[WIP] Software Brightmaps - Serpent Rider's Heretic Pack

[SerbianDoomer]

Big update
Serpent Rider has started work on a brightmap pack for Heretic to complement mine for Doom! Download link and screenshots of this pack added to first post.

Download:

bmaps.pk3

brightmapsheretic1.wad

Screenshots:

---

(In the above screenshots are pictured an alternate palette and Doom64 hud, which are not included in this mod)

About:

The developers have stated ( http://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=37209 ) that brightmaps in the software renderer are currently impossible.

Brightmaps in the software renderer would throw the optimized assembly functions out of whak, requiring much more complicated means. It'd mean writing a completely new set of rendering functions to accomplish it, and sorry, I don't see that happen.

Though true brightmaps are currently impossible in the software renderer, my idea is to replicate this effect in the software renderer using workaround methods (however this will only be possible for actors, not textures). The method is really simple (described here http://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?f= ... 75#p738590), probably inefficient however I like the effect it produces.

I am hoping this will spark interest in people unable to run OpenGL but wanting the effect of brightmaps or for people who are looking for subtle, minimalistic enhancements that don't stray from vanilla Doom's simplistic, pixely, old-fashioned aesthetic and don't look out of place in 320x200 resolution.

Since my method depends on decorate it pretty much breaks compability with any mods modifying the monsters/decorations that will have brightmaps. Therefore I might also expand it with the standard enhancement stuff (coloured blood for Barons/Cacos and such) and maybe some slight modifications to monster behavior (but again, not straying much from the original, just increasing difficulty to match modern player's skill) and make it a complete "purist's" enhancement mod- and I would make everything myself from scratch (no ripping others off).

If the community shows interest I might also do something similar for Strife, Hexen or Heretic (but I won't think about that yet, let me first jump and then say "hop"). And I know that the idea of yet another enhancement mod is hardly original, however it is my first (Z)Doom project and I want to keep it simple while I learn the ropes.

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ArmorBonus
Cacodemon
LostSoul
Stimpack
Medikit
Berserk
Infrared
Allmap
ClipBox
ShellBox
RocketBox
Cell
CellPack
pickup for BFG9000
pickup for PlasmaRifle
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Ironlich
Wizard
GoldWandAmmo
GoldWandHefty
CrossbowAmmo
CrossbowHefty
BlasterAmmo
BlasterHefty
SkullRodAmmo
SkullRodHefty
PhoenixRodAmmo
PhoenixRodHefty

Known bugs:
-Not thinking, I named the brightmap sprites for the lost soul BSKUL, just a minor cosmetic bug, your key will look like a flashing Lost Soul Will be fixing in next update.

Thanks:
Serpent rider - for his Heretic brightmaps!
Nash and The Zombie Killer - big thanks for helping with code optimization.
Gez, FishyClockwork - for helping me resolve bug with this project and learning more about how the engine works
Nash, DoomRater, RV-007 - for encouragement to turn an idea into the project
Leonard2 - spotting bug

Download:

bmaps.pk3

brightmapsheretic1.wad

[Tomicapo]

Wow wow those brightmaps are awesome, keep up with this!!

[SerbianDoomer]

Thanks !

[Abba Zabba]

Good stuff, keep it up; reminds me of what polymer mode does to both the sprites and models of the Pig Cop's eyes in Eduke.

[Average]

If you pull this off I'll be your best friend!

This would be seriously cool. I've always wanted this effect in software but I wouldn't even know where to begin. There's nothing scarier than the glowing eyes of Hell's spawn coming at you in the dark!

Thanks for even attempting this.

[Serpent rider]

It looks great.And i think it will be very useful (expecialy for me , becuase i can not use the open gl , i have too bad graphic card...).

[The Zombie Killer]

By changing

Code: Select all

WARPF_NOCHECKPOSITION|WARPF_STOP

To

Code: Select all

WARPF_INTERPOLATE|WARPF_NOCHECKPOSITION|WARPF_STOP

In the Cacodemon's brightmap objects, the jumpiness is pretty much fixed when you don't have your fps capped.

Also, here's my custom version which also applies the warp effects to the armor bonus too, which makes it bug out less if the armor bonus is on a lift
EDIT: Updated the file, I added the warp effects to the eye brightmap for the cacodemon's dead frame. Since this didn't warp to the corpse, if the corpse moved (eg, the death animation finished while the cacodemon was sliding on the floor), the eye would become disconnected and it would look weird.

[Amuscaria]

YES

[SerbianDoomer]

Updated the pack with brightmaps for items!


First of all, thank you very much The Zombie Killer for your fix, included it in the update and added you to the Thanks list .

Lava Grunt, I think the pig cops eyes have brightmaps even without polymer, because I recall seeing those brightmaps but I don't play with polymer (too slow).

Average, thanks for the kind words and I quite agree! For extra scariness, I sometimes play with PSX music and sounds and a darker palette.

Eriance, don't be too optimistic. Now would be a good time to tell you I am a lazy bastard and progress on this will move slowly .

Кад би ви знали шта је овде написано...

Полако али сигурно, Срби преузимају интернет

Edit: Also, forgot to mention. I changed the way the files are organized in the pk3. The sprites and decorate code for each actor are now kept in seperate wads. So if you don't like the glowing text on the clip box, just open up the pk3 and delete the associated wad file (in this case ammobox.wad)

[Yholl]

Lava Grunt, I think the pig cops eyes have brightmaps even without polymer, because I recall seeing those brightmaps but I don't play with polymer (too slow).

The Duke3D palette has some colors that are always fullbright, the pigcop eyes use those.

I'll be watching this project in future, it's quite impressive work. Nice work!

[Nash]

This is slowly shaping up to be awesome. Keep up the good work!

(The Cacodemon looks good in the starting room of DOOM 2 MAP25 ;))

EDIT:

Code: Select all

ACTOR CacoEffectA : BMapEffect
{
    States
    {
    Spawn:
        BHED A 1 A_Warp(AAPTR_TARGET, 0, 0, 0, 0, WARPF_INTERPOLATE|WARPF_NOCHECKPOSITION|WARPF_STOP)
        BHED A 1 A_Warp(AAPTR_TARGET, 0, 0, 0, 0, WARPF_INTERPOLATE|WARPF_NOCHECKPOSITION|WARPF_STOP)
        BHED A 1 A_Warp(AAPTR_TARGET, 0, 0, 0, 0, WARPF_INTERPOLATE|WARPF_NOCHECKPOSITION|WARPF_STOP)
        BHED A 1 A_Warp(AAPTR_TARGET, 0, 0, 0, 0, WARPF_INTERPOLATE|WARPF_NOCHECKPOSITION|WARPF_STOP)
        Stop
    }
}

Is there any reason why a single line wouldn't work?

Code: Select all

BHED AAAA 1 A_Warp(AAPTR_TARGET, 0, 0, 0, 0, WARPF_INTERPOLATE|WARPF_NOCHECKPOSITION|WARPF_STOP)

[The Zombie Killer]

First of all, thank you very much The Zombie Killer for your fix, included it in the update and added you to the Thanks list .

My pleasure, glad to help.

[SerbianDoomer]

Yholl, thanks !

Nash, thank you too, and thanks for that code, I didn't know it was possible to write it that way. Looks much cleaner that way, will be including in next update.

[Nash]

Another thing I was thinking about while looking at the code... all those A_Warp calls on the first state in Spawn... I wonder if NoDelay should be used on them to make sure everything is 100% in sync?

Would having that also negate the need to add 1 extra tic to the brightmap pieces in comparison their original non-bright counterparts?

(I don't exactly know the inner workings of your stuff so this is just speculation)

[The Zombie Killer]

Another thing I was thinking about while looking at the code... all those A_Warp calls on the first state in Spawn... I wonder if NoDelay should be used on them to make sure everything is 100% in sync?

Would having that also negate the need to add 1 extra tic to the brightmap pieces in comparison their original non-bright counterparts?

(I don't exactly know the inner workings of your stuff so this is just speculation)

Using NoDelay would indeed help to keep things in sync, and remove the need for the extra tic.