All,
Next project in progress and quite ambitious.
In an effort to greatly improve on the game experience and update the graphics to modern systems I am reworking the models and graphics for many of the heros/characters to bring their textures up to FULL HD standards using the baseline off of MK's Eras work and the Russian mod.
I got this idea after I was tired of comparing the great Humphrey Douglas model in comparison with some of the others.
Progress continues on the portraits, all hero portraits are getting a major overhaul.
There is a HUGE difference in face complexity now, almost like comparing the game way back in 2009 or even before in Age of Pirates / Sea Dogs 2.
Portrait backgrounds were overhauled too when required.
MKs loading backgrounds were used when I can to try and match, but sometimes they just don't don't fit right with the character.
I needed to do portraits first to start baseline improvements for the models and give something for me to actually compare to without constantly being in game.
Some baseline game original model textures are real junk and some are just hard to work with, but I will get there.
Most are requiring some internet research to find better reference source material for period textures and clothes while still keep with the game design and flair of adventure.
Now you can even see the "hairs" and skin imperfections on the faces!
Incredible detail that comes at a cost. Many of the textures are HUGE, and I am in the process of reducing them to make them more manageable.
Individual portraits/models are running around 1.2 GB before reduction to in game usage at 2048X2048.
Yes, these models do look like this IN GAME at a much higher quality.
Borderline lifelike and definitely not cartoonish.....
Final MOD will have all portraits/models set for HD widescreen designed for resolutions of 1680X1050 and above.
This is why some portraits look "thin" in the preview below.
All sizes and battle interface will be included.
No new game is required, just drop in and keep playing.
I run my game at 2560X1600 with unique modified core files (engine.ini, camera.ini, etc) and there is a BIG difference in 16:10 widescreen mode when it comes to the portraits.
Without aspect correction, portraits stretch significantly based on the original graphics settings limitations for standard resolutions .
SIDE NOTE:
I have actually successfully operated the game at 4k resolution (3840X2160) which is quite a treat, but the text extremely tiny because the GUI does not scale AT ALL and you need reading glasses to play the game unless you change font.ini settings.
The other major problem is this game is very poorly optimized and performance suffers greatly when in sea battles with more than ten ships at this resolution, as everything is consistently rendered in real time to based on distance without any modification to scale quality or dithering.
This is a byproduct of the old Storm Engine 2.8.
Recommendation stick to a reduced 16:9 or 16:10 resolution if your computer can handle it.
The best resolutions that I have found that give increased quality to performance without really modifying aspect ratio on a high end gaming computer are:
1680X1050
1920X1080
1920X1200
2560X1440
2560X1600 is pushing the limit on large battles right now.
Anyway, enough of that, onto the portraits and models!
Preview (very low quality resolution):
Next project in progress and quite ambitious.
In an effort to greatly improve on the game experience and update the graphics to modern systems I am reworking the models and graphics for many of the heros/characters to bring their textures up to FULL HD standards using the baseline off of MK's Eras work and the Russian mod.
I got this idea after I was tired of comparing the great Humphrey Douglas model in comparison with some of the others.
Progress continues on the portraits, all hero portraits are getting a major overhaul.
There is a HUGE difference in face complexity now, almost like comparing the game way back in 2009 or even before in Age of Pirates / Sea Dogs 2.
Portrait backgrounds were overhauled too when required.
MKs loading backgrounds were used when I can to try and match, but sometimes they just don't don't fit right with the character.
I needed to do portraits first to start baseline improvements for the models and give something for me to actually compare to without constantly being in game.
Some baseline game original model textures are real junk and some are just hard to work with, but I will get there.
Most are requiring some internet research to find better reference source material for period textures and clothes while still keep with the game design and flair of adventure.
Now you can even see the "hairs" and skin imperfections on the faces!
Incredible detail that comes at a cost. Many of the textures are HUGE, and I am in the process of reducing them to make them more manageable.
Individual portraits/models are running around 1.2 GB before reduction to in game usage at 2048X2048.
Yes, these models do look like this IN GAME at a much higher quality.
Borderline lifelike and definitely not cartoonish.....
Final MOD will have all portraits/models set for HD widescreen designed for resolutions of 1680X1050 and above.
This is why some portraits look "thin" in the preview below.
All sizes and battle interface will be included.
No new game is required, just drop in and keep playing.
I run my game at 2560X1600 with unique modified core files (engine.ini, camera.ini, etc) and there is a BIG difference in 16:10 widescreen mode when it comes to the portraits.
Without aspect correction, portraits stretch significantly based on the original graphics settings limitations for standard resolutions .
SIDE NOTE:
I have actually successfully operated the game at 4k resolution (3840X2160) which is quite a treat, but the text extremely tiny because the GUI does not scale AT ALL and you need reading glasses to play the game unless you change font.ini settings.
The other major problem is this game is very poorly optimized and performance suffers greatly when in sea battles with more than ten ships at this resolution, as everything is consistently rendered in real time to based on distance without any modification to scale quality or dithering.
This is a byproduct of the old Storm Engine 2.8.
Recommendation stick to a reduced 16:9 or 16:10 resolution if your computer can handle it.
The best resolutions that I have found that give increased quality to performance without really modifying aspect ratio on a high end gaming computer are:
1680X1050
1920X1080
1920X1200
2560X1440
2560X1600 is pushing the limit on large battles right now.
Anyway, enough of that, onto the portraits and models!
Preview (very low quality resolution):
Last edited:
