Topic: Are SFC1 graphics so crappy? (Read 3433 times)

hfleet2 · « **on:** August 04, 2007, 08:50:12 am »

I don't know why thats happening

, the ships look like someone have scretched them down. I've added a screenshot, is this normal or its only me? ( running on a 14" monitor )

yochenhsieh · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2007, 09:54:13 am »

SFC1 models have LODs, which means the game will use lower polygon model when you see the ship from far distance, even your own vessel. And don't forget that SFC1 was released in 1999, the days of Win98 and TNT2. So the graphics was designed to run with that specs and older systems.

The conclusion is, yes, your screenshot is quite normal for a SFC1. There's nothing wrong with it, or with your PC. But if you're using a LCD monitor, you should set the resolution to its best configuration(usually 1024x768, or 1280x1024). If you're using a CRT monitor and a nice graphic card(better than Geforce2 mx440 should be enough), you can even set it to 1600x1200 for better screens.

Nemesis · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2007, 09:59:27 am »

The ship in the screenshot is a Federation Frigate not the Enterprise. That also changes its appearance and size. Don't forget that SFC1 is an old (8 years?) game and graphics have improved substantially since it was released.

yochenhsieh · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2007, 10:08:31 am »

Here, you can use "config.exe" in your sfc1 folder to set your game screen resolution.

hfleet2 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2007, 12:58:52 pm »

I wasn't sure about how much low polygons were effecting the ships, so i zoomed in and took another screenshot.... is this the best it gets when zoomed in? ( because i am using an integrated 64mb card and its giving me doubts )

Rod ONeal · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2007, 03:09:25 pm »

It's not LODing that you're seeing, it's aliasing. With onboard graphics you probably can't crank your system up any higher than it already is (If you have settings on your pc set the AA as high as you can. At least 4x4, but higher if you can.). Increasing the screen resolution is probably your only solution. 1024x768 will most likely be your functional limit on that size monitor. 1280x1024 will make the control panel area to small. (At least it would for my old eyes.)

Wicked Zombie · « **Reply #6 on:** August 04, 2007, 05:09:16 pm »

He may also be referring to the jagged, low-polygon look to the stock ships. If that's the case, yeah, that's the best they get close-up. Those old buckets were made for people with the bare-minimum computing power for the time. There's plenty of places to find replacements and new ship models though only a few modders still do ships for SFC 1 format (myself included

)

The only obvious difference between SFC 1 and the other games is the lack of lighting on the ship models, otherwise they're basically the same game as far as graphics are concerned.

Panzergranate · « **Reply #7 on:** August 04, 2007, 07:09:37 pm »

I've gradually repllaced all the ships in the game anyway. Everything in the Fed , Gorn, Hydran, Lyran, most of the Romulans and most of the Klingon fleet is actually wrong, model wise!! But luckily nice and talented folks have provided all the correct replacement models in places like Battle Clinic.

The model quality of rth ereplacements is far better than the orginals too.

For the Feds the ships should be as follows:

FF = Burke Class
DD = Saladin Class
NCL = Kearsarge Class
CA = Constitution Class
CB = Achinar Class (Connstitution Class will do)
CC = Constitution Class
BCF/BCG = Belknap Class
DN = Federation Class
BB = Federation Class

Klingon ship are self explanitory as are the Gorns, Hydrans, Romulans, Lyrans and Orions.

hfleet2 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 04, 2007, 11:33:51 pm »

I was talking about the low polygon models and aliasing, actually I am noticing both messed up starships when they are view from far away, and also the non-smooth edges when viewed near.

.. how can i increase my anti-aliasing amount?

Rod ONeal · « **Reply #9 on:** August 05, 2007, 12:36:09 am »

Setting the AA (antialiasing) might vary a bit between computers. Try "right click on desktop->properties->settings->advanced" There should be some tabs that you can set it from there.

P.S. definately get some new models. Wicked Zombie's rock, but there are also some other real good ones around.

hfleet2 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 05, 2007, 01:04:56 am »

I have a intel 82845g card, i just checked and at the manufacturer's website it shows that it doesn't supports full screen directx anti-aliasing...

.....

now my question changes, even if i fix the aliasing issue somehow, how much will that help?

Lieutenant_Q · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2007, 01:27:26 am »

It won't. The Stock models, while good for their time, are pretty poor quality. While in Orion Pirates the ability exists to download the superb OP+ 4.1 with Models, such an option does not exist with SFC1 or to my knowledge EAW. Your best bet is to find the models separately and download them yourself. It is really simple to replace the models, you just need to replace the stock folder with the new download. The folders are listed as fff (for the Frigate) and fdd (for the destroyer) in the two Screenies that you have shown.

hfleet2 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 05, 2007, 02:36:07 am »

I tried downloading few ships but none of them were already present in SFC so i had to made certain modifications, where can i download SFC ship models which are already there in the game so i simply have to replace the files.

Panzergranate · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2007, 02:31:37 pm »

Try Desty Nova as it has all the old Star Fleet Battles ships as they should appear in the SFC game.

Adding in extra ships is not a problem in SFC 1.

You'll need Ship Edit for SFC 1 first.

To add an extra ship do the following procedure:

1. Open up the SFBSPC13.TXT file in notepad (after backing it up first!!).

2. Go down the list of ships until you find where you want to place a new ship spec.

3. Copy ( <SHIFT & Down Arrow Key> ) any line above or below the chosen spot in the list.

4. Paste (<ALT & P>) in the copied line to create a new place in the list.

5. Change the designation from whatever it is (F-FF, F-DD, etc.) to whatever the new ship is designated as (An Abbe Class is an F-DPT for example).

6. Save and exit.

7. Star up Ship Edit for SFC 1.

8. Load in the SFBSPC13.TXT file.

9. Go to the appropriate race for the ship.

10. Go down the list of ships until you find your newly added ship spec.

11. If the ship had an attached Ship Edit file then go to "Comments" and load in the file, then svae and exit.

12. If not then you'll either need to add the new spec details yourself from an old SFB SSD sheet (can be found online somewhere!!) or have to figure it out yourself.

13. Save and exit.

14. Fire up SFC 1 and your new ship should appear in the race listing. However the ship will appear as a ??? names when listed for selection. You can have only a maximum of 2 x ??? ships in a game for your side, the AI opposition and AI allies can have all ??? ships. You can add your own names during selection just as in campaign ships can be renamed if required.

In games at least one of you ships must be a stock (a named) ship. The other two can be ??? named ships.

An interesting bug.... If you play a muliplayer game against the AI and have all ??? named ships on all sides, then the computer will use AI for your ??? squadron and play the battle totally as AI. On starting the game, press <T> and jump through a camera view of each ship's exploits in the battle. Good for testing out various ships.

In Battle Clinic all SFC 1 ships models are listed as "1" in the version description.

I run SFC 1 and use it for 6 player LAN games and campaigns and it is quite adequate for this.

Rod ONeal · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2007, 04:45:44 am »

Desty's stuff is lit for SFC2.

Panzergranate · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2007, 02:00:17 pm »

Er.... I forgot that I had to convert Desty's stuff (and other's) to SFC 1 model format, which is a labourious task to do at 10 minutes per model.

The thing is that it does portray a guide to how all the ships in the game should appear. Several other sites have SFC 1 versions of the same ships and some of the missing races from SFB.

Chances are that if you want a particular model for SFC 1 then someone has already done one somewhere.

However, as the LOD goes up with models, the game speed when running large numbers of ships in multiplayer games goes down and becomes jerky or will crash out the game!!

I have had to limit some LAN and single player multiplayer AI games to only 12 or 15 ships because of the problems that the computer's video card has with a large number of high LOD ships in game. With 18 ships in game it usually only takes a massive fighter launch to crash the game as the 3D card processor siezes up!!

Generally though, it is possible to have a normal running game on a LAN network (Fast Ethernet cable obviously) with the maximum number of ships (18), shuttles (32) and fighters (32) happily buzzing around the map in SFC 1.

We all use CRT monitors as we found that LED monitor do tend to be the ones that attract display hastles when pushed a bit hard.

There also tends to be some display diiferences between different models of CRT monitors even when on the same settings. I noticed this earlier in the year when I replaced my old defunct monitor, which had gone to silicon heaven, with a similar size and capability CRT monitor. The picture quality in game was sharper.

I'd fiddle with the monitor settings as well the game settings to find the ideal balance.

If all else fails remember that somehow Microsoft must be behind the problem!!

yochenhsieh · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2007, 07:38:27 pm »

Quote from: Panzergranate on August 08, 2007, 02:00:17 pm

We all use CRT monitors as we found that LED monitor do tend to be the ones that attract display hastles when pushed a bit hard.

There also tends to be some display diiferences between different models of CRT monitors even when on the same settings. I noticed this earlier in the year when I replaced my old defunct monitor, which had gone to silicon heaven, with a similar size and capability CRT monitor. The picture quality in game was sharper.

Definitely. CRT monitors is highly recommended for gaming, especially for old games.

Don Karnage · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2007, 07:18:35 pm »

well for sfc1 i know that WZ still make them, of there http://sfc.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/omega/fleetdock13/

you will find mod for sfc1 for the tos era there, and i think that atra's also make them for sfc1 at: http://www.geocities.com/atrahasis1/

and i got some of his ship, so if you want just ask me there tos era: furkindred@sympatico.ca

to the adm don't erase the email plz.

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