Muzman on 8/3/2007 at 12:17
-There's new stuff at the end-
-Another new version as of the 29-3-08. Check the end of the thread-
- new CS1 demo as of 8-6-10-
Now, I've said a few things about getting new stuff made for SS2 and getting involved in the various fan update projects over the years. But I've done pretty much zip (certainly never finished anything). So just in case some folks remember this fact I thought I'd better do a little proof of concept before anything else.
(
http://members.iinet.net.au/~ragtag/Comp%201_2%20snd.zip)
This 6mb file is a demo remake of the first 50-odd seconds of CS2.avi at 640x480.
Some small apologies for it; its still WIP and open for comment, there's a few iffy details here and there, my codec-fu is weak, the end bit is dodgy (see location troubles below)
But anyway here's the plan: remake as far as practicable all the System Shock 2 cutscenes at higher resolution and incorporating Rebirth models and Shtup textures.
As you can see, at the moment I'm attempting the easiest one. After embarking on this I realised pretty quickly where my relative strengths lie and for the in-game elements I really need an art department. What would probably take me months of dromed learnin' would take many around here no time at all.
The scenes on the video screens in cs2 don't seem to be anywhere actually in the game (damned if I could find them anyway), so we can debate whether or not rebuilding those scenes exactly is better or worse. And, of course, the scripting is well beyond my capabilities.
I have started adapting the goggles skin to the male ghost Rebirth model (the only one I could find not pulling a face). Looks like this at the present;
Inline Image:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~ragtag/gogsnap.jpgbut the model might not be the ideal choice.
So, any interest in this? Questions? comments? etc? fire away
Nameless Voice on 8/3/2007 at 12:57
Goggles really needs a completely new model...
A good point that was raised recently was why does he even have those external 'goggles' when his cyber-rig implant is wired straight into his brain?
Kolya on 8/3/2007 at 14:06
Remaking him as a rebirth model for the cutscene is not a good idea as that neither fits the current Goggles nor any future model.
The view of the VB and shuttle is quite cool.
Muzman on 9/3/2007 at 07:55
cheers, that's good, heh.
The goal here isn't to reinvent the designs of the game but remake the same at a higher level of detail. Fixing the game's percieved problems might be all the rage around here at the moment, but really bringing the cutscenes inline with the defacto standard updates (namely Rebirth and SHTUP) is all I really care about and is going to provide the best update for the widest number of players.
Matching a present or future Goggles model is really only important for multiplayer and even then the signature Goggles look is going to persist (and if it doesn't its of no relevance to this project). That model from Rebirth should be serviceable, except that its hands might be a little problematic in some of the animations and its skin is only half the detail of the other rebirth humans (it still being mirrored like the originals and not having its own head skin). This is what I mean by it being less than ideal. Since no new Goggles model project seems to be moving along (or hasn't been heard from in years) and if no better option exists in the existing rebirth set that I might have missed, that model will probably do the trick. A skilled dromeder or two to help construct/recycle the in game scenes so that they can be 'shot' and this can move ahead, as far as I'm concerned anyway.
Eldron on 9/3/2007 at 14:28
Feels like it becomes a high detail vs quality thing, since even though the old ones are low resolution and lowpolygonal, they still have a consistant quality going on.
RocketMan on 9/3/2007 at 16:04
There exists a new goggles model that is as close to perfect as we're ever going to get and its high res (but the rigging is incomplete). Ajare made it but since he's shifted his attention to other things lately I'm not going to push it since its his property. You might want to contact him though.
Ajare on 9/3/2007 at 18:56
That's very nice of you, RocketMan. :) However, it was one of the first character models I made, and isn't actually all that great. You are right though, I have forsaken Dark Engine modelling in part due to the soul-devouring monster known as meshbld.
DarkDragon on 9/3/2007 at 19:22
Great work with the Cutscene preview Muzman, I enjoyed it and think its a great idea you've got going! I like the Goggles model too! I hope to see more of this project soon! :)
Muzman on 10/3/2007 at 08:26
Thanks a bunch. I reckon it'll come off sooner or later
Quote Posted by Eldron
Feels like it becomes a high detail vs quality thing, since even though the old ones are low resolution and lowpolygonal, they still have a consistant quality going on.
Not sure what you mean. The human models have unfortunate noseless fish heads that were considered rather poor by 1999 standards. They're jarringly underdetailed. I don't think updating them would necessarily overshadow the environments, if that's what you mean.
Eldron on 10/3/2007 at 09:03
they were made the best they could be made with those days standards, and polycounts, (although low), so a modern remake would require not only a new good model, but also a new well-made texture,
otherwise it'll end up worse, but with more polygons.
