I've been thinking of the future of KSP from a visual standpoint.

[Whirligig Girl]

I have never had with as much confidence as I do right now say that Ven's Stock Revamp MUST become stock.

Aside from the changes to the parts replaced by SP+, Ven's Parts show that the stock parts in Kerbal Space Program as of 0.25.0 are woefully inadequate I wouldn't call them mediocre, but KSP should be able to look as good as it possibly can. Ven's parts are truly amazing and beautiful works that preserve the style of the stock parts in high quality and detail. There's a lot of design choices that are beneficial to the game even without the higher detail. The fact that tankbutts are gone from engines and the fuel tanks themselves have their own bulkheads allow for more customization. One thing I'd like to see is tweakable interstage-fairings that allow aesthetically pleasing attachment from 1.25m engine bell to 2.5m decoupler, and the ability to simply get rid of the fairing altogether.

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Aside from that, the new Kerbal model and rig developed for the cinematics doesn't have much use outside of the game, and I think the Kerbal model needs some love. A lower-poly variation of that model would serve fantastically.

And of course, Clouds.

City lights only make sense if there's cities on the planet! As far as planets looking good from a distance, I really want the Mun to look really bright from a distance, darkening as you get closer. Also, the Skybox needs to fade to black when a bright object is in view.

Kerbal Diversity and Girlbals. It's arguable if female Kerbals count as merely a visual improvement, but strictly speaking they are just a different head. Variable Kerbal hair and maybe even slight variations in skin color would be an amazing addition to make Kerbals more unique.

Also, the above as a loading screen image.

Rocket Effects need a tune-up. I notice that every few versions they make a few improvements to the effects, and while they do look better each time I think there does need to be a proper effects system that visually varies with atmospheric pressure.

I also think KSP needs more involvement in it's lore. Things like Jeb's Junkyard or HQ buildings for other manufacturers spread around the globe might help with this. If cities are implemented, these manufacturer buildings would hopefully find themselves in or near cities and/or towns.

[FishInferno]

I definatley agree that KSP needs a visual overhaul, especially with the engine effects

[Ruedii]

The normals, height maps and models of many of the stock parts could use a tune up.

This is especially so on certain parts that have colliders too far above or bellow their surface.

However, what really needs to be added practicality wise is the use of sparse textures for terrain, which would largely offload terrain loading onto the graphics engine, hence dramatically reducing the low-altitude slowdown many players experience, while at the same time allowing for much higher detail height maps on terrain.

[Whirligig Girl]

Another thing I thought of which is too small to be included in the OP. I wonder if they could get some kind of procedural system for the ground textures so that there's no texture repetition.

[HafCoJoe]

I agree with all of this. Pay the man! Seriously though, having a more dynamic skybox is sorely needed. As well as better engine effects in high atmosphere and space. I want a FIREBALL not a stream of exhaust.

One more note which could be cool if integrated into KSP is if you could choose what "material" to build parts out of.This could change how they look or just what traits they exhibit. For example using Steel for high strength and high weight, Aluminum for low strength and low weight, or Carbon fiber for extreme strength and low weight but for a much higher cost. You could even use "wood" and build old style or other materials for other interesting and silly effects. Anyone agree with me?

I don't really see this becoming stock, but it would be another good use of a building... and many more options in designing craft... and another way of increasing a feeling of completion in KSP as you unlock more materials.

Edited October 21, 2014 by Avera9eJoe

[prophet_01]

Some overhaul on effects sounds lovely, BUT keep in mind that a whole bunch of people are running ksp on low end pc's or laptops. Even a mod will ruin the framerate for those folks and light theire computers on fire... clouds, as pretty as they are, need an option to be toggled and the same thing needs to be there for any other option that eats ram like a black hole. Without a huge effort on optimizatios I don't see this happening any time soon, though.

I use astronomers pack and I rly enjoy it. I am rly curious about the upcoming biomes in 0.90. Those will srsly enhance the looks of those sad space potatos. Eye candy and new terrain to explore helps a great deal with the motivation it takes to visit a planet for the second time. Snd also with not beeing disapointed after flying all the way out to Eeloo

Materials are a feature which is most likely too confusing for the average new player. Don't get me wrong, this would make a nice addition in form of a mod. This is something from the realism category alongside with real fuels, real chutes and basically most stuff from realism overhaul. It pushes ksp towards simulation/real live design options, which can be nice.

However, this isn't a good thing if you are going for a casual launch after a long day at work. Realism Overhaul is something for a weekend

[CaptRobau]

Reentry effects show that it's entirely possible for Squad to add a graphical effect that can be turned down so far that it doesn't add any stress to your PC. Mods don't have scalability, but Squad can.

Also biomes are just science biomes. There has been no mention of a graphical overhaul of planets.

[Capt Snuggler]

this really is a great improvement to the stock visuals. I would love this (or similar) to be stock!

and regarding the performance hit for higher detail meshes, simply make the current meshes available on the "low" graphics setting.

edit* if they give the character model some love, id like to see the kerbals wearing headgear inside there helmets.

Edited October 21, 2014 by Capt Snuggler

[Whirligig Girl]

I agree with all of this. Pay the man! Seriously though, having a more dynamic skybox is sorely needed. As well as better engine effects in high atmosphere and space. I want a FIREBALL not a stream of exhaust.

One more note which could be cool if integrated into KSP is if you could choose what "material" to build parts out of.This could change how they look or just what traits they exhibit. For example using Steel for high strength and high weight, Aluminum for low strength and low weight, or Carbon fiber for extreme strength and low weight but for a much higher cost. You could even use "wood" and build old style or other materials for other interesting and silly effects. Anyone agree with me?

I don't really see this becoming stock, but it would be another good use of a building... and many more options in designing craft... and another way of increasing a feeling of completion in KSP as you unlock more materials.

Yeah that seems more like a mod than something that should be stock.

[HafCoJoe]

Yeah that seems more like a mod than something that should be stock.

Yeah. I think you're right.