someone who can...

But here is something that i can do

Now wait till I finished Lynettes script... She 's soo osum!


Or this

and this is SF. But In my mod, the city got nuked, so...

Here are the files :
http://rapidshare.com/files/202231288/walls.zip.html

But when you have messed with the colors so long as I have, you learn that the change of color ain't enought to create diversity.
You still need to have something different or it fell recycled or power rangers...

 

[encinodude]

Whoever said it was about diversity rather than design hit the nail on the head. The problem with Fallout's visuals is that too many things look the same. Too much recycling.

 

[Lexx]

It is a lot work to create new and good looking scenery, walls and especially new tiles. When I read this thread, it sounds all a bit like "it would be cool and I don't think, that it would need so much time", but it needs a shitload of time. Even the smallest piece of 2d art can hold you up for a week, if you want to make it good...
And oh lord, creating new tiles is a real pain in the arse because of the slicing, adjusting, including into the game, etc.

A while ago, I cutted a bigger image into tiles- I got 70 tiles for a very small area and this 70 tiles needed to fit perfect or it would look shitty... and I have still some more to do. Someone remember this image? What you see in the top left corner is still just a scenery object (4 parts) and needs to be changed to tiles. This will need a lot new tiles...

 

[Continuum]

Lexx is right. Working with 2d engine is really time consuming. All this splitting, adjusting (and thinking how to resolve some problems) is really annoying work + you must know how to do that to get decent results.

And yeah, tiles are real pain in da ass. In opposite to scenery or walls you're limited to "shape" and size engine is using, which is really, really, really small.

Think in this way:

more detailed and good looking (no repeatable crap) roof/floor/whatever = more unique tiles = more stupid retarded annoying cutting/adjusting/etc. = you'll quicker reach limit for tiles (4096)

If not that stupid retarded tile limitations you could make huge roof/floor from 4 large pieces and fit it nicely into existing building, but as I already said: engine will not accept anything bigger than default tile (I already tried that).

 

[encinodude]

Bummer. I knew there had to be a reason people weren't making visual enhancement mods already.

 

[Jesterka]

more detailed and good looking (no repeatable crap) roof/floor/whatever = more unique tiles = more stupid retarded annoying cutting/adjusting/etc. = you'll quicker reach limit for tiles (4096)

BGE's currently on 3417th tile! Greit!

 

[Demonslayer]

Bummer. I knew there had to be a reason people weren't making visual enhancement mods already.

Well, months ago Continuum was trying to sharpen the actual models, as in re-design them to look better (graphic enhancement) although i think he gave up because of the shitload of time it would take to do that for every critter/animation.

About the scenario, ground, floor, walls, etc, i guess it would be easier to do the new over the current ones so time was saved. But i don't know much about it, can't even tell if that's possible.

And yeah, it would be awesome to just have walls with different colors/watermarks/rust/dust, so cities could have uniqueness, and i guess it wouldn't be that hard to edit the current ones to make "new" but modders usually go for harder stuff

/EDIT:

When i say "edit the current ones" and "do over the current" i'm not saying to replace but to use it as base to create a new one an add it to the possible choices.

 

[Lexx]

but modders usually go for harder stuff

Yes, we are like this:

And not like this:

 

[encinodude]

Bummer. I knew there had to be a reason people weren't making visual enhancement mods already.

Well, months ago Continuum was trying to sharpen the actual models, as in re-design them to look better (graphic enhancement) although i think he gave up because of the shitload of time it would take to do that for every critter/animation.

About the scenario, ground, floor, walls, etc, i guess it would be easier to do the new over the current ones so time was saved. But i don't know much about it, can't even tell if that's possible.

And yeah, it would be awesome to just have walls with different colors/watermarks/rust/dust, so cities could have uniqueness, and i guess it wouldn't be that hard to edit the current ones to make "new" but modders usually go for harder stuff

Even recolors would make a whole lot of difference, with how repetitive Fallout looks. Of course, it would be a good idea to stick to the post-apocalyptic wasteland theme and not get carried away Wizard of Oz-like.

 

[Grayswandir]

Yes, we are like this:

Yep! Exactly how I see myself. Go Appolo Go!

When i say "edit the current ones" and "do over the current" i'm not saying to replace but to use it as base to create a new one an add it to the possible choices.

Yeah, if "someone could do that, that would be great...

Even recolors would make a whole lot of difference, with how repetitive Fallout looks.

Here is the deal. You name the .frm you would like to see changed, you tell me wich color you want, i tell you if it's possible.
If yes, i give you the frm, you implant it in the game. And I am still the one doing the hard work.

get carried away Wizard of Oz-like.

Nah. Ain't my style.

 

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For the record, people who don't do graphics mods usually don't have enough interest or passion in graphical modding to participate in the process. Enjoying and appreciating the hard work of those who do is another matter.