WORKING WITH FS2002 EFFECT FILES
This new option available in NOVA addon2 only, version 1.6 and later, introduces the possibility for you to create two different types of effect files for FS2002. The file contents and descriptions are based only on my own tests and findings, Microsoft's SDK information has been just released a few days ago... It is possible then that some descriptions or contents of variable may be wrong or not really as defined by this program and help. Effects files created by Nova are to be used at your own risk.
NOVA will not be able to decode the default effect files in the FS2002 folder, only genuine files produced by Nova will be possible to edit and change. The effect files produce by NOVA contain only basic commands, that's why the program is unable to read and decode the default effect files.
The following effect types are available:
Controller effect files: This is a very powerful option that will allow you to activate existing effects files in a given sequence order, at different locations and time. It also allows you to loop on a specific effect when the effect action is terminated, as a bomb blast for example.
Strobe effects: This option created strobe lights of any color, size and frequency
As shown in the above picture, you can create or edit a NOVA controller, as well as create or edit a NOVA strobe. When creating a file, just enter any name with no spaces. To edit an effect, click on the list the file number to edit. Controller effect files
You can use this file to control some default FS2002 effects as well as Nova strobe effects. You can use this option to activate for example the same effect, or a list of different effects, at different offsets and time delays.
- Life time : This variable indicates for how long the the file will be active and emit effects. A value of zero ( 0 ) means the controller file will be always active
- Effects show order: Indicates how the effects on the controller list will be activated, that is,
- Sequential order: Effects will be activated in the same order as shown on the list.
- Random order: Effects will be activate at random from the list.
When selecting in random order, you have to enter the random counter
Minimum and maximum values. The description of these values are actually
unknown to me.
- Time to re start the effect: You have to enter here the time in seconds to wait to activate again the effects from the list, when effects have a given active life.
- List of controlled effects: Shows all the effects to be controlled by this file. You can edit or erase any effect from the list and add as many as you want. The list shows the same file effect fx_fatal_explosion_l four times, placed at different locations or offsets.
For each effect on the list, you need to enter the following information:
- X Minimum and Maximum : This effect file will be triggered between the indicated X offset values.
- Y Minimum and Y Maximum : same as the X offset values
- Z Minimum and Z Maximum : same a the X offset values
- Minimum and Maximum delays : Effects will be activated between the indicated intervals. You would probably give different intervals to each effect on the list, so all of them will not activated at the same time.
Strobe effect files
You can customize the strobe lights with any color, size and sequence.
- Rate : It seems this is the number of particles to display.
- Life Time: Indicates the length of time in seconds of a complete strobe cycle
- X and Y scale: Indicates the size of the strobe in meters.
- Starting color: Enter here the starting RGB color
- Ending color: Enter here the ending RGB color.
- Starting brightness: Normally the strobe will start with a high value, maximum is 255
- Ending brightness: Also normally it will end with a low value as 0, this will produce the 'blinking' effect when starting with a high value and ending with a low one.
Important note for effects:
As you may know, effects macros can not be resized. Also, you have to enter the right position of the effect, besides its Latitude and Longitude, also the altitude over the ground ( MSL ). If not altitude is entered, the effect will take place over the ground.