Introduction to my sci-fi city skybox (HDR help needed) - Developers

Hi. I'm currently in the works of making a really nice, high quality sci fi map, based in the middle of a advanced city from another civilization 1000's of years in the future for a up coming game mode I'm helping with. Finding a skybox for such a idea simply doesnt exist. So I made my own. And here it is. [IMG]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz181/theryan007/zambeez/zambeezskyboxFINALwithcityJPG_zps630600a0.jpg[/IMG] Was about 10 hours of work there. Though I didn't do that actual sky Komaokc did that. [URL="http://gamebanana.com/css/textures/3028"]LINK[/URL] And (EDIT and I ported the buildings from ME2) Anyway, I'm happy to release it to the community, but I simply cannot be bothered to make it into a HDR skybox anymore. I've tried and failed epicly. I'm also having problems compressing it's file size, as I can get it to about 15 meg before it looks like crap. So I would highly appreciate if somebody could do it for me, I'll give you $5 of steam credit if you do it. But I prefer to release the map myself, I'll certainly credit you for your help. Hope you liked what I've done with the skybox Another Edit: I did not create the actual sky, I did not create the buildings you see in this picture. They were from another skybox from mass effect 2. I had no intent of stealing credit. Though I removed the sky from the ME2 picture and added a sky I much prefer using photoshop, as well I added more buildings and other features to make it look more believable.

Just as a heads up, don't touch that link. Also, that skybox looks great.

[QUOTE=samuel2213;38976657]Just as a heads up, don't touch that link. Also, that skybox looks great.[/QUOTE] Thanks. But that link is fine, it's directly from gamebanana... I used it myself.

Gamebanana tends to set off virus alarms. If you could find a new place to upload it temporarily, that might be best.

[QUOTE=slayer20;38977054]Gamebanana tends to set off virus alarms. If you could find a new place to upload it temporarily, that might be best.[/QUOTE] Using ad-block, and HTTPS everywhere bundled with some form of AV: should keep you safe. If you need somewhere to host, stick it up on Filefront, and gimme the link; and I'll mirror it.

Not to be a grinch, but the least you could do is cite the proper authors. You took a texture Bioware made for Mass Effect 2 and edited it to work in source. You did not simply "make your own." First hit on Google for "illium me2" image search: [t]http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5911/1479142-ilium.jpg[/t]

Also, the lighting doesn't match.

[QUOTE=Pink_Panther;38981768]Not to be a grinch, but the least you could do is cite the proper authors. You took a texture Bioware made for Mass Effect 2 and edited it to work in source. You did not simply "make your own." First hit on Google for "illium me2" image search: [t]http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5911/1479142-ilium.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] eeek. I may have forgotten that part... Still erasing the background doesnt take alot of skill but it honestly took me about 6 hours to complete. There's alot of buildings to edit around there. :L

[QUOTE=Pink_Panther;38981768]Not to be a grinch, but the least you could do is cite the proper authors. You took a texture Bioware made for Mass Effect 2 and edited it to work in source. You did not simply "make your own." First hit on Google for "illium me2" image search: [t]http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5911/1479142-ilium.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] I knew it. I had a strong "I've seen this before" feeling.

you forgot nothing, you left it out deliberately.

If you get caught doing something bad, don't deny it, you're only making it worse for yourself.

I don't want this thread to turn to an argument. If I wanted to make myself look like a mapping pro I wouldn't of credited anyone. But I did give credit to where the sky came from to begin with, only after being "reminded" I then added where the buildings came from... It was a simple mistake. Hope I get a better reception when I release the entire map. :L

People use that excuse all the time. "hey guys here's a cool map i made" then when it's pointed out that they're trying to steal credit "oh whoops forgot to mention its actually an edit of [whatever]" I really doubt that you didn't mention where the skybox came from [I]accidentally[/I].

[QUOTE=Knifey;38984264]only after being "reminded" I then added where the buildings came from... [/QUOTE] no you didnt you have yet to edit the OP in anyway, Panther's the one who 'added' where the buildings came from

This is really getting out of hand. I'm really getting over by getting attacked at over such a simple mistake... Look, Panther made a good point, so I quickly edited my post and added where the buildings originated from. Hoping that would be the end of that... which it wasn't. Yes there's alot of credit thieves out there but I credited somebody to begin with. So surely that shows that I had the intent of [B]NOT[/B] taking away any credit. Even after that edit I'm still getting berated over it, I feel like I'm getting treated as I 100% stole somebody's work and made it look like my own. That's simply not the case. Aand whatever you guys think, I did spend a lot of time and effort toward that skybox. Look... If for some reason anyone here still thinks I had the intent to steal credit, please just don't mention it. It's really getting to me and there's no way I'm going to "admit" that I attempted to steal credit anyway. But if you like what I've done, great! If you know somebody that's willing to help me with the HDR part of this skybox, great! If you have any tips on how this could look better, great! But please... no more accusations. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about SDK and being a regular on this part of facepunch would certainly help that.

What I'm wondering is why you aren't just using the original skybox... Saves a lot of work and blends in nicely...

[QUOTE=Stiffy360;38990799]What I'm wondering is why you aren't just using the original skybox... Saves a lot of work and blends in nicely...[/QUOTE] Mainly because that ME2 skybox is one of those 360 degree ones, so it has no up texture and the sky in that picture is not that well made (Notice how the sunset doesn't continue from the left side through to the right side) I'll try changing the exposure level on that sky, might make it look more realistic.

How about testing it and see how well it does on Source? For some reason I get the feeling is not going to work.

[QUOTE=T553412;38997030]How about testing it and see how well it does on Source? For some reason I get the feeling is not going to work.[/QUOTE] It actually looks pretty good. [img]http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2869/retrocityskytest0000.jpg[/img] [img]http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/6977/retrocityskytest0001.jpg[/img]

I gotta admit, you did handle it very well, most new people get extremely butthurt when things don't go their way. Don't bring it up anymore and it'll be forgotten in a few days. Welcome to Facepunch :) Regarding your skybox, maybe you should look into 3D skyboxes instead of what you have going now? Unless it's applied to some sort of map where you're standing on a tall building with a clear view of the sides of the skybox, you're most likely not going to see your work. Don't get the feeling that I'm bashing it or anything, I just feel like your time would be better spend designing a 3D skybox, than trying to integrate the same aspects into a 2D one. I think you'll find that it's not really that hard, and there are some great tutorials out there to get you started. Good luck with everything, and once again, welcome to Facepunch :)

[QUOTE=Sergeant Stacker;39000367] Hectic skybox pictures[/QUOTE] Thanks for that, I'll darken the sky now to fit the rest of the buildings. [QUOTE=Doom;39000448]I gotta admit, you did handle it very well, most new people get extremely butthurt when things don't go their way. Don't bring it up anymore and it'll be forgotten in a few days. Welcome to Facepunch :) Regarding your skybox, maybe you should look into 3D skyboxes instead of what you have going now? Unless it's applied to some sort of map where you're standing on a tall building with a clear view of the sides of the skybox, you're most likely not going to see your work. Don't get the feeling that I'm bashing it or anything, I just feel like your time would be better spend designing a 3D skybox, than trying to integrate the same aspects into a 2D one. I think you'll find that it's not really that hard, and there are some great tutorials out there to get you started. Good luck with everything, and once again, welcome to Facepunch :)[/QUOTE] lol, I was indeed quiet butthurt. But fighting fire with fire wouldn't solve anything. And I plan on making the surroundings a really big thing in this map so I'm also in the works of making a 3D skybox for it. Problem is I need to get buildings/textures that match the buildings in the 2D skybox. Bloody made this map hard for me, lol. As this is what I want to achieve in my map. [IMG]http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2663/masseffect2vista2illium.png[/IMG] (eek) Thanks for welcoming, and the advice! See you around.

[QUOTE=Knifey;39001679]Thanks for that, I'll darken the sky now to fit the rest of the buildings. lol, I was indeed quiet butthurt. But fighting fire with fire wouldn't solve anything. And I plan on making the surroundings a really big thing in this map so I'm also in the works of making a 3D skybox for it. Problem is I need to get buildings/textures that match the buildings in the 2D skybox. Bloody made this map hard for me, lol. As this is what I want to achieve in my map. (eek) Thanks for welcoming, and the advice! See you around.[/QUOTE] I'd say make a bunch of prefab sci-fi buildings and propper them. then downscale by 1/16th and stick em in the 3D skybox.

I hate to keep bumping this thread. But here's the final version of the skybox. Done some fixes, and I've darkened the sky by about 20%. You guys think it looks realistic? [IMG]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz181/theryan007/zambeez/zambeezskyboxFINALwithcitydarkjpegfinal_zpsadebb4c0.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=Knifey;39014149]I hate to keep bumping this thread. But here's the final version of the skybox. Done some fixes, and I've darkened the sky by about 20%. You guys think it looks realistic? [IMG]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz181/theryan007/zambeez/zambeezskyboxFINALwithcitydarkjpegfinal_zpsadebb4c0.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] I dunno, the city foreground looks a little too bright, IMO.

[QUOTE=Mr Uber Ostrich;39015473]I dunno, the city foreground looks a little too bright, IMO.[/QUOTE] Fixed it.

Say umm do you plan o nrelaseing the ME buildings by any chance ? Would love to get my hands on them . I also cant wait to see this map as we dont have a lot of futuristic city maps

[QUOTE=Knifey;38995513]Mainly because that ME2 skybox is one of those 360 degree ones, so it has no up texture and the sky in that picture is not that well made (Notice how the sunset doesn't continue from the left side through to the right side) I'll try changing the exposure level on that sky, might make it look more realistic.[/QUOTE] Yano, Dear esther has a 360 degree skybox using a model. I suppose if you replace the textures, it could work with that.