Halflife Media Project Thingy Majigger

s_viper3 · January 2003

At the request of the E&C models group and a couple other people, Ive started work on a high-end model manager for halflife. Just a toy

<img src='http://images.nullfusion.com/ns/hlms1a.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

Wolf_Kahler · January 2003

Interesting... A serious expansion on HLMV? Will it have the functionalities of HLMV too? I would -so- use that. A completely standardized way of managing all your customs for all our mods has been lacking. Tools for models, sprites and sounds... I'm no programmer, but I realize that's no small feat. I'll deffinitely be watching the progress on this.

ArgOnatH · January 2003

gr8 idea!

hopfuly it will be out by the time i take modeling back up!

Liku · January 2003

Please please please, tell us when your going to release it!

3ncrypted_zer0 · January 2003

Nice program me want! <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

Vash · January 2003

*cough* Um...What exactly are the "Kaharaa" ? hehe

CaptainPanaka · January 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (3ncrypted zer0 @ Jan 20 2003, 02:36 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Nice program me want! <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
<--- 2 <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

but btw:

the "Kaharaa" should be "kharaa" iirc <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

pants · January 2003

thats freakin cool. how long do you think it will take to finish?

s_viper3 · January 2003

Both preview windows react very similar to hlmv. Left mouse = transpose, right mouse = angle delta.
Not like that part really matters, I want the manager part to work first <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'> Right now im working on a unknown model analyzer, a tool that you point it to all your original NS skins (or any other mod, for example), and then point it into a directory full of file1.mdl, crap.mdl, etc. and it will try to figure out which models are supposed to be which or which ones resemble which.

Chubbieboi · January 2003

JUST RELEASE!!!!hahahah ok no really release please

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'>

Wolf_Kahler · January 2003

...I suspect he will.

You know, when it's ready for release?

...

Elbo · January 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (-Vash- @ Jan 20 2003, 02:41 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>*cough* Um...What exactly are the "Kaharaa" ? hehe</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Very humorous aliens <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'>

Your program looks good, just please don't add spy spyware <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='confused.gif'>

[edit]will there be support for other mods as well?[/edit]

Wolf_Kahler · January 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Halflife Media Project Thingy Majigger</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>

At least, that's what I thought this topic was. As opposed to, you know, maybe, "Natural Selection Media Project Thingy Majigger," right?

I didn't start it, though, so don't quote me on that. Just watched Blow. Feel like I snorted a few, you know?

Right.

TheHornet · January 2003

nice. looking forward to the completion.

TalShiar · January 2003

looks cool <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'> keep up the good work.

Kaine · January 2003

contact me @ Kainesmail@bigpond.com, i guarantee that i can make your life easier <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

ZeroSaber · January 2003

F'kin nice idea, mate. Looks great so far, keep up the good work.

Unknown · January 2003

Told you S_viper - simply amazing

s_viper3 · January 2003

Thanks <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'> Been fun working on it. Basically, Ill outline some of the algorythyms.
In a nutshell, when you choose, lets say to switch to a new armory model (as shown in the screenshot), it will scan through the entire /ns directory for all models resembling armories (using my currently improperly implemented **** AI-like statistical methods) and all models that have partial filename matches to known models, and display them in a list, to let you choose through them. It abstracts the fact that the model used by halflife is actually /models/armory.mdl. To the player, the model in /ns/backups/crap/model.mdl will look like the current model (this is just to make it appear more transparent between switching models). As long as the user doesn't manually screw with the /ns folder, for example, it will work great.

Im also adding a very spiffy feature for those of us who just don't want to think. Basically Im going to set it up so if you drag a .zip onto the main window, it will seamlessly integrate the skins/models/wavs/etc. into the game, and make them your current active models (without destroying the current models. It will preserve them using my patenteted file preservation system (copy and rename). <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'> This portion of the program will analyze the zip, and if it detects a directory structure, it will use that to put files in the correct spots, but it will also CORRECT invalid locations. Like if you try to put a .wav in the models directory, it will put the .wav in the most seemingly correct spot, based off of it's filename. Or if the .zip inserts a model into the /models folder that is known and not used by NS, it can do something like warn you or move it to a 'dump folder'. Cool **** like that. To further put the icing on the cake, if you drag a .zip with a HELLO.mdl (for example) in it for example, it will statistically analyze the model and determine which model its a replacement for. Upon not finding a match, it will used a standard % match algorythym and let you choose the best match, along with a nice preview.

All these features may sound hard to implement, but beleive me, its all entirely automated. My statistical regression engine essentially gathers data from all files (models, maps, wavs) and can determine how close they are. This way, all these neat little hax0r tricks are very simple (as long as the engine is coded right, ofcourse)

Oh yes, BTW, the tree-view style navigation in HLMV is definately going to be implemented into this. It couldn't survive without it. But I plan to make it much better, at the same time.

Anyways, off to play NS. Got a Halfirc halflife irc client to debug <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

Wolf_Kahler · January 2003

If you hadn't already said you'd been spending years doing that, I would've had to assume it.

Very nice.

Jaeger · January 2003

The one thing HLMV could have REALLY capitalized on was to include view of the v_model from the player's perspective.

Any chance of including that option?

Wolf_Kahler · January 2003

Yes, Jaeger! That would be a -fantastic- idea!

s_viper3 · January 2003

Oh hell yeah, that is so easy its not even funny.

No, ive spent about a week on this program. Im a RAD developer (if that wasn't already obvious) with a masters in Computer Science, and a bachelors in statistical mathematics (stats).
I have learned significant chunks of about 30 programming languages old and new, and also am VERY gifted with statistical applications to computers (hence the model stuff). This stuff is joke-easy crap for me. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

But im losing interest in it. I wish I knew someone else that could help me on it.

Narg · January 2003

NOOOOOO DONT GIVE UP..... it is so perfect for the ppl like me who play in clan wars where the servers always run server consistancy i can just change back to originals then when i want to play in a pub server i can just switch back. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'> great idea keep it up!

Wolf_Kahler · January 2003

I know that feeling... Drawing, graphics, mIRC scripting, 3D modelling... It gets so lonely after a while. I keep losing my passion for new things. The passion's never... Something. It doesn't feel right being passionate alone. If there was someone to motivate me, that I could motivate too... Not in a relationship sort of way. Just someone to work with. I've not met -anyone- I feel I can do anything with.

Suicide_Run · January 2003

no one ever understands what im talking about so i usually end up working on my projects alone :/

Wolf_Kahler · January 2003

:\

s_viper3 · January 2003

Yeah no kidding.

Kaine · January 2003

what are you programming in? i'd love to help you out. prolly can help more with my knowledge on the HL filesystem and model specs than programming (i'm a self-tought delphi-dude and got bored learning C++ so i don't know much of it :\ ) i am rather good at bug finding in any sort of code and pretty quick with numbers. i'll try to catch you on icq.

Asraniel · January 2003

Cool programm... please dont stop the work on it. I know, im also a programmer, when you have no motivation and its too easy(and after what you said this is realy too easy for you) you get bored very fast. But hey, thats a usefull programm and many people would be very happy, release it please. When you want we can invent some spezial features that are very hard to code.... *g*

r3men4nt · May 2003

I dont suppose your still working on this are you, because it could very useful and I would love to see this implemented.

Halflife Media Project Thingy Majigger

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