[RandomTiger]

Only for 3dfx cards owners please!

This is a bit of a dull question but I could really do with knowing the answer. I can see glide getting left behind in the sorce code project * and I would like to know how much of a problem this would be.

* High level stuff in D3D thats not too tricky to do would be a pain in the ass to do in glide I imagine.

[Unknown Target]

Kinda a stupid question, don't you think? Glide is the best method for 3DFX cards, so most people (if not all) would probably use it...

[RandomTiger]

Well, that would seem likely but I would like to back it up with facts. You yourself use the word 'probably', I would like to be certain. Please dont derail my thread the results of this could be quite important.

[Unknown Target]

*raises eyebrow*
What could it be important for?

[RandomTiger]

Originally posted by Unkown Target
*raises eyebrow*
What could it be important for?

Thanks for derailing my thread. Oh well, perhaps if I explain the background it will get a better response. I just didnt want to start a big arguement about something until I have the facts.


Dont panic, these are just general ideas, no-one is going to do anything without making sure everyone is OK with it first. I am just expressing my thoughts. In my current work I am being very careful not to damage the glide code.

Im playing with the idea of getting rid of glide code. Why? Because as time goes on its going to fall behind D3D code. The current rendering structure is restricted by glide and other things that will eventually hinder progress.

Heres an example, once the main work is done a few lines of DX will allow support for loading images (bmp, .dds, .dib, .jpg, .png, and .tga) and automatic calculation of mipmaps levels etc.

I dont know how much work that would be in glide but I bet its a lot more. So basically anyone making mods cant really take advantage of this because none of its supported in glide.

[Kazashi]

When I still had my V2's in my system (removed recently to fit the TV card), given the choice I used Glide over D3D every time in games such as Freespace, Unreal and Diablo 2. IIRC Glide was designed pretty much soley as a gaming API, had more eye candy, and was more efficient on Voodoo cards than D3D (after all, that's what they were built for weren't they?). When I did have to run D3D stuff, I used my GF3 instead.

Now, D3D seems to be generally capable of the same effects that Glide was able to deliver. And there is less demand for gaming in Glide since the cards are now generations behind, although drivers are still updated by third parties intent on keeping Glide alive.

[IPAndrews]

Glide has past it's sell by date. Kick it to the curb. Optimise for at least DX8. If you want an alternative, OpenGL.

[vyper]

Originally posted by IPAndrews
Glide has past it's sell by date. Kick it to the curb. Optimise for at least DX8. If you want an alternative, OpenGL.

Glide was good, but its time is over. OpenGL is dynamic, but I reckon it might be a bit slow.

[aldo_14]

I'd imagine DX8 would be the preferred option, owing to the fact I'd expect them to have some backwards compatiblity..... but, if you upgrade the 3d code, surely you;d be trying to push the boundaries of the old cards that use Glide, anyway......

[Reppyboyo]

Glide.....
better image quality
simple

[RandomTiger]

Perhaps you could send me some screenshots of glide and d3d so I can compare.

[email protected]

[CP5670]

I have not really noticed a difference in FS2, but in FS1 Glide certainly looks remarkably better due to the light effects on ships.

Anyway, I use Direct3D since my GF3 does not support Glide, but my old computer has a Voodoo3 and I therefore use Glide on that. (Glide is designed for the 3dfx cards so they always work faster with it)

[demon442]

Funny, I had a VooDoo3 2000 Card in my old computer and glide never worked with it.

[IPAndrews]

The Glide screenies would probably look better, simply because the application was optimised for Glide. That's the past. It's time to drag FS2 kicking and screaming into the future.

On that note, OpenGL ain't such a bad choice. It's platform independent, which is nice. If it's slower than DX8 then what's the big deal. CPUs and GPUs are going so fast now anyway who's going to notice.

[RandomTiger]

Originally posted by IPAndrews
The Glide screenies would probably look better, simply because the application was optimised for Glide. That's the past. It's time to drag FS2 kicking and screaming into the future.

On that note, OpenGL ain't such a bad choice. It's platform independent, which is nice. If it's slower than DX8 then what's the big deal. CPUs and GPUs are going so fast now anyway who's going to notice.

If some brave person was to take up the difficult task of sorting out the FS2 pipelin I think even OGL would fly along at smazing speeds.

[Fury]

I used to have Voodoo2, always used Glide when possible.

I have a suggestion: If possible, try not to damage or delete Glide code, make DX8.1 working first. Then go with OGL and Glide. DX8 should be priority.

Less and less people have Voodoos nowadays anyway.

[RandomTiger]

I just went over to a friends house to play FS1 on a  voodoo 3 using glide and I really didnt notice any difference.

[Liberator]

For those who don't know, Glide is a render engine that only works with 3Dfx graphics cards.  At the time of it's original release it was faster and better looking than either D3D or OGL.  It fell out of favour because 3Dfx was bought out by Nvidia. However, it's not past it's sell date because the next generation Nvidia chip, NV35 IIRC, is rumoured to have Glide support.

[Petrarch of the VBB]

What would be the point in Glide, as no-one uses Voodoo based cards anymore.

Voodoo 5 for sale,
One embarrassed owner,
Hardly used,
Free to good home.

etc.

[Liberator]

Nvidia inherited a great many of the 3Dfx engineers.  It stands to reason that if they are planning to reintroduce Glide support on the NV35 that they would have improved it.