Ship Icon Mod

replacing the icons used to represent ships from a distance...

from Sins Forums
Ok, so here's a couple screens showing my first crack at replacing the icons...

As you can see, It wasn't entirely successful..
icon-problem-Screenshot

I modified the Unit_Main.tga file like so....
icon-problem-Unit_Main

Based off of the data in the from MainViewIcon-Ship.brushes file ...

brush
    name "MAINVIEWICON_CAPITALSHIP
_TECHCOLONY"
    content "Simple"
    fileName "Unit_Main"
    pixelBox [ 1 , 91 , 28 , 28 ]


I assumed that since my replacement icon fell entirely within the 28px by 28px field defined in the .brushes file that everything would pull through...

However, as you can see in the screenshot, the ship icon is still being rendered using the same transparency mask. I haven't been able to figure out which file contains the mask yet.

If anyone has any information about editing the transparency mask for ship icons, I'd really appreciate the info. I intend to create at least one complete set of icons that are more abstract and functional rather than tiny 2d sprites of the ships.
modding
8,315 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Uh..it's an alpha channel.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Yikes, thanks. I'm pretty new to this so I've never dealt with the .tga file format before. I had assumed it would be something like a .png, but I guess not.

More to come...



Looking at these tiny icons really makes me wish the Dev's had been able to use .SVG vector icons. It'd make the rotations way smoother ( at the expense of CPU, I'm sure :) ).
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Seems you forgot edit the alpha channel.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
Ok, so I got the alpha layer figured out ( thanks, guys ), and I've put a few things in game...

This is the colonizer-cap-ship, a couple frigates, a fighter squadron, the frigate and cap factories and a colonizer...
icon-examples

I'm thinking about using pretty much the same set of icons for each race, even though the ships will have slightly different powers. For example, It'd be easier to tell at a glance whether the enemy fleet has any colonizers with it...

Anyway, enjoy the screenshot, I'll post more as I go.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Nice job! I'm looking forward to seeing what the end product is. My only complaint is that some of those icons make me miss Homeworld. :LOL:
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Nice job! I'm looking forward to seeing what the end product is. My only complaint is that some of those icons make me miss Homeworld. :LOL:

EDIT: Agh, another double post. At least I saw the amusing "Forums Go Boom" message along the way.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Thanks Ubersmake, Homeworld is definitely the inspiration for this mod. Particularly the idea of separating the icon from the look of the ship. So no matter what race you're fighting, you'll be able to spot their missile frigates because they'll share the same tactical icon.

The other part of this Mod that I haven't figured out how to implement yet is keeping the icons visible even at close zoom levels. ( if anyone knows whether that's possible, please drop me a line )

First things first though, I've got plenty of icons to crank out. :)
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Ok, here's what I'm thinking for the frigates... Let me know what you think, these are all still in photoshop so it's easy to tweak.


1. missile frigate
2. standard frigate
3. siege frigate
4. scout frigate
5. colony frigate

sins-frigates
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
A few updates...

Here are sprites for the frigates/utilityships/cruisers...
icon-examples4

here's a local militia in action...
icon-examples3

at the home front... ( with turret defenses )
icon-examples2

Hope you enjoy..

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
And another to show off the building icons...

triangle = civic research
pentagon = military research
circle = resource gathering
toroid-station = trading post

icon-examples5

note: I've also changed the ship selection indicator from the thick circle to a thin square.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
blerg: forum go boom double post.