Spring RTS Engine

SpikedHelmet · Post by **SpikedHelmet** » 05 Dec 2006, 20:39

I don't see any recent feature requests about LODs so here it is.

For those that don't know, basically, the feature would be that depending on viewdistance, different models are shown. So for instance, up really close, you'd have very high-detail models; from a moderate view you'd see a less-detailed version; and from afar you'd see the bare minimum, perhaps just a box, I don't know. The point is, it would (should) increase performance as you won't be rendering dozens of 1000+ tri models from across the map. Would be especially useful with mods that want/need high unit counts and for features.

Strategia · Post by **Strategia** » 05 Dec 2006, 20:46

IIRC, aren't LODs already implemented?

Peet · Post by **Peet** » 05 Dec 2006, 20:51

Either they're already implemented, or they will be very soon. I think.

Tobi · Post by **Tobi** » 06 Dec 2006, 00:36

The LOD implemented in spring is barely LOD at all. It just switches between rendering either the the full 3d model, or an image of it on a textured quad, depending on distance to camera.

So indeed this is a reasonable feature request.

FLOZi · Post by **FLOZi** » 06 Dec 2006, 00:48

Whoever does it will be personally worshipped by me for some months or so - especially if they give us a nice tool to auto-generate them

SpikedHelmet · Post by **SpikedHelmet** » 07 Dec 2006, 01:16

As far as I can tell the current LOD simply displays a grey block (no image of the unit) and only appears within a few (ingame) meters of where LOD cuts off entirely, making it completely useless. What I'm talking about is a more extensive system that will switch much sooner.

AF · Post by AF » 07 Dec 2006, 02:27

Actually for me it displays a rather nifty image of a unit all simplified and billboarded to the camera viewpoint.

SpikedHelmet · Post by **SpikedHelmet** » 07 Dec 2006, 04:40

Why the hell doesn't it do that for me?

Anyway that would make a good max view range but there's still need for shorter distance LOD changes.

MadRat · Post by **MadRat** » 07 Dec 2006, 04:59

You have to zoom out far enough to see it. It happens alot for me. It explains those nasty 2-dimensional features on zooming out.

mehere101 · Post by **mehere101** » 07 Dec 2006, 05:19

The LOD thing is a nice idea actually. It just needs to do a bit of a better job (in AA the Arm Tech 2 Bots don't have legs or torsos

) I agree with the possibility to have LODs for mods that want them. Larger units would benefit most from them.

KDR_11k · Post by **KDR_11k** » 07 Dec 2006, 07:20

For the grey vs. proper image debate: Maybe it's using a drawing method similar to the one for cloaking so s3os in an s3o only mod would look grey while 3dos would look fine?

Warlord Zsinj · Post by **Warlord Zsinj** » 07 Dec 2006, 08:32

Would we be expected to model the "simpler" versions, or would the engine do it for us?

Might be nice to double the code so that the same system can be used as units traverse from the edge of LOS to true LOS, as one of the ugliest things in Spring right now is the way units tend to 'pop into' your LOS. I think transferring from a blobby not quite intelligible shape into a full recogniseable unit would be an excellent way to deal with how units appear at the edge of your LOS.

KDR_11k · Post by **KDR_11k** » 07 Dec 2006, 12:55

I think initially you'd have to model them yourself and later on someone comes up with a method to do it automatically if you don't want to.

MadRat · Post by **MadRat** » 09 Dec 2006, 06:40

i'd settle for a way to disable it.

KDR_11k · Post by **KDR_11k** » 09 Dec 2006, 09:32

Of course if you don't do anything it won't do LODs. It'd be useful for e.g. Nanoblobz since some of those units are quite detailled up close but that detail isn't necessary when you see them as 20 pixel high blobs.