Hard Light Productions Forums

General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: rhraziel on May 22, 2011, 08:07:06 pm

Title: Bleeding Edge
Post by: rhraziel on May 22, 2011, 08:07:06 pm
As just a regular user (not a coder), would I see any benefit in running the 3.6.13 nightly builds? Is there any extra graphical prettiness or HUD tweaks? I always tend to want to have the latest and greatest update when it comes to software. What are your thoughts?
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: General Battuta on May 22, 2011, 08:11:51 pm
Yes, you would. 3.6.13 is amazing, some people have reported doubled framerates, you can use awesome new stuff like FXAA to make the game look a lot sharper.
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: Shivan Hunter on May 22, 2011, 08:22:04 pm
The go-faster (MAJOR fps improvement) and the new HUD code (epic though not entirely complete, I still have a few barriers to my 1080p HUD) are both in trunk now and weren't in 3.6.12. Which is an improvement of epic proportions, and on top of that you get some awesome new SEXPS and a SEXP char limit boost and a bunch of leet stuff. There are probably a few bugs but FSO has some very stable development builds, so they're hardly noticeable.
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: karajorma on May 22, 2011, 08:24:51 pm
There are significant advantages to running bleeding edge builds as a standard user. You could however face significant problems because bleeding edge builds introduce new bugs as well as new features. If you want to try the new stuff you have to make attempts to keep up to date with the latest developments and to clean up after using any additional extras the bleeding edge stuff requires (experimental art, shaders, etc).

As a standard user you will see serious benefits if you do things correctly. Otherwise you might end up losing hair. :p
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: rhraziel on May 22, 2011, 08:57:31 pm
Awesome, Thanks. I couldn't seem to get FXAA enabled after putting the .sdr files in place and enabled post processing and FXAA in the launcher. That's not a big deal though since I use driver side AA anyone.

A more major issue is that I have no HUD now! hah.
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: Shivan Hunter on May 22, 2011, 08:58:38 pm
you probably have a hud_gauges.tbl that's basically empty- get one (preferably the 1440x900 one ;7) from the Antipodes 7 build and it should be fine.
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: rhraziel on May 22, 2011, 09:11:56 pm
Actually, I don't see that I have that file at all :( I See this post which talks about the Antipodes build, but I don't see that individual file.

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=72205.0
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: Klaustrophobia on May 22, 2011, 09:24:20 pm
FXAA

wut? o.0

i haven't been keeping up.
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: Commander Zane on May 22, 2011, 09:33:55 pm
Yes. Antialiasing that ACTUALLY WORKS.
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: General Battuta on May 22, 2011, 09:47:44 pm
FXAA

wut? o.0

i haven't been keeping up.

It's a form of antialiasing that is cheaper (performance wise) than regular AA and, more importantly, actually works with postprocessing.
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: Zacam on May 22, 2011, 11:04:27 pm
Awesome, Thanks. I couldn't seem to get FXAA enabled after putting the .sdr files in place and enabled post processing and FXAA in the launcher. That's not a big deal though since I use driver side AA anyone.

Driver side or not, that AA goes away or gets seriously impacted on when you enable Post-Processing, because then the driver side AA has no "edges" any more by which to anti-alias. That being aside, FXAA works better when there is actualy driver side AA turned on vs. not being present.

FXAA requires that Post Processing be turned on, or it won't work (This is because it is implemented within the Post Processing pipeline). It's also recommended that you implement a "Preset" value. (Typed in command for the command line: fxaa_preset #, where the # is either "0" or 1-6. I recommend either 5 or 6). Latest Nightlies in the lab will let you key-select and test presets before putting them into a command line (and will also allow you to alter Bloom Intensity as well)
Title: Re: Bleeding Edge
Post by: rhraziel on May 23, 2011, 06:54:10 pm
I got FXAA and post processing working! The issue with my missing HUD only seems to be in Silent Threat: Reborn, which is a campaign that I've already finished.