Noted.

We will see, what we can do, regarding the samples.

What you forget is, that:
1. it mostly won't be noticed by most of the players due to moving angles, limited zoom, cockpit always on, uninterest, unknowlede etc. or whatever
2. its look has to fit with the rest, so it doesn't break the 'visual composition' of the game

Both issues suggest the use of compromises between details and saving polys/textures, even if the limits are not reached. Thats part of game development.
If the world was perfect, there would exist quite a few more different limits for different objects or it should be defined exclusively for every new project.
But its not that way, because its easier as it is ... BUT on the other side it demands some kind of good sense for what is reasonable and what is exaggerated.

Ha, I doubt, anyone will blame on you. ;)

Not everyone of the team reads the inbox. The model was handed over without the note. That issue is clear now.

Well, generally, you don't. Now you do. On a side note, however, it is rather logical to have a front projection of your model in the front view window of the Max. But, don't worry, it's a typical error, I did that too, when I was only starting. ;)

For an objects with relatively small pixel rate (a number of texture pixels per polygon) I wouldn't recommend such approach. Because it is quite possible that after resizing the texture, a details painted on it, would shift way too much relatively to the existing UWs. And some pieces previously carefully aligned on UW seams or near 3D parts would become misaligned.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended to painted a texture exactly into the size, which would be used on the final product.

It is a very good approach for a large objects and large textures. In current situation, however, with relatively small pixel rate it is better to avoid making too many seams because with only few pixels per polygon it sometimes would be impossible to align texture on the seams properly.

The main hull wasn't removed, or so it seems and it was the place with the most unpleasant number of seams in most unpleasant place (were fin attachments were supposed to be painted.

For a starters, the very thick fins, you modeled, wouldn't be accurate to the real thing. The metal fins on the torpedo had "hydrofoil" shape, so their outer edges were almost knife-sharp. The thickest part of the fin would be at the middle of it's root and it would be around 10mm or so, judging from the photos. The only image of the torpedo with that thick fins is from USS Intrepid museum, where an inaccurate wooden replica is displayed.

Another reason is that on all other IL-2 models (planes, vehicles, ships) parts, which are thinner, then 30mm or so, are considered as 0-thin. We have to keep general visual detail of all models on approximately the same level.

And finally, making those parts 0-thin allows use of alpha channel, which allows to further reduce polygon count.

Don't see any contradiction here. You can use both approaches, even on the same model, if you please. But generally, it's easier to use 2-sided material.

Do they really? Looking on the model which was sent back to you, I can not say, they do. :cool:

LODs were mentioned along with basic triangle and texture requirements somewhere on this forum.

Sometimes, you got to get into account, that you work with other people, not just alone. In this particular case, making a gazilion variants of basically the same weapon, which differs from others only extrnally generates a lot more work for a programmers who will implement this ordnance into the game. Throwing at them more work at a time, when they are already overwhelmed with other work isn't a good example of team work.

That's approximately the same story, as with polygon limit, as Caspar explained it to you.

Noted.


I am obviously not used to low poly modelling. I shall adapt.


Noted and I am eager to see how you guys mapped it now.


I mostly used tech drawings and photographs of the salvaged original torpedo, though my latest version of the tail planes had little to no resemblance to the original as I had to cut down polys left, right and center.

Good to know, then nothing will need to be made accurate in the thickness regard. Should save me some time calculating measurements ;)

Alpha channels always feel like a short cut to me and that is why I have avoided them so far, perhaps you guys can teach me how small resolution textures acan produce accurate alpha results.


Can't recall ever having seen any specifics about them in all my years around here.

See, how are we outsiders supposed to know that? Basic logic would dictate that a visually different model would only require a simple copy and paste effort in the coding department as nothing has to be changed except for the name and path info and that is hardly a limiting factor.

This leads us straight to an important question:

Is there a point to making new types of bombs (HE and AP) for the Japanese (and othernations) or will the bombs stay as simple as they are now and therefor it will make no difference what kind they are?

Low-polygon modeling for games always requires to simplify RL objects for two reasons: save polygons on large objects and make smaller and simpler objects (where one could care less about polygon number) at equal detail level, so they would fit into general visual representation of the virtual world one is building.

Because, if you have too detailed object in relatively low detailed world, it would make look the whole world unrealistic, the same as if you have low detailed object in the high detailed world, it would make this object unrealistic and out of place.

IL-2 game models use alpha channels everywhere, on every plane and cockpit model there are plenty of it. Many ground objects, all ships, etc. use a lots of alpha-channel textures. Many polygon-saving techniques, used in the game models, are based on alpha-channel usage. So far, that doesn't seem a problem.

In case of multiple variants of the same thing, a programer would have to program appearance of respective model according to correct service time, which would require him to check all those dates, check what model should appear when, etc. Not a big deal, when he has only this stuff to do, but another fraction of an ass-pain, if he has a lot more stuff to do as well, which should have been done yesterday and so on. So, whenever you can ease his job - why not?

I didn't say, there is no need to replace bad, or innacurate models, but I don't see much use in making a multiple variants of the same thing, which differ only visually, with no functional difference. So, in general, it is enough to have like maximum 3 visual variants of the same ordnance, as it does not affect the gameplay much. The smaller and the more "secondary" an object is - the fewer variants and less visual accuracy can it have. It's just a matter of saving labor resources.

Seems to me that HE and AP variants of Japanese bombs would be welcome additions. Being able to select the type of effect one wants on the target depending on the target would be extremely useful just as it is with German ordinance.

He would get all those dates and types from me, so no extra work for him.

Well, if you want to see torpedos sticking half their tail assembly into the hull of the plane because it is the wrong assebmly for said plane, so be it.

You also did not nswer the question I actually asked. Is there the will to introduce new bomb types or do you mearly want to see all meshes replaced?

Also, I yet have to receive the rebuild torpedo or any other example file...


Oh and here is the 60kg bomb with 2 sided material and alpha channel setup. 244 tris. The absolute minimum in quality as far as I am concerned.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...b_2resized.jpg

Yes.

It still looks very good Zorin, don't worry. It will look great under the wings of the Val. The torps are still a huge improvement over the old mesh, even with two-sided parts.

I can see you're very detail-oriented, which is a good quality to have, but don't allow the pursuit of perfection to frazzle your nerves. If you made every bomb to the initial level of quality you've presented, you would absolutely lose it, considering how many types there are.

Those high-detail models would fit in nicely into the CloD/BoM engine when the Pacific theatre is covered, so not all is lost.

Cheers.

Im still waiting on a response from an email I send some time ago.