[Ryan_]

If you dont have the colfiles2.rar get it here.
http://www.y-less.com/vc/colfiles2.rar
Thank you Y-Less for hosting!

The edited files were made by DMA Blunted and myself, most have been tweaked by spaceinstien for materials.
The edited files are at the end of each col archive.

This post has been edited by Ryan_ on Tuesday, Feb 21 2006, 17:35

[spaceeinstein]

But these things does show up in MooMapper...

[Ryan_]

I see, your right. Sorry

Im wondering why there are so many colfiles all over the place. There in gta3.img, there in gta3maps/temppart/, and there are more in every other gta3map folder.
Are they ALL necessary because on the conversion of LC?
If I change one, is it necessary to change others that are the same, or is it only necessary to edit the ones in the gta3.igta_vc.dat only calls on cols wihtin the DATA\GTA3MAPS\2DFIX\ folders. Are these the only cols that are used in the game when it come to the map?

Thank you for all your input.

This post has been edited by Ryan_ on Monday, Mar 21 2005, 03:24

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

The COLS inside the gta3.img are the ones used in the game, along with the 2Dfix COL files that are called for in the gta_vc.dat file.

[Ryan_]

I have figured out my problems and sucessfully edited a few colfiles. I believe I can do this and am applying for the/part of the position of making the rooftops solid.
My method is simple, but I am no expert and would like to know if It will run into any issues.
Method:
export dff (and corresponding col if necessary) from gta3.img, import dff to zmod and export as x file. edit x file as per steve m's instructions to avoid double faces, make col file from x file using col maker.
Edit colfiles and rebuild gta3.img if necessary
Thats it.
Does this seem proper to everyone?
Thanks again for all your help.

This post has been edited by Ryan_ on Monday, Mar 21 2005, 07:43

[Y_Less]

That will create very high poly col's. The cols are low poly, maybe just (for example) a 10 poly box over a skyscraper (not usually that low but you get the idea). Import the model into z-mod and build a new model over it so it just about covers all the major parts (stuff like window sills etc dont matter), then export that as .x and do the other crap.

[charlesbesso]

ryan if you're up to it I have a list of 25 collision glitches I compiled last night with screenshots of them all if you're up to taking a look and perhaps correcting them.

incase you want the file it's at collision.zip

here's my notes I compiled on the problems I hope this helps, I'll be searching for more tomorrow and compiling screenshots and making more notes

collision1.jpg upper-half of building is non-solid needs collision files to fit proper height/width

collision2.jpg all four rooftops solid need collision files edited to proper roof heights

collision3.jpg building past this point is non-solid needs collision file for proper height

collision4.jpg rooftops solid but need to have collision files leveled to proper height

collision5.jpg all building's using same collision file, need individual files for ground in center as well as all buildings in this group

collision6.jpg higher roofs infront non-solid in need of collision files, lower roofs solid single collision file for entire roof, needs seperate collision files for each individual height

collision7.jpg rooftop solid but collision file needs to be raised to proper height of building

collision8.jpg rooftop solid but collision file needs to be raised to proper height of building

collision9.jpg rooftop solid but collision file needs to be lowered to proper height of building

collision10.jpg blue rooftop buildings on right all solid but in need of adjustments to proper height

collision11.jpg taller rooftops non-solid, need collision files

collision12.jpg rooftop solid but collision file(s) needs to be adjusted to rooftop heights

collision13.jpg smokestack solid up until this point, needs collision files

collision14.jpg the other smokestack solid up until this point, needs collision files

collision15.jpg top of structure is non-solid, needs collision file

collision15.jpg a: underside is non-solid needs collision file, b: top of structure is non-solid needs collision file (there are two of these in the portland docks both have the same exact issue)

collision16.jpg a: entire structure above this point non-solid needs collision file (there are two of these with the same problem on portland docks)

collision17.jpg a: minor issue this little part is non-solid, at some point in the future it should be fixed with a collision file

collision18.jpg a: minor issue boats are non-solid, needs collision file, there are six dupelicates

collision19.jpg a: rooftop's collision file extends over rooftop b:, file needs to be lowered to proper height of b:

collision20.jpg a: rooftop's collision file height makes b: c: & d: impossible to land on, file(s) need to be altered for proper heights of b: c: & d:

collision21.jpg a: rooftop's collision file extends over b: through e:, need collision files for proper heights of b: through e:

collision22.jpg a: rooftop's collision file extends over b: through e:, need collision files for proper heights of b: through e:

collision23.jpg a: rooftop's collision file extend over b:, need collision files for proper height of b:

collision24.jpg a: rooftop's collision file extends over b: through e: (and the backside of the buildings edges you can't see in the pic), need collision files for proper heights of b: through e: and the back

collision25.jpg a: rooftop's collision file extends over b: through c: (and is solid on a: behind the building where there is no ledge), a: needs to be altered for the backside with no ledge & b: - c: need collision files

[charlesbesso]

I tried to figure out how to do this work myself but all I was left with was confusion good luck guys.

can someone point me to a turorial on this, I imported the model into zmodeler 1.07 but it was untextured since I don't know what textures the dff needs, from that point I just tryed fiddling around getting a grip of this and exported it as a dx mesh then edited the file as steve_m's tutorial says and then tried using his collmaker on it... but I'm lost at this point since it's in german and I speak/read only english I got some error msg about a 3 being invovled.

This post has been edited by charlesbesso on Monday, Mar 21 2005, 16:07

[Y_Less]

1) Don't double post.

2) Try the tutorials section for tutorials.

3) You don't need textures to do cols.

4) Go to options->language to change the language.

[Forty]

Yes, please use the EDIT button in the future instead of posting twice.

[Ryan_]

Ok, what is a good way to see how many polys are in the col?
And, what is a good polycount for cols?
And, how bad of an effect will having higher poly cols running in the game?
How is it then that GTA VC allows col files to be accurate without using so many polys in its col files?
I read somewhere that VC has no problen with individual col files that are under 2000 polys. I this right?
I like being able to access all balconies, decks etc. on all buildings. Is there a better way to create accurate col files with less polys?

Currently I have 3 model cols working sweet in-game.
I also have every relevent x file, for every relevent col , for objects within the industNE.ipl ready to be made to new col files.

At the moment I will transfer all the cols I have and see what happens.\

Wish me luck, and I'll be back in a bit.

Ryan

[GT-1]

The game still has to load the cols like other parts of data such as models. High col files could possibly slow the game down. Col files should be as low poly as possible for this project. You dont need all the detail that a biulding has just the general shape. Like if it was a skyscraper you just need a rectangle that follows main shape opf the building. Unless you have specific doorways you think are necessary you can soon work around them, then all you need is the general shape.

If you look around VC you will see that not every single part of the model has a col, but then again R*^ made col files that were low poly, they obviously did this for a reason.

[Ryan_]

Well after taking a good look at the col files I have put in-game, they definatly are larger then their original counterparts.
However, with all the new car models that have come out ranging fron 5000 to 50000 (sometimes even higher) polys and with the way my PC handels them (AMD 1GHz/512 SDRAM/Radeon 9200), I don't think a bunch of 2000 poly (max) building models will harm performance that much, but at the moment I am not sure of the col files poly counts so I don't know yet.
What is a easy way to tell how many polys a col file has?
Does a col file has the same amount of polys as the dff file it was made from or does exporting as x file bring down the polycount some?

Edit: I was also wondering if zmod or any other 3d modeling software will give me the option to reduce a dff's polycount (automatically optimize if you will) before you export it to x file?

This post has been edited by Ryan_ on Monday, Mar 21 2005, 19:18

[spaceeinstein]

If you drastically increase the col polys of the buildings just to solidfy one small roof, I'll make that an unofficial mod.

[Craig Kostelecky]

I don't think we're trying to drastically increase any amount of cols. Idealy we would have somebody who can simplify all of our cols so every building is solid (at least up to 300 units) and the game still runs the way it should.

[Ryan_]

I am not suggesting drastically increasing the polys in the col's, this is just where my experimentations have brought me so far.
It would seem already I have a col file with too many polys in it (crashes the game). Therefor, I have come to the conclusion that I MUST find a way to minimize polys within col files.
My main question now is HOW?
I thought I read somewhere at sometime that there was a way to minimize the amount of polys in a dff, if there is I could do this then make the x and col file from the optimized dff.
Anyways, thanks for the info.

ps. can someone edit the title and topic of the thread to something better?

[Y_Less]

Dont try converting the dff to col, it has too many polys.

As I said in a pm, import the dff and col into z-modeller then extend the col AROUND the dff, it doesn't have to be exact, just rough.

[jcab42]

Once you import the DFF into zmod you can remesh it by deleting all faces and then delete all vertices except the bottom four and top four (the only vertices you need to make the basic shape of the building) then reface the vertices and presto, optimized mesh.

This post has been edited by jcab42 on Monday, Mar 21 2005, 23:53

[Ryan_]

will this work if there is an alley in the middle of the building? would it effect the alley?

[Y_Less]

Yes it would affect the alley.

Jcabs method would just put a huge solid block over the whole thing, not alot of use in all cases (although in some, e.g. the terraced houses in St. Marks, that method would be fine).

Although the cols are prefferably to be kept to a minimum, some detail must remain. E.g. the broken building (again in St. Marks), if you used that method on that, you would lose all the intricies of the damage, it would just be a lump, if you tried to fly through the gaps in the top of the wall, you would just him them. But not every little nook and cranny need to be cold over. As a general rule, if the detail is smaller than the player, it is not likely to affect him much, so you can smooth over it. But this is NOT a steadfast rule, there may be times when it is better or neccessary not to.

I am going to try compile a list of all the buildings that need updating/doing and put them in a topic for everyones reference. It would be much appreciated if anyone could help with this.