ODS Skin Pack for SP3!

[ccc]

Installed after Spyder's SP3 DF skin pack, hey our previous ODS skin pack(ver 1.0) works!!

Most ground vehicle skins are ok.
Only few a/c with new models or upgraded need some tweak, list here:

1.all f16 need new skins to fit Robert's model, previous Panther's skins need tweak.
2. Spike's new mig21/29, su25 need minor tweak. F5E and mig23/25 fit.
3. B52 will use Ootami's brand new set.
4. A10, need whole new set
5. F-4G, need whole new set
6, F14/F18, use current skins though some new models are incoming.
7. need skins for brand new a/c: Iraqi SU-24, Su-7MB, RAF tornado ADV and IDS, RSAF ADV and IDS.
8. need desert skin for challenger I.

In short, current pack works fine, will contact artists for fruther development. expect beta soon.

[Ender Wiggin]

so, this leads to how many more skins needed?

[ccc]

Many.

now i aim at "one texture set for one a/c type", except for Viper, it will got 6 sets.

Just confirm the minimal requirement:

any artists want to help pliz contact me.

wanted:

A10 x1
Mig29A x1
Su25 x1
Su24 x1
F4G x1
Tornado ADV x1
Tornado IDS x1
======================

current beta size is 5.76M.

[ccc]

Test skin pack beta with [ODS.SP2.beta.v0.2.preview4].

on problem.

If we cannot do theater/skin pack switching together at one click, external f4Skin switching is the backup. just work fine.

BTW found Iraqi mig21 use old model(CT record).

and, latest TacEdit2.31 cannot open save0.cam for adding new SQ.

[ccc]

One more thing,

Snake Man when adding new fighter Sq to campaign, you may use all CT records of this a/c type for different SQ.

for example, there're 5 CT records for each fighter, one for TE/IA/Campaign, and other four for teams in Dogfight.

Use all the CTs, i can swap 5 different skin sets.

i know UT plan to use "SQ#-skin set" conecept by expanding KoreaObj.TEX size. which will count on/ be limited to next database patch release.

[Jager]

don't you remember Italian Tornado?
They made many missions in the Gulf War taking off from the base of Al Dahfra

[ccc]

I know Tornado IDS got two sets of skin in SP3. if Snake Man confirm campaign can use both sets, will reserve one for italian Tornado.

[Snake Man]

quote:Originally posted by ccc:
you may use all CT records of this a/c type for different SQ.

I don't know anything about CT records, how can I use them when adding stuff with Tacedit?

PMC TFW
Snake Man

[ccc]

SM, forget your question. we wont need that at this moment.

Just finish second beta. 6.13Mb now.

Thanx Panther, i use his latest viper skins, combine with ODS viper tail textures (also created by Panther months ago).

Also replace mig25 with Harald's new skin, scaled down to 256x256. i'll prepare a 512 addon once new TexApped available.

for now, we're short of new(or upgraded) skins:
[new skins for new models]
RAF desert tornado
RASF desert tornado
Italian AF tornado
Su7BMK
SU24
SU17
C5
C141
F14? F15? F18?
Mi-8
LAV25 series

[skins to fit upgraded model]
SU25
F4G
A10
F18C/D
mig29

[Ender Wiggin]

as for Panther's Skins, his tails need to be updated for the new model, something was shifted, maybe someone could contact him bout it

[ccc]

no worries. the hybrid looks pretty good.

[Snake Man]

Yo mighty CCC!

Get thos skins ready for ODS, we now have some new util to apply them!

---
Also included in the zip is the skins installer. It takes no arguments.
It is intended to be run from InstallShield, but it can be run as a
standalone exe also.

The "current directory" must be \terrdata\objects<theater>. This folder
will contain the SP3 Korea KoreaObj.hdr and KoreaObj.tex files (at a minimum).
The skins (textures) will be located in the subfolder called "Skins"
(e.g., \terrdata\objects<theater>\Skins). The BMPs must be named with their
respective Texture ID# (e.g., 1285.bmp). The installer can handle any texture
size and will automatically add a new palette when a texture has one that is
not already in the current palette set.

(text by Dr. Fred Balding).

PMC TFW
Snake Man

[ccc]

supplement: in current skin pack, all skins are 256x256 or less, no 512s. i'll arrange a 512 addon for hi-end users.

[ccc]

Got Basil's DS Tornado skins today. tweak some ordance skins to fit ODS environment.

skin pack size still growing.. hehehe

[Snake Man]

How is the bmp renaming coming along?

I'd like to test out that TexInstaller.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

[Ender Wiggin]

ccc, if u need help with making f4p files for the skins, let me know, i did ones for Panther's skins and made the skin pacth for sp2

[ccc]

SM, how to run Texinstaller?

EW, f4skinpatch is done. now i need some help for so-called " renaming bmps" job

one more, SM, is "Black Pheonix" part of Operation DS series? or ME iran vs iraq? if its the later, you may need another skin pack -- AFAIK, Vipervware is handling this part -- yet did you think of this: "in-theater, campaign(or timeframe)-specific skin pack switching"?

[Ender Wiggin]

well, can u send me the beta skin package so i can help u with that?

[ccc]

EW: on your way! total 6+ Mb.

[Snake Man]

quote:Originally posted by ccc:
SM, how to run Texinstaller?

Read the above post about it. It can be run manually or in the InstallShield Installer.

quote:now i need some help for so-called " renaming bmps" job

Yeah it would be really nice to add the stuff into the installer, all automatic and no hassle to the user.

When he runs the theater, all correct skins are automatically applied. When he changes back to korea/other theaters - all is restored.

quote:is "Black Pheonix" part of Operation DS series?

No its fictional stuff.

quote:or ME iran vs iraq?

No its PMC Saudi/Coalition vs Iraq/Iran

quote:yet did you think of this: "in-theater, campaign(or timeframe)-specific skin pack switching"?

We can add two theaters at once. ODS 1991 and then Just Middle East, they are the same on terrain + objectives, but skins are different. We can lotsa cool things with the new Theater Switcher ingame!

PMC TFW
Snake Man

[ccc]

I read Fred's brief again... so i dont have to keep those "original skins", just sent you renamed skins, right? excellent, zip size down to 3+ Mb.

quote:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
or ME iran vs iraq?
---------------------------------------------

No its PMC Saudi/Coalition vs Iraq/Iran

wow, i've not heard this... OT: why it called "black pheonix"? :p

[ccc]

SM, renamed skin pack is on your way.

I suddenly found, some skin are going to replace several default skins, can Fred's util solve this? some special command line?

for example, a new viper bmp is used to replace default skin# 1181 and 1187, another new skin for replacing default #453 and 1241.

[Snake Man]

quote:so i dont have to keep those "original skins", just sent you renamed skins, right?

Right. Only the NEW skins.

When our installshield installer installs the theater (dare I say one more time install) we copy the terrdata\objects to terrdata\ODSobjects for example. It then unpacks the Skins, runs the TexInstall and we have patched new skins on ODSobjects dir. Then we just say in the DesStorm.TDF file that our objects dir is... guess what, terrdata\ODSobjects !

At least... I hope its so simple

quote:wow, i've not heard this... OT: why it called "black pheonix"?

Yeah we didn't much mention it, still cool storyline on its way to give some background for the War. And yeah its BLACK PHOENIX.

quote:I suddenly found, some skin are going to replace several default skins, can Fred's util solve this?

If you can apply them with the old system, it would be weird if you could not do that same thing with TexInstall also.

But we find out when your skinpack gets here, I'll try it out and report back to you.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

[ccc]

ODS skin pack update:

just receive nice skins from Basil:

RAF tornado IDS desert camo
USAF F4G WW
Iraqi AF Su25

all in 512 size, will scale to 256 for first round release.

[ccc]

UPDATE:

Basil sent me Iraqi Su-7 skins! great job!

though su-7 file cause some CTD in current campaign, it will be fixed someday.

now..let me count the beans..
1. waiting new model and skin layout: F14/15/18. hold working on current layout.
2. need new skins for ODS A-6? all gray?
3. waiting Fred's A7 and skin layout.
4. waiting Rick's S3 and skin layout.
5. AH, need skin for ODS E-2C?
6. willl need skins for my ugly buc.
7. some missile/store need desert skins.

[Snake Man]

I tested out the TexInstaller and it works just fine. Now we can have skins attached to a theater.

The next ODS installer should include Skins also.

Just to boost up the skin makers inspiration

PMC TFW
Snake Man

[ccc]

GREEEEEEEEEAT! as usual

[WraithNine]

Can someone please send me the skinpack? Thanks.

wraithnine@aol.com