Psycher/Chebby's Texture Projects

[Thulghor]

So after following this thread:

http://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121490

I also found this site:

http://modp99.forumotion.com/

I liked the West Freeport improved textures Psycher released, and was hoping to get the other ones he made, but it appears the download links are broken. I'm curious if anything else became of these projects, and if anyone still has these files somewhere?

[Thulghor]

No one has any ideas on this? Would be sad if his work got lost in the vacuum of the world wide web.

[khanable]

if I knew the exact software and procedure he was using i'd finish off the project

[Baler]

I liked the West Freeport improved textures Psycher released, and was hoping to get the other ones he made, but it appears the download links are broken.
The links you posted don't contain anything about west freeport. Your links were character models and some dead forum.

If you're talking about this:
https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2482

You can get that here: http://p99.yourfirefly.com/
High-res S3D files from EQ Trilogy install

This isn't rocket science, it's all been covered on the forums. Search, Read & Learn.
If that wasn't it, please link the correct thread.

if I knew the exact software and procedure he was using i'd finish off the project

As for what programs they're using to achieve modified textures not from a an orginal eq distro, like the character models. I'd bet it is S3DSpy + photoshop (or Gimp)

[Ele]

Why do people want to improve on perfection?

[Daldaen]

Why do people want to improve on perfection?

I'll never understand it.

Cazic Thule and his 7 polygon's already is perfect. He doesn't need someone trying to improve him.

[Psycher]

Hey its Chebby, retexturing zones takes alot of time which kinda stalled my progress because interest seemed pretty low. It's alot of renaming, extracting, and waiting lol. I haven't worked on zones in a few months and I've also heard that the serverer operators are pretty against modifing zone files which is exactly what i do. Essentially I don't want to waste my time if this is frowned upon by the server owners.

[Thulghor]

The links you posted don't contain anything about west freeport. Your links were character models and some dead forum.

If you're talking about this:
https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2482

You can get that here: http://p99.yourfirefly.com/
High-res S3D files from EQ Trilogy install

This isn't rocket science, it's all been covered on the forums. Search, Read & Learn.
If that wasn't it, please link the correct thread.



As for what programs they're using to achieve modified textures not from a an orginal eq distro, like the character models. I'd bet it is S3DSpy + photoshop (or Gimp)

Please don't troll my post. This isn't the RnF forum.

I linked the correct threads, along with the correct forum. Bottom of the first post on the first link, right where it says "=== Experimental / Work in progress stuff ===" has modified files on the West Freeport zone that look nice.

Furthermore, the "dead forum" link has a zone retexturing section that I was interested in, which was the whole point of this post. These are not the same as the Luclin zone textures.

[Thulghor]

Hey its Chebby, retexturing zones takes alot of time which kinda stalled my progress because interest seemed pretty low. It's alot of renaming, extracting, and waiting lol. I haven't worked on zones in a few months and I've also heard that the serverer operators are pretty against modifing zone files which is exactly what i do. Essentially I don't want to waste my time if this is frowned upon by the server owners.

That's a good point. I didn't know that. I like the work you have done though, it's really nice. Keeps the classic feel, but clears up some of the muddiness of the textures.

Hopefully we can get a stance idea from the devs on this.

[Thulghor]

if I knew the exact software and procedure he was using i'd finish off the project

I'm curious too.

[Thulghor]

How does someone even get input from the developers/GM's on an issue like this?

[Bweetza]

This (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3byJ45i9W8&feature=youtu.be&t=106m50s) is about as close to a ruling as we've gotten, to my knowledge. Short answer is don't edit client files.

"That's a bad idea, you should stop doing that."
"It's a good way to get banned is what it is."

[Secrets]

Long answer: Do NOT edit the client files unless otherwise approved by the P99 staff. You WILL get banned. Telin and myself have gone through the appropriate channels to get our modifications approved, such as the sky and classic skeles/wolves.

This includes 'editing models' and stuff like that people have been doing (you know who you are)

Modifying files that aren't approved to be edited is bannable, and probably won't be officially supported by the P99 team unless you have 100% legal ownership over the files you are submitting for modification. Or, if you modify the files in a way that does not distribute the original copy, submit the modification program for review to the server staff and they will determine its' legality.

Custom UIs like Duxa are fine though.

Take my word with a grain of salt. I'm not a GM and I won't be the one banning you, I only know about what I heard from Sirken's livestreams and private conversations with nilbog.

[Thulghor]

Thank you Secrets for the clarification. :-)

[Bweetza]

Custom UIs like Duxa are fine though.Was UI modification available in the classic era? I thought that was a Luclin thing.

Does this mean I can try the Leewong (http://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156209#post1517483) UI without risking a GM sneaking into my house, seeing it, and banning me?

[khanable]

I take it textures == client files?

[myriverse]

You could modify the Velious UI in a very limited way, but yeah, otherwise UIs were a Luclin thing.

UIs are fine though.

[Secrets]

I take it textures == client files?

Textures are technically client files, yes. The example I am specifically referring to that's allowed is the transparent fix that is in technical discussion. That was researched and approved by the server staff. Whereas Dukevision, removing skeleton models, etc, will get you banned. Luclin models are allowed right now because they're a legacy feature but iirc something is being done to eliminate them soon and that could result in punishment if you bypass them. Much like external /loc maps are frowned upon. Ingame maps were removed for a reason.

UI XML Files and textures contained within the uifiles folder (anything inside the uifiles folder that is) is fair game, aside from specific approved mods by the server staff. Telin's sky changes are awaiting approval iirc. He's an example of a saint following the rules.

Side note I don't see anything enforcing this yet, but sound asset files and such (removing thunderbooms, bag opening sounds) are likely off limits, though a GM can confirm that, not me.

[Thulghor]

I really like these (specifically Chebby/Psycher's) projects as they maintain the classic appearance and feel, and very subtly clean up some of the blurry and muddy textures that become glaringly apparent at higher resolutions. In most cases, you can't even tell the difference between the modified textures and the original ones, unless you look really closely at them. Sadly, I don't think the original models were ever intended with 4k and 5k resolutions in mind. This is just my opinion though.

However, I totally respect the rules here. Also, it's not my project, I'm just a fan of the work and the idea behind it.

Out of curiosity, what is the process for submitting mods for staff approval?

[Troy]

I'm all for "classic" but EQ was near state of the art in 99... it being WAY out of date graphic and sound-wise is NOT classic, is it?

I reinstalled the game for the first time in 4 years this week and just tested out these updates. It looks amazing with all of them going at once. High res zone+char textures with the forced better lighting effects and some other forced AA and such from the video card on a decent IPS display is incredible. When you get the music updates from that other thread in there too it will be over the top awesome.

In 1999 the game looked great. Why can't it look great in 2015?

[jolanar]

EQ was near state of the art in 99...

EQ looked pretty bad even by 1999 standards.

[Troy]

EQ looked pretty bad even by 1999 standards.

I was playing Legends of Kesmai when EQ came out. Others played UO.

I guess you're comparing to FPS or single player games?

[khanable]

Textures are technically client files, yes. The example I am specifically referring to that's allowed is the transparent fix that is in technical discussion. That was researched and approved by the server staff. Whereas Dukevision, removing skeleton models, etc, will get you banned. Luclin models are allowed right now because they're a legacy feature but iirc something is being done to eliminate them soon and that could result in punishment if you bypass them. Much like external /loc maps are frowned upon. Ingame maps were removed for a reason.

UI XML Files and textures contained within the uifiles folder (anything inside the uifiles folder that is) is fair game, aside from specific approved mods by the server staff. Telin's sky changes are awaiting approval iirc. He's an example of a saint following the rules.

Side note I don't see anything enforcing this yet, but sound asset files and such (removing thunderbooms, bag opening sounds) are likely off limits, though a GM can confirm that, not me.

Completely understandable. I always did like the idea of trying to upscale all the textures (more or less what Chebby was doing) but I guess I shouldn't mess around with it. :(

There have certainly been threads about changing sounds, am curious as to what the verdict on that would be!

[milsorgen]

EQ looked pretty bad even by 1999 standards.

For a game with EQ's scope it looked pretty good.

Shenmue (console, vast open world released in Japan on Dreamcast in 1999):
http://i.imgur.com/eeYTvzV.jpg

Ultima Online (MMO, main competer to EQ in 1999):
http://i.imgur.com/Q6EjP1Z.jpg

Anarchy Online (MMO, 2001 still going today:
http://i.imgur.com/FJxKzCI.jpg

I think EQ was really competent for it's era, perhaps some of the models or design choices were a bit wonky but over all it was good looking back then.