New Release: Verduran Cooperative Version 1.0

[Chronon]

After almost a year of work (most of it learning Moray/Povray), I have finally finished my first shipset: the Verduran Cooperative.

This is Version 0.8 - essentially a Beta - the race picture is provisional, and there is no AI. I am interested in your feedback about the set. Please post any comments or suggestions here!

I would like to thank Taera for his help in the initial stages of this project. Without the Taera Destroyer model you sent me, I would still be totally lost. Thanks! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Verdurans v0.8 (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1056983293.zip)

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1056983828.bmp

[ August 02, 2003, 01:43: Message edited by: Chronon ]

[TerranC]

Interesting...

Quite Interesting... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Looks really good. Keep up the good work.

and if you need a race portrait, you should talk to Dogscoff. He's made some good race portraits.

[Atrocities]

Those are some really nice looking ships. Very clear, and excellent detail. I must learn to use Povray and Moray someday. Better yet 3d studio max.

You did a really nice job on this ship set. It has been added to my Favorites collection.

I noticed that you had an image named Verduran_portrait_battlecruiserbis which was a differant color green. Is this an extra ship?

Also you should consider making this set neo standard as well. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Again, really nice work.

[Loser]

Nice. The shipset reminds me of ... something... I don't know what...

But anyway, looks nice.

[oleg]

Originally posted by Loser:
Nice. The shipset reminds me of ... something... I don't know what...

But anyway, looks nice.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Vaxins (spel.?) - "defenders of hope"

[Loser]

Originally posted by oleg:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Loser:
Nice. The shipset reminds me of ... something... I don't know what...

But anyway, looks nice.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Vaxins (spel.?) - "defenders of hope"</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The appearance, not the name.[EDIT: missunderstood you. I am not familliar with the Vaxians]

I'm really not sue what it's reminding me of though.... Maybe that shade of green is especially close to Zentraedi (http://unsd.macrossrpg.com/zentraedi.php)...

[ June 30, 2003, 16:33: Message edited by: Loser ]

[Chronon]

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

I hadn't noticed before, Oleg, but you're right - some of the ships are remiscent of the Vaxin. BTW, I hope you don't mind me temporarity using your SMAC race picture of Deirdre Skye. Thanks for posting those, SMAC is one of my favorite games of all time.

Thanks Atrocities, I greatly appreciate your comments. "Battlecruiserbis" was an older Version of the battlecruiser that got into the zip file by mistake. After I made that model, I completely changed my textures and overall conception of the shipset (I finally figured out how to use imagemaps). But perhaps I could rennovate it and use it for one of the neostandard images, which I do intend to make at some point in the future (but first I think I'll take a little break).

I would highly recommend Moray/Povray (I haven't used 3d studio max). It's got a steep learning curve, but once you get proficient with it you can make some very detailed models. Since you have all that experience with Doga, I'll bet it only takes you a short time to come up to speed in Moray. I'd love to see the ships you make with it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

[Rojero]

Damn its a lot better than what i have been doing. I cant even get past certain things..hehe
My ships look like the ones from the old atari game Asteroids (C) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif Looks like it will take me a year.. by then Space Empires V will be out!
!@&$%%*&(#@*&(^)@# Curse the Computer gods! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[Chronon]

Keep at it Rojero! It can be very frustrating at times, but in the long run it's worth the effort. If you're using Moray, I'd be happy to send you an .mdl file from one of my ships if you think it would help. Just send send me an email or post here with your email address.

[Raging Deadstar]

I like the clear and sharpness of this race, very good! They look quite like a peaceful race from their ships. Very Very Good for a first attempt

[PvK]

Looks really good!

[oleg]

Originally posted by Chronon:
...BTW, I hope you don't mind me temporarity using your SMAC race picture of Deirdre Skye. Thanks for posting those, SMAC is one of my favorite games of all time.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah, sure ! would't be nice somebody make full SMAC shipsets ? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Just imagine it was not a one ship but several, each with one faction on board, directed to different systems..

[Chronon]

Originally posted by oleg:
would't be nice somebody make full SMAC shipsets ? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Just imagine it was not a one ship but several, each with one faction on board, directed to different systems..[/QB]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's a great idea Oleg. I couldn't do the whole thing myself, though. I wonder if there are enough interested people willing to make a mod on that theme?

Thanks PvK and Sen. Raging Deadstar. I was thinking that the Verdurans would be peaceful, good at diplomacy, and master negotiators - but tenacious in defense. Now I'll have to figure out how to mod the AI to make it so. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Chronon:
(but first I think I'll take a little break).

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yup, we've all heard that before. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif *Looks over at Atrocities and Trooper* They both said it in the past that they were taking a break or quitting the shipset making business but look at them go. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

But on another note: Very nice set! I like it alot. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ June 30, 2003, 21:44: Message edited by: Ragnarok ]

[Fyron]

Please remove the Space Empires IV Gold folder from the zip file in all future Versions. Not everyone installed the game into that folder. Thanks.

[ June 30, 2003, 22:16: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

[Rojero]

f you're using Moray, I'd be happy to send you an .mdl file from one of my ships if you think it would help. Just send send me an email or post here with your email address. <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No I am not is that another graphic type program? As far as implementing new programs i am pretty lost...got the link to it? I would check it out...and thanks for the words of encouragement

[Fyron]

Moray is located here:

http://www.stmuc.com/moray/mecgw.html

[ June 30, 2003, 23:29: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

[Chronon]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Please remove the Space Empires IV Gold folder from the zip file in all future Versions. Not everyone installed the game into that folder. Thanks.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sorry for the inconvenience, IF. I was having trouble with the "relative" path option in PowerArchiver, so I went with "full" path. I'll see if I can get it straightened out for Version 0.9.

Rojero, if you do decide to try Moray - which is a 3D modeling program - don't forget to download Povray as well. It's a shareware rendering program, and you can't get nice pictures of your Moray models without it. Here's the link www.povray.org (http://www.povray.org)

Thanks Ragnarok. But, you know, I don't think I'll ever be as prolific as Atrocities... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ July 01, 2003, 02:07: Message edited by: Chronon ]

[Hugh Manatee]

Originally posted by Chronon:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by oleg:
would't be nice somebody make full SMAC shipsets ? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Just imagine it was not a one ship but several, each with one faction on board, directed to different systems..<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's a great idea Oleg. I couldn't do the whole thing myself, though. I wonder if there are enough interested people willing to make a mod on that theme?

Thanks PvK and Sen. Raging Deadstar. I was thinking that the Verdurans would be peaceful, good at diplomacy, and master negotiators - but tenacious in defense. Now I'll have to figure out how to mod the AI to make it so. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif [/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I CALL PROGENITORS!!!! BACK!!! THEY'RE MINE!!!

[Chronon]

Sure thing Hugh, they're yours. I was thinking of the Nautilus Pirates myself. If anyone else is interested in working on an Alpha Centauri mod, please post here. A few more people and we just might be in business. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[TerranC]

Originally posted by Chronon:
Sure thing Hugh, they're yours. I was thinking of the Nautilus Pirates myself. If anyone else is interested in working on an Alpha Centauri mod, please post here. A few more people and we just might be in business. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I ain't joinin' 'till I git some of 'em details.

[Taera]

The efficient, rational Consciousness will slowly prevail over all of you, barbaric, atavistic, completely biological creatures http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif
(sorry guys, had to, another fan of SMAC here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif )

First off Chronon your very welcome. You made good job from the example i sent you, feel free to contact me for more assistance http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Second, the race is very very nice. It is extremly clean-looking, which however might be a drawback - doesnt look a realistic material, more like pLastic. Try making it darker on the far sides (for moray, thats the Finish effect in case you still dont know -- and you should http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif -- reduce Ambient and incrase Brilliance). Except for that its a brilliant piece of work, especially for the first try. Keep up the good work!

One 'complaint' - those purple things at the back remind me of socks! ships in socks!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ July 01, 2003, 05:09: Message edited by: Taera ]

[Chronon]

TerranC, this is such a spontaneous idea we don't have any details yet. I'll think about general parameters and see what I can put together. That will probably be sometime tomorrow (2 July).

Taera - Thanks for the suggestions! Do you mind if I email you about the finish effect you mentioned? I'm sure there's plenty of other things I need to know as well...

PS. Socks? Hmm, perhaps the Verduran in the race pic should wear purple striped socks... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[trooper]

this shipset look very nice. Chronon, please let me know about the place where it can be downloaded / previewed as soon as you have come to a finalized Version. Then I'll add it to the racedir.

[ July 01, 2003, 15:20: Message edited by: trooper ]

[Chronon]

Thanks Trooper. At this point I don't really have a "home base" on the web, I've just uploaded them over on the Shipsets/Races forum. I'll be sure to let you know when everything is finalized, so you can add them to your directory.

PS. Thanks for creating SOTAS, by the way, it's an excellent resource. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Chronon]

Oops! Double post. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[ July 02, 2003, 02:18: Message edited by: Chronon ]

[Chronon]

Here is the Verduran Cooperative Version 1.0.

It now has a complete AI (optimized for the TDM-Modpack), re-textured ships, and a nice original race portrait by Dogscoff.

Enjoy! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Verduran Cooperative Version 1.0 (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1059783707.zip)

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1059784843.bmp http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1059785161.bmp

[ August 02, 2003, 01:48: Message edited by: Chronon ]