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Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!!
Posted By: ScifitekiDate: 10/15/02 11:25 p.m.

In Response To: Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!! (James Smith, A.K.A. "James Smith")

: Hey guys,

: I am working on a project for Aleph One entitled "Cyber Aug". In
: it, you play a nano-augmented agent for an organization known as INATO,
: working to rid the world of the terrorist group known as the NLM. As the
: game progresses, you find that INATO is not the
: "knight-in-shining-armor" organization it seems to be, and that
: they have ties with Vigilance, a secret government operation that is
: involved in illeagle and immoral activites. Sounds a lot like Ion Storm's
: "Deus Ex", yes?

: Development is going splendidly. Cyber Aug is unique in that it will use 3D
: models for characters, scenery objects, weapons, and items. Furthermore,
: it utilizes an open-ended non-linear approach to completing objectives,
: enhancing gameplay tremendously.

: A website will be up Soonâ„¢.

: Anyway, 3D models run fine and dandy in AO if you follow these parameters: 1.
: Avoid glowmapping, layers, and transparency (on model skins) like the
: plauge. It's perfectly OK to use layers in Adobe Photoshop, but flatten
: skins before using them in AO.

: 2. Limit the number of models per level to a very small number. Models in any
: game suck up memory fast, which is why most 3D first-person-shooters limit
: the numbers of enemies to only a few at a time. You are not going to be
: able to get the hordes of Pfhor you would get in Marathon Infinity with 2D
: sprites with models. It just won't work.

: 3. Make the levels themselves small. This reduces the model numbers even
: more.

: 4. Make the models themselves effecient. Don't create 2000-vertice models for
: AO.

: If you follow these parameters, you will find that models can be used to
: tremendous benefit, without staggering slowdowns by any means. And
: remember, you can always lower the color depth if you need to.

: James Smith

: Cyber Aug: The Conspiracy

Oooh... Looking forward to this, I am. Very much so. This sort of thing will definately take Marathon all the way into the 21st century, even though we're kinda in it already : ). Now all we need to do is convince Loren that 3D weapons-in-hand are really a good concept. : )

Out of sheer curiosity, James, what kind of machine are you making Cyber Aug on? I'm running a Imac DV 400Mhz with around 200megs devoted to Aleph, and I'm getting OK performance at low colour depths, if I put on Z-Buffer and remove all the mentions of masks. Not great performance, but playable peformance. What're you running on?

Service With A Smile: ),
Scifiteki

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Replies:

3D glory in AO!!!!!D-M.A. 10/14/02 1:46 a.m.
     Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!!D-M.A. 10/14/02 2:14 a.m.
           Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!!Scifiteki 10/15/02 12:03 a.m.
                 Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!!D-M.A. 10/15/02 1:02 a.m.
                       Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!!:: Beer Can :: 10/15/02 1:39 a.m.
                       Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!!•M 10/15/02 3:40 p.m.
                             Re: box_pfhor•M 10/16/02 11:44 p.m.
                                   Re: penta_pfhor•M 10/19/02 7:44 a.m.
                                         Re: penta_pfhorD-M.A. 10/20/02 2:08 a.m.
                       Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!!Tasnu Arakun 10/16/02 1:29 a.m.
     Re: 3D glory in AO - not carbon, and slow!!Steve Levinson 10/14/02 7:35 a.m.
     Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!!James Smith, A.K.A. "James Smith" 10/15/02 7:33 a.m.
           Re: 3D glory in AO!!!!!Scifiteki 10/15/02 11:25 p.m.



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