New Editor

Evil_bOb1Evil_bOb1 Join Date: 2002-07-13 Member: 938Members, Squad Five Blue
edited March 2012 in Mapping
<div class="IPBDescription">Praises!</div>So I could of posted this in the backup warning thread but there is so much of a difference for me in the editor that my enthusiasm pushed me to create a thread!

WOW! Performance is way better! It has gone from stuttery in unlit to smooth in lit looking at the whole level!

My only regret is the identical icon for different light sources, but apart from that WOOHOOO!

Max give yourself a nice pat on the back!

Great Job!

Edit: Another minor issue is I have a black background now and can't really identify props in axial views.
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Comments

  • Rudy.czRudy.cz Join Date: 2012-02-13 Member: 145410Members
    edited March 2012
    Yeah, good job Max! It runs really fast, even with shadow turned on! Bravo!

    Apart all of the improvements, there is still one very annoying bug still unfixed. Some of the props when rotated by 90° around Y axis starts behave strange. When moved or rotated, they mirror themselves in X direction.

    Also do you consider implementing directional light? They should by ideal for creating sky lights. I think, it should provide better performance than spotlights when used for similar reason (correct me on this, if I am wrong).

    Edit: I also cannot find how to change the backround color for ortogonal views, that default black is killing my eyes :-(
  • MaxMax Technical Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment Join Date: 2002-03-15 Member: 318Super Administrators, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts, Future Perfect Developer
    <!--quoteo(post=1919902:date=Mar 30 2012, 04:51 PM:name=Rudy.cz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rudy.cz @ Mar 30 2012, 04:51 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1919902"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Also do you consider implementing directional light? They should by ideal for creating sky lights. I think, it should provide better performance than spotlights when used for similar reason (correct me on this, if I am wrong).

    Edit: I also cannot find how to change the backround color for ortogonal views, that default black is killing my eyes :-(<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Fixing the background is on my short term list and directional light is on my longer term list.
  • RemedyRemedy Join Date: 2011-06-16 Member: 104735Members, NS2 Playtester, NS2 Map Tester
    Great work MAXimus prime! this will definitely pull in more community mappers to spark.
  • zombiehellmonkeyzombiehellmonkey Join Date: 2007-08-31 Member: 62093Members, Squad Five Blue
    Thanks! I'm glad you haven't forgotten about the mappers :P
  • ZurikiZuriki Join Date: 2010-11-20 Member: 75105Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1919902:date=Mar 31 2012, 12:51 AM:name=Rudy.cz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rudy.cz @ Mar 31 2012, 12:51 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1919902"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I think, it should provide better performance than spotlights when used for similar reason (correct me on this, if I am wrong).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    All dependant on the surface area and the resolution of the light. It will certainly look better in my opinion but shadow calculations will be pretty much the same as any other shadow-casting light.
  • hookeyedhookeyed Join Date: 2007-08-26 Member: 62011Members, Squad Five Blue
    Whoa, the lighting preview is really smooth. Another reason to call this my favourite map editor.

    Any chance of getting the biodome model set? I know it's in there... somewhere.. >.>
  • CriamosCriamos Join Date: 2012-01-19 Member: 141262Members
    I've been fooling around for the last ~8 hours with the Spark Editor and saw just now that it has been updated 2 hours ago: I absolutely love it! Even as a complete mapmaking-newbie I'm really astonished how intuitive, fast and easy to use the Spark Editor is.
    Once the dark background gets fixed, I'm really excited to continue the work on my first map.
    Really great work Max!
  • DrakennzDrakennz Join Date: 2012-03-11 Member: 148620Members
    Why does Ctrl +D now select all instead of duplicating? I've been using the editor for 10 mins and its crashed 4+ times..... Please help?
  • zastelszastels Join Date: 2003-11-29 Member: 23731Members
    This update is great!

    love,

    Michael
  • LV426-ColonistLV426-Colonist Space Jockey Join Date: 2011-08-05 Member: 114269Members, Constellation
    edited March 2012
    Looking forward to giving the latest version of SE a go.

    Haven't had much time to fool around in it lately.
  • DrakennzDrakennz Join Date: 2012-03-11 Member: 148620Members
    Honestly I'm not too impressed. The background is now black...lines are also black so how the hell can I tell them apart now ? I do not understand also why some key changes have changed. But the most annoying thing is the black background.....what was wrong with grey at least we could tell things apart......on a good note it's much smoother now ! Please can you tell me if you will change the background color Max ?
  • persoperso Join Date: 2003-02-19 Member: 13740Members, WC 2013 - Supporter
    edited March 2012
    Nice! Improvement in editor performance is impressive, however:
    <ul><li>Custom textures and props are not rendered anymore</li><li>The new graphics for light entities do not indicate color or orientation, and you can not tell apart point lights from spot lights (I can't see the reason for this change, the old sprites worked fine)</li></ul>

    edit: now that I think about it, the old sprites were kind of "laggy" (you'd have to keep them hidden in layer to improve editor performance)
  • BlasphemyBlasphemy Join Date: 2008-05-02 Member: 64201Members, NS2 Playtester, Subnautica Playtester
    edited March 2012
    Max I love you.

    Oh, and when I CTRL+D to duplicate props, entities or lights, it highlights (but not selects) every prop/light/entity in the map.
  • Soylent_greenSoylent_green Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11220Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited March 2012
    Drag-select does not work in top, side and front views; but it does work in perspective.
    When you click on any of the top, side or front views and make them into a perspective view you end up ~40000 units above the origin and can only get back with zoom to selected.

    Tried a different level file(new, make any random junk and try to select it).
    Tried launching the editor from the launchpad instead.
    Did not find any config file for the editor that I could rename/remove.
    Renamed the editor and verified the NS2 cache(which re-downloads just the editor).
    Tried updating graphics driver and dx9.
    Reinstalling NS2 did not help.

    Vista 32 system with radeon HD6870.
  • fmponefmpone Join Date: 2011-07-05 Member: 108086Members, Squad Five Blue
    edited March 2012
    Guys, as much of a step forward as this new editor is, it's also chock filled with bugs. So take it with a grain of salt

    DO report whatever you see itt, however.
  • 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
    <!--quoteo(post=1920046:date=Mar 31 2012, 12:03 PM:name=Soylent_green)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Soylent_green @ Mar 31 2012, 12:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1920046"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Did not find any config file for the editor that I could rename/remove.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    %appdata%\Natural Selection 2\Editor\options.xml
  • InsaneInsane Anomaly Join Date: 2002-05-13 Member: 605Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, NS2 Map Tester, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts, Future Perfect Developer
    <!--quoteo(post=1920029:date=Mar 31 2012, 08:13 AM:name=perso)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (perso @ Mar 31 2012, 08:13 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1920029"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><ul><li>Custom textures and props are not rendered anymore</li></ul><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Have you updated your custom assets to use the new material system? This would be the most likely culprit.
  • hookeyedhookeyed Join Date: 2007-08-26 Member: 62011Members, Squad Five Blue
    <!--quoteo(post=1919995:date=Mar 31 2012, 03:01 AM:name=Drakennz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Drakennz @ Mar 31 2012, 03:01 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1919995"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Why does Ctrl +D now select all instead of duplicating? I've been using the editor for 10 mins and its crashed 4+ times..... Please help?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    <!--quoteo(post=1920015:date=Mar 31 2012, 04:06 AM:name=Drakennz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Drakennz @ Mar 31 2012, 04:06 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1920015"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Honestly I'm not too impressed. The background is now black...lines are also black so how the hell can I tell them apart now ? I do not understand also why some key changes have changed. But the most annoying thing is the black background.....what was wrong with grey at least we could tell things apart......on a good note it's much smoother now ! Please can you tell me if you will change the background color Max ?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    You should be able to changes those colors as well as what CTRL+D is binded to in the settings, as far as I know.
  • persoperso Join Date: 2003-02-19 Member: 13740Members, WC 2013 - Supporter
    edited April 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=1920115:date=Mar 31 2012, 09:23 AM:name=Insane)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Insane @ Mar 31 2012, 09:23 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1920115"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Have you updated your custom assets to use the new material system? This would be the most likely culprit.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Nope. I haven't had the chance to try it yet, but that's probably the issue. Thanks!

    <b>edit: yep, updating the .material files fixed it</b>
  • LV426-ColonistLV426-Colonist Space Jockey Join Date: 2011-08-05 Member: 114269Members, Constellation
    edited April 2012
    Unfortunately it seems to crash quite frequently for me.

    Only more reason so to backup frequently.
  • [=Alex=][=Alex=] Join Date: 2008-12-25 Member: 65866Members, Squad Five Blue
    I wanted to ask, it will be possible to have arranged for 203 black screen in the editor, from the 202 I could not use the editor because I use much much those 3 windows are now all black ...
  • Evil_bOb1Evil_bOb1 Join Date: 2002-07-13 Member: 938Members, Squad Five Blue
    It would be nice if we could choose the color ;)
  • Soul_RiderSoul_Rider Mod Bean Join Date: 2004-06-19 Member: 29388Members, Constellation, Squad Five Blue
    Oh WOW! Thankyou :)

    Opened up the editor today. Except for the fact that the background is black, and the editor seems to crash everytime I try and do something, I have to say I am impressed. Why?

    Because using the old editor, I could not even load ns2_rockdown in the editor, because my system didn't have the power to open any official maps. Now I can open mineshaft! This gives me hope that I may be able to complete my map without needing to upgrade my PC first, although as my map is bigger than mineshaft, I am still a little cautious..

    Also very intrigued to see the occlusion culling around mineshaft, it is basically the room grey box which is made into occlusion culling, then the level built inside it. This is definitely a technique I will look at using in future maps :)

    One other issue I have, that no-one has mentioned yet is the far plane distance. It does not go far enough with 100% far plane.

    Max Zoom out before map starts to disappear..

    <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/Soulrefuge/impactmaxplane.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    Map still only about 80% displayed...

    <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/Soulrefuge/impactmaxplaneexceeded.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
  • Evil_bOb1Evil_bOb1 Join Date: 2002-07-13 Member: 938Members, Squad Five Blue
    WOW man! you map is going to take years of development! :p So many places.
  • 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
    The map disappears because there is a max draw distance. You can change it in settings, there's a new slider called "Clipping Plane" I think.
  • Soul_RiderSoul_Rider Mod Bean Join Date: 2004-06-19 Member: 29388Members, Constellation, Squad Five Blue
    edited April 2012
    Mendasp, the Far Plane option when set to 100% is not far enough. I have demo'd this with the screen shots. This is the Maximum Far Plane setting the editor allows..

    It's called 'Far Plane',
  • 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
    Oh god, I just saw that I missed that part from your post, sorry.
  • Evil_bOb1Evil_bOb1 Join Date: 2002-07-13 Member: 938Members, Squad Five Blue
    Just opened the editor with the output window opened and noticed this:

    Error: Couldn't open file 'materials/editor/editor_background.material'
    Error: No shader specified for material 'materials/editor/editor_background.material'

    I think we all know what this means :p
  • [=Alex=][=Alex=] Join Date: 2008-12-25 Member: 65866Members, Squad Five Blue
    What does it mean?

    I do not know much of the builder and materials, someone could create a material that had the gray editor?
  • Soul_RiderSoul_Rider Mod Bean Join Date: 2004-06-19 Member: 29388Members, Constellation, Squad Five Blue
    It means they didn't update the editor_background.material file for the new shader.

    Yes, someone could fix the file, I believe someone has already posted how to edit material files so they show up. I'll leave that to someone else though, materials not my speciality :)
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