[MOD] High-res background graphics [V1.0]

[Mr. Mister]

It's much more visually pleasing than the original, but something off-sets me a bit with the nebula background: it looks more like toxic fog than interestellar gas.

(also I noticed there're still some vanilla-res backgrounds. Planning on future updates?).

[splette]

the nebula background looks more like toxic fog than interestellar gas.

Yes, I know. But not sure how to improve it. I just tried to somewhat emulate the original texture and add a little structure. By the way, the animation is generated in game from many copies of just one image file. It has a bit of transparency on the edges so the 'clouds' blend over one another.

(left = original | right = my mod)

There should be no vanilla backgrounds left. But some of the new backgrounds are higher res than others. Depends on the source material I used etc...

For the moment I don't have plans for updates, although it would be nice to have even more planets and backgrounds because it does get quite repetitive after a while.

I'm considering to make a mod for the user interface. I'm not a huge fan of the outline font that is used in many places.

[Mr. Mister]

Uhm... that shape... how do you think it would look if you used something like http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... Nebula.jpgas the pattern?

Yes, probably ridiculous, unless inhuman amounts of time are spent working on removing the black background from beneath it. Not happening with this game engine (damn I'm relying a lot on Overdrive).

Anyway, you can't set the background to depend on the kind of sector can you? It'd be cool to have (real) nebulae images only as non-nebula beacons' backgrounds.

So yeh, more planets here you go. BTW, do you know if you can make more star images to randomly be selected from? The stars you get burnt alive near.

[splette]

I did create an alternative sun pic but I can't include it into the game unless I replace the original one. Because, unfortunately, the sun backgrounds are hardcoded and not specified in image_eventsList.xml


I could give that nebula a try but then again, I'd like to preserve the original spirit (which is purple clouds; also on the beacon maps).

Anyway, you can't set the background to depend on the kind of sector can you?

Nope

I'd be excited if it was possible to include animated png. This way, one could have some simple animation for the sun. Or maybe the shields could be flickering etc. But I double aniated png are supported. I might try though...

[Mr. Mister]

BTW: The combination of blue light background and blue planet(s) is GORGEOUS.

[Wedgybaby]

This mod is amazing! Please do one for the explosions when ships break and the thrusters too!

On a general note: are the developers ok with modding? I've only been playing PC games a short amount of time and this is a genuine question! I got this game from steam, does installing mods affect anything??

[Mr. Mister]

FTL's devs are OK with modding as long as no game resources are shared with the mods (hence the system used by the mod manager). This is because to hold your propierty of an intellectual, you mustn't ecourage its free distribution.

Of course, whenever I get a PC game, first thing I do is check the internet for mods. I usually go for correcting and experience-enhancing overhauls rather than route-changers though (I've personally had more than 60 GB of mods for UT3, and 10 for Fallout 3).

[boa13]

On a general note: are the developers ok with modding? I've only been playing PC games a short amount of time and this is a genuine question! I got this game from steam, does installing mods affect anything??

The developers of FTL have said they are ok with modding, as long as the game resources (graphics, icons, sound effects, music, text, etc.) are not distributed by mods. The current system (with ftl files) helps mod authors distribute only their own files (new ships, new backgrounds, etc.) without distributing the other game resources.

When you install a mod, you are modifying the two core game data files. I'm have not yet tried to install mods, I suppose there is a way to restore the data file to their pristine state. If there is not, or in case of trouble, I believe Steam has an option to reinstall the game. Your game progress (achievements, unlocked ships and high scores) is saved in a separate folder, so you can reinstall the game pretty much whenever you want.

[Mr. Mister]

I'm have not yet tried to install mods, I suppose there is a way to restore the data file to their pristine state.

First time you use the mod manager, it automatically makes a backup of the vanilla files.

[Baguker]

Apparently you're already have this link, splette, but it's better to be sure. There's some awesome background sources for you, kind sir.

http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/top100/