Amazing game graphics

Some pics of the models being used in the Unreal engine 3.




Now that's how bump mapping is done

Ya, Unreal has always had the best in-game graphics for many years now and get no respect for it.

Always been an Unreal Fan since like 97 great games

I'm not sure, but, I think EQ2 is using the Unreal engine also.

That's normal mapping, actually. And yeah, I've seen the video of the tech demo for the Unreal Engine 3, but I never realised that it was this good looking...absolutely insane. I can't imagine how much better it'll look in 2006 (or is it 2007?) when the engine (and most likely game) is finally released. Plus, we won't be getting 25 frames per second with that anymore.

Agonizing, UT2003 was recognised and highly esteemed for its graphics, as was Unreal II: The Awakening.

>>>>>>That's normal mapping, actually.

I'm positive that it's bumpmapping. The actual geometry of that model is actually somewhat low (at least compared to a DOA3 model for example). They first use an extremely high poly model (1-3 million polys or so) seen here


and they texture it

then they reduce the base model's polys to 5,000 or so as seen here,


Then they use the texture map that was made for the highpoly model, and use it on the low poly model to achieve a level of detail that would not normally be possible. The end result is quite impressive.

It looks like someone forgot to brush his teeth... tsk tsk tsk. When mom tells you to brush up, now, don't complain (instead of fighting aliens and monsters, they should make a video game where you fight gingivitis!)!

Graphics are continually getting better, and just looking more and more amazing all the time. The problem with video games is that we always get "yesterday's" graphics because it takes time to make a game, and of course, because most people don't have top graphical ability computers.

Yes, and that's what normal mapping is. It's basically the same as bump mapping but gives the illusion of a model having actual sides, rather than just impressions. For instance, you could have a vent with ribs which appear to cover each other as you move up and down (as seen in the tech demo), but it's all in the normal map, not the actual polygonal mesh.

Originally Posted by Bobslob

Graphics are continually getting better, and just looking more and more amazing all the time. The problem with video games is that we always get "yesterday's" graphics because it takes time to make a game, and of course, because most people don't have top graphical ability computers.

This engine will be released in two to three years, so most people will be able to run it by then.

The skeptic in me always wonders how reliable pre-rendered shots are for bump mapping over detailed models... but these do look pretty legit. Looking closely at the edges the sharp corners become a bit more apparent. The true test is always how well the bump mapping compensates in real-time at a variety of angles.

I've never been a big Unreal follower, partly thanks to my limited up-to-date PC gaming, but I seem to recall it being claimed that the new engine would be old-hardware-friendly? That adds additional support for these being bump maps, making for far easier transition to older hardware than polygon-scaled models. Without bump mapping it probably won't be pretty on old hardware, but almost certainly as pretty as possible.

So yeah, that's some damn nice bump mapping and texture mapping in general. It's difficult enough producing seamless UV textures for low-polygon models along, and good bump mapping on top of that is such an enviable art. As if I needed more excuse to upgrade my computer.

Originally Posted by SearanoX

This engine will be released in two to three years, so most people will be able to run it by then.

And of course, by then, they will have the ability to make even better quality graphics.

>>>>>>The problem with video games is that we always get "yesterday's" graphics because it takes time to make a game

Uhh, not really. You can look at say Doom 3 which is comming out soon, and no one would consider that "yesterday's" graphics because no game has come out that looks nearly as good as that. Just because upcomming games that haven't even been released yet look better doesn't mean the games that are just comming out right now look like garbage.

>>>>>>>Looking closely at the edges the sharp corners become a bit more apparent. The true test is always how well the bump mapping compensates in real-time at a variety of angles.


Yes, you can notice some slight blockiness when looking at it's silhouette, but it's really nothing compared to games in the past. The poly counts of the models are greater than Doom3's or any other FPS that came before it. No, it can't produce the insane 300,000 poly models of DOA3, but only 2 chars are on the screen at once in that game. But there's more to this game than staring at a single model, lighting, architexture, the enviroment, shadows, and physics make up a BIG part of the very robust Unreal Engine 3. Also once you are playing this game in motion, it's hard to notice such blockiness. Ofcourse when you are staring at a still image of the model, these flaws become more apparent.

Originally Posted by Lengis

Uhh, not really. You can look at say Doom 3 which is comming out soon, and no one would consider that "yesterday's" graphics because no game has come out that looks nearly as good as that. Just because upcomming games that haven't even been released yet look better doesn't mean the games that are just comming out right now look like garbage.

The point still stands that, by the time a new game comes out with envelope-pushing graphics, there's another one being shown off with even more impressive graphics, which we in turn drool over.

Originally Posted by Lengis

Also once you are playing this game in motion, it's hard to notice such blockiness. Ofcourse when you are staring at a still image of the model, these flaws become more apparent.

Oh, of course, I wouldn't doubt or deny it. It still will be interesting to see how things come across in full motion. Despite speculation as to how amazing the graphics will look in real-time, there are a lot of variables to consider. For example, if the game's truly using mipmapped normal mapping, or even mipmapped bump mapping, there are significant scalability concerns. Normal mapping in particular is still evolving in attempting to solve flickering issues and texture mapping non-parallelism. Things like sharp edges may "disappear" in real time, but it'll be interesting to see if/how various other concerns are compensated for.

i agree. but think, how real would it look real-time when the STILLS look so flawless. the possibilities are mind-blowing. imagine a zelda game with these graphics...

*drools*

The next console from all 3 major parties could probably run a game like that

A game like that eould be challenging to be able to be ran but even so if it could they would need a whole other load of crap to help it work. But that is really cool.

Nice. Good luck to the person who can spit up the price for a computer good enough to run this. I sure don't even afford upgrading my RAM, and there comes the question why most great PC games never make it to the consoles, so we can just buy a game without having to worry about how speed, video card, processor, etc.

some of the rumored specs on upcoming consoles is mindboggling, they should definately be able to run games like these...

Yes if you want the graphics card to cost more than the console itself. and you want years more work making single games, the next generation of home console could defenitly hand that. In other words, not a chance.

They look amazingly detailed. Unfortunately I'm not one toever have the hardwre to make that run or the computer dedicated to gaems.

um, do you know anything about hardware and software developtment? Supposedly the next gen consoles will all have multiple processors to spread the load around and eliminate the need to have one super fast processor, that and consoles usually enjoy the convenience of a video processor more advanced than what is currently going to be out at the same time for PC. At the rate things have been going, the next consoles should be at least 5-10x more powerful and a whole lot more flexible than the current generation.

Companies usually lose money when selling just the console hardware as they depend on the huge profits made from the games sold (disc based games are incredibly cheap to mass produce and when they are sold for $50 a pop retail...)