UFO:Alien Invasion

Development => Artwork => Topic started by: Winter on February 26, 2008, 11:18:54 pm

Title: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on February 26, 2008, 11:18:54 pm
Here is a current list of models we need with brief descriptions:

Aerial Laser Cannon - Laser gun for aircraft. Should be turret-mounted.

UGV Pod (Small, Medium, Large) - Pods to be mounted on aircraft weapon hardpoints, containing 1 UGV of the appropriate size class.

Hyperion-class Armed Dropship - Early-game dropship with some UFO-fighting capability. Untextured model available in Winter's Untextured Models Pack, ready for unwrapping and texturing, but if submitted a new model would be considered.

Herakles-class Heavy Lifter - Mid-game dropship with minimal weapons but very large carrying capacity and range.

Raptor-class Combat Transport - Late-game dropship with respectable anti-UFO armament and decent carrying capacity.

Several new armour models, described in another thread.

Alien Needler Gun - Alien weapon firing armour-piercing monomolecular-tipped needles. Must be sleek and show a large magazine. Will need separate magazine.

UFO Needler - Larger, UFO-mounted version of the needler gun.

UFO Needler Rounds - Monomolecular-tipped needles for the UFO Needler.

Flare - A simple electric or chemical flare.

This list may be changed or added to in future.

If you can help out with any of these, please post!

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: eleazar on February 27, 2008, 01:18:10 am
brief descriptions of the 3 dropships at the top of this page:
http://ufoai.ninex.info/wiki/index.php/Vehicles_%26_UFOs
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on February 27, 2008, 07:04:56 pm
Alien Needler Gun - Alien weapon firing armour-piercing monomolecular-tipped needles. Must be sleek and show a large magazine. Will need separate magazine.

You mean something like this?

(http://i043.radikal.ru/0802/25/c232f8cbb392.jpg)
(Eldar shuriken catapult from WH40K)

I am rather new to modelling, but may give a try at something not too complex.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on February 27, 2008, 07:48:19 pm
You mean something like this?

(http://i043.radikal.ru/0802/25/c232f8cbb392.jpg)
(Eldar shuriken catapult from WH40K)

I am rather new to modelling, but may give a try at something not too complex.

I'm not too fond of Warhammer myself, but more than that, the design would have to be different enough to be visibly not the same weapon due to copyright concerns. The magazine would definitely have to be different and larger, probably a big box or drum, in order to fit enough ammo. The whole thing needs to fit in with the established alien visual style.

If the end model looks good and satisfies all these requirements, though, I don't see a problem with using the design for inspiration . . .

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on February 28, 2008, 09:26:54 pm
Well, I feel more comfortable with human techs :)

I thought about UGV pod and made a draft model with a droppable vehicle container and communication device. Is it how it's intended to be?

If granted permission to work on, I'll start a new thread.

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: eleazar on February 29, 2008, 02:23:18 am
We already have a stickied list of Needed Models (http://ufoai.ninex.info/forum/index.php?topic=1302.0).

If that list is been fulfilled, it should be un-stickied, and this one put in it's place, else the lists should be merged.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on February 29, 2008, 09:22:56 am
We already have a stickied list of Needed Models (http://ufoai.ninex.info/forum/index.php?topic=1302.0).

If that list is been fulfilled, it should be un-stickied, and this one put in it's place, else the lists should be merged.

That would defeat the entire point of why I posted this list, which is to generate some actual interest in creating models. When the ball's rolling I will consider merging the lists.

Zorlen: It's a good start, but these things are meant to be loaded onto supersonic aircraft, so a little more thought to aerodynamics might be a good idea. Also, it would hinge open on the bottom in order to air-drop the UGVs.

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: eleazar on February 29, 2008, 05:13:43 pm
That would defeat the entire point of why I posted this list.

your purpose would also be defeated by potential molders coming to the forum, checking the stickied list, finding the few remaining items of no interest, and leaving, without out having seen this thread further down.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on February 29, 2008, 07:49:15 pm
your purpose would also be defeated by potential molders coming to the forum, checking the stickied list, finding the few remaining items of no interest, and leaving, without out having seen this thread further down.

That would be a valid point, but common forum practice is to ignore any and all stickies and check the active threads.

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Psawhn on February 29, 2008, 08:19:35 pm
How about doing best of both worlds? Leave the current thread as it is, but add the needed models into the sticky as well. That way, you catch both groups of people. :P

It does mean twice as much work, though, when the hordes of modelers start finishing projects and you need to update the 'completed' status of each one. :)


Edit: On the UGV pods, I always had in mind that they'd land with the aircraft and open up to allow the UGV to drive off. If it's dropped before landing, then there's the possibility of damaging the UGV from the fall or from the dropship landing on it. It also wouldn't need communication gear: the hardpoint would transfer all applicable telemetry to/from the UGV/Pod/Dropship.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on February 29, 2008, 11:52:43 pm
Edit: On the UGV pods, I always had in mind that they'd land with the aircraft and open up to allow the UGV to drive off. If it's dropped before landing, then there's the possibility of damaging the UGV from the fall or from the dropship landing on it.

Same reason why tanks and troops get air-dropped in the real world, really.


Quote
It also wouldn't need communication gear: the hardpoint would transfer all applicable telemetry to/from the UGV/Pod/Dropship.

And how does that remove the need for communications gear inside the UGV . . . ? The UGV still gets deployed, and it isn't attached by wire . . .

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Starship_Yard on March 02, 2008, 04:14:06 am
Same reason why tanks and troops get air-dropped in the real world, really.

They get dropped right now from high altitude as we don't have the capability to deliver them via a long range VTOL or STOVL platform.  And even then, only light equipment gets airdropped as there is about a 16-20 tonne limit to current air drop technology.  Most tracked vehicles are way above this limit.  Other than excercises there is unlikely to ever be a massive parachute air assault like WWII in the future.  Just too much risk from most enemy air defenses and danger of enemy forces attacking before the landing force is able to orient and organize itself.

As for helicopter delivery, the payload is smaller yet, more like about 12 tonnes for the CH-53G's, and I think about 8 for the Chinooks.

Brett
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on March 02, 2008, 05:11:04 pm
They get dropped right now from high altitude as we don't have the capability to deliver them via a long range VTOL or STOVL platform.

. . . That's not the reasoning behind HALO drops. They're mainly for staying out of SAM range, commonly used in enemy territory where anti-air fire would present a threat to the dropship and cargo.

Any area with alien activity in it can be classified as enemy territory for the duration, because the aliens will always be there before PHALANX. Then, taking into account the fact that the vast majority of missions will take place in areas with lots of cover, low-altitude drops would be perfectly feasible with parachutes or other deceleration mechanisms (disposable landing thrusters, for example, or even high-tech impact protection bags).


Quote
And even then, only light equipment gets airdropped as there is about a 16-20 tonne limit to current air drop technology.  Most tracked vehicles are way above this limit.

And how would that be a problem for PHALANX UGVs in 2084, the very largest of which would be about the size of a very small automobile?

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: pattex25 on March 03, 2008, 06:58:06 pm
Is this a sleek (??) alien needler?
(http://)


Currently it's neither UV-mapped nor textured, but if someone tells me how to do this, then I could try myself...
The blob in the rear part is the magazine. It should look a bit like a ball of wool, but instead of wool, it's the needles. they get unrolled, cut and charged (and fired) within the gun, which results in a very large ammo capacity... (Hope this fits the needed weapon!)


Use it if you like it!
comment if you feel like it!


edit: the license is GPL or CC... choose the one you like best...

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on March 03, 2008, 08:52:29 pm
The blob in the rear part is the magazine. It should look a bit like a ball of wool, but instead of wool, it's the needles. they get unrolled, cut and charged (and fired) within the gun, which results in a very large ammo capacity... (Hope this fits the needed weapon!)

That's horrendously overcomplicated for a battlefield weapon, with way too many places where something could break. It's also not a good place for a magazine either, because you couldn't possibly reach it without having to drop your weapon. A drum of needles somewhere along the body of the weapon would be better.

Forgetting the bulb for a second, the design isn't bad, I have no complaints. I don't see where you could put a proper magazine on it though.

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: nemchenk on March 04, 2008, 11:39:08 am
By the way, how are the needles actually being projected out of the gun? I had an idea (walking from work yesterday) that it could be a similar system to Theory 1 for the Wookie Bowcaster on stardestroyer.net (http://www.stardestroyer.net/tlc/Cannons/index.html) (you'll have to scroll to the bottom, as there is no ANCHOR tag :( ): the needle is accelerated between two magnetic fields, like a ball being fired from an automatic tennisball launcher.

The two field generators could be above and below the grip, for balance, with a design ergonomically similar to the UFO:AI plasma pistol.

Just a thought -- I am not sure whether you have the "science" of the needler worked out already...



nemchenk

Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on March 30, 2008, 07:42:16 pm
While my laser cannon (http://ufoai.ninex.info/forum/index.php?topic=2452.0) is pending some feedback, I took the time to draw some light UGV. The preliminary images I saw in UFOpaedia showed heavier types, so I thought smaller type is lacking. Anyway, feel free to discard it or use it for something else - its under GPL.



[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on March 31, 2008, 12:59:28 am
While my laser cannon (http://ufoai.ninex.info/forum/index.php?topic=2452.0) is pending some feedback, I took the time to draw some light UGV. The preliminary images I saw in UFOpaedia showed heavier types, so I thought smaller type is lacking. Anyway, feel free to discard it or use it for something else - its under GPL.

Thumbs up, I'd like to see it textured. It'd be nice to have a light, cheap UGV on the PHALANX side.

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on April 06, 2008, 08:00:57 pm
I am slowly become more familiar with texturing, but it is still pain!
Now the model fits neither Sourceforge filesize limits, nor forum attachment one, so I putting it here in multi-volume arcchive.

A couple of thoughts:
- I was thinking to attach a smokeshell launcher to it, but was not sure if secondary weapons work for UGVs. Technically, these could be handled as "off-hand" ones.
- Would UGVs be destroyed without a trace or destroyed UGV models ("UGV corpses") are also needed?

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on April 06, 2008, 08:09:56 pm
Got that:
"An Error Has Occurred!
The upload folder is full. Please try a smaller file and/or contact an administrator."

Gonna try to put that on Sourceforge then!

UPDATE:
Here it is
http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1936153&group_id=157793&atid=805244
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: knightsubzero on April 10, 2008, 05:04:04 am
thats pretty sexy. ;D
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Mattn on April 10, 2008, 11:51:44 am
btw. are textures included in wings files? afair you only put the wings files online, but not the textures - or am i wrong?
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on April 10, 2008, 03:22:36 pm
.wings file should include skins, IMHO. I see no other reason why the textured model size has grown drastically over untextured one.

As for texture .xcf sources, I can also put them, but they are even bigger than model.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Mattn on April 10, 2008, 10:25:02 pm
please upload them somewhere, too - it's always better to have the source files
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on April 13, 2008, 03:07:24 pm
please upload them somewhere, too - it's always better to have the source files
http://narod.ru/disk/89337000/light_UGV_tex.rar (~3Mb)
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on April 14, 2008, 02:38:02 pm
Not to turn this thread into my personal one, but do you need a small aerial scout?


[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: BTAxis on April 14, 2008, 02:44:06 pm
Yes actually. We have some ideas for including small unmanned craft on the geoscape, and a scout craft is one of them. We also need a fighter drone.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: blondandy on April 14, 2008, 02:48:54 pm
For what its worth: I quite like it.

Reminds me of Psawhn's hoverbot model (alien flyer)

http://ufoai.ninex.info/forum/index.php?topic=1328.0

I think it would be cool to have an expendable flying scout robot for Phalanx.

I think the rotors (no magic floating) fits in nicely with the UFO:AI world system too.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on April 14, 2008, 05:45:04 pm
Thanks!
I took a look at the hoverbot - yep, we have similar turbofans :-)

As for fighter drone - what weapons should it carry? I dont think that a small aircraft woould efficiently use projectile weapons due to their recoil and its small weight. I am thinking of rockets or D-F laser, if the fighter craft is developed in the later stages.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: BTAxis on April 14, 2008, 06:14:22 pm
The weapon it carries is variable (player configurable, just like interceptors), but it won't be able to carry heavy weaponry.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: knightsubzero on April 15, 2008, 12:09:05 am
terminator 3 style.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on April 15, 2008, 01:20:47 pm
terminator 3 style.

On the subject of Terminator 3 and UAVs - real Russian Shtil-3 UAV prototype:
http://www.missiles.ru/_foto/Shtil-3/11_2.jpg

As for game models - will there be UAVs in tactical missions or only geoscape flyers?
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: BTAxis on April 15, 2008, 01:46:55 pm
Geoscape only.
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Zorlen on April 17, 2008, 11:43:52 am
Ah, I had tactical missions in mind, providing there was a sort of hovertank in UFOpaedia. Hence the rotary-wing design that provides ability to hover and high maneurability for the sake of speed and range.
I think some fixed wing VTOL design would do much better for geoscape flyers, maybe I should redesign it?
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on April 17, 2008, 12:17:22 pm
Ah, I had tactical missions in mind, providing there was a sort of hovertank in UFOpaedia. Hence the rotary-wing design that provides ability to hover and high maneurability for the sake of speed and range.
I think some fixed wing VTOL design would do much better for geoscape flyers, maybe I should redesign it?

I think you meant UGVs, which are meant for tac missions, not UAVs, which are geoscape-only. The hovertank you mention is a UGV model by sitters.

We could really use some textured UAV models, by the way. None are written up at the moment but we definitely want them in from a design standpoint. At the moment we don't really want more human UGVs, because we already have a few and we don't want to include too many in the early game. UGVs incorporating alien technology, yes, but even then it would be handier to first create more weapon options for the UGVs we have. UGV plasma turrets, UGV lasers and particle beams, etc. etc.

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Marsu on May 03, 2008, 06:34:18 pm
As I already have a bit of experience of futzing around in blender I thought I maybe could try my hand at something useful, namely a model for this great game.

The problem is: there are 3 different lists of models that are needed. This thread, the sticky-thread NEEDED MODELS (http://ufoai.ninex.info/forum/index.php?topic=1302.0) and of course the 2.3 TODO (http://ufoai.ninex.info/wiki/index.php/TODO/2.3#Models).
Is one of them accurate?
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Kildor on May 03, 2008, 08:18:28 pm
Marsu, there is one more list, in todo:general (http://ufoai.ninex.info/wiki/index.php/TODO/General).
As I understand, there are all valide lists, but with differents priority
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on May 03, 2008, 09:30:40 pm
The best way is simply to pick a model from the various TODOs that you want to make/have lying around, and ask. I can answer questions easily but maintaining all the lists is something I just don't have the energy to do.

Regards,
Winter
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Marsu on May 04, 2008, 12:59:28 am
Ok, will do. Just thought that updating/merging the lists would be easier than constantly getting offered models that you already have (which seems not the case :) )
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Psawhn on May 04, 2008, 01:09:17 am
I'm sure they dream of constantly getting offered completed and textured models they don't need. :)
Title: Re: Models Needed
Post by: Winter on May 04, 2008, 08:51:21 am
I'm sure they dream of constantly getting offered completed and textured models they don't need. :)

Oh, we do. But we'd settle for getting offered complete textured models at all. ;)

Regards,
Winter