Spark loading preexisting maps

AlchemdaAlchemda Join Date: 2004-02-01 Member: 25942Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Visual issues</div>Heya, so I tried to load tram, rockdown, and summit into the editor to get some ideas of how it was built. Is that a prop or a wall, which prop is that, etc.

However when loading into the Spark Editor, THIS happens:

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/alchemda/Untitled-1-1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />


Basically the map looks like it doesnt load properly or completely. some textures are invis, some faces are gone. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Is this some sort of copy protection?

Help, I want to learn from the best by knowing how they did cool things in their map.

Comments

  • InsaneInsane Anomaly Join Date: 2002-05-13 Member: 605Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, NS2 Map Tester, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts, Future Perfect Developer
    This could be one of two things.

    First, check the layers palette. It may be that some of the geometry and so on is set to invisible.

    Second, it's possible that you're running out of video memory. The editor loads a lot more stuff into video memory than the game does and when you run out it simply stops displaying some props and textures. I was running into this problem regularly until I upgraded. If this is the case, you should be able to see a large number of error messages in the "Output" window.
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited September 2011
    Ah so 512Mb of VRAM is my problem most likely? I can't seem to run most completed maps except ns2_sample and my own map (1 fully detailed room). They either crash or hang up SparkE...


    A possible fix would probably be that I'll have to keep in mind disabling all layers (set to invisible), for when the map starts to expand more and more, so it won't load all the stuff on start...
  • MaxMax Technical Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment Join Date: 2002-03-15 Member: 318Super Administrators, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts, Future Perfect Developer
    There is an option in the Editor to decrease the visual quality (in the Editor settings window). Setting that to low will definitely help if you are running out of video memory.
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited September 2011
    <!--quoteo(post=1876420:date=Sep 22 2011, 10:47 PM:name=Max)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Max @ Sep 22 2011, 10:47 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1876420"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->There is an option in the Editor to decrease the visual quality (in the Editor settings window). Setting that to low will definitely help if you are running out of video memory.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Oh gawd, I never knew there was a graphics option in SparkE!!! I just assumed it was running at low setting like most editors do on default... It should've rang a bell, I was having the same issue on the perspective window as running the game at the high setting...

    <div align='center'>Thank you sir Max, please accept this cookie as my appreciation!

    <img src="http://i.neoseeker.com/mgv/436139-Triforce%20of%20Wisdom/139/32/cookie_display.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div>





    note:
    I still can't load any of the release maps, but that's besides the point. I'm just happy SparkE now runs a bit smoother. It's just too bad it didn't do anything usefull for me with the VRAM usage:

    Some figures from RivaTuner (C2D E6420 @2.4Ghz, 2Gb of DDR2 and a HD4850 512Mb):
    <ul><li>ns2_sample (both settings are working)
    <ul><li>Low: 490Mb</li><li>High: ~690Mb</li></ul></li><li>ns2_veil_alpha1
    <ul><li>Low: 612Mb (no issues)</li><li>High: 870Mb (seems to load fine, running at 3-6FPS with all layers turned off though)</li></ul></li><li>ns2_rockdown
    <ul><li>Low: ~710Mb (not everything loads and performance is >5FPS and has the tendancy to show blocky text and crash the viewports)</li></ul></li></ul>


    Spark doesn't seem to be using the "extra none-local VRAM" correctly when the map has more individual props/textures (detail so to speak). As veil with more VRAM usage then rockdown seems to load fine, low FPS but still fine.

    Apparently turning layers/geometry invisible has no impact on the mem usage from what RivaTuner can tell me. Which I was kinda hoping it would
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