[Taristin]

Do any of the coders know anything about how to implement a normal mapping system?
I ask, because I just found that 3dMax lets me do a render to texture of a few different maps, including normals... and it could be interesting.

[DaBrain]

AFAIK the problem is the aditional render pass, which is not supported right now.

Or something like that.


Edit: I think I just mixed something up. Not sure though...

[Liberator]

The problem is that we have no ultra-high-poly models to get the normal maps from.  Shrike or someone was working on an Orion(11,000 for one of the turrets), but that was years ago.

[Black Wolf]

Normal maps could be useful in many places simply to smooth off curves, but TBH I'm not that fussed about their inclusion just yet. There're a lot more important things than yet another graphical enhancement IMO.

Except, I guess, overexposure.

[Bobboau]

I know how to implement them; pixel shaders

[Lynx]

I think bump maps would be better. Easier to create, less performace hit.

[gevatter Lars]

I am with Lynx...I have also asked for the implemention of such maps over at Sectorgames...after a long time I also thing that Bumpmaps are the easiest to create and less resources using textures we could/should have.

[freespace2pilot]

if u were that desperate for normal maps, u could make them urself - its not that hard.
what we dont need is more mb towards the allready big VP files.
for once - think about us 56 k'rs

[Liberator]

I'l tell you what, we'll compromise.  You go get a 128mb Jumpdrive and then go to the Public/College Library or Internet Cafe of your choice and download on a broadband connection.  What is happening is FS2 is becoming an essentially new game, graphics wise, that is going to entail LOTS of new files eventually, which translates to high MB counts.  The rub is that most of the members have sometype of BB connection access.  

It is no longer a narrowband web.  Contrary to what AOL preaches.

[Fury]

I am more concerned about functionality of fred2_open than adding any new features to fs2_open. Those who develop solely fs2_open, I wish they would have a short pause and optimize existing code to minimize resource usage and improve stability.

But I guess this is the trade-off of a fan based development community.

[Roanoke]

Originally posted by Bobboau
I know how to implement them; pixel shaders

I doubt most HLPer's GPUs support that, from what I've seen in the threads people post every so often

[Fry_Day]

Originally posted by Bobboau
I know how to implement them; pixel shaders

It CAN be done without pixel shaders! Doom3 actually can do it without pixel shaders (which is why a GeForce4 MX can run Doom3, albeit very slowly and worse-looking than a PS 2.0 card).

If you don't believe me, look at the BumpSelfShadow example in the DirectX SDK, which uses Dot3 bumpmapping, and works without pixel shaders.

[Ransom]

I'd rather see bumpmaps implemented first. They definitely don't require pixel shaders (and I'd like to see those implemented at some point too, although realistically it's probably never going to happen since few people seem to want them/are able to use them) and they still look decent.

[Fry_Day]

$#@!!$#@!$#@!$#@!$#@!$#@!$#@!$#@!$#@

on any modern card,

Bump maps == Normal maps

[DaBrain]

Originally posted by Roanoke


I doubt most HLPer's GPUs support that, from what I've seen in the threads people post every so often

I think it's time to add pxiel shaders. As long as they are optional I see no problem in this.
Personaly I don't mind if there's an effect I can't use because my GPU is outdated.


My current GPU supports only PS 1.3. But I will upgrade. Add pixel shaders, so I have something to look forward to.

[Drew]

Pixel shaders could be used to solve most graphical problems people seem to be having. My Radeon 9000 wont display shinemaps and env, but ill be damned it dosnt render the pixle shaded version. If we use 1.1, most cards wont have a problem.

Also, of ATI and Nvidia drivers have boosted pixle shader performance, because of all the new heavy pixle shaded games out, like Halo, Far Cry, Doom 3, etc.

[Anaz]

now all we need is someone who knows how to code pixel shaders, and knows how to make them work with the existing system!

[Bobboau]

Originally posted by Fry_Day

It CAN be done without pixel shaders! Doom3 actually can do it without pixel shaders

yeah, but it still needs vertex shaders IIRC

[Flipside]

Well, as much as I'd love to see Bump/Normal mapping working on FS2, I think it's going to be a bit more than a simple job

Are you still hoping to redo the texture system Bobboau?

[Bobboau]

there's lots of stuff I 'hope' to do