Glow Effect In Ns

WindelkronWindelkron Join Date: 2002-04-11 Member: 419Members
edited June 2004 in NS General Discussion
<div class="IPBDescription">if you didn't see it in beta disc.</div> <span style='color:white'>Update! Video and full screenshot archive available!!!!!</span>

There is a glow effect mod for Half-Life that makes the game look really, really good. There's a thread in Beta Discussion about it right now. A link to it is at the bottom of this post.

A few facts about this effect:

- Yes, it does lower fps, drastically in some cases. About a 20 fps drop from normal.
- However, the effects are controlled by the user. You can turn off the blur effects ingame if you want, or you can turn them to ultra-trippy mode. It's completely client-side (although the server must have matching dlls, for consistency)
- While it makes the outdoor maps of CS and other mods extremely glowy and hard to look at, NS maps, which are enclosed are great. The monitors and lights glow with a realistic look.
- Muzzleflashes and explosions look absolutely amazing.
- The muzzleflash on page 4 is big because the sprite is messed up on my computer. Repeat, the size of the muzzleflash is NOT due to the mod, it is due to my own modelling ineptitude!


<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72930' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/in...showtopic=72930</a>
Screenshots start at the bottom of page 2.

<b><span style='color:yellow'>The video is here!!!!!</span></b>
<a href='http://uranium235.thezazi.net/Glowmod/The%20NSGlow%20Video/Glowmod%20Bink%20Video.exe' target='_blank'>Glowmod Bink Video.exe</a>
^ here's the video. It's a bink video, hence the .exe. Don't worry, it's not a virus, I wouldn't do something like that.
** During the video, I switch from no blur, to average blur, to excessive blur once or twice. This happens near the hologram machine. It's not a glitch in the video or the mod; this is me showing you what it looks like with and without the effects.

<b><span style='color:yellow'>Full screenshot archive!!!</span></b>
Now I can stop raping the forum's bandwidth by attaching images. Here you can find all ... uh, 160 or so pictures from a bunch of maps.
<a href='http://uranium235.thezazi.net/Glowmod/' target='_blank'>Screenshot archive</a>

<b><span style='color:white'><span style='font-size:17pt;line-height:100%'>THANKS TO </span> (currently banned) <span style='font-size:17pt;line-height:100%'> URANIUM 235 FOR THE HOSTING!!! </span>
<span style='font-size:15pt;line-height:100%'>Also zazi hosts the hosting, so thank you too.</span></b></span>
Thanks to zazi and mouse for ns_widow and ns_hydrosity, respectively.
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Comments

  • WindelkronWindelkron Join Date: 2002-04-11 Member: 419Members
  • WindelkronWindelkron Join Date: 2002-04-11 Member: 419Members
    might I add that the screenshots make great wallpapers <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • EEKEEK Join Date: 2004-02-25 Member: 26898Banned
    edited June 2004
    OMG <3 TO YOU.

    This is awesome <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • OlljOllj our themepark-stalking nightmare Fade Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10696Members
    Wow they added vertex/pixel shaders to the opengl mode of Half life <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    looks like a lot of code xpcagey needs to add to its tools and nem to its compiler.
  • booogerboooger Join Date: 2003-11-03 Member: 22274Members
    That is one of the coolest things I have ever seen for HL.
  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    Wow... just... wow...

    This and detail textures would bring NS much closer to today's graphical standards.

    --Scythe--
  • ZekZek Join Date: 2002-11-10 Member: 7962Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Most importantly, there's a link to basically a complete walkthrough for the modmaker to implement this effect in the beta discussion thread. Flayra could easily implement this in NS, and it would be completely toggleable by the user. I can't think of a reason for this not to be included, it is a huge graphical improvement for such a simple fix.
  • MouseMouse The Lighter Side of Pessimism Join Date: 2002-03-02 Member: 263Members, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    ns_hydrosity and ns_endceladus with detail textures and glow.
    <a href='http://www.terminus-discord.com/mouse/dtxglow.rar' target='_blank'>Mmmm</a>
    ns_hydrosity0048.jpg for the win
  • KaineKaine Join Date: 2002-08-07 Member: 1096Members, Constellation
    i've actually been following this since i spotted an article on it on the VERC website. very exciting stuff. any mod team that doesn't take advantage of this is quite frankly crazy if you ask me <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • TangTang Join Date: 2004-02-17 Member: 26650Members
    Wow, that effect is simply amazing. I don't know too much about this, but I am noticing that the glow effect seems to be placed on all of the sprites. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't commander mode just a combination of sprites? Perhaps there's an exception list for the sprites that the glow effect shouldn't be used on, or I'm just rambling to myself at the late hours of the night.
  • Seph_KimaraSeph_Kimara Join Date: 2003-08-10 Member: 19359Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Tang+Jun 18 2004, 07:35 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Tang @ Jun 18 2004, 07:35 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Wow, that effect is simply amazing. I don't know too much about this, but I am noticing that the glow effect seems to be placed on all of the sprites. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't commander mode just a combination of sprites? Perhaps there's an exception list for the sprites that the glow effect shouldn't be used on, or I'm just rambling to myself at the late hours of the night. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's a toggle effect, so it can probably just be set to 0 when commandermode is active.
  • surprisesurprise Join Date: 2003-01-16 Member: 12382Members, Constellation
    omeehgod, meh wants it <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • MendaspMendasp I touch maps in inappropriate places Valencia, Spain Join Date: 2002-07-05 Member: 884Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Gold, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Retired Community Developer
    I took some pics too... <a href='http://mendasp.thezazi.net/mapas/cgeffect/' target='_blank'>link</a>

    The best effect is in the bast lava... as seen here:

    <img src='http://mendasp.thezazi.net/mapas/cgeffect/ns_bast_remake0000.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
  • esunaesuna Rock Bottom Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15175Members, Constellation
    This effect causes rumblings in my pance. Thankfully i'm not wearing pance.

    Last night i gave all the ns and co maps a try in that glow minimod, and i have to admit it makes NS sexy as hell, if detail textures still existed, they would make NS look extremely nice.

    I must say that ns_origin has the sexiest lava effects, the lava streams outside furnace, too sexy.

    Unfortunately due to awful Steam support, my Radeon 9600 hacks along at ~30fps with cg_steps at 4, and that's without a number of NS entities, all buildings, weapons, other players etc etc. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • coriscoris Join Date: 2003-07-08 Member: 18034Members, Constellation
    edited June 2004
    Can someone get som AA anti-stropotic bilinear-texturefiltering detailtextures screens of this? It would be the ultra-seksh.

    EDIT:
    The darkness the maps get with this plugin is great. This is how NS are supposed to look in my world. Dark, atmospheric maps. Great <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • BlindFireBlindFire Join Date: 2003-03-28 Member: 14986Members
    I hunger for this effect...
  • AlcapwnAlcapwn &quot;War is the science of destruction&quot; - John Abbot Join Date: 2003-06-21 Member: 17590Members
    wow thats looks amazing, but i have a relatively low end graphics card so i hope it can work with it....

    Though i dont really care, i play NS with 800x600 and maitain a constant 40fps. On my other comp i have a better one...ill have to dl it and test it out,
  • DerangedDeranged Join Date: 2004-04-07 Member: 27774Members
    awww 10 fps..definetly has to be toggleable <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • ViPrViPr Resident naysayer Join Date: 2002-10-17 Member: 1515Members
    it doesn't put the glare effect on sprites or overlays. it puts it on any pixels that are bright it seems. it kinda blurs the whole mage and any pixels that are really bright will appear to bleed over others around them it seems.

    btw can someone get a shot of the hera reception screen. it's already been made blurry so i'm wondering if this will make it unreadable now.
  • Steel_TrollSteel_Troll Join Date: 2004-02-12 Member: 26455Members
    Wow! this looks teh sexy11!!!oneeleven!!

    Cant wait to try it out tonight... just wondering, does it make it any harder to hit aliens ie skulks?Could we get a few pics with action/ fighting/buildings in them so as to see how it looks like, and is there a way of toggeling how bright/strong the glow is??
  • kolokolkolokol Join Date: 2002-11-18 Member: 9166Members
    It does make ns look absolutely awesome. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> Go for the glow!
  • coilcoil Amateur pirate. Professional monkey. All pance. Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 424Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Deathwish, the guy who wrote this, is one of Nightwatch's coders. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • AlcapwnAlcapwn &quot;War is the science of destruction&quot; - John Abbot Join Date: 2003-06-21 Member: 17590Members
    well, on the comp with the rage 128 32mb the program doesent work right. i get like white lines threw my screen when i play. or maybe i just set it up wrong...
  • ShockehShockeh If a packet drops on the web and nobody&#39;s near to see it... Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    I've very impressed. Kudos to coil & crew over at Nightwatch for picking up the talent, once again. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    I'll definitely be taking a look at this, give it a try.

    O.T /me waves, been hiding under a rock, sorry.

    - Shockeh
  • ikirikir Join Date: 2003-07-19 Member: 18265Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Gold
  • WindelkronWindelkron Join Date: 2002-04-11 Member: 419Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Steel Troll+Jun 18 2004, 02:24 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Steel Troll @ Jun 18 2004, 02:24 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Cant wait to try it out tonight... just wondering, does it make it any harder to hit aliens ie skulks?Could we get a few pics with action/ fighting/buildings in them so as to see how it looks like, and is there a way of toggeling how bright/strong the glow is?? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    No, it doesn't make anything harder.
    If you're playing on de_dust with this one, the sand glows like the earth is on fire, so in that case it might be hard to focus on an enemy. But in NS, where there's little brightness, other entities will show up just fine.

    All the bright things on models will also be brighter, so actually, in some cases, enemies running under lights will be easier to see because the bright parts of their models will be glowing a bit more. Also, muzzleflashes are easy to spot (and they look incredible).
  • KaMiKaZe1KaMiKaZe1 Join Date: 2002-11-18 Member: 9196Members
    edited June 2004
    How much of an FPS loss is there when using this mod? It looks incredible, I'd definately want to use this.

    Edit: Re-read original post, that's a pretty hefty price to pay =[
  • semipsychoticsemipsychotic Join Date: 2003-07-09 Member: 18061Members
    edited June 2004
    Here's a quick tutorial on getting a glowing minimod working. It is just a really, really small mod on half-life that you can install to see the effect. REMEMBER, you will not be able to play NS with this mod. The client.dll is different. This is just a graphical demonstration of the cool glow effect, so keep your NS directory safely installed!

    0) yes, step zero. Make sure you have the hardware. We know the effect works on Geforce4 Ti4200 cards and the equivelant radeons. We know the effect does not work on Radeon 9200s. We don't know an exact list of cards that work, but everything higher than a Ti4200 should work. I'm not sure how much lower it goes. Plus, you have to be running OpenGL, which shouldn't be a problem for most. As for my card, I'm running a Radeon 9600XT, which may be an important fact later when I make some FPS references.

    1) Download <a href='http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/jamesleece/store/newtest.zip' target='_blank'>this minimod</a> (basically, the bare necessities. It has the important DLLs, so you can run it, but only on half-life maps). Thanks, RedDragonGecko for the link!

    2) Take a peek at the contents of the .zip. cg.dll and cggl.dll go into <span style='color:yellow'>C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\</span>
    Don't worry, this won't wreck your system. You don't have to overwrite anything important.

    3) Create a folder in your <span style='color:yellow'>C:\Program Files\steam\SteamApps\email@email\half-life\</span> directory, like a mod directory. Throw liblist.gam as well as the three folders (which is everything else but the ones now in your system directory) into your new mod directory.

    4) Okay, so you have the minimod working, I hope. It will be listed under steam's third-party game list (or for WON, just another mod on the mod list) as Tron 2.0 glow, or something to the effect.

    5) But don't you want to see NS maps in action? Well, that's easy. Just take your gfx, maps, models, sounds, and sprites folders from ns and copy them to your new glow folder. Make sure you don't cut and paste; you want to COPY and paste, as to not wreck your copy of NS. You also are going to need all the .wad files from the NS folder to be put in your new mod folder (otherwise your maps have no textures to run off of). Thanks Bob, I forgot to mention the environment folder. I saw the Black Mesa scenery out of ns_eclipse's skylights and completely forgot to mention that here.

    6) Load up the tron 2.0 glow mod. Once you're staring at Gordon Freeman, bring up the console and type <span style='color:red'>map ***</span> . Type in a map of your choosing for those stars, though I reccommend either typing <span style='color:red'>map ns_bast</span> or <span style='color:red'>map ns_origin</span> .

    7) Okay, you're in the map's readyroom. But remember, the jointeam entities won't work because their function isn't defined in your new little minimod. Well, it's noclip time. Noclip on down to the map (in ns_maps, the readyroom is going to be above the map, but it is probably different in co_maps). And look around.

    8) Wait! This is an important step. To change the level of blur, the console command is <span style='color:red'>cg_blur_steps</span> .

    For NO BLUR (and good FPS), type <span style='color:red'>cg_blur_steps 0</span> in the console.
    For SOME BLUR (and 30-40 FPS for me) type <span style='color:red'>cg_blur_steps 4</span> in the console.
    For A LOT OF BLUR (and 15-20 FPS for me) type <span style='color:red'>cg_blue_steps 10</span> in the console.

    What I would do is bind a key to no blur, another key to some blur, and another key to turn noclip on and off. Bast and origin in particular look beautiful with these effects on.

    PM me with any questions or problems.
  • SandstormSandstorm Join Date: 2003-09-25 Member: 21205Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-coris+Jun 18 2004, 07:43 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (coris @ Jun 18 2004, 07:43 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Can someone get som AA anti-stropotic bilinear-texturefiltering detailtextures screens of this? It would be the ultra-seksh.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I took a screenshot of this on page 6 of the Beta discussion <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72930&st=75' target='_blank'>thread</a>, although it lacked detail textures. Remember, that screenshot is only at cg_blur_steps 1, not 4. Here are some performance tests that I just did:

    Max Settings (AA@6X, AF@16X, Max Texture Quality)
    0 - 254 fps (100% of control)
    1 - 76 fps (30% of control)
    2 - 57 fps (22% of control)
    3 - 46 fps (18% of control)
    4 - 38 fps (15% of control)

    Min Settings (AA off, AF off, Min Texture Quality):
    0 - 271 fps (100% of control)
    1 - 157 fps (58% of control)
    2 - 113 fps (42% of control)
    3 - 90 fps (33% of control)
    4 - 74 fps (27% of control)

    Personally, it seems worthwhile to leave the cg_blur_steps setting at 1, since the effect isn't enhanced much, compared to the large frame rate hit.
  • BobTheJanitorBobTheJanitor Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24228Members, NS1 Playtester
    You'll also want to copy your gfx/env folder unless you want all your pretty NS maps to have default crappy HL desert skyboxes.
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