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Forum:	All Forums : MODSonline
Category:	MODSonline Main discussion regarding the MODSonline.com website.
Moderators:	foyleman, rEdrUmMDK, Foxhound, PleaseMYOB, StrYdeR, batistablr

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Topic: Spatial Awareness Research

Stuart_777

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Since: May 1, 2008
Posts: 5
Last: Jun 10, 2008
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Category: MODSonline Posted: Thursday, May. 1, 2008 04:00 pm
Hello, I am about to start research into human development of spatial awareness. This project will make use of Virtual Geographic Environments created in the University Geography Department. I also wish to comment significantly on the lessons that can be learnt from the games industry. As such I am seeking any advice on a suitable introduction to modding a games engine. One idea at present is an attempt to complete games - related tasks in a University VR theatre and to compare with VR navigation in a game engine. I have limited programming knowledge, only being proficient (!?) in Visual Basic. I seek any advice on an engne that could be used to re-create a small section of campus. Simplicity is the key here i feel, and i am thinking old versions of Quake may be my best option? Any advice really would be very welcome on this technical side of things, along with any comments on how playing, modding, creating and interacting with games may have impacted your own spatial awarness and sense of place/space as a whole. Many thanks! All the best Stuart

foyleman

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Category: MODSonline Posted: Thursday, May. 1, 2008 06:50 pm
Well, perhaps the first question is... what game do you already own that allows for editing? Then go from there. Also, are there any special features you require in the game of choice that you may not have already seen? That might help to narrow down the selection.
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supersword

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Category: MODSonline
Posted: Thursday, May. 1, 2008 07:30 pm

This is an interesting thread. I would agree with foyleman. See what games you have available to utilize. For something simple, the Quake engine is probably going to be your best bet. It's pretty easy to start you map (in your case, part of your campus) and jump in and see how it looks.

As for playing games. I get pretty dizzy if I am tired and playing. I don't think I am in the game, but if I pay attention I sometimes feel like I am moving with it. Dark rooms mess with your head.

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Stuart_777

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Since: May 1, 2008
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Last: Jun 10, 2008
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Category: MODSonline Posted: Friday, May. 2, 2008 05:52 am
Hi guys, thanks. Yes i own a copy of Quake 2 which i am hoping to possibly use. My end product is aiming to demonstrate the ways in which game engines are more advanced than their 'geography classroom' equivalents. It has to demonstrate the technology more than anything. I need it to be of somewhere that already has an area mapped in VR and that i know, for control purposes hence campus. I have seen a couple of books for sale but if anyone had any recommendations that would be very helpful. There is a growing body of literature in this area if anyone is interested to know more.

foyleman

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Category: MODSonline Posted: Friday, May. 2, 2008 08:35 am
For the most part you will be using radiant to make your maps. The basics of using this program extend to all those games in the series being quake 4, call of duty, etc. There may be some minor differences such as when setting up the editor. But the methods of making maps is the same. If you were using Quake 4, I would have suggested Quake 4 Mods for Dummies. We have a few video tutorials for various games in our Tutorials section. You should check out the beginner tutorials to familiarize yourself with what you will be doing.
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Stuart_777

General Member
Since: May 1, 2008
Posts: 5
Last: Jun 10, 2008
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Category: MODSonline Posted: Friday, May. 2, 2008 09:11 am
Thank you very much for your advice. You are going the right way to make it onto my acknowlegements page! I am able to submit a list of resources to my department. I am currently downloading a tutourial, I will be sure to view others as well. It is feasible that i could order a copy of Quake 4 / any game where environment creation is easy. I also have the option to purchase any consoles deemed neccesary to my research. I am presuming that PC is the most suitable platform for all of this. I am certain that all of this is fairly useless until i have a grasp of the basics. This is a very useful site.

foyleman

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Category: MODSonline Posted: Friday, May. 2, 2008 09:24 am
Creating your content for the console is a waste of time. It is nearly impossible to get custom content onto any console and if you are able to do it, it is likely to break any Licensing agreements. For example, your xbox will get banned from online access. Stick with the PC. If you were to go ahead and build your map (level, environment, etc) on an older game, I would absolutely recommend one of the Quake games. They have the most resources available online in the event you get lost. If you wanted something current, I would use either Quake 4 or Half-Life 2. If you wanted something that looked great and had wonderful physics, I would select Crysis. I select these games assuming all you want to do is recreate a simple environment. Oh.. If you want day/night effects such as the sun moving across the sky, I would also select Crysis. However, crysis is not the simplest of the 3 to learn. I would say Quake and Half-Life are equally as simple to learn if you don't already have a background in level design from another game.
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Stuart_777

General Member
Since: May 1, 2008
Posts: 5
Last: Jun 10, 2008
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Category: MODSonline Posted: Friday, May. 2, 2008 12:40 pm
Thanks for the info. I have been thinking over a related idea this afternoon which is as follows. If i could create an environment that can be accessed by multiple students it may be used as a training simulation before fieldwork takes place. Vurrent VR projects do not support collaborative learning (well not in my department anyway). As such am i right in thinking that crysis will offer the best environment for an outdoor location containing trees, bushes etc etc? Once a level is designed is its use by many players a simple process?

foyleman

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Since: Nov 6, 2001
Posts: 24586
Last: Jul 4, 2008
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Category: MODSonline Posted: Friday, May. 2, 2008 01:11 pm
You are talking about a multiplayer environment... allowing multiple people to simultaneously experience the same environment. Crysis will provide trees with more interactivity and it already comes with trees and brush. The other games also allow for the addition of trees and brush, however you may need to create your own using modeling software which is something I don't think you want to get into. Go with Crysis. Checkout my video tutorial on crysis. I have one in there to get you started. You will see what it's like to work with that editor. Then, you might still be able to use the demo version of the game to create your first environment. You won't be able to share it, but it will get you familiar with the engine and how it works before investing too much (money specifically). Something also nice about crysis is the water and other effects. It's pretty impressive. OH! don't forget to check the hardware requirements on your computer for Crysis. It's not meant for a low-end machine. If you are using school equipment, you might be quite limited.
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Stuart_777

General Member
Since: May 1, 2008
Posts: 5
Last: Jun 10, 2008
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Category: MODSonline Posted: Tuesday, Jun. 10, 2008 11:57 am
Hi again, Thanks for your recommendations previously. I have a copy of Crysis up and running, and have followed a fair few tutourials - I am currently in the process of importing some campus models from 3D max into a level i have created. I have another question hoever. I realise that everything i place in a level must have a coordinate/position. As such, is there anyway of displaying these coordinates ingame? Could i direct someone at point a, b to a tree lets say at point c, d by simply giving them the coordinates? Many thanks, Im a bit stuck! Stuart