XCOM2 Project -- Geoscapps

[Zyxpsilon]

Although i'm already getting slightly tired by the minutes (play-work-sleep, repeat & rinse, etc)... i'll have to finally begin the essential NEXUS development thread for my very first project.

 

It currently only is at the early concept phase but it would certainly grow further more once i get the hang (again) of most ModBuddy features.

 

Thus...

 

1) Please consult this... if you want to either share hints or somehow help along the way to its final re_solution.

 

http://forums.2k.com/showthread.php?4144496-16-Regions-rather-than-countries

 

2) I'll be back... soon!!

 

:)

[Zyxpsilon]

Making some qualitative progress after thorough examinations of key UPK files. Just found the missions "symbols" that get inserted when Objectives show up in a small Black Hexagon;

 

 

 

http://s7.postimg.org/kd95weynf/Symbols_Summary.png

 

 

 

Also discovered the Region-Borders principle (strangely each are a 32x32 mask only.. there must be another line tracing intervention by script) while searching for Strat_Overworld_DataMaps stuff... but this is a wicked image, AFAIC.

 

 

 

http://s14.postimg.org/of4ocwxsx/World_Map_BIOME.png

 

 

 

Looks like Biomes are determined by global areas; Tundra, Desert or Boreal Forest are simply "attached" to red hues!!

[Zyxpsilon]

What about GeoscApps and its ongoing development steps?

 

Well - making progress with another cool feature.

 

First, it could be better if i inserted the Advent & XCom symbols summary sheets as a permanent reference since they represent the essentials.

 

#1) ADvent ...

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/thjLt9w.png

 

 

 

#2) XCom ...

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/VQ1bdU4.png

 

 

 

Thus ---

 

If i have it my way... the West-Africa region (Sector #11) XC_Symbols (or AD versions under different situations, btw) will spin too. Trick will be to synchronize both with the Auto-In/Out-Zooming process.

 

Post-Mission(s) on flight back to the Avenger;

 

http://s15.postimg.org/f2901ghqj/Post_Mission_sample.png

 

... and Pre-Mission(s) location info screen -- which auto-zooms too!

 

 

 

http://s28.postimg.org/oybdcay25/Pre_Mission_sample.png

 

 

 

I'll return with a few more samples (of core concepts) during the week. Beginning with the Continental Bonuses. :D

 

PS; Anyone knows how to alter the sitting Troopers animation cycle as to prevent them from bending down & just the "Slapping their hands on knees"?

Edited February 8, 2016 by Zyxpsilon

[Zyxpsilon]

Figured out a few important facts about what will be really necessary to pull this off.

 

#1 of many more... (gfx)Alerts.swfmovie == 528,060 Kbs == Flash scripting tasks will be at least that much more complex or time consuming -- as a single person at the keyboard!!

 

All of which just to attach 16 different symbols to ID boxes of the Geoscape map. To think that i would also wish for a nice morphshaping process to simultaneously "Radar/Scan" the Making-Contact days in a sweet clocking Grey/TO/Full colors!

 

Might need some help. Decision, decisions. Ambition is a four letters word dice toss -- F*C*.

 

:pinch: :sick:

Edited February 9, 2016 by Zyxpsilon

[Zyxpsilon]

Well, after thorough investigation of the SWF structures & other UC-Classes key files... i've concluded it might not be as hard to implement these features as i felt earlier this week.

 

I'm just about ready to define the nearly final gfxAlerts components while planning to make good use of each FOUR "corners". Refer to these two old sample images below...

 

#1) Scanning Timer phase...

 

http://s22.postimg.org/u4h3bqhtd/Make_Contact_Eastern_US_Timer_Sample1.png

 

#2) Make Contact...

 

http://s8.postimg.org/l1pcvfemt/Make_Contact_Eastern_US_w_Tags_Sample_Test1.png

 

** Note that the Advent-Logo ( Region not contacted yet! ) style above gets replaced by the XCom-Logo under subsequent events, etc.

 

Top right "Box" of the Make-Contact phase will receive an ID tag that overlays the Continental symbol (just temporary, since i still have an alternate design to do) to indicate which sector this Region is in. These are randomly voiced-over by the Avenger pilot while going to any destinations as you may have noticed too.

 

Here's the full-list;

 

#01) New Arctic

#02) New Australia

#03) New Brazil

#04) New Chile

#05) New India

#06) Eastern Europe

#07) Western Europe

#08) New Mexico

#09) Western US

#10) Eastern US

#11) West Africa

#12) East Africa

#13) South Africa

#14) Eastern Asia

#15) Western Asia

#16) New Indonesia

 

*** There are Continental Alerts as well, btw. Unlocked "Bonuses"... such as this summary sheet of symbols for them;

 

1) This is the common Resistance-Fist tag that would be replaced by........... Any of these to match context(s).

 

http://s21.postimg.org/43rcnbs6v/Continents_Bonuses_Tagging.png - http://s33.postimg.org/ujk2y0x1b/Teaser_7_CB.png

 

Full list of Bonuses as reference;

 

#01- Spy Ring ......................... ** (+25% for Intel rewards)
#02- Hidden Reserves .................. ** (+5 Power for the Avenger)
#03- To Serve Mankind ................. ** (Recruits only cost +10 Supplies)
#04- Lock and Load .................... ** (PCS & Weapon Upgrades may be re-used)
#05- Pursuit of Knowledge ............. ** (+20% discovery speed if you have a Research Lab facility)
#06- Spare Parts ...................... ** (-50% costs for all "Proving Grounds" projects)
#07- Armed to the Teeth ............... ** (All primary weapons gain an additional upgrade slot)
#08- Under the Table .................. ** (Black Market pays 33% more for items)
#09- Suit up! ......................... ** (All Armor & Vest experimental projects finish instantly)
#10- All In ........................... ** (Resistance sends 20% more resources)
#11- Quid Pro Quo ..................... ** (Black Market Items cost 25% less Intel)
#12- Fire When Ready .................. ** (All Ammo, Grenade, and Weapon experimental finish instantly)
#13- Future Combat .................... ** (All GTS Tactic costs reduced by 50%)
#14- Helping Hand ..................... ** (Workshops provide an additional Engineer when built)

 

EDIT; Oooopppsss, completely forgot to insert the Continental Logo/Symbols summary sheet.

 

http://s14.postimg.org/y22j7vhkx/CBLogos_Summary_Sheet.png

 

Left To Right -- North-America.. South America.. Europe.. Africa.. Asia.. Oceania. These would most probably be inserted (Grey-scaled when inactive) to the right of the small Radar-Pips.

 

Now, you may say. What for, boy?

Honestly -- that's some purely cosmetic (although QoL functionality is being added in a few specific cases) HUD enhancements and frankly, it's a tricky Mod concept decision taken awhile ago.

 

Be back with more details -- soon. But i soooooooo still have to finish my first Veteran game (( Currently heading to the Forge or Psi-Gate missions - wish me luck!! :wink: )) before focusing on three projects -- simultaneously; this one, q--UI--ck (Icons, Textures, Classes, LW-Flags, etc) & LAB-yrin-th (in-game Research-Tree).

 

:geek:

 

EDIT *Early June!*; Final Continent Bonuses summary sheet inserted above.

Edited June 10, 2016 by Zyxpsilon

[Drakous79]

Good luck :) The mod looks great!

[Zyxpsilon]

Thanks, friend... let's hope my SDK+ScaleForm learning "curve(s)" won't be too steep to prevent reasonably fast results!

[Drakous79]

I understand why fast, but don't take it to furious level :) I hope you'd have time to write UI modding tutorial after you are done.

[Zyxpsilon]

Just calibrated the global overlay principles as to verify how the additional components would fit "visually" on a fully zoomed-out Geoscape. This is what Asia should look like once i get the ScaleForm/gfx (( Figuratively, some external device in scope since Adobe/Flash is waaaayyyy too costly for my hobbyist wallet! )) & UC + Listener + Hooks processing done;

 

 

 

http://s21.postimg.org/5gilp9buf/Geosc_Apps_Asia_sample.png

 

I think the proportions are not too intrusive while giving a good sense of planetary control. A number of various conditions can affect which symbols are shown. Anything still under Advent influence has their Logo while transitional gameplay states are greyed-out instead of being colored to indicate XCom contacts.

 

 

 

Here's Oceania...

 

http://s22.postimg.org/gyt50vcw1/Geosc_Apps_Oceania_sample.png

 

These symbols might have to get a bit smaller though (possibly sized similar to the Radar box underneath East-Asia or New Australia)... It's all a matter of cluttering & proportional contexts where detailed informations get focused -- but the whole world seems to host everything neatly and without indirect (overlaying) interferences between closeby regions.

:D

 

I've also finally settled on a tight'er framework for the GuerillaOps selection trios. Something new & pretty wild in #2 below;

 

#1) New India / Alien Infiltrator /Scientist

 

 

http://s13.postimg.org/dobycsdh3/Guerilla_Ops_01.png

 

 

 

#2) Western Europe / Infestation / Grenadier-Colonel

 

 

http://s14.postimg.org/gwsz1bbv5/Guerilla_Ops_02.png

 

 

 

#3) East Asia / Alien Cypher / Engineer

 

 

http://s14.postimg.org/ye69nwrf5/Guerilla_Ops_03.png

 

 

 

Progress is being made on the few remaining concept steps too. Coding tasks -- soonish! :wink:

Edited February 16, 2016 by Zyxpsilon

[Zyxpsilon]

You've just got the Continental Bonus Lock & Load in Asia!

 

 

 

http://s2.postimg.org/6dk7yz1op/Asia_Completed_Sample.png

 

 

 

Once back into the Geoscape, that tiny central Icon would then be colored from its previous Grey/Scaled state to indicate activation -- as soon as you'd click "OK". While the Asiatic XC-LogoSymbol gets dropped there too.

:D

Edited February 17, 2016 by Zyxpsilon