Main Menu

[eezstreet]

2D menu will look better. 3D based with map will just look bad.

[Pande]

Use a panoramic photo and use tcmod scroll

[Onysfx]

Will be interested to see how this turns out xD.

[Circa]

2D menu will look better. 3D based with map will just look bad.

I still don't understand how this would look "bad".

[therfiles]

3D Elements are used all of the time in menus. I mean JK2 even uses 3D elements, along with KOTOR.

[Tempust85]

So how do you add a map to a menu file? I'll give this a go and show the results.

[Circa]

So how do you add a map to a menu file? I'll give this a go and show the results.

Well, there's a video he posted in the original post that shows it in action, in case you missed it.

 

[therfiles]

So how do you add a map to a menu file? I'll give this a go and show the results.

 

Shoot me a PM sometime. It will be a little bit tricky to explain

[eezstreet]

I still don't understand how this would look "bad".

Because there isn't any lighting in the menus, for starters. So you're going to wind up with an ugly, unlit map.

 

@@therfiles, irrelevant because a) JK2 used a /model/, not a map, and it coated it in a shiny shader which didn't look bad at all, and b) KOTOR is on a completely different engine

 

You can get a lot better results with just 2D stuff. afiNity's old menu work in particular looked REALLY good.

[Circa]

Because there isn't any lighting in the menus, for starters. So you're going to wind up with an ugly, unlit map.

 

@@therfiles, irrelevant because a) JK2 used a /model/, not a map, and it coated it in a shiny shader which didn't look bad at all, and B) KOTOR is on a completely different engine

 

You can get a lot better results with just 2D stuff. afiNity's old menu work in particular looked REALLY good.

It looked fine in @@therfiles' video.

 

It's a menu on top of a map, not a map under a menu.

 

 

 

[therfiles]

@@eezstreet

 

The method places the menu above the map, so whatever the lighting was, it is preserved. The example is fullbright because the test map was only basically compiled for testing purposes. Also, 2D work looks great. I mean look at Skyline, look at afiNity's work. It's all great. I have nothing against 2D menus, I've made TONS of them. For JKB, Secret Santa, and many other mods, I've used 2D. Using this method will be something NEW. Like I said before, this is an optional plugin, so users against the look/performance dip can really take the 2D menu. I understand your fears, I feel them too. 2D is trusted and true and this method is new and relatively untested. So lets wait until we pass judgement on this before we even have one map done.

[Tempust85]

I'm currently guinea pigging this, will post the results here once I have it going.

[MoonDog]

Use a panoramic photo and use tcmod scroll

 

 

 

 

This would be way easier and less taxing.

[Futuza]

This would be way easier and less taxing.

But it would require taking a shot for each map...I suppose that's the only advantage to this map thing, no need to prepare a levelshot ahead of time, as long as there is a map there is a preview of it.

[therfiles]

This would be way easier and less taxing.

 

That would work, but that would severely limit the camera paths and force us to do a 360 angle, rather than an actual path.

[Tempust85]

I have models working in the menus (like JK2) and it has like 0 noticeable load time. Perhaps you could utilise this somewhere?

[katanamaru]

At this point everyone is talking in circles. Everyone has presented their case for or against the idea. I say let DT85 try it out and if he likes it he can use it.

[Tempust85]

So far, not impressed that I can't use it in mainMenu lol. While I haven't gotten it to fully work with a menu overlayed, it will still display the load map screen no matter what which just looks crappy lol. I think the only thing we can do here is add models ala JK2.

 

 

The idea is there therfiles, but it's just not at a decent useable state with the code as-is.

[therfiles]

So far, not impressed that I can't use it in mainMenu lol. While I haven't gotten it to fully work with a menu overlayed, it will still display the load map screen no matter what which just looks crappy lol. I think the only thing we can do here is add models ala JK2.

 

 

The idea is there therfiles, but it's just not at a decent useable state with the code as-is.

 

B)

Don't judge until the method is fully used bro. Your getting there, but it still has some more work to do. Getting this to work is very tricky.

 

 

 

At this point everyone is talking in circles. Everyone has presented their case for or against the idea. I say let DT85 try it out and if he likes it he can use it.

 

Great idea! We can't really discuss this until I have at least 1 level done. Imma workin'

[NumberWan]

We've been thinking about changing our menu in Dark Pastime mod as well. I made some sketches and friends of mine tried to do smth, but so far to no avail.

[Scorpion]

Here's my thoughts : If it only allows models then can't we make a diagonal-angle-like rotating 3d mini-map of the mission on the side of the menu? That way it'd be a model, and not a map, and it'd be a small edition which means it wouldn't take long to load. And would give away MORE information as to how the map looks like than a few shots of walls. So, whaddya say?

And you could add like a holoprojector under it or something, so it looks like a cool briefing room or something

[Circa]

That actually sounds pretty cool.

[Onysfx]

Here's my thoughts : If it only allows models then can't we make a diagonal-angle-like rotating 3d mini-map of the mission on the side of the menu? That way it'd be a model, and not a map, and it'd be a small edition which means it wouldn't take long to load. And would give away MORE information as to how the map looks like than a few shots of walls. So, whaddya say?

And you could add like a holoprojector under it or something, so it looks like a cool briefing room or something

Almost like way the map system looks in metroid prime!

 

 

 (I know people hate external links, BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO POST THE PIC BECAUSE I DON'T APPARENTLY HAVE PERMISSION!)

Edited September 27, 2013 by Circa
I think it's a time for a lesson in image posting. ;)

[Scorpion]

Almost like way the map system looks in metroid prime!

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RJjEHTZI06o/Ujc2FfDLduI/AAAAAAAAAa8/oEZ0T-9MHko/s1600/CxJkV.png (I know people hate external links, BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO POST THE PIC BECAUSE I DON'T APPARENTLY HAVE PERMISSION!)

My point exactly.

[Futuza]

Huh...that is actually a neat idea.