[MOD] IEX - AP/TC Sector Visual Enhancement - IEX 1.5b (27/07/2014)

Moonrat · Post by **Moonrat** » Tue, 6. Mar 12, 18:57

joelR wrote:Ignore my last post. I didnt realize that your mod does touch fog. I just added the no fog mod after this and of course that did the trick.

Thinking about this today, if the "no fog" mod superceeds the IEX 'TBackgrounds.txt' file then 'x3_universe.xml' may be referencing backgrounds which no longer exist.
Which no fogs mod is it, any chance of a link?

joelR · Post by **joelR** » Fri, 9. Mar 12, 07:10

Moonrat wrote:
joelR wrote:Ignore my last post. I didnt realize that your mod does touch fog. I just added the no fog mod after this and of course that did the trick.
Thinking about this today, if the "no fog" mod superceeds the IEX 'TBackgrounds.txt' file then 'x3_universe.xml' may be referencing backgrounds which no longer exist.
Which no fogs mod is it, any chance of a link?

http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=273698

Moonrat · Post by **Moonrat** » Fri, 9. Mar 12, 08:28

Thanks. Mmmmm... the IEX 'TBackgrounds.txt' currently has 120 backgrounds whereas the reduced fog mod you are using looks to have only 80. This means that there'll be sector entries in the IEX 'x3_universe.xml' file which will be pointing to non-existant sector backgrounds. The reduced fog mod will work correctly with IE but not IEX. The good news however is that the IEX suns and planets should be Ok.

You'll need to include all the additional entries from the IEX 'TBackgrounds.txt' file from line 82 onwards (ie. the 2nd fogblue onwards) plus make sure that the top line reads '25;120;'

If you PM your external email address to me with which 'no fog' variant you are using I can email you an amended copy.

joelR · Post by **joelR** » Fri, 9. Mar 12, 17:22

Moonrat wrote:Thanks. Mmmmm... the IEX 'TBackgrounds.txt' currently has 120 backgrounds whereas the reduced fog mod you are using looks to have only 80. This means that there'll be sector entries in the IEX 'x3_universe.xml' file which will be pointing to non-existant sector backgrounds. The reduced fog mod will work correctly with IE but not IEX. The good news however is that the IEX suns and planets should be Ok.

You'll need to include all the additional entries from the IEX 'TBackgrounds.txt' file from line 82 onwards (ie. the 2nd fogblue onwards) plus make sure that the top line reads '25;120;'

If you PM your external email address to me with which 'no fog' variant you are using I can email you an amended copy.

Thanks. I would really appreciate that. I will PM you my address.

I am actually using argonaughts original version which is no longer available in that thread. I will also send you that once we exchange addresses.

sadron · Post by **sadron** » Thu, 22. Mar 12, 07:29

By the way is this Vanilla Friendly?

Moonrat · Post by **Moonrat** » Thu, 22. Mar 12, 08:44

sadron wrote:By the way is this Vanilla Friendly?

Yep

.

It should not modify your game and the map is based upon the latest vanilla TC & AP one. RL has been getting in the way recently of further progress but I plan another release with updated content soon.

Aikidoka · Post by **Aikidoka** » Thu, 22. Mar 12, 17:24

First of all I would like to thank you for your effort on this (great) mod. I already enjoyed the "normal" IE mod and this one looks even more breathtaking

However, your initial post lacks some information on the following topics:
- It is mentoined, that the view distance should be set to "Medium", can you tell me why? If my PC can handle the graphics part (I've got a ATI HD7970

) with ease, why should I turn it down to Medium?
- If you release new updates, is a new restart required to get the new content into the game? I thought I have read somewhere, that you don't have to restart, but it is recommanded. Here again why? Is there some content which doesn't gets activated?

Thanks in advice
Aikidoka

Moonrat · Post by **Moonrat** » Thu, 22. Mar 12, 18:40

Thanks for the compliments, I'm hoping connary reads this too as my mod (IEX) humbly builds and extends upon his... Now onto the questions.

Aikidoka wrote:It is mentoined, that the view distance should be set to "Medium", can you tell me why? If my PC can handle the graphics part (I've got a ATI HD7970 ) with ease, why should I turn it down to Medium?

Some of the sectors still have fog and I thought these looked more immersive if the setting remains at Medium. Having a greater view distance with IEX will not break the mod however and apart from the usual performance hit (if any) it should be still good to go. It's basically up to you, decide which view distance you prefer and enjoy...

Aikidoka wrote:If you release new updates, is a new restart required to get the new content into the game? I thought I have read somewhere, that you don't have to restart, but it is recommanded. Here again why? Is there some content which doesn't gets activated?

Image textures and object files are read during every startup of each gaming session regardless whether it is a new or old game, and so any changes to pre-existing named textures/objects will be seen in-game. Often some of the base textures & object files are simply replaced with updated ones with each new release of IEX and so a new gamestart will not be required to enjoy them.

However... sometimes I also alter the positions/characteristics of suns, planets & gates as well as adding brand new content to the x3_universe map. These changes will not appear in any new game as an existing savegame already has the map information stored (along with ship/station/sun/planet positions etc. etc.) and it is not refreshed.

So in conclusion, a new gamestart will pick up everything as intended. But an existing savegame using an updated IEX cat/dat will benefit but won't be quite as 'pretty'.
Let me know if you still need more information.

zj1985 · Post by **zj1985** » Mon, 26. Mar 12, 16:51

One question:the view distance should be set to "Medium"
Do I have to do this myself or your mod already did it?And how?
Thanks.

Moonrat · Post by **Moonrat** » Mon, 26. Mar 12, 19:00

I think it's only in AP... not TC.

From the startup box :

Graphics Settings -> View Distance (Low/Medium/High/Very High)

zj1985 · Post by **zj1985** » Tue, 27. Mar 12, 05:37

Moonrat wrote:I think it's only in AP... not TC.

From the startup box :
Graphics Settings -> View Distance (Low/Medium/High/Very High)

So I can't change the view distance in TC?Sometimes When I look into earth or mars,I got a huge fps hit.I try to uninstall your mod and start a new game,then fly to mars and look at the planet,the FPS get low.If I don't look at planet,the FPS get to 60.This problem appeares even at a clean game.I hope someone can help me,thanks.

Moonrat · Post by **Moonrat** » Tue, 27. Mar 12, 08:07

Not heard of too many other folks having performance hits with IEX, but it probably depends on what rig you are playing with. My graphic card is a bit lowly and even in vanilla it sometimes drags a bit... Any chance of a DXDIAG or at least the basic specifications of your PC? Any other mods loaded?

zj1985 · Post by **zj1985** » Wed, 28. Mar 12, 11:40

Sure,this is my PC
CPU:e6700 3.2GHz
RAM:4g ddr 1333
Graphic Card:NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
I don't think this is my PC problem.I will start a new game lately and see what will happen.Thanks for reply.

Moonrat · Post by **Moonrat** » Wed, 28. Mar 12, 22:35

I've played around with various settings and altho' my rig does register a drop it's not too dramatic. What framerates are you seeing looking towards/away from Mars and towards/away Earth for both IEX and Vanilla?

Although your rig PC has 8Gb less memory than mine, your graphic card is (slightly) better than mine...

The graphic settings I have follow, what are yours...?
1440x900 4x AA, 8x AT
View Distance : Medium
Texture : High
Shader : High

m00nch1ld · Post by **m00nch1ld** » Thu, 29. Mar 12, 00:38

Moonrat wrote:Not heard of too many other folks having performance hits with IEX, but it probably depends on what rig you are playing with. My graphic card is a bit lowly and even in vanilla it sometimes drags a bit... Any chance of a DXDIAG or at least the basic specifications of your PC? Any other mods loaded?

Well i'm another one... tried your mod. then went to my Mega complex in Home sector. Thing is its 200+ station with all the roids in this map. " i build it as far as spossible from the only south gate. so when i come in My rig wont have to load it. Since u increase to viewing, i cant go in there anymore. and i'm pretty sure its not my rig.

Quad phenom 3.4
8gig ddr3
dual 5770 in crossfire mode
and yet i lagged like a mofo.
is there a way to make a version of it with normal viewing distance?. cant find it in the loader of X3tc

p.s. my mods are
Gold HUD Trixx
Universal buyer/seller
Missile subtitle Gazz
ATF Outpost
Killergog Trail Effect

-In installfolder
+Galactic news
+Marcon Menu
+MK3 opt (better MK3)

Moonrat · Post by **Moonrat** » Thu, 29. Mar 12, 08:12

Mmm... I was wondering last night if it's the view distances that are causing a potential problem rather than the models. I have always been very keen to hear negative (as well as positive) comments but altho' the downloads of IEX hit the 500 mark I received very little feedback from anyone. If there has been a problem and nothing has been said, it's may be not unsurprising that I have carried on blissfully assuming that everything was Ok.

No matter... this is potentially an easy fix with no new gamestart being required. The viewing distances were a selective merge of vanilla, IE and the 100k viewing mod., it's probably the 100k ones which are causing a problem.

What I need to hear of, are the sectors where it may be a problem. So far we have...

Mars, Earth (these share the same viewdistance)
Home of Light?

Any more for any more?

m00nch1ld · Post by **m00nch1ld** » Thu, 29. Mar 12, 20:31

Well I got the major isssues in Guiding Star, ,(ceo's Welspring, etc ) Home sector.

I did not however made a new start. cuz its my first game and i want to finish all plots b4 i start over again. I did not post for a fix. more of a feedback as why i uninstalled your mod... but it will be my 1st install next game.( it look too good to pass

).

Thx and continue your good work!

xTemon · Post by **xTemon** » Sat, 31. Mar 12, 21:38

Thanks for this. Rediscovering the X-Universe will be a nice change now.

Also, very nice work on the fog; much better than before. I always found the visible layers of flat textures a bit disconcerting. Much more like actual particles in space now.

..and no more weird lines streaking across certain areas of space.

Only looked at 3 sectors so far, but I'm just restarting game and looking at which other mods I'm going to use.

Moonrat · Post by **Moonrat** » Mon, 2. Apr 12, 10:08

I've made a good start on the view distances in the vague hope it'll cure a few performance issues that seem to be experienced by some folk. I've not finished it yet but major backgrounds including the Terran Sectors, standard black plus everything from #0 -> #50 have been adjusted. Most of the maximum view distances have been brought back to closer to vanilla whilst maintaining the ability to see as far across the sector as possible.

All you need to do is to download this TBackgrounds.txt file and then...

TC : Place it in the "types" folder
AP : Place it in the "addon\types" folder

Create the above folders if need be. If a game is currently active, exit your current game session all the way out. Then resume your game from afresh, this download will work with existing games so no new gamestart is required. Please let me know of anything you think I should be aware of. Thanks. I'll finish tweaking this off after Easter, plus release a new version with extra content.

dreamer2008 · Post by **dreamer2008** » Wed, 11. Apr 12, 17:50

Just wanted to say thank you for this beautiful mod! The galaxy looks awesome

.