[Added in edit, Jul 16, 2019]
Here's my fps-friendly palm tree mod. Readme included, and posted below:
This mod does three basic things for the original Pacific Fighters stock palm trees:
1) Improves frame rates via:
- slimming down the meshes by omitting the formerly highest LOD, going from 4 to 3 LODs.
- Removing the collision boxes.
- Removing the shadow vertices.
2) Converts the date palms (type B) to coconut palms (type A), by simply replacing the latter meshes with the former.
3) Re-colors the textures so that better blending into the general terrain is achieved. Judicious LOD distances in the mesh files were set so as to further this aim.
If you wish to retain the original date palms (appearing more so on desert maps), simply delete the eight type B files, or rename them by placing a '-' (minus sign) in front of each file name.
I elected to convert date palms to coconut types because some pacific maps incorrectly use the date type at times.
---------------------------------------------
The file names decoded.
A/B - coconut/date
g/s - group/single
1/2 - two different variations
For example, LiveAg1.msh constructs a coconut type, group of trees, variation 1.
LiveBs2.msh constructs a date type, single tree, variation 2.
The .sim files merely point to the mesh to use. You could use any other mesh you care to. For instance, LiveBs2.sim could point to "Mesh LiveAg2"! In this fashion you could trim down on palm tree numbers by turning groups into singletons. Quick and easy!
--------------------------------------------
I include also the original meshes. By comparing to my altered ones, you can figure out how to create your own. Such as, for example, removing only the collision data. Or retaining the shadow vertices. Etc.
Enjoy!
WxTech
July 16, 2019 (Anniversary of Apollo 11 lift-off)
Anyone may use this work for any purpose, without restriction.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/s9w8f17d6jh1tpd/fps-friendly_palm_trees.7z/file[end of edit]
======================================================================================
As we all know, lots of palm trees is an fps killer. Back in '14, I fairly aggressively altered the coconut palm (Pacific) tree meshes so as to squeeze out more frames per second. In the most trimmed down version:
1) Removed the highest LOD data, retaining the three lower LODs.
2) Removed the shadow data.
3) Removed the collision meshes.
4) Reduced the texture sizes.
5) Altered the LOD values for a decent transition, while also retaining a fairly long visibility distance.
6) Re-colored the textures so as to better blend into typical landscape textures.
7) Added some specularity, which makes for a neat shiny leaf aspect observed in reality.
Now, I know that in static.ini one can enter a line that says to ignore shadow data. I figured that by omitting this data in the first place it might help just a bit more.
Anyhoo, the result is a pretty decent improvement in fps, with a nice blending during transitions and with no very obvious popping into and out of visibility.
Important note. This would be horrible for screen shot and movie makers! Missing the most detailed mesh, and having no shadows, would be not particularly pleasing. But for those who put the emphasis on playability, it could be of interest.
I've not thought to offer this before because of the notable simplification that would put many folks off. But the recent release of the Green Hell map (E. New Guinea/New Britain), with its liberal sprinkling of palms in some areas, got me to thinking that such a trimmed down palm tree mod might be of use to someone else.
The question of the moment is this:
Anyone think they might like to check it out?