EHM The Blue Line

archibalduk wrote:Today sees the release of two big packs for enhancing rink graphics in EHM 2007. Designed by B. Stinson, they are well worth the download.

The first file is version 3 of his Custom Rink Elements. This improves a wide range the 2D rink elements, such as nicer-looking team benches, NHL-style goal nets and improved goal lights. B. Stinson is a self-confessed attention to detail freak - hence why his custom graphics are so darn good!

The second file to be released is his Face Off Logo Mega Pack. This pack has a centre ice logo for every single playable team in EHM (a total of 513 logos). Need I say more...

Wow, 513? I didn't even realise it was that much.

P.S. I'm willing to do more centre ice logos, so feel free to request them in the requests thread. I'm sure we'll all encounter a few lower division Euro teams that get promoted to a playable status and need a logo.

Just gave a quick look at your work and wanted to say very nice work. It's crisp and clean and I'll be downloading it once I get home from work!

Cheers.

I've got it running in my game now. Sharp stuff!

I actually never watch the games, but this looks so good that I might just start watching...

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

Really good work B

I really wonder if you could improve anything to this... Maybe the ads on the boards, but i doubt it's possible to have many different ads according to how the rink is built in the game. Plus, who cares about the ads?

Congrats for this new version anyhow

Shadd666 wrote:Really good work B

I really wonder if you could improve anything to this... Maybe the ads on the boards, but i doubt it's possible to have many different ads according to how the rink is built in the game. Plus, who cares about the ads?

Congrats for this new version anyhow

I'm already ahead of you, Shadd.

I thought about putting ads on the boards long ago. Unfortunately, the new EHM2007 rinks are built using that awkward dynamic system, where the graphic's are put together from within the game according to code. So, what that means in this case, is that all the 'straight' parts of the rink are made from the same 1 pixel wide/tall image, and it just loads and assembles however many of these images it needs to complete the rinks "sides". This is also why the ice surface as well as the lines are so restricted - they're all put together dynamically too.

The only significantly customisable elements that I've seen are:

Rink corners; the four offensive zone faceoff circles; the centre circle; benches; and the penalty boxes. Everything else gets repeated dynamically.

Personally, I really wish SI had "opened" those four sports in the neutral zone. Every professional hockey game I've ever seen(North American or European) has had something in those spots... so I think it'd be great to be able to fill 'em with something for the realism, but I can't.

You must put alot of effort into making these mate, I did download Version 1 of your release and I thought that looked really good but this one looks even better, and great work on all the images, it will make the game alot more enjoyably.

Great work.

B. Stinson: Yeah, i've noticed too that's it's built dynamically, reason why i guessed it'd be impossible to add stuff like ads, etc. And as you already customized every thing that is customizable, i really wonder what should be improved right now I've used the 3 versions you made, and this one is really really sharp

The only thing i thought should eventually be implemented is different centre circles for each team. Of course, not possible with the center circle image, as there's only one. But maybe it's possible to do so via the team logos at center ice. For example, many teams have the name of the arena written all around the center ice circle. Obviously, it would mean a huge work to remake the center ice logos and slightly rework the center ice logo, but i think it's the only improvement left. A minor one though, and one who would probably take a lot of time to do, so i don't know if it really worth it But if it's easier to do than what i think, it may be a god stuff

Yeah, that's another area I was debating, but decided against it. Simply because the circle it-self would have to be saved on the logo image for each team, like you said. And then if I wanted to change something standard about the circle, I'd have to do it for hundreds fof images, rather than the one default one. Plus, the text around the circle gets a little shaky. I originally wanted to put "Sports INteractive" on the outside like most arenas have it, but the circle gets too close to th edges of the picture, so it's a real tight sqeeze for outside text. That's why I had to resort to putting it on the inside. ...Not my favourite, but it's the only way I can think of for now(but don't worry, I'm still constantly brainstorming with all of this and won't fully be satisfied or done until everything is near perfect, or taken to the limits of the game ).

And one of the ideas I have been recently thinking about is redoing the NHL centre ice logos, but this time orienting them exactly how the real teams have them... like how the Bruins/Isles have their circular logos actually make the centre circle; the Flyers have two mirrored logos; etc., ect. And I could probably do this for any team who has a picture of their centre ice on the net(or I can see on TV, like the NHL). Which, unfortunately, I think would be an idea I couldn't apply to European teams, since finding good pictures of their ice is like getting into Fort Knox.

I see the issue for outside text. Too bad

Nice idea for the realistic center ice logos. I think you may find picks for top euro leagues, or at least top euro teams. But even if you end unable to make it accurate for every single team in the game, i think it would be a nice stuff to have it done for teams/leagues that can be done (mostly in north america i believe...).

hi just downloaded the rink and logos and i cant seem to get them to work the address for the rink addons is as follows
C:\Program Files\NHL Eastside Hockey Manager 2007\data\skins\Nineteen\ingame\rink

and the logos is set up like this
C:\Program Files\NHL Eastside Hockey Manager 2007\data\pictures\rinks\faceoff
but all i can get is the old standard rinks etc.

do i have to start a new game for these to take effect or what?

phareux

Yes, that's correct, you will need to start a new game for them to take effect.

Actually, there's no need to start a new game.

- Logos should load as soon as they're saved to the proper place(you may need to navigate to a new screen to get the game to load them), and rink elements should load anytime the skin is loaded.

As for why they aren't loading in this case, I'm really not sure. They look to be in the right place, which can be the only thing holding them back.

All I can say is be sure that the files were unzipped, firstly... and then make sure the PNG files are in the above locations rather than being in another folder(for example, opening either the 'rink' or 'rinks' folder should lead you right to the PNG files rather than more sub-folders.

thanks guys they seem to be working now
phareux

have downloaded several skins and other files and i have to say i love the alternate rinks and skins. not to mention the pics and logos.
great work.

phareux