Bridge Commander Central
BC Forums => BC Bridge Modding => Topic started by: Picky on June 01, 2008, 02:46:19 PM
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I am very happy to start this topic (this is my first). I must congratulate with all the team for the fantastic jobs they have done in past time and I hope will do in future.
Firstly, I have to say that this is not a request but it is an observation.
Secondly, if you will like this idea, I will be happy, if I can, to help for the realization. There is only a little problem: I cannot modify models or create new ones, but I am able to retexture.
I think that the actual early galaxy bridge retexture present on BC files is beautiful but, no offens, not perfect.
For example, can be a good idea to do a texture for the new Galaxy bridge, not the generation one, the Late TNG Galaxy Bridge. There are others two things: the helm and ops chairs have to be inclinated, like the Ent-C bridge ones; the screen has a little error (always no offense, the bridge is perfect!): the low part has a "step" from the recess to the floor, but in TNG the screen is smooth (like the generation bridge of Frontier Production).
Sorry for my perfectionism, but I think that only with prfectionism we can improve the realism of BC.
I will be onlyne only in the late afternoon, so don't be afraid if you don't see an immediate answer.
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Are you:
1) Making a mod request?
2) Nitpicking an author's work?
3) Or strangely telling us about a new mod you are going to make?
If you answered "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2, I must warn you that both are considered kind of rude. Most people who are capable of doing what you may be asking are already quite busy with their own works. However, if you answered "yes" to number 3, then I wish you the best of luck, and I look forward to seeing your work. :)
Oh, and welcome to BCC!
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Don't worry, I am not asking anything! :) This was only a guide for your future ideas: an advice to lead your mods to the perfection (like would say the borg Queen...). I know you are very busy: I am expecially waiting with a lot of interest the TMP bridge of Intercepter. I am neither criticizing your projects and I'm sorry if you interpreted my previous post as a nitpicking. About the third point I have a good new: this point is partial correct: I have in project a retexture of the actual Late Galaxy Bridge and, if the 3rd Era Team will give me the authorization (I'm young and inexperienced and actually I don't know how ask them the autorization... :?), I probably will relase it. What I said about the positions of the terminals in this bridge was only an observation to my work: if you want, you will be able to modify my early TNG bridge when it will be relased, this maybe could be called Version 2, but I am flying with the fantasy! As preview I will post here some picture: I know it is not perfect, expecially the helm and ops. Suggestions are well accepted. I will work at full time on this project by the next week , when I will have finished the school.
And thank you for the welcoming!
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not bad, this is just like it was in the past in AGT. if only you could make the flip up panels on the captain's chair, like in season 1
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nice retexture! we can never have too many retextures...
(I'm young and inexperienced and actually I don't know how ask them the autorization... :?)
you could always PM Mark about it... tho i am fairly certain they are ok with people retexturing their bridges so long as full credit is given of course... but even still, i would PM Mark just to be sure...
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Thank you for your suggestions! About the flip up panels on the captain chair I am sorry to remember that actually I haven't any programme to modify the models, for that reason I will let this project open after the release, so everyone who want to apply improvent can pubblicate the famous Version 2 :D (see my previous post); there shuold be an adjustement to the chairs inclination and the terminals positions (in the pilot helm and ops weren't parallel to the screen but inclinated -see immage-), but I will colour the arm of the chair with a dark brown so the effect will be realistic. Now I will improve the floor and the screen, tomorrow in the morning maybe I will post others updates. There is another thing, I am sorry for my ignorance but this is the first forum I join: how can I PM to Mark? Sorry for the out topic.
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this is Mark's Profile...
http://bc-central.net/forums/index.php?action=profile;u=3
click on "Send this member a personal message."
as far as the helm and ops terminals and their chairs, you would have to remodel the bridge; and that is a major task...
i think the 3rd Era Team are the only ones who have been able to do this, and unfortunately they are no longer working on BC as all their efforts are now being put into the Excalibur Project...
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A great thank you for the explanation of the PM. I hope in the future I will have the possibility to modify models.
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Nice work on this one :) Yeah those helm stations would be great if remodeled ;)
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:P I really like this, a lot.
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It's shaping up, but it needs more wood paneling, damnit!
Early TNG = Wood Paneling!
Great work.
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Thank you for advices and suggestions! I have improved the floor colour making it more green.
Also helm and ops are better than before. Now I have to adjust some detail. I have also some idea to improve this bridge:
- Can I, without modifing the model, add the blinking graded lights near the turbolift door like modified screenshot (there is something similar in the Sovereign Bridge)?
- Can I make the separation between the two colours of the floor (in the pilot there is more red)?
- There is a little bug: the blinking red panels and all the MVAM panels are not active -but I have Bridge Plugin Gold activeted[/i]-, if you know how can I solve this, pleas tell me.
- I think will be a good idea putting the reflexes in the lcars panels: do you agree?
A little update (the 2nd picture is computer modified):
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I'm not so sure about LCARS colors after watching some TNG S1 episodes look at the pictures, also on the last pic you can see perfect colors for floor and walls in your retexture ;)
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Does it come with optional cardboard covering for the engineering stations? :lol:
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A great thank you for the explanation of the PM. I hope in the future I will have the possibility to modify models.
those helm models cannot be moved easily, but let me explain that thoroughly before someone jumps in..
The model can be edited using nifskope, and the helm can be replaced within the model (things have moved on somewhat since we had to import two nifs to cover the bad areas of the bridge).
The problem comes when you have to change the crew animations... on a non-stock bridge you would have no problems but because there are so many animations on the stock bridges and they all have lots of scripts you would get a crash the second that you move and of the crew... I know this because I have tried it :P
The only realistic solution is to re script the bridge as a non-stock model, and then very carefully find yourself the animations you need for the bridge. After doing that you could simply replace the sitting and facing captain anims for science and helm.
I have actually done 80% of the above process for Excalibur (we have 3 variants of the bridge, the season 1 version is used for the Wolf359 Frankenstein ships), but those new bridges need light mapping and reanimating - and they would never replace the stock bridge because of the aforementioned reasons
So yes it is possible, but not without making it a separate bridge, and not without some real knowledge of BC bridge animations.
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Thank you for the explanation and the photos. I will use them to improve the panels and the floor. My actual idea was to do a separeted bridge called Early_Galaxy, so maybe I will be able to modify the helm and ops! Wait more updates for the late afternoon. :D
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Sorry for double posting but I promised updates... and you will have updates -don't look after the lcars, I'm building other different panels based on the images of Dr_Mcoy. From this screenshots you can see:
1-The wood of the lateral panels.
2-The bug of blocked red alert lights (see previous posts).
Does it come with optional cardboard covering for the engineering stations?
No offense, but I'm not sure I uderstood: cardboard?
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I really like what you've done here, however, after looking at the screemns posted by Bones, I think your chairs are too brown, or at least too dark.
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Yes, you are right. I will make the chairs lighter.
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is the ship at red alert with those sidelights? or are they always lit, and then blink at red alert?
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The second option: they are lit and then blinking when I go to red alert.
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thats the bug i have always encountered when trying to apply BP codes to a different Galaxy Bridge also...
for some reason, that bug just cannot be sorted...
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Small tip about picking dolors from photos ( the best way to get proper colors ) : if you're using photoshop or paint shop pro - use pick color tool and set it to pick mixed color from 5 pixels - should work fine ;) pink/light crimson carpet should be lighter than it is now other than that and chairs looks pretty canon to me. I'm glad you've chosen to make own LCARS, it will be a lot more satisfying than recoloring existing textures ;) keep it up !
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Hey, you've got a nice start here... I'm really liking this. Good work so far. Best wishes, dude. :]
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Sorry for double posting but I promised updates... and you will have updates -don't look after the lcars, I'm building other different panels based on the images of Dr_Mcoy. From this screenshots you can see:
1-The wood of the lateral panels.
2-The bug of blocked red alert lights (see previous posts).
Does it come with optional cardboard covering for the engineering stations?
No offense, but I'm not sure I uderstood: cardboard?
yes that's right. during the first couple seasons, they had problems lighting the bridge set, the lighting caused unwanted reflections (i.e. cameramen, lights, backstage stuff) on some of the LCARS panels, specifically the rear panels, which faced the removable viewscreen and the filming crew. to remedy this, they would place black cardboard over portions of the aft panel to hide the reflections, unfortunately, the cardboard was still visible on television (see attached), so for the next season, they redesigned the lighting scheme to prevent the reflections.
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lol TNG was so cheesy in its first season...
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Thank you for explanation. I don't think cardboard will be included... :wink:
Now I am working on the Lcars panels and studying NifSkope.
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Good lord, the amount of repeats I have seen of TNG and I'm embarrassed to confess, I've never noticed the cardboard before :funny
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Don't feel bad. I never noticed, either. :/
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nor did i...
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Me neither! It's amazing how such a stupid sounding decisions payed off though! Nice and cheap and very few people noticed!
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Well, now I am learning how to modify models. But I have a little problem with Nifskope 1.0.10: the block list just disappeared (but in the VIEW menu the list is active) -so now I am using the 1.0.9 version- I have uninstalled the 1.0.10 version and then reinstalled it but the problem persists. I don't know how I can make it turns back! There is another problem: when I tried to open the modified NIF with Model Property Editor, it crashed. However there is also a good new: panels done at 90% (I will adjust the brightness and the contrast). The carpet is now a lot more canon than before. Suggestions are well accepted.
EDIT: Don't look after the keyboards, I have to make new ones.
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Great job on those LCARS :D looks like straight from the show ! also you got very precise color on floor, now I noticed how pink it was :P
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Fudgetastically Excellent, if I do say so myself :D
Some fantastic LCARS you've got there. Cookie earnt, i'd say.
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Awesome job! I am really looking forward to seeing this released! So much better than the current early TNG bridge.
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very nice indeed!!
have a cookie
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Whoa, whoa, WHOA!!! Who gave you permission to make something so EXCELLENT!? Tee hee. :D Awesome stuff.
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I like it :). And For those who didn't notice the cardboard, I didn't either LOL. And I've seen every episode over and over again :S.
But this is looking excellent :D.
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Man, looks like you got that carpet down pat from the shots. Still think that the chairs are a shade too dark though.
Besides that, looks like she's coming along fine.
Great Gob 8)
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Good news: my nifskope is working again so I began modifing the chairs -this is my first modding and the first step in modifing the helm, suggestions are well accepted. Keyboards are also done at 80%.
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Those LCARS are kick-arse!
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mmm superb job on LCARS ;) I see you've made some first steps with rotating helm/tactical stations, hope it will work and cookie for you :D
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Thank you. I am proceeding with modding but I found problems:
-The helm and ops panels are not visualized in Nifskope so they are still parallel to the screen.
-When I changed the position of helm and ops, a hole came up in the carpet.
Little update
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I think it's because helm/ops panels are second model added by 3DE in late TNG galaxy bridge upgrade, you'll need to edit their additions to model either. As for the hole I don't think guys from Totally games designed thisbridge to be ever edited and so they left holes in the places where stands consoles, I'm affraid you'll need to remodel those holes :(
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I will remodel also the carpet... Little update: I changed the chair of the helm with the chair of the Ambassador bridge, it needs a texture that I will add this evening. A question: Do I have to ask the authorization to the autor of the Ambassador bridge (3rd Era Team) for the chair?
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Yeah you should ask them, I love the idea with replacing stock Galaxy chairs with new ones :D
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You probably want to rotate the platforms the front consoles sit on as well as the consoles themselves. Looks very promising though!
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I tried to move the platforms but I don't think it is possible: they are part of the carpet and not a separated block, but I will not surrender!
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have you PMed Mark or Legacy (LC)?
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Yes, I PMed to Mark and now I am waiting the answer.
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Sorry for double post but I have updates:
1. Legacy gived me the authorization to use the Ambassador Bridge's charis, now I'm waiting the authoriztion of Viper.
2. I put a texture in the chairs in the first picture, but it has to be darker - done later (second picture).
3. I will probably buy a software to modify models: Nifskope is not enough for all the adjustments I have to apply.
4. Animation added to the Lcars panels, the classic "black wave effect" present in the first season of TNG.
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Hey, your bridge looks really great. I like the LCARS very much.
Can't await to test it :D
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now I'm waiting the authoriztion of Viper.
i think if LC says it is ok, Viper will also agree... but if you want to send him a PM all the same, this is his profile:
http://bc-central.net/forums/index.php?action=profile;u=143
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Hey, this looks pretty good so far. :]
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I PMed to Viper and now I am waiting tha answer. Until I will have bought the software to modify models (the bases of the helm and ops chairs has to be like trapeziums, the helm and ops shuold be more orizontal and so on) I will concentrate myself on the details of the texure.
Little update of the MSD, suggestions are always well accepted.
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Wow. Looks good.
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This is the bridge of the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D of the first season, but I think that this project can be enlarged: is my intention, when I will have a sofware to modify models (I think 3ds Max), to make a pack with all the different versions of the Ent-D bridge seen in TNG:
-1st season (work in progress)
-3rd season (with the white carpet)
-Yesterday Enterprise (the dark blue bridge)
-Parallels bridge
-Season 4-7 bridge
-AGT bridge (the orange future version).
Those bridges will be relased as separeted and not in pack because the dowload would become too big and the time of progressing would be very slow (I know that the patience of someone who is waiting a mod is not too much).
What do you think about this?
EDIT: Can I modify the name of the topic with this: "Ent-D Bridge project - part 1: 1st season bridge"?
Thank you.
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Go back to your first post, click "Modify" and change the subject.
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wow, that sounds very interesting. I like the Ent-D bridge very much and especially your idea of creating all the different versions of it :D. So keep on the good work.
But i think, if we had so many galaxy class bridges, there should be a bridge submenu to select for example "Galaxy Class" or "Sovereign Class".
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there should be a bridge submenu to select for example "Galaxy Class" or "Sovereign Class".
You are right, also because I thought to do the same for the Ent-E, but this is only a preview :D.
Thank you for the explanation of the topic.
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Bridge Submenus have been possible since day 2 (ok, maybe 3) after the first Submenu. ;)
Also, how different are the various bridges from eachother, model-wise? If they all (or some) share the same model, have you considerd using BPCore to change the default textures for some of them? BPCore can do things similar as SDT does for ships.
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really???
Why did nobody tell me that :D
Is there a tutorial how to create a bridge submenu?
Thanks
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No tutorial needed, just add "SubMenu" to the dictionary of a bridge plugin.
And then it's just like the ships version of SubMenu, either a single level, or multiple levels in an array.
[EDIT] BridgeSubMenu is currently a seperate mod, in the next version of SubMenu I'll combine them.
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MLeo - the bridge submenu script works fine for me, i thought it was incorporated into your last build?
all you need to do is add something like:
"SubMenu": "Enterprise Bridges",
at the bottom of the bridge's plugin, no?
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That's exactly right, it's the same "level", as I liked to call it to non-programmers (for programmers, it's just another entry in the top level dictionary, so part of the dict = {}).
I don't believe it's included.
It's also outdated, big time. But it works, and I've never had complaints about it. And, considering the lack of bridges, no need (as of yet) for MVAM capabilities, but I may just do that (or rather, the ability to nest bridges, as you can nest ships regardless of MVAM, which is still a "default", in SubMenu V4+).
Btw, this is also valid in BridgeSubMenu:
"SubMenu": ["Enterprise Bridges", "TNG Era"],In case you have more special purpose Enterprise bridges.
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Since aparently, the Bridge SubMenu mod is nolonger on BCFiles (I'm pretty sure it once was), I've attached it here. If it gets back added to BCFiles, then I don't think it should appear as "new" since it most certainly isn't, and to bring it up to spec to say, SubMenu v3.7 is a waist of time since SubMenuV4+ will include a new and improved version of Bridge SubMenu anyway.
I also have a zipfile with images, but it's nearly 20 times larger.
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OK, now it works.
Thank you very much
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Thank you for your suggestions. But I have bad news.... :( I cannot buy 3ds Max because is out from my possibility, but I am now concentrating on others tools. I need help: what do you think is the best 3d tool nif compatible that is free or not expensive?
how different are the various bridges from eachother, model-wise? If they all (or some) share the same model, have you considerd using BPCore to change the default textures for some of them? BPCore can do things similar as SDT does for ships.
About the model, I thought to make some difference between the bridges: the side panels, the chairs, steps, side consoles and so on. Thank you.
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Sorry for double post but I have a good new :D: with the help of Limey98 now I have the free Gmax and I will start in studying it this evening. In the next days I will post some updates. A great thank you to Limey98 and to all of you.
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Yep, Limey's coolies like that. :3
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I am studying Gmax and I began to modify the bridge. Don't look after the textures because those are the ones that Gmax put when you are modelling. This is the first step:
-carpet scheme corrected
-inclination of helm and ops more canon.
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nice progress! keep it goin!
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This morning I made the bases of helm and ops and I began to modify the viewscreen-those images are not updated on the smoothing of the viewscreen because I made that later: the viewscreen is actually smoothed.
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Looking great. :)
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I am expecially waiting with a lot of interest the TMP bridge of Intercepter.
Glad to see i have a fan :D
- Keep up the great work dude :)
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Good new: I finished the mesh! :D Here there is some picture. I have a little problem: I dowloaded the plug in of Gmax for import-export NIF files, and I imported correctly the NIF of Dbridge, but when I tried to export the .gmax save of the bridge, it said this: Export error: you tried to export to NIF a .gmax that is the son of a NIF. I think I need a converter or an add on for NifSkope to import .gmax files (but I didn't find it in the NifSkope site). Have you any ideas to solve this problem?
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If I remember correctly, the only plugins for GMax are those made by the game producers.
Which, for BC, doesn't exist.
So, to get things straight, you exported to nif, but when you save it says it can't because it's a nif?
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Not exactly: I saved the modified bridge as a .gmax because there isn't other possibility in this software. When I tried to export the .gmax into a NIF, it gaves the error writing in an error message that it isn't possible to export a .gmax which is the save of a NIF imported.
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A screenshot please?
Seems like a rather odd thing, if it couldn't export it regardless of anything, that could work for a not registerd exporter.
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Now I haven't the possibiliy to post a screenshot because I'm not on my PC (only my father has the ADSL), tomorrow in the morning I will post the screenshot, and thank you for the help.
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Sorry for double post but I promised the screenshots of the error. In the first image you can see the open window and the .gmax bridge. In the second one you can see the message that comes out when I have loaded the .gmax and tried to export it as .NIF.
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I rather think it's a mesh error.
But you will have to contact someone with more knowledge of modelling for this.
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That happens when the exporter tried to out a heirachy on a model that already has one. If you click on "Select from list", there should be 2 blank spaces, then "Scene Root" and then a list of things indented on 2 levels. Select all but the stuff indented twice, and then delete them. It should export properly then.
(http://www.jl-studios.co.uk/fix.jpg)
If you can only see "Scene Root", make sure "Display Subtree" down the bottom is selected.
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In my "Select by name" I can see a different tree:
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Ok, try deleting all but the blank spaces. Looking at the stock bridge, the blank ones seem to be the actual model.
EDIT: Oh, and delete the first blank one as well!
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Ok, thank you. This evening I will try.
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Another time double post... :? sorry but I have interesting updates! The convertion of the Early bridge is near to solution and I made the part 2: the 3rd season bridge. It needs some detail but in two or three days it will be completed and passed to the testers :D. About details I have a question: this bridge is based on the TNG episode Evolution in which the viewscreen color changes from a smoke gray to a light beige: I think it depends by the lights of the set (the evening shots had arificial light while the shots of the day used the sun light), in my texture I made the second one, but maybe gray is better: what do you think? Vote is open :D! I made also the first step of the part 3: Yesterday bridge.
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That's simply awesome!
8)
Cookie incoming!
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I'm not sure about the color.
Good start on the YE bridge.
I think the next step is lowering the tactical consoles behind the three chairs.
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I don't think the tactical consol has to be lower: the steps make this effect. As for the viewscreen color, I will make it gray. Who want to be the tester can PM me.
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Always sorry for double post... I have great updates! The mesh are all done but the Yesterday Ent one which needs some detail (I don't know how make the grille down the tactical, if someone that use Gmax knows it please tell me). There is some screenshots, don't look after the textures, the images are the ones of Gmax.
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Admiral Riker would admire you.
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Those are some sexy bridges! I can't wait to beta test them. Oh and have a cookie.
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OH COOOLLLL!!!!!
COOKIE COOKIE COOKIE! :D
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OH COOOLLLL!!!!!
COOKIE COOKIE COOKIE! :D
I can only second that.
Enjoy your cookie! ^^
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impressive!
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Thank you. I learned how put the textures in Gmax so I post here a screenshot of the Early Bridge with the correct textures.
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impressive!
Most Impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well.
This is really good stuff, cookie-worthy by a long shot. The textures in that screenshot really makes me conclude the following opinion: "BOOYEAH!"
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Thank you. I learned how put the textures in Gmax so I post here a screenshot of the Early Bridge with the correct textures.
good job :D bridge is looking good :D
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Wow this looks awesome!
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I don't think the tactical consol has to be lower: the steps make this effect. As for the viewscreen color, I will make it gray. Who want to be the tester can PM me.
the tactical console wasn't lowered, the captain's chair was raised. Good effort so far, I've been waiting for someone to make those bridges
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Just beta tested the 3rd Season bridge. I like it, however there are some problems. It appears that the alert status map swapping isn't working, is the blue looking red alert an intended effect? There is also some funky texture issues on the back of the tactical console and the reflections look kind of unnatural. Not to be "picky" (pun intended,) I just want your bridges to be awesome.
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hey, this is really great.
Please upload it now, so that i can walk around this bridge :D
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hey, this is really great.
Please upload it now, so that i can walk around this bridge :D
It is not ready yet.
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you're right. However, i can't await to test it
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Just beta tested the 3rd Season bridge. I like it, however there are some problems. It appears that the alert status map swapping isn't working, is the blue looking red alert an intended effect? There is also some funky texture issues on the back of the tactical console and the reflections look kind of unnatural. Not to be "picky" (pun intended,) I just want your bridges to be awesome.
Yeah, I'd have to agree the reflections don't fit and the Pink-Blue-Purple alert is messed up, otherwise it is not bad, also I would try and consolidate things into one file to make it easier to mod
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Thank you for the suggestions. This evening I will fix the blinking blue. The reflections will be redone and about the tactical texture I will try to make it lighter.