Discussion Forum: PDS 7.2 polishing effort

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Point Defense Systems » Point Defense Systems Remastered Project » PDS General Discussions

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PDS 7.2 polishing effort
Sun Tzu	#1 Posted on 22-03-2006 09:02
Posts: 528 Joined: September 08 2005	PDS 7.2 is stabilised now; so it is time to polish it by fixing and improving non-critical features and turn it into a 'finished product'. Below are the proposed directions for that polishing effort, with an indication of the tools needed for each task (for those who are not used with HW2 modding). Please post any other action you think should be taken (again not affecting critical gameplay elements). Anybody who is not engaged in the PDS-AS/NGCS major evolutions is more than welcome to contribute. I'll open a storage space on Filefront accessible to all contributors to share work-in-progress. The plan is to finish the graphical part (UI) by end April, and the remaining by end May. The outcome will be submitted to Tel'Quessir for approval and release. User Interface: - produce neater background and loading screens [photoshop or the like + rot tool] - revamp credit menu as playing instructions and such [notepad] - revamp tutorial menu as 'single player scenarios' [done] - correct ship icons display errors (UV mapping corrected for each resolution) [notepad, picture viewer and patience] - redesign certain ship icons when too sketchy or add them when they are missing [photoshop or the like + rot tool] - standardise all ships' short descriptions to fit into the taskbar in any resolution (2 lines only) [done] Gameplay: - improve docking ability (docking ships get a small maneuverability boost) [done] - let repair orders immobilise targeted ships [done] - improve autodocking (optimise script and prevent 'over-docking' of carriers) [notepad] - possibly enable hyperspace for strikecraft, usable only if in the vicinity of a hyperspace module (to fix CPU single cruiser attacks) [notepad] - possibly retune health regeneration and repair multipliers to put emphasis on support ship management (not sure if 100% compatible with AI though) [notepad + testing] AI: - actually implement Hiigaran and Vaygr building preferences [notepad + lotsa testing] - update ship values to macth actual abilities [notepad, gaming experience and testing] - update AI scripts to fix inconsistencies (like AI building subsystem attackers when the enemy has a cruiser) [notepad, gaming experience and testing] - update AI classification of ships (complete list and fix minor inconsistencies) [notepad and testing] Anti-lag: - remove dustclouds spinning and wobbling (my computer like it a lot )[done] Contents: - adapt S&D scenarios to single player with much meaner CPUs [missions 1 and 3: 75% done; need help and inspiration for 4 and 5] - redesign Ascension campaign with full action starting on mission 1 and focus on Hiigaran resistance to Vaygr invasion, not on the 'Core Quest' [just started] - longer term: add a Vaygr 'special issue' with Vaygr SP scenarios and expanded Vaygr campaign [need to change Races scripts and AI luas for that] Edited by Sun Tzu on 22-03-2006 09:03


Thorin	#2 Posted on 22-03-2006 15:58
Posts: 414 Joined: September 02 2005	I'd be willing to mess around with the AI build preferences. Sleep now though. Nudge me off the keyboard if I start drooling.


Sun Tzu	#3 Posted on 23-03-2006 12:44
Posts: 528 Joined: September 08 2005	Cool. I've opened a file space storage on filefront and put the patched 7.2 on it: http://files.filefront.com/PDS72rar/;4907485;;/fileinfo.html. It's open to everyone who would like to contribute, so pm me if you want the passcode. I know filefront is not ideal for this, but it should be ok and I don't have the time to figure out how more appropriate things like cvs are working :sigh:.


TelQuessir	#4 Posted on 24-03-2006 06:13
Posts: 2598 Joined: August 30 2005	Like I've mentioned in PM, put up a mirror thread on Relic Boards' mods in progress forum. You might as well do some advertisement and diplomacy for me while I am busy with other matters


Inert	#5 Posted on 24-03-2006 23:14
Posts: 388 Joined: September 08 2005	I intend to help with the graphics department. It would assist me greatly if I had some list to work off of (priorities) but I'll see what needs to be done.


Sun Tzu	#6 Posted on 25-03-2006 12:59
Posts: 528 Joined: September 08 2005	I suppose the top item of the list would be those viewed most often: - main menu background: preferably with the blue frames that fit with the main menu; no instruction text needed anymore, it will go into the 'credits' menu - skirmish loading background; I've made a shot at it for fun (below) but that's just copy/paste work ead: - icons: vaygr fighters and lavis. Sun Tzu attached the following image: Edited by Sun Tzu on 25-03-2006 13:05


TelQuessir	#7 Posted on 26-03-2006 05:21
Posts: 2598 Joined: August 30 2005	OMG, that's my most awesome screenshot To think that the scene occured naturally too - Offensive Counter scenario with the Imperator escaping pursuit by... charging through enemy lines.


Inert	#8 Posted on 26-03-2006 23:36
Posts: 388 Joined: September 08 2005	I have a concept for the main menu and the screenshot that goes with it. I will have to agree that is awesome, though, and I have plans to incoporate it.


Sun Tzu	#9 Posted on 28-03-2006 09:28
Posts: 528 Joined: September 08 2005	The skirmish download screen and the main menu background can be different (Relic used the same but this is not necessary), so in fact there are three main screens to try your creativity: - main menu background - default menu background - skirmish download screen.


Angel of the night	#10 Posted on 28-03-2006 09:40
Posts: 11 Joined: March 28 2006	if u ever need a tester i have nothing else to do "hey look free ion cannon particles mum can i have some" "no dear you will get hurt " "no i won't mum they are only coming from that ion cannon frigate over there."


Sun Tzu	#11 Posted on 28-03-2006 23:04
Posts: 528 Joined: September 08 2005	Ok angel, we'll remember that I've uploaded the changes on the main menu (button names) and the information menu ('about PDS 7.2' ). http://files.filefront.com/Main_and_credit_menuszip/;4925091;;/fileinfo.html Atm the info displayed is the same as the current background, but it can be changed and expanded virtually without any limit (we just add a scrollbar if necessary). Btw I think it's possible to put in a similar menu a description of ships with a picture, in the NGCS readme style. Edited by Sun Tzu on 28-03-2006 23:19


Inert	#12 Posted on 29-03-2006 01:04
Posts: 388 Joined: September 08 2005	Link doesn't work, even if I manually put it in the URL bar.


Sun Tzu	#13 Posted on 29-03-2006 05:50
Posts: 528 Joined: September 08 2005	:confused: Copy/paste on the url bar works on my end. I've stopped using those url tags because they never seem to work. Edited by Sun Tzu on 29-03-2006 05:53


TelQuessir	#14 Posted on 29-03-2006 05:56
Posts: 2598 Joined: August 30 2005	If you want me to test it out wait until 10th next month, or send me a CD.


Sun Tzu	#15 Posted on 29-03-2006 12:43
Posts: 528 Joined: September 08 2005	There is nothing fancy at the moment. I'm sure we'll have more than that on the 10th. Anyway, I attach the file to this post just in case Filefront has issues again Sun Tzu attached the following file: main_and_credit_menus[136].rar [16.36kB / 460 Downloads]


Thorin	#16 Posted on 29-03-2006 17:38
Posts: 414 Joined: September 02 2005	It's nice. Also, filefront is back up. Also, I like the initial changes. Cool stuff.


Inert	#17 Posted on 30-03-2006 00:16
Posts: 388 Joined: September 08 2005	The background is too high up for some reason...? edit: proposed background. If I had to give it a name, I'd called it "Timeless". Inert attached the following image: Edited by Inert on 30-03-2006 00:23


TelQuessir	#18 Posted on 30-03-2006 04:37
Posts: 2598 Joined: August 30 2005	That looks like Battlestar Galactica. Oh I know, it was a screenshot that I taken for a BSG fan


Sun Tzu	#19 Posted on 30-03-2006 09:37
Posts: 528 Joined: September 08 2005	Nice background. The menu and background look a bit too different though. Perhaps you could try the same picture with less filter and the HW2 font. Or we could somewhat change the menu colours. PS [edit: wishful thinking about scripting menus deleted] Edited by Sun Tzu on 30-03-2006 21:49


Cobalt Shiva	#20 Posted on 30-03-2006 23:33
Posts: 118 Joined: September 07 2005	My wholehearted support for this polishing project - I think it's exactly what PDS needs. Unfortunately, RL demands prevent my contribution. "This is tactical control..."

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