Xannepans creations

[xannepan]

Here is a preview video of what I have got in store

Some comments in advance:
-The youtube compression unfortunately is much too strong. The rain and especially the snow look much better in the game then they do in the video.
-The red circles are a indicator that I am using during development and will be removed in the final version.
-Some of the effects need some time to "start up" (esp. the clouds). Starting up phase happens for every rotation or zooming action. It cannot be prevented.
-To limit performance impact I stopped using single particle raindrops and snowflakes. Instead I am using FSH with multiple raindrops and flakes. As a consequence at the edges of the rainshowers and snowstorm may look a bit strange.
-I can create instances of the effects that are toned down or up, ie heavier rainfall, or a lighter snowstorm.
-The snow doesn't stay on the ground yet mainly because I can't get the texture right.
-I have removed the destructive effects from the lightning... perhaps in a later release I can bring it back if people want it. It would help to add to the game experience.
-Sofar the effects are still placed on a bunch of lots. The start once a lot is placed. I think by making the exemplars 'seasonal'  and adding a random chance I can create a single lot that produces partially random and partially seasonal weather effects.

http://youtu.be/4tHUtPE6YnE

[Air6]

Unbelievable ! If someone had told us that we can play with the weather, I will have not been believing it. SC4 is not the same game thanks to all batters and modders like you. Many thanks for your work 

[kelis]

Unbelievable ! If someone had told us that we can play with the weather, I will have not been believing it. SC4 is not the same game thanks to all batters and modders like you. Many thanks for your work 

I think exactly the same !! You are amazing my friend !!!

wow 

PD: You'll release more medieval models?

[xannepan]

Vortex has offered help to finish the medieval set :-)
Time and RL are the issues ;-)

[jmyers2043]

Nice video, Alex. It has been fun watching the progress.

- Jim

[Swordmaster]

Someone replace "Renaissance Man" with "God", please.

I have no idea what you're doing here except that it looks awesome. With that in mind, maybe this is a dumb question, but are the effects limited to be placed on lots? Could you for instance make an MMP that evokes them?


Cheers
Willy

[Kergelen]

Amazing video and effects, visually and soundly 

[mave94]

Unbelievable!! Just one of the most awesome things ever done with SC4!

[Schulmanator]

Absolutely incredible. I am truly impressed!

[xannepan]

Happy new year friends!

No time for a video today... there is nothing fake about this picture, just too bad you cannot see the motion....
The effect dir is great! More surprises soon!


(As for the weather mod, I am still struggling with the snow textures. As soon as I have that done, it is time for a cleanup followed by a test release)

[Schulmanator]

Wow! I am impressed with this. You have been on a roll making some great and much desired new stuff!

[Girafe]

Does the moon moove during the night? 

(As for the weather mod, I am still struggling with the snow textures. As soon as I have that done, it is time for a cleanup followed by a test release)

[xannepan]

Does the moon moove during the night? 

Off course. Also during day time, but is's easy to have it appear during night only. Don't expect any Keplerian orbits though

[MandelSoft]

Oh... my... freakin' ... GAWD! Those weather effects look amazing! You've outdone yourself again, Alex 

[Andreas]

I've seen a moon on some SimCity 2013 screenshot, but this one looks a lot better.

[sim_link]

The work you are doing here is fantastic... never thought I'd see weather in SimCity. And that moon...
Wow. Stunning! 

[xannepan]

A slight setback... For these effects to appear correctly the position where an effect appears is relative to the position where the lot is plopped. I have found a property in the effect dir to generate a random position, but sofar - after a full day of searching  - I did not find a solution to have the effect appear relative to the center of the map. I need the center position to make it work though... Otherwise the effect lot always has to be positioned (approximately) on the center of the map.

mmmm...

[gn_leugim]

jaw braking :O

I was wondering, one thing I miss about sc4, comparing to older versions, is the flood disaster. I have found once a disaster controler named flood in the Scdata1 but I was pretty much at a dead end because I don't know nothing about effects and stuff like this.

is there any change you can do something about it? create floods?

[xannepan]

I am looking for a way to trigger an effect without having to plop a lot. If I trigger the effect via the cheat mode (ctrl+x, typing Effect <effectname>) it turns out the effect is placed centrally on the map. Almost exactly what I want.

I am looking for something similar.

I have looked a bit into the LUA scripts, but I don't understand yet how they work. Does anybody know if what I want to achieve would be possible?

Side question: does anyone know what starts the fireworks during game start?

[gn_leugim]

Side question: does anyone know what starts the fireworks during game start?

and 4th of July too I think. So much meaning for Europeans and non-Usa lol

About the main topic, I have no clue =\ but that would be great thou using a lot isn't that bad I think.