Again many THX, Max, for this final enhancement ...!
Like you, I am very interested in visual improvements to our beloved sim, that was designed, let's not forget it, way back in the ancient times (2000 and even before ...!)
I have one question though, for this game's gurus ...
Since several tga files are 4 Mb (1024x1024), does the game load, for ex Cobertes_Rodes1.tga, once and only once, whatever the number of planes in a mission that use part of it, or does the game need to load Cobertes1 as many times as any plane in the mission, uses part of it ...?
If the answer is N°2, then may be those 4Mb files should be downsized to 512x512 (... only 769 ko ...!) for ex ...?
That is a good question and which I will give you my thoughts on it.
I personally use in my game the Carmaster HD-Mod for using 2048x2048 skins (or even bigger skins), my game does not show any problems, but
when I start using ALOT of airplanes in the sky and use a huge map which is completely filled with objects and huge cities and villages, my game
starts to slow down. - It is not a computer problem, or memory-RAM problem, or graphics-card problem. I have a very good system that can
handle alot on it. I have used other games with have much more stuff in them.
The problem here is, it is just the way this game program was made, and how it works.
So for many years now (11+ years now
) I have been painting most of my game skins in a size of 1024x1024 for airplane-skins and
making the other default skins in 512x512 and some in 1024x1024 in size.
Many of the original game skins were made in a size of 256x256 , but this just "kills" the visuals and the nice details on the entire game.
Do you still remember how the original game looks like ?
The pilots look bad, the airplane parts look a little bad, the maps look bad, and so many other things look bad if they use skins in a size 256x256.
But I saw a great potential to this game and it could look better.
So I started making for my personal game new textures and painted the old skins to be bigger, in a size of 512x512 and some in 1024x1024.
To include in them more details and colors.
My game can now look its best and I can use a sky full of aircraft doing dogfights , and use them in a map that is full of objects and huge cities.
I don't notice any slowing down or FPS problems.
So my answer to your question is, these skins will not effect your game, as long as they are kept in a "modest size" which the
game can handle them . Skins which are not too big and not too small either. Everything works much better and running smooth as it should.
But I have also created bigger skin-templates and bigger skins (2048x2048) for myself and some times I do use them with great pleasure and
look at the fine little details on an aircraft. It is great eye-candy, but when using these large skins, on a newer 3d-model with bigger details,
I never use too many airplanes at one time on a huge map. Just a few. Because the game starts slowing down.
So for an overall good working game, with LOTS of airplanes and goodies in it, I like to keep my skins to a modest size of 1024x1024.
This is my personal game and my choice.
Everyone can do whatever they wish with their personal game. That is why we call it "Modding a game".
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