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Why do ships look different in system space and sector space?

frtoasterfrtoaster Member Posts: 3,352 Arc User
First, some background information:

Holodeck ticket #3,389,006: Math error in automatic conversion of camera distances
frtoaster wrote: »
The sector space revamp has made ships smaller in sector space. To account for the smaller size of ships in sector space, the camera distance is automatically converted when the user moves from system space to sector space or vice versa. However, this automatic conversion does not keep the appearance of the ship the same. My testing shows that the game uses the following formula to convert camera distances:

SystemSpaceDistance = (50/11) * SectorSpaceDistance

However, my ship looks bigger at a camera distance of 50 in system space than it does at a camera distance of 11 in sector space. After taking several measurements, I believe the following formula is more accurate, but I don't know the exact scale used to resize the ships:

SystemSpaceDistance = 6 * SectorSpaceDistance

So ships are smaller in sector space than in system space. But not all the differences I see can be attributed to differences in scale. There appear to be some differences in shape. Take a look at the screenshots below. I tried to take the screenshots at camera distances that would make the ships appear the same size in system space and sector space, but I wasn't able to match the sizes exactly.

Chimera Heavy Destroyer
system space, sector space

Mat'Ha Raptor
system space, sector space

Advanced Research Vessel Retrofit (Nebula)
system space, sector space

T'varo Light Warbird Retrofit
system space, sector space

I don't think all the differences in the screenshots above can be attributed to differences in scale. As I said before, there appear to be differences in shape. Particularly noticeable are the differences in the nacelles of the Chimera and the "fin" at the back of the Nebula. So what's going on here? Are the differences due to field of view? Or do the ships actually have different shapes in system space and sector space?
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    angrytargangrytarg Member Posts: 11,001 Arc User
    edited June 2015
    I'm not sure, but I'd say they use different models altogether. Look at the Nebula's bridge module - the "bumps" are completely missing in sector space (as well as the fleet logos). Either the renderscale is just a whole bunch lower or they indeed use different models.
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    demonicaestheticdemonicaesthetic Member Posts: 3 Arc User
    edited June 2015
    Looks like different settings in the respective cameras, for F-stop, Suxtor-Space seems to use a camera with less perspective.

    The appalling lighting in Suxtor-Space doesn't help either, tends to flatten the appearance of ships, losing detail, lack of specular picking up highlights, diminished bump/normal effects etc.

    As for different models, there were a number of ships that suffered from scaling issues when Suxtor-space was introduced, Vaad cruisers that didnt get scaled down, effects for borg consoles not shrunk when the ship was so the borg bits ended up bigger than the ships...

    Basically its bad cameras and bad lighting on shrunken copies of the models.
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    mreeves7amreeves7a Member Posts: 499 Arc User
    edited June 2015
    It's the same model, but with a different FOV: http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=23462771&postcount=15.
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    fj42fj42 Member Posts: 39 Arc User
    edited June 2015
    The Chimera is also a shape changing model. in SS the nacelles elongate and lift, altering ship geometry.
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    frtoasterfrtoaster Member Posts: 3,352 Arc User
    edited June 2015
    angrytarg wrote: »
    Look at the Nebula's bridge module - the "bumps" are completely missing in sector space (as well as the fleet logos).

    I'm not sure which parts of the ship you are referring to.
    As for different models, there were a number of ships that suffered from scaling issues when Suxtor-space was introduced, Vaad cruisers that didnt get scaled down, effects for borg consoles not shrunk when the ship was so the borg bits ended up bigger than the ships...

    Some of the visual effects still don't look right.

    Holodeck ticket #3,389,033: Visual effect errors in sector space
    frtoaster wrote: »
    Here are screenshots showing certain visual effects in sector space before and after Season 10.

    Borg engine plasma arcs (top)
    before: http://i.imgur.com/4Av9oTV.jpg
    after: http://i.imgur.com/lk567Eq.jpg

    Borg engine plasma arcs (rear)
    before: http://i.imgur.com/O4quQoz.jpg
    after: http://i.imgur.com/MC1TUlb.jpg

    Borg engine plasma trail
    before: http://i.imgur.com/8PZzERU.jpg
    after: http://i.imgur.com/ELUvajn.jpg
    mreeves7a wrote: »
    It's the same model, but with a different FOV: http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=23462771&postcount=15.

    Thank you for the link.
    fj42 wrote: »
    The Chimera is also a shape changing model. in SS the nacelles elongate and lift, altering ship geometry.

    Obviously, I took both screenshots while the ship was in Regenerative Mode.
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    tacofangstacofangs Member Posts: 2,951 Cryptic Developer
    edited June 2015
    Just a change in perspective. Sector Space uses the same ship models as System Space. The Camera had it's FOV tightened, but was moved back to match zoom levels.

    But there is still a perspective change associated with that.
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