Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: lucull on February 02, 2004, 03:06:30 PM
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Hi gents!
On the weekend, I've created a webpage for all the skinning people to easily share their skins and those who are interested in the great work these people do.
Please take a look it: http://ah2skins.dweebs.de
Unfortunatly, you won't be able to upload new skins, because my webspace and traffic are limited. Too limited to host such a project.
That's why I ask, if anybody of you would be interested in hosting this webpage. :)
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WTG lucull, very nice effort! :)
I hope a host will turn out for it!
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excellent idea, thanks :cool:
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Onething,
I don't think it the future you will need to upload complete skin files because they will be downloaded while in game.
Right now that feature is off.
However, templates and other things like stencils could be uploaded and shared. This will reduce the amount of bandwidth required.
Great job Lucull Ihope it ifnds a host.
S!
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i think you wrong Batz
HTC state about 15 skins per plane , each aproved by HTC
not say a word about how it will be dispayed in game
So we can suspect, you can see online skinks marked as plane01 to plane14. Not exacly "camo of p51 ...."
So i think each player can have diferent skins pack
as i said is only suspition
anyway webpage is need for offline and h2h skins storrage
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He made a reply in one of the threads that skins will be downloaded in the background while you play. I asked him if we could turn off downloads and he didn't answer.
This thread:
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106734
originally posted by Hitech:
Everyone will be able to use it.
Won't be built into a release but just downloaded in the
back ground as you play.
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When I started to work on it on Friday, it was just because, I'm interested in all those great skins the people make, but everytime you like one, you have to ask the author to send it by email.
I knew it wouldn't be much work to make an upload form, gallery and downloads. I finished the basic scripts on one evening and on Saturday and Sunday I worked on some additions and together with ramzey, who made the banner for the site, on the design.
On Saturday I realized the size of the project and that I would not be able to host the site on my webspace I already have, if many skins would be uploaded and especially downloaded. My traffic is limited and small.
I also agree with Batz. I guess HTC will implement approved skins with the autoupdater and I don't think that there is much use for offline skins with the 4 drones we have now in offline mode. But, ... who knows how HTC will make it and when? Maybe you can still use custom skins in addition to approved skins. Maybe they make their own section on HTC webpage.
In the meanwhile, there would be a place people could easily upload and download skins.
I could easily add a category for useful things like decals, stencils and templates. That's not a big deal.
So far, I just published under "FAQ" what Pyro announced with the introduction of Beta 11 on how to make new skins and install them. Maybe someone is interested in writing something more or making a tutorial?
If someone is already interested in hosting:
The page needs a webserver with PHP/mySQL. I would give you the whole package in an easy to install form. As you can already see, upload would be able only for people who registered with a valid email address and accounts for uploaders need to be activated before first use.
Other functions can be easily added, if demanded. :)
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Originally posted by Batz
He made a reply in one of the threads that skins will be downloaded in the background while you play. I asked him if we could turn off downloads and he didn't answer.
This thread:
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reading HT is like reading Pythia ;) (ancient greek oracle )
i bet same like terrains now skins will be avilible to download from ftp or webpage. Not only as autoupdate.
FTP storage is much more comfortable, faster and "civilised" then autoupdater ;-)
Work is advenced now, so i think we need imput from HiTech now. How it will be working
HT , its can be 15 diferent skins foor airplane chosed from many and aproved by HTC. Or only 15 skins once forever?
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I don't think it will use the auto updater. I think they will DL like nose art, in the back ground while you play.
15 skins per plane is a lot if you think about it. I don't know what HT's selection process will be but right now there are a lot of players working on skins but (IMHO) only a very few that are of the quality to make it into the game.
I think Lucull’s web page is great for templates, tutorials and for players to register what skin they are working on to reduce duplicity. It will also allow skinners to review each other’s work so that only the best get presented to HT.
But it's all Greek to me. :p
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and that was one of purposes of creating such a webpage
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I'm not sure about the actual limitations, but maybe you try http://www.50megs.com, you get a 50 MB account for free. You could just redirect all up- and downloads to that space while you leave the http, scripts, whateer you need on your page.
This is just because I dont know if you have to pay for features like php, cgi, or whatever on 50megs com.
But this should work, right?
Just an idea... But good work on the page on your part!
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Thanks for the link Purzel.
But I'm not searching for freespace. These are always limited. On this particular webspace it's only 50MB space, 500MB bandwidth, no PHP/mySQL.
That'S not enough and the page will not work without PHP/mySQL. :rolleyes:
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It will work like the squad art does. Along with a all at once if you wish from the web page.
The submision proccess will not work like the squad art. Basicly you will send us the folder. If it is accepted we will turn it into a single .res file that can't be modified. We will put that file on the server and it will be downloaded as you play in the background, it will apear in your selection menu and you will see it other peoples planes (if they have chossen it) when it arives.
Every thing is already complete except the autodownloader. Not much need until we have a skin. We have disabled the normal online checking so if you share skins in raw format, you will see them online on other planes.
HiTech
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thx HiTech
will be possibility to download skins without autoupdater too?
Im on dial-up (and God only know how long ;-) ) and im worry it would affect my ping . So will be better for me to download them from webpage?
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Along with a all at once if you wish from the web page
Yes from web page.
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ups, THX
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I'd like to see a Tuskegee Airman skin. The aircraft , P-51C, is here in South Saint Paul, Minnesota. Loks like I'm gonna have to roll out some old photos and do the deed myself.
it's gonna look like hell, but I'lldo my best:aok
Gainsie
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Would it be possible for the expert skinners amongst us to make available "clean skins" so that us lesser souls could use them with out having to modify the original paint work.
Regards. And thanks for the forum
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lucull on the skin files. It would help a lot for instalation if you put your files in a folder in the zip file.
So if you put the files under the base name i.e. like p51d/p51dside.bmp then after instalation people can just rename the folder and be ready to go.
2. Note to all skiners, do not make the text name so long that it dosn't fit in the selection window. Also i fixed the bug today that didn't allow spaces in the name.
HiTEch
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Yes Hitech, I thought about this, but the problem is, that it depends on the folder names that already exist. It would make things more complicated, if the folder name would already exist.
Also, the user must have checked "extract path too". People might overwrite BMPs.
For me it's more easy to download the skin, make an appropriate folder in AH2/skins directory and extract the zip archive.
What do you think?
Looks like I will buy new webspace. I found something cheap today. :)
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i agree with lucull
however official skins can be done like Hitech wrote it
ziped file with extract path to default AH2 directory (selfextract?)
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Then just make it p51d_tmp/whatever.bmp on the path thing it just depends on how you make the zip.
HiTech
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Thanks for your input Hitech.
Okay, I see what you want and why.
BUT, just to make it clear. I don't make the ZIPs. A skin is uploaded as ZIP by the skinner. I just control, that only ZIPs can be uploaded to limit bandwith.
It doesn't "just depend on how you make the zip."
PHP is very powerful. I found a tutorial how to upload files and archive them into a directory in a ZIP archive.
BUT, this hurts my brain. It's not meant for beginners like me. :(
I just took a small look at the script tutorial and it sounds pretty cool and useful, so I will try it, but I can't promise when and if I will understand it and be able to create the ZIPs on the server on the fly. :rolleyes:
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Okay,
I'm testing a new hoster for the webpage now.
The URL above is redirected to the new hoster page. So, no change for you.
Please make some speed tests and report your results.
(for me it works pretty fast :))
If the hoster passes the test, the page will be up at the end of next week. ;)
p.s. I didn't decide on the domain name so far. Any suggestions are welcome. :)
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Okay,
the new hoster passed my testings and so I bought today the webspace and the new domain.
I will publish the domain, when it's registered and available.
I will also enable the registration for new users to upload skins then.
I expect all this happen not later than Feb 12.
Since then, I point http://www.ah2skins.dweebs.de already to the new hoster now.
Here are some facts about the hosting package:
server location: Germany
webspace: 500 MB
traffic incl.: 50 000 MB (should be enough :D)
additional ftp accounts: unlimited
pop3 mailboxes: 500
mailinglists
mySQL databases: 10
scripting: cgi, perl, php 4
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Lucell, with registration disabled, how do I go about uploading skins? I have Gleeds clipped wing Mk V and Stephensons 249 (Malta) Spits ready for upload, as well as the Spit V instrument set?
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Originally posted by lucull
Okay,
the new hoster passed my testings and so I bought today the webspace and the new domain.
I will publish the domain, when it's registered and available.
I will also enable the registration for new users to upload skins then.
I expect all this happen not later than Feb 12.
Since then, I point http://www.ah2skins.dweebs.de already to the new hoster now.
Here are some facts about the hosting package:
server location: Germany
webspace: 500 MB
traffic incl.: 50 000 MB (should be enough :D)
additional ftp accounts: unlimited
pop3 mailboxes: 500
mailinglists
mySQL databases: 10
scripting: cgi, perl, php 4
Not trying to start a scene here, but since your site reside in Germany, is there going to be a problem of displaying and storing artwork/skins that contain the swastika ?
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Yepp, no swastikas allowed on the page!
In Germany, the showing/using of the swastika is forbidden by law (fine or jail up to 3 years).
There are only two exceptions. It's allowed for documentary reasons and in a critical context.
That's not the case here!
However, I would be allowed to show pictures of planes with swastikas on it cause they are historical documents, but game screenshots and skins are not historical documents.
(Personal note: swastikas just blemish those beautiful planes)
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ok went to skins page and D/L all:aok
extracted them into aces high 2/skins folder:aok
started game, went to hanger, clicked on p51, clicked "skins" NOTHING BUT DEFAULT!!!!! GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRR:mad: :confused: what am i doing wrong?? Please help i wanna be a skin dweeb toooooooo!:rofl
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p.s. I didn't decide on the domain name so far. Any suggestions are welcome
How bout SKINNY DWEEBS OR OR SKINNY DIPPING?:rolleyes:
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First, read in the FAQs "HowTo Install Skin".
The skin BMPs have to be in a directory looking like:
../Aces High II/skins/p51d1/...
../Aces High II/skins/p51d2/...
......
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ok, ill redo it then see iffen it dont fix it;)
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I know skins ar supposed to be historical, but what if we have one that is sort of pseudo-historical. In otherwords, I am working on a skin for how I would have had my plane schemed if I had flown in WW2, but with my AH ID. Are those still acceptable and can we upload them to you?
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ok, got all the skin to work except for the spit 5
right now i have the file named : spitfiremkv1 do i need to change the file name?
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nevermind got it:D just didnt take first go around for some reason
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@Blammo
You can upload whatever you want.
You can use whatever skin until HTC starts to approve skins for online usage.
@WilldCrd
The directory for the Spit Mk V has to be "spit5x" (x=1-15 for every skin)
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@WilldCrd
The directory for the Spit Mk V has to be "spit5x" (x=1-15 for every skin)
yeah figured it out...hey there a special program fer making these things? when we gonna have more?:cool:
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Originally posted by WilldCrd
...hey there a special program fer making these things? when we gonna have more?:cool:
Read the FAQs on my page. :)
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Great Site!
only one problem - Im showing menu bar overlapping the main page contents..
Down over the first plane.
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Beta 13 is downloading skins in the background while you play now.
P51D
109G
and 190d are ones i specifically recall.
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Which browser are you using waffle?
Can you make a screenshot and email me?
Note: I have tested the page with IE 6 SP1, Mozilla 1.6, Mozilla Firefox 0.8 and Opera 7.23.
I also pass the W3C 4.01 html compatibility check. :)
I can recommend all browsers above, BUT NOT OPERA. This browser sucks. ;)
Mozilla and IE, show each only 1 thing not correctly. I didn't count it for opera.
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great site lucull:)
I am working on a version 2.0 of my 352nd "janie" skin so I'll have that ready in 5 days or so.
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Great work Lucull
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Im using IE 6 sp1, resolution is set at 1280x1024
how do you take a screenshot of you os or browser....lol
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Thanks Gremlin!
@ Waffle
Press the print button on your keyboard. Open MS Paint (or any other graphics program) and choose edit/paste. Save as jpg and send it to me.
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Forum added. :)
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nice:)