Texture City Skybox

[Empyre]

What I need is a skybox showing skyscrapers surrounding the player, who is in a skyscraper himself. This can either be accomplished with a 2D skybox, or with skyscraper textures I could use in a 3D skybox (or both). To fit the TF2 theme, they would need to be scyscrapers as they were in the early 60s. If something like this already exists, please point me to it.

 

[Fruity Snacks]

I don't think there is a texture for a skybox, but this can be achienced by building skyscrapers IN the skybox and using just a normal skybox texture.

 

[Jeremy]

I don't think there is a texture for a skybox

Ahem.

Unfortunately I've never tried making skybox textures, but I think you (not you specifically, but you know what I mean) could probably take a normal skybox and modify it slightly (i.e. add images of buildings).

 

[Fruity Snacks]

Oops, I didn't that, I meant to say that I don't think there is a TEXTURE of that STYLE of skybox.

 

[Pocket]

Textures for 3D skybox brushes would definitely be the way to go for this one. A 2D skybox would look hilariously fake.

 

[Seba]

Use an existing skybox and make simple brushwork skyscrapers in the 3D skybox. Problem. Solved.

 

[Empyre]

But none of the TF2 textures are suitable for making simple brushwork skyscrapers, and I lack the artistic ability and technical prowess to make my own. I don't want to use HL2 textures because there are players who have TF2 and not HL2. A few textures with a window on an exterior wall would be very helpful, and appreciated.

One cheap trick I could use that might work is a 3D skybox with a thick fog, through which you could see the outline of some simple brushwork skyscrapers, but without being able to see the textures. I read that the 3D skybox has a separate fog, so I could have no fog at all inside the building, and a thick fog outside.

Another solution would be an overlay for a window that is frosted or dirty, so you can't see though it. the the outer wall of the building the players would be the outer edge of the map, and there would be no outside.

What we need is a place for talented artists to showcase their skies, as well as textures and models, and for mappers to browse for a sky (or texture o model) to use. Is there such a place? Before posting this request, I tried and failed to find one.

 

[Seba]

You could use ibeam001b, it's a pretty generic gray texture that I think could work. Or maybe some generic concrete.

Also: HL2 textures come with any Source game, I think; there's no need to worry about players who have TF2 but not HL2.

 

[Empyre]

You could use ibeam001b, it's a pretty generic gray texture that I think could work. Or maybe some generic concrete.

Also: HL2 textures come with any Source game, I think; there's no need to worry about players who have TF2 but not HL2.

That would work for the wall, but what about the windows? I'd have to make hundreds of 2-unit-or-so windows to make it look like a real building. Not only would that be a lot of work for me, but more importantly, it would be a lot of work for the game engine to render it. A flat texture with windows would be better, and more than one texture would be needed to make sure the buildings don't look all alike.

 

[Jeremy]

The problem with adding fog is that it'll look strange unless your skybox matches the fog colour (which can take quite a few compilations if you don't know the exact colour settings), which can make schanging skybox textures annoying.

 

[Empyre]

This tutorial tells how to make fog look good with black brushes lining the 3D skybox, and even shows an example of a city skybox. All I would need, then, is textures for the skyscrapers. Maybe I could get away with making black skyscrapers if the fog is thick enough that the nearest one is further than the max fog distance, but wouldn't that result in the skybox just being a solid color?

 

[Pocket]

I smell a new pack opportunity.