Hi Ray,

I thought you'd be interested in my newest FST breakthrough.  Enclosed in
this ZIP you'll find some GIFs.  I have found a way, utilizing a program 
called VISTAPRO 3 to take FST World Terrain files, and completely render
them in 3D.  The resulting images are, IMHO, mind-blowing to say the least.

In a nut shell this is what I am doing.

(1) Capturing a PCX of the Terrain Map as displayed in the World Editor.
(2) Importing the Terrain Data (in PCX form into Vispro 3) which can convert
    the PCX to a DEM (digital elevation mapping) file.

(3) Then, using VP3, you can fully renderize any FST terrain area you have
    built in glorious photo-realistic 3D.  As you can see from the GIFs
    enclosed, it has tremendous ramifications for front-ends, or for just
    giving a user, an excellent feel for the terrain.  Using VP3 you can
    render any area or site of FST terrain from any angle or magnification.

(4) Modifying the images with a paint program you can easily clip FST screen
    shots for objects (say taking a picture of a base and then clipping out
    the base objects.  Then the same scene from the same angle can be 
    rendered with VP3 and the clipped out object, reinserted and overlayed.
    The result is the FST screen shot is rerendered with full blown texture
    mapping and lighting effects.


Well, have a peek and tell me what'ya think... I'm pretty excited about
developing this technique!

All the Best.

Mic.
