A level I can live with
by Netwyrm · 04/09/2011 (9:19 am) · 5 comments
Well, I have little to say which doesn't sound banal to me when I talk about my own work, but I thought I'd post a little about what I am up to and working on, if just to claim enough cred I'm allowed to keep posting in the forums. This is a screen cap of the main level of my setting taken this morning at "dawn."
I've iterated this level several dozen times over the various Torques from TGEA 1.7 to T3D B3, going back and trying to improve performance. I didn't know *anything* about 3D or engines when I started; it's been a little steep getting this far at an acceptable frame rate (currently hovering between 18-24 fps on a 2.8 GHz Pentium 4/Nvidia GT 240).
Although I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, this is all DIF done in Constructor. Each piece has three or more levels of display. I know these can be exported to Collada, but when I have experimented and tried to bring a piece in again, I always hit two snags. I've yet to figure out how to convert the reassigned coordinates to the precise position of the original pieces, and I can't get textures to look at all the same on the Collada pieces.
I know this owes, as all things, to Something I Am Doing Wrong. Perhaps, when "done" I'll try to export the whole mess as a piece and bring it back in, then really wrestle with the material art directly to match it up, although honestly, this morning I'm pretty happy with the DIFs and this level should be LONG done by the time the next version of Torque drops... :)
I've iterated this level several dozen times over the various Torques from TGEA 1.7 to T3D B3, going back and trying to improve performance. I didn't know *anything* about 3D or engines when I started; it's been a little steep getting this far at an acceptable frame rate (currently hovering between 18-24 fps on a 2.8 GHz Pentium 4/Nvidia GT 240).
Although I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, this is all DIF done in Constructor. Each piece has three or more levels of display. I know these can be exported to Collada, but when I have experimented and tried to bring a piece in again, I always hit two snags. I've yet to figure out how to convert the reassigned coordinates to the precise position of the original pieces, and I can't get textures to look at all the same on the Collada pieces.
I know this owes, as all things, to Something I Am Doing Wrong. Perhaps, when "done" I'll try to export the whole mess as a piece and bring it back in, then really wrestle with the material art directly to match it up, although honestly, this morning I'm pretty happy with the DIFs and this level should be LONG done by the time the next version of Torque drops... :)
About the author
My adventures in T3D are chronicled at http://www.worldofantra.com. Please be aware the subject is sword-and-sorcery, and the occasional bloody or bare body part may be in scope.
#2
The next, unfortunately, clearly shows where two models are yet to be placed (empty lots in the center foreground)!
All the lights will wink out in a minute or two when the sun gets a little higher in the sky.
Thanks for asking!
04/09/2011 (11:39 am)
I'm not quite sure how one goes about making a video, but here are two more shots from this morning's reference captures: The next, unfortunately, clearly shows where two models are yet to be placed (empty lots in the center foreground)!
All the lights will wink out in a minute or two when the sun gets a little higher in the sky.
Thanks for asking!
#3
Looks cool - reminds me of old Dungeons and Dragons castle maps....
04/09/2011 (4:22 pm)
It seems like the ambient lighting affects the DIF geometry differently than the rest of the scene. I am wondering what causes that - and I think I might start playing with some DIF objects to see if I can duplicate and correct that.Looks cool - reminds me of old Dungeons and Dragons castle maps....
#4
How i know, T3D runs better/faster, if you just use DTS for the models. Or even Collada.
I had a level with DIF, and the FPS was really worst. If I try out a lot more meshes, all in DTS format, the FPS was significant faster, and i had a lot more meshes in the level, as i had in DIF.
So maybe you better use DTS as DIF! Try out Milkshape for the models.
04/11/2011 (3:49 am)
You do every mesh in DIF?How i know, T3D runs better/faster, if you just use DTS for the models. Or even Collada.
I had a level with DIF, and the FPS was really worst. If I try out a lot more meshes, all in DTS format, the FPS was significant faster, and i had a lot more meshes in the level, as i had in DIF.
So maybe you better use DTS as DIF! Try out Milkshape for the models.
#5
I was experiencing some random crashes with the Collada models ... hence me forcing it to DTS and not relying on the DTS Auto Conversion.
You can see some progress here: http://soulwars.gobbogames.co.za
Good luck with your project. :)
04/11/2011 (7:28 am)
As Daniel mentioned ... DTS is much faster then DIF. I have converted all my Collada and DIF files to DTS using Milkshape and the DTS exporter ... significant improvement.I was experiencing some random crashes with the Collada models ... hence me forcing it to DTS and not relying on the DTS Auto Conversion.
You can see some progress here: http://soulwars.gobbogames.co.za
Good luck with your project. :)
Torque Owner Ben Sparks - Warspawn
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