Ambrosia Garden Archive
    • Is it just me? (a thought about Nova graphics)


      I find that I dislike some of the graphics in Nova...mostly landing pics (612x285 or whatever) but also the splash screen... Maybe I've been doing too many 4096-res bitmaps...Does anyone think that there would be demand for a plug-in pack that remodeled the splash screen, and all or most of the landing pics?

      I looked through the Title files in Resedit....I think most of the station graphics are ok, and many of the Auroran - in fact most of the Auroran ones...but still, that makes the majority ones I dislike =P

      maybe I'm just insane. No flames, please, but thoughts?

      -Nat

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      Lequis Design
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    • Go ahead and replace them if you have the time; variety is never a bad thing. 🙂

      As for not liking them, there are about 4 or 5 that I don't care for, but I don't hate them with the passion that you do. 😉

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    • Quote

      Originally posted by Lequis MX:
      **I find that I dislike some of the graphics in Nova...mostly landing pics (612x285 or whatever) but also the splash screen... Maybe I've been doing too many 4096-res bitmaps...Does anyone think that there would be demand for a plug-in pack that remodeled the splash screen, and all or most of the landing pics?

      I looked through the Title files in Resedit....I think most of the station graphics are ok, and many of the Auroran - in fact most of the Auroran ones...but still, that makes the majority ones I dislike =P

      maybe I'm just insane. No flames, please, but thoughts?

      -Nat

      **

      Go for it, it'll be interesting to see what you come up with.

      Matrix

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      "Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool."

    • It's just you 🙂

      FWIW I don't particularly like some of the landing pictures - not that they are poor quality, just that some of them aren't that attractive to me, and some seem inappropriate for the planet descriptions.

      Hadn't noticed anything wrong with the splash screen, as I recall it's the standard Ambrosia logo, don't know if they would want you changing that.

      A supplementary graphics plug sounds like a nice add-on; I say do it.

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      Joe Burnette
      "I find that humans can be divided into only two meaningful categories: Decent Humans and Sonsofbitches; both types appear to be evenly distributed among all shapes, colors, sizes, and nationalities." -- Keith Laumer

    • I love the splash screen, and there a few landing picts I think look strange.

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    • I like the splash screen, but I'd certainly consider switching is with something more EVC-ish. Something about the original splash screen is just cool looking. But a note: generally the splash screen should be replaced along with the music, as they both convey a certain mood together.

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    • I must admit I was disapointed wth the splash screen in comparision to the previous EVs..... Many of the shipyard pics would have been great spash screens....

      RAGE gunboat, Leviethan, Mod Starbridge, to name just a few.........

      l e g i o n

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      The heart goes streight from sugar to coffee.

    • Quote

      Originally posted by Legion:
      **I must admit I was disapointed wth the splash screen in comparision to the previous EVs..... Many of the shipyard pics would have been great spash screens....

      RAGE gunboat, Leviethan, Mod Starbridge, to name just a few.........

      l e g i o n

      **

      Not really. Personally, I really liked EV's splash screen the best, with the huge rebel fleet approaching the planet and seeing the back of the captain as he watches. The shipyard pics are generally of single ships only, which I don't think is the point of the game.

      Matriix

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      "Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool."

    • In my opinion, many of the planet pictures could be improved upon. A number of them look like they were thrown together in Bryce, with some rather ugly objects here and there, as well as completely incompatible landscapes right next to each other.

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    • The splash screen just seems to be rather devoid of stuff. Nice text though.

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    • Quote

      Originally posted by what_is_the_matrix:
      Personally, I really liked EV's splash screen the best, with the huge rebel fleet approaching the planet and seeing the back of the captain as he watches.

      I thought it was an admiral of some sort, a fleet commander maybe. I did like it the best I suppose. I was quite impressed though how well the start-up music goes very well with each respective splash screen. Nova sound like doom, and shows a sun exploding. EVO sounded sort of military charge-like, and showed an ongoing battle. EV sounded kind of exciting and you know, and shows an expectant kind of scene, where you're not sure what will happen next. They each went well with the games and stories they introduce.

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    • I like the more moody musical intro for Nova. The only (slight) gripe I have with the Nova splash screen is that it doesn't properly convey the magnitude of the event. When I look at the station and the planet that are apparently in the process of being incinerated, my brain says "wow, that's a friggin' huge explosion", but my eyes say "well, it doesn't look so big..." I like the 3D work itself, but the composition of that particular image just doesn't work. (look at the original EV splash screen, you'll see what I mean)

      As for the landing pics, they're not all of the same quality, but there are some very good ones too IMO. And I think we can all agree they're a definite improvement over the ones in previous versions.

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    • Quote

      Originally posted by Curwen:
      **
      As for the landing pics, they're not all of the same quality, but there are some very good ones too IMO. And I think we can all agree they're a definite improvement over the ones in previous versions.

      **

      But of course! EV and EV:O used basically the same landing pics; with a few new ones needed, obviously. It seemed to me that the quality of EV:O was lost with my version, the graphics were more GIF-like, and the sounds were'nt so great.

      I always liked the splash screen of EV the best. It was really cool. I remember hearing somewhere that they were originally going to use Confed ships for it. Am I right, or was it a plug-in?

      But anyway, after my ramblings, I shall return to the topic.

      Some of the landing picts are pretty incredible, although some aren't, er, carefully designed, and some look like my Bryce render rejects.

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    • Quote

      Mantaray:
      I always liked the splash screen of EV the best. It was really cool. I remember hearing somewhere that they were originally going to use Confed ships for it. Am I right, or was it a plug-in?

      As I understand it, there were multiple splash screens used during the beta phase before the final one was decided on; one of the others had the Confederation scene that you describe.

      A.

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      (This message has been edited by Anatole (edited 06-25-2002).)

    • Quote

      Originally posted by Mantaray:
      I remember hearing somewhere that they were originally going to use Confed ships for it. Am I right, or was it a plug-in?

      You're right; I don't have a link at the moment, but somewhere back in the Ambrosia Times archives, there's a preview of Escape Velocity which shows a non-Rebel splash screen.

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    • There is a really cool program called (url="http://"http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/images.shtml")terragen(/url).

      Currently it is out only for the PC but there is work being done for a (url="http://"http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~jomeder/TGMac/")MAC version(/url) but it has not even reach a beta test stage.

      It makes FANTASTIC landscapes. If you are like me and have a PC to work on, try it. I never found a use for it until now. I could create realistic landscapes with it and use it to create worlds.

      I am anxiously waiting for the beta tests for the mac version.

      by the way, it is F-R-E-E!

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      apart from knowing God.
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      (This message has been edited by Vast Deathmaster (edited 06-27-2002).)

    • Quote

      Originally posted by David Arthur:
      **You're right; I don't have a link at the moment, but somewhere back in the Ambrosia Times archives, there's a preview of Escape Velocity which shows a non-Rebel splash screen.

      **

      Found it:
      (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/Ambrosia_Times/March_96/3.2EVUpdate.html")http://www.AmbrosiaS....2EVUpdate.html(/url)

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      It is better to feed the goat than it is today.

    • I'm the developer of the Mac version of Terragen. I've actually been playing Nova a bit recently, and I think I'll register it, it's a cool game ( apart from the hyperspace jump giving me a headache after a while ). I must say I was a bit disappointed with the landing images as well, I don't think they match the quality of the ships etc. in many cases, which are great. It's a shame the Mac version of Terragen wasn't around at the time they were being done, I think it would potentially have done a much better job than Bryce for landing images, although it doesn't support arbitrary 3D objects yet so the bases etc. would have needed to be composited in.

      Quote

      Originally posted by Vast Deathmaster:

      **Currently it is out only for the PC but there is work being done for a MAC version but it has not even reach a beta test stage.
      **

      Actually, it's been in private beta testing for quite some time. The public beta tests will start very soon, around about July 1st. The public betas will be not all that far from a final version, the private beta testing has knocked nearly all of the rough edges off.

      Quote

      **
      I am anxiously waiting for the beta tests for the mac version.
      **

      If you go back to the TG Mac website ( using the link you kindly supplied ) you will see a link to a Beta Test page on the front page. That has details for joining up to be a public beta tester. The first public beta will most likey be released on Monday, July 1.

      Regards,

      Jo Meder

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