Three Dee Menu
Sewlek
The programmer previously known as Schimmel Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16247Members, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Gold, Subnautica Developer
The programmer previously known as Schimmel Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16247Members, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Gold, Subnautica Developer
in Modding
<div class="IPBDescription">example mod 2, advanced</div>hey everybody,
i wrote another mod on sunday. It's more complex than the previous one: changes the 2d armory / prototype lab GUI to be part of the world, projected on a bended plane in front of the armory / pt lab. Despite that this mod was intended to show case the possibilities for client side mods, i think it will also come in handy to a few players. i played myself a few games with that mod and i found it quite useful.
the main problem here is that you can't easily weld the armory / pt lab anymore, since mouse1 was changed to purchase items and i actually wanted welding / contructing be both on E. If someone wants to add this functionality, feel free to do so, but i will most likely do that myself once i have time again.
how to use it: aim at the item you want to purchase and press mouse 1.
how to install: extract the downloaded zip file in your natural selection 2 folder (so the folder "threedeemenu" it's on the same level as ns2.exe) and launch ns2 with:
"ns2 -game threedeemenu"
screenshot:
<img src="http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1703/2012082900001.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
video (earlier version):
<center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kEJb0vqc4Js"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kEJb0vqc4Js" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>
download:
[attachment=36131:threedeemenu.zip]
i wrote another mod on sunday. It's more complex than the previous one: changes the 2d armory / prototype lab GUI to be part of the world, projected on a bended plane in front of the armory / pt lab. Despite that this mod was intended to show case the possibilities for client side mods, i think it will also come in handy to a few players. i played myself a few games with that mod and i found it quite useful.
the main problem here is that you can't easily weld the armory / pt lab anymore, since mouse1 was changed to purchase items and i actually wanted welding / contructing be both on E. If someone wants to add this functionality, feel free to do so, but i will most likely do that myself once i have time again.
how to use it: aim at the item you want to purchase and press mouse 1.
how to install: extract the downloaded zip file in your natural selection 2 folder (so the folder "threedeemenu" it's on the same level as ns2.exe) and launch ns2 with:
"ns2 -game threedeemenu"
screenshot:
<img src="http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1703/2012082900001.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
video (earlier version):
<center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kEJb0vqc4Js"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kEJb0vqc4Js" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>
download:
[attachment=36131:threedeemenu.zip]
Comments
Also love that the cheat for getting more Pres is " pres " :)
it will solve your problem :)
it will solve your problem :)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
one of the reasons i wrote that mod was that i don't want E to be used in any way for the menu (not to bring it up or to purchase something). E will switch later to welder + use that weapon, which will also come in handy when you want to weld a marine / exo etc.
Could be the reason you had in mind, but the issue of it randomly popping up during combat with aliens near or on the armory/proto is a much bigger concern as I've said earlier :)
Fixing it would be easy actually and quite intuitive as well:
<ul><li>Repairing the armory/proto (or structures in general) should be only done when the welder is out and used with mouse 1</li><li>The menu should ONLY pop up when E is pressed and then you can use the mouse 1 to instantly buy the stuff you want (point and shoot store). Fixing he in combat with skulks on the structure issue</li><li>Destroyed powernodes can still be repaired with +E using the builder and of course with the welder out as well. With the switch to welder if you have one. So this would be the only structure that has a +E and welder repair.</li></ul>
I would love to see this version of the menu in the official game actually, with the fixes above. It is much faster and much more intuitive compared to the one we have now. No one like menus in games and this is more like an in world store.
[edit]As a side note, maybe when you activate the menu your weapon should "holster" (on screen put pointing down) as well instead of pointing at the thing you buy, just for aesthetics purposes
still, regarding having to press E: im confident that im able to get the menu working in a way where it would not interfere with combat and would still remain functional whenever you want. i just need to make the code smarter when this is an issue. i like the idea too much of E = build / repair, and thats the sole purpose of the button. and since you use the left mouse button in most programs / OS to click icons it also feels right to me to keep it that way. that also fits to aim + LMB to shoot, it's quite intuitive in my opinion.
so, my main goal with that menu is to get it working without having to press any additional buttons. simply aim and left click to buy, and if it turns out that this is impossible to achieve, i can always fall back to use another key for bringing up the menu. but i really want to avoid that, it's something i don't like at the official menu.
an easy fix would be to let the menu disappear / become non function whenever you move. so you would need to stand still for like 0.5 seconds to use the menu. and since you usually move in combat, it should never be able to interfere. but this check should not be necessary, since it's basically impossible that an enemy is behind the menu (maybe behind the PT lab due to smaller collision box)
so i would suggest to test the menu in real games first, maybe record a video showing useability problems? that would help me a lot, since i personally have no problems using it
My first thought was also about combat and if you use the left mouse button you might buy stuff that you didn't want when you meant to shoot aliens instead. I think using 'e' might just be simpler. But this is much cleaner than having to open a menu that takes you 'out of the game' for a short while. Great job!
Would be interesting to see this in game. Cannot download it now to try out since i am not at home, but will when I get the chance.
I would usually weld the corners of the armory/proto to sorta get around the problematic welding.
For added effects, the power-grid shader from the commander view (or something similar) could be a neat touch to it.
Funny, I had the exact idea about immersion, months back when I thought about what would increase the atmosphere/immersion in NS2, and is still missing, and in contrast, what get's you "out of the zone". And that are those 2D menus, and replacing them with this. Like in Doom3. And then extending other parts, like Command station "Login" button getting Doom3-like interact style, same as all the switchs and buttons for doors etc. (are there any left anyway? Right now can't remember any. But would be really cool).
Or when you go through the holo globe.. it could flicker.. I mean it's little things like this that make you smile like a little kid.. Really would set NS2 apart further in scifi immersion.
Again.. thanks a lot! Long-time fan now posting again.
Ever since 219's been released, the game doesn't want to work with this mod. Loading the game with the mod gives me an error "client and server differ". Loading the game without the mod works just fine. Is this just an issue for me, or other people too? And if it is, will it fixed or even better, be incorporated into the game?!
Ever since 219's been released, the game doesn't want to work with this mod. Loading the game with the mod gives me an error "client and server differ". Loading the game without the mod works just fine. Is this just an issue for me, or other people too? And if it is, will it fixed or even better, be incorporated into the game?!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
i would need to update it to make it work for 219, but i have no time. busy working on other parts of the game currently :)
if this would ever become official, then for sure not before 1.0. my biggest concern with the 3d menu is useability
@techercizer ideally with that menu you won't need the B button. i think it's more intuitive to use the left mouse button, unless the menu is in the way in combat
I also think this is the way to go. Make it "unfold" when a player gets near the armory. But instead of using Mouse1 to buy things, you have to point at a gun and press B.
I would love to see this become official btw!
You could just add it as a preference in the game options menu.
sure i could, but this is additional code, and like with any other code: it could contain bugs / cause side effects. it's not a good idea to add something like this in "last minute". but i myself love this menu as well and will talk with the other guys about it. in the mean time feel free to discuss how it could be improved in terms of useability (i see the benefit of pressing B to bring up the menu, gives you 100% control and eliminates any unwanted combat interruptions, but i would prefer keeping the current way).
edit: the main purpose of this mod was to give an example of an ui mod. i want to write a tutorial for it (had no time so far...) to support the lua coders / people who want to learn "ns2 lua".
A few minor bugs are fixed and purchasing works now with +use