[ADDED] WEBP file format for maps

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[ADDED] WEBP file format for maps

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Command: Modern Operations series >> Tech Support >> [ADDED] WEBP file format for maps

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[ADDED] WEBP file format for maps - 12/1/2019 9:38:01 AM

xan2622

Posts: 67
Joined: 6/12/2011
Status: offline

Hi.

The game seems to struggle loading maps (layers), those can be huge and performance can be affected by the files size of images. This slowness can disappoint some players or ruin their game experience (to some extent).

Related posts:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4719076
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4717106&mpage=1&key=loading�
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4721521
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1076160/discussions/0/3356799628321085554/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1076160/discussions/0/3356799628308732310/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1076160/discussions/0/1609400247640082450/
...

Hence this suggestion:
Could the game support .webp images files for maps?

WEBP Info:
https://developers.google.com/speed/webp

API:
https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/docs/api

PNG to WebP - Comparing Compression Sizes:
https://www.keycdn.com/support/png-to-webp

WebP encoding tool GUI:
https://github.com/samuelcarreira/webPGUI

WebP file format plug-in for Photoshop (but you can open .webp files natively with krita):
https://github.com/webmproject/WebPShop

Wrapper for libwebp in C#:
https://github.com/JosePineiro/WebP-wrapper

Thanks to this webPGUI tool, I have been able to convert all the BMWGv2 .png images to .webp (default compression settings).
Total size of the original BMWGv2 folder (png+dds): 2.29 Gb
Total size of the same folder but with converted png images (webp+dds): 630 Mb

Screenshot:
https://imgur.com/a/y53y3V6

If you compare file sizes, you will notice that if the majority of tiles have been correctly ported to .webp (with a smaller .webp file size than the .png), there are a few rare exceptions:
Those in the \BMNGv2\3\0064\ folder for example (these images are plain white btw).
0064_0000.png: 349 bytes
0064_0000.webp: 514 bytes

(I sent the BMNGv2 map package (only .webp files) to developers on Discord).
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iChq17W_pPuWz0n8YIexF4coMrPHxyCj (password: CMO)

There is a slight difference between the png and webp, but IMO, the quality is really good, enough for enjoying the game, and as a bonus, with a total decreased files size.

I don't know if CMO developers will want to use this file format but maybe the C# libwebp wrapper can help them support this kind of images? (I've been told that they use .NET for the game).
IMO, it would worth taking a look at it, it could really reduce the bandwidth needed to transfer these assets (maps, textures) and maybe help display map layers faster ingame ?

< Message edited by Dimitris -- 3/13/2020 7:03:08 PM >

Post #: 1

RE: WEBP file format for maps - 12/1/2019 9:43:43 AM

Dimitris

Posts: 13040
Joined: 7/31/2005
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Hi,

We are actively looking into this ATM, in fact, together with a few other measures. Please have a little patience!

< Message edited by Dimitris -- 12/1/2019 9:44:51 AM >

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RE: WEBP file format for maps - 12/1/2019 9:53:53 AM

xan2622

Posts: 67
Joined: 6/12/2011
Status: offline

Hi Dimitris.

Thank you for your answer.

Don't worry, I have patience :) I just wanted to share informations about this file format to other players. Nothing more.
I don't expect any ETA date, I am sure this is not an easy task and I know that you have other bugs/features to take care of first.

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RE: WEBP file format for maps - 12/9/2019 5:36:17 PM

Dimitris

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The first measure is included on an update that we released today: https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4730735

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RE: WEBP file format for maps - 12/28/2019 8:50:20 AM

xan2622

Posts: 67
Joined: 6/12/2011
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Posted on the CMO Running Poll.

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RE: WEBP file format for maps - 1/7/2020 8:09:07 PM

xan2622

Posts: 67
Joined: 6/12/2011
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From the Command Modern Operations update - Build 1121.4 changelog:

quote:

* The "Land cover" map layer now uses WebP format for the tiles (instead of PNG), which achieves much smaller file sizes.

I have just noticed that while the game creates a ~\Steam\Steamapps\common\Command - Modern Operations\WW\Cache\LandCover_300_webp\ folder and creates many 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 sub-folders, there is nothing in these sub-folders. No webp image is downloaded.

I am now using the latest beta 1121.4 on Steam (manual update, overwriting previous files).

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RE: WEBP file format for maps - 1/9/2020 10:03:19 AM

Dimitris

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Joined: 7/31/2005
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quote:

ORIGINAL: xan2622

From the Command Modern Operations update - Build 1121.4 changelog:

quote:

* The "Land cover" map layer now uses WebP format for the tiles (instead of PNG), which achieves much smaller file sizes.

I have just noticed that while the game creates a ~\Steam\Steamapps\common\Command - Modern Operations\WW\Cache\LandCover_300_webp\ folder and creates many 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 sub-folders, there is nothing in these sub-folders. No webp image is downloaded.

I am now using the latest beta 1121.4 on Steam (manual update, overwriting previous files).

Thanks, confirmed and we are looking into it.

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RE: WEBP file format for maps - 1/13/2020 1:03:36 PM

Dimitris

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Fixed for the next update release.

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RE: WEBP file format for maps - 3/13/2020 6:39:14 PM

xan2622

Posts: 67
Joined: 6/12/2011
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Hi.

I just wanted to thank you very much, Dimitris (and other developers) for adding WEBP tiles for maps.
I have noticed a significant increase of download speed of tiles.

Did you choose a specific compression for the WEBP images?

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Post #: 9

RE: WEBP file format for maps - 3/13/2020 7:04:23 PM

Dimitris

Posts: 13040
Joined: 7/31/2005
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Thanks.

We used the default quality value used by Google's cwebp tool, which IIRC is 75.

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RE: WEBP file format for maps - 3/28/2020 4:55:44 PM

xan2622

Posts: 67
Joined: 6/12/2011
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On CMO version B1139.2 :

I notice a "separator line" between some webp tiles with the BMNG layer.

These screenshots were made with 1221.5 but it happens also on B1139.2

I have the feeling that these lines might be the result of some weird webp compression at the edges of tiles.
Note that it doesn't occur on every tile (just between some tiles).

Also posted here : http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=4775872

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Post #: 11