Got an idea for randomly rotated trees

[boformer 3,169]

The tree shader of the game does not support the rotation of trees. That's why all trees are rotated in the same way, which looks quite repetitive.

I think I know a way to fix it with a mod:

The mod just clones the tree asset 11 times and modifies the mesh (rotate in 30 deg steps) of the clones. These clones will be hidden in the menu.

Then the mod modifies the original tree asset: There is a property that allows you to specify variations of the tree model. That means the original asset works as a container for the other assets. When you place the tree, one of the variations is placed by the game (that way you can also create a mixed tree brush). Trees placed on lots will also be affected by this.

I just wanted to share this idea. I don't have the time to write the mod.

  Edited November 10, 2015 by boformer  

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

GO FOR IT! I been asking for this from day one. It will make tree placing and creation so much more enjoyable.

[Shroomblaze 320]

Hopefully someone will write it. It's needed.

[dedgren 830]

Even four rotation points would be a step in the right direction.  Although I would imagine that once you commit to spending the time necessary to create the mod, you might as well go for it.

I am intensely interested in seeing such a mod created.  I am no programmer, but if there is anything else I can do, let me know.

 

David

[Cool_Z 1,547]

Huh just a question... won't it make any tree 30 times heavier ????? Because if I understand this well it will use a different asset everytime.

[boformer 3,169]

It will only duplicate the mesh, not the texture. It will not eat up your memory

 

[boformer 3,169]

Here is my first try:

I tried it without asset cloning. The mod applies a random rotation to trees based on the position on the map. And it works for the detailed models! But: Not for the LODs.

The result can be seen here: http://gfycat.com/MammothWellwornCrane

You can clearly see the switch between the detailed model and the low-detail LOD.

I finally understand how the LOD renderer works and why it is not possible to rotate the trees. And also why you don't have to create LOD models for your trees.

Before a frame is renderered, the detailed models are taken and rendered a single time (from the current perspective). This render is saved in a texture (see black window in the second video)

The tree LOD renderer takes this "baked" texture and puts it on a simple flat face (like in old 3d games, where trees are just flat objects which are always faced to the player). That drastically improves rendering performance. But it also means that the LOD trees can only be rendered in a single rotation.

This gif visualizes how the LOD drawing works: http://gfycat.com/RedGracefulGavial

There are 2 possible solutions:

• Increase the rendering distance, so that the LOD switch only happens when you zoom out very far (this requires a decent graphics card). There could be a mod option to configure this distance. This will work on existing maps, and you can uninstall the mod without any problems.
• Use the approach mentioned in the first post: Create 12 clones of a single tree, use the variation feature. This will NOT (easily) work with trees which were placed before the mod was installed. It also makes the mod REQUIRED to load the save (like Traffic++).

 

  Edited November 10, 2015 by boformer  

[boformer 3,169]

Bad news again: It is impossible to increase the LOD render distance.

That's the end of my experiment.

I will not release this mod because the switch between detailed and LOD model is not good enough.

[Cool_Z 1,547]

Bad news again: It is impossible to increase the LOD render distance.

That's the end of my experiment.

I will not release this mod because the switch between detailed and LOD model is not good enough.

Damn !!!!!! 

 

I think we should ask CO for some more liberty there. 

[charlesnew 262]

Aww..

I think Shroomblaze contacted CO or someone to see if it was possible to increase the LOD for his container props. They didn't do it for the last update.

  Edited November 15, 2015 by charlesnew  

[boformer 3,169]

I decided to release the mod: https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/69370-here-is-the-random-tree-rotation-mod/