Tank Crew Gun Sight Lens Mod

[MajorMagee]

There has been some debate in the past about the default Tank Crew Gun Sight Lenses not simulating looking through a WW2 vintage optical lens very well (perfectly clean, no distortion, etc.).

 

Here are some variations on the s_screen.dds file to address that. 

 

Tank Crew Gun Sight Lens Mod - 11 Sep 23 Update

 

s_screen - Lens Default.dds  is a copy of the game original (256x256)

s_screen - Lens Dirty.dds  has a clear blue tint with moderate dirt blotches and edge distortions (1024x1024)

s_screen - Lens Distorted Heavy.dds  has a clear blue tint with heavy edge distortions (1024x1024)

s_screen - Lens Dusty.dds  has a moderate layer of olive brown dust (1024x1024)

 

To activate any of them rename a copy of the file to s_screen.dds and place it in the data\graphics\textures\common folder.

 

This single file mask is used for all tank sight lenses, and binoculars, regardless of type, or country. What looks just right in one application, may be too much in another. Binoculars in particular look like the crew has been very careless with them.

 

Service To The Line,

On the Line,

On Time!

 

 

Edited September 11, 2023 by MajorMagee

[MajorMagee]

For reference

 

 

[moustache]

great mod, really cool that you did that @MajorMagee, it adds a little more realistic and immersion...
little question: if I understood correctly, no possibility of using it with a mod manager (like JGSME...), you have to manually replace the file... is it compatible with multiplayer or is this detected as cheating?

[TG-55Panthercules]

3 hours ago, moustache said:

little question: if I understood correctly, no possibility of using it with a mod manager (like JGSME...), you have to manually replace the file...

 

You can certainly use JSGME for this mod - if the mod maker won't offer a JSGME-ready version(s) you can always just create your own.

[moustache]

thank you @TG-55Panthercules... is the manipulation to make the file compatible with the JGSME software simple enough? I have never done it, and I would not want to give additional reasons for my buggery game...

[TG-55Panthercules]

4 hours ago, moustache said:

thank you @TG-55Panthercules... is the manipulation to make the file compatible with the JGSME software simple enough? I have never done it, and I would not want to give additional reasons for my buggery game...

 

Yeah - very simple - you don't really need to "manipulate" the file(s) (other than renaming them as noted by the OP) - you just need to create the necessary folder structure so JSGME will put the file(s) in the proper places.  I'll package up one of the versions as JSGME-ready so you can see how it works - give me a few minutes.

 

[EDIT] Here is a JSGME-ready package containing the "Dirty" version of the gun sight mod:  https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/zz23aavhllrd8uy/Tank_Crew_Gun_Sight_Lens_Mod_%28Dirty%29_for_JSGME.zip/file

 

 

You can unzip this into your MODS folder and use JSGME to activate it.  You can also take a look inside to see the file structure.  If you only want to use one (different) version of the gun sight you can simply rename the one you want as  "s_screen.dds" and copy it to replace the "s_screen.dds" that is in this package (and change the title of the package from Dirty to whatever).  If you want to use more than one version, you can make a copy of this package and substitute the desired version of "s_screen.dds" in each copy of the package (and name the package accordingly).  Of course, you will only want to activate one such version/package at a time, and deactivate any version(s) you don't want to use, as only one version will be able to be working at a time.

Edited September 7, 2023 by TG-55Panthercules

[MajorMagee]

Yes, no issue with JSGME just like any other modified file. Since you can only use one version, of a single file, at a time, I didn't bother with the overhead of creating it as three different JSGME Mods.

[MajorMagee]

I update the zip file to include additional variations that interferes less with seeing through the Binoculars. (see new link in original post)

 

s_screen - Lens Binocular.dds has a clear center for better viewing with Binoculars (1024x1024)

 

Here's the Main Gun Sight to show how much more toward the center the Binoculars show the lens edge effects.

 

s_screen - Lens Binocular Light.dds has a clear center with less edge effects for best viewing with Binoculars (1024x1024)

 

Here's the Main Gun Sight to show how much more toward the center the Binoculars show the lens edge effects.

 

The Dirty, Dusty, and Distorted sight tube masks have been tweaked a bit as well from what was originally uploaded on the 4th.

 

Service To the Line,

On the Line,

On Time!

 

Edited September 8, 2023 by MajorMagee

[MajorMagee]

Added a couple of more variations for the Distorted versions in the 9 Sep 23 version of the upload.

 

I love the Dusty version in that it feels like I'm caught in the middle of a battle looking through a lens covered in dirt and soot with no time to stop and clean it. It is pretty tough on the Binoculars so it's not my default lens.

 

My everyday lens is now the Distorted Medium version. It displays a visible distortion effect around the edges without making a mess of the Binoculars.

 

s_screen - Lens Distorted Medium.dds  has a clear blue tint with moderate edge distortions (1024x1024)

 

Here's the Main Gun Sight to show how much more toward the center the Binoculars show the lens edge effects.

 

Service To The Line,

On The Line,

On Time!

 

 

 

Edited September 9, 2023 by MajorMagee

[MajorMagee]

I went ahead and updated the 11 Sep 23 link in the original post to have three example JSGME compatible mod packages included.

 

Lens Mod - Heavy uses s_screen - Lens Dusty.dds for when you want the feel of being caught in the middle of heavy fighting.
Lens Mod - Medium uses s_screen - Lens Distorted Medium.dds for everyday use.
Lens Mod - Light uses s_screen - Lens Binocular Light.dds for something minimal, but different than the game default mask.

 

Drop them in your JSGME Mods Folder in the 1C Games Studio Directory. 

 

Service To The Line,

On The Line,

On Time!

 

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2023 by MajorMagee