Development Blog Update - NS2 Q&A #2

Stele007

Oooh, very informative Q&A. Thank you.

Deadzone

Great post, Max. Interesting to hear how much the tick rate can look like "lag" - I never would have guessed it :P

Plasma

I don't think 'r_atmospherics true' works (at least on tram near the windows).

I was trying to see if it looked like this, no change though:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH-SH1Iw6TY&feature=player_embedded#t=1m40s" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH-SH1Iw6TY...mbedded#t=1m40s</a>

Crispix

<!--quoteo(post=1830733:date=Feb 9 2011, 01:39 AM:name=Plasma)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Plasma @ Feb 9 2011, 01:39 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830733"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I don't think 'r_atmospherics true' works (at least on tram near the windows).

I was trying to see if it looked like this, no change though:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH-SH1Iw6TY&feature=player_embedded#t=1m40s" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH-SH1Iw6TY...mbedded#t=1m40s</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah I tried it out the moment I read that and started getting giddy. I then became sad to find out it doesn't work.

Uzguz

I can't check right now, but I'm guessing the correct command is actually 'r_atmospherics 1'.

Thanks for the info Max. A good solid wall of technical info is just what the community needs right now, and it's always heartening to see a game developer care enough to deliver one. Will Charlie post a similar entry for gameplay questions?

P.S. Why does Firefox's spell checker want to replace "Max" with "Marx"? Subliminal messaging perhaps?

Garo

Thank you Max!

As a programmer it's always pure gold to find posts like that, keep up the excellent work!

- Garo

peregrinus

I'd love to see footage/screenshots of the 'atmospherics' if someone managed to enable it.

McGlaspie

Wait a sec...

Holy sh*t! Just realized how many lines of comments is in the engine code: 171,928 lines of comments. That is impressive! Damn I'd love to browse the source code...then again, I don't understand the language of Wizards so it's not like I'd comprehend it. ;)

*sigh* I need more math

derWalter

<3 4 max!!!!!!!!

Squeal_Like_A_Pig

<!--quoteo(post=1830733:date=Feb 9 2011, 06:39 AM:name=Plasma)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Plasma @ Feb 9 2011, 06:39 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830733"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I don't think 'r_atmospherics true' works (at least on tram near the windows).

I was trying to see if it looked like this, no change though:<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That is the correct console command to use, but there haven't been many lights added to Tram yet that are volumetric, so its probably not the best test case. Definitely none in that window area yet. I believe some subtle ones were added underneath the grating in the alien expansion, so you can test it there. We were hesitant to add much in the way of atmospheric lights in Tram until we were able to get the overall framerate up, but it will get a pass with that lighting once they've been more optimized.

Some of the other unreleased maps have been making more use of the atmospheric lights, at the moment.

--Cory

Asraniel

ah how much i wait for the day when we can help to write the opengl renderer :) developed on linux :D oh... i want to

Enceladus

This is how the atmospheric lighting looks on tram. Very subtle at the moment.
<center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QVSGExARJTM&hd=1"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QVSGExARJTM&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>


For the sake of showoff I changed 2 lights in Rockdown, and this is the result :)
<center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QcKVQsqN_xw&hd=1"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QcKVQsqN_xw&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>

derWalter

<!--quoteo(post=1830756:date=Feb 9 2011, 11:35 AM:name=Enceladus)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Enceladus @ Feb 9 2011, 11:35 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830756"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->For the sake of showoff I changed 2 lights in Rockdown, and this is the result :)
<center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QcKVQsqN_xw&hd=1"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QcKVQsqN_xw&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

i want it so badly :P

but only as long i could turn it off to!

RTV

so much technical stuff, no gameplay talking :(

PseudoKnight

<!--quoteo(post=1830763:date=Feb 9 2011, 04:46 AM:name=RTV)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RTV @ Feb 9 2011, 04:46 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830763"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->so much technical stuff, no gameplay talking :(<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Wow, there's no pleasing some people. Gameplay Q&As will be coming later. This is just a technical one by Max, you know, the technical director.

Loved the information. Thanks for taking the time to do this, Max.

RTV

<!--quoteo(post=1830764:date=Feb 9 2011, 12:50 PM:name=PseudoKnight)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PseudoKnight @ Feb 9 2011, 12:50 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830764"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Wow, there's no pleasing some people. Gameplay Q&As will be coming later. This is just a technical one by Max, you know, the technical director.

Loved the information. Thanks for taking the time to do this, Max.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Im so happy happy
<img src="http://www.melanie-ecker.de/gif/happy.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
He gives a FREE Q&A, im so <!--sizeo:7--><span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->H A P P Y<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
You should spend them 100 Dollar for that Q&A!


<!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->who said i dont like techical Q and A? its just promotion... <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->

Delphic

Great post Max. Glad to see a couple of one's I was particularly interested in answered. I really enjoy these more technical posts (but the one's on your personal site go a bit over my head occasionally).

Keep up the great work. :)

Rhodri

Very interesting read, thanks for taking the time to answer so many questions Max.

TrC

Thanks for your time, I would love to have similar regarding gameplay though.

perso

Thanks for answering all those questions! I loved to hear some more about the technical side. Also +1 for gameplay Q&A some time around. :)

NurEinMensch

<!--QuoteBegin-Max+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Max)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The engine is 356,074 lines of C++ code including comments and 184,146 lines without.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

WTB the audio book. :p

Deagle2

For atmospheric lighting, I openned ns2_junction in editor, added a spotlight behind the window, set it to atmospheric = true and then tried it ingame, it looks wonderful!

Amenox`d

i hate that, i'm amd user too... maybe i should run NS2 in my laptop, there i have GeForce. Maybe then i have a little more playabe game. ^__^

Koruyo

<!--quoteo(post=1830778:date=Feb 9 2011, 02:37 PM:name=Amenox`d)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Amenox`d @ Feb 9 2011, 02:37 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830778"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->i hate that, i'm amd user too... maybe i should run NS2 in my laptop, there i have GeForce. Maybe then i have a little more playabe game. ^__^<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Oh, i just saw the smiley afterwards... ^^

endar

I'm still not sure if he was being serious Koruyo.. If I was a betting man, I would say he was. (being serious).

peregrinus

<!--quoteo(post=1830776:date=Feb 9 2011, 02:08 PM:name=Deagle2)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Deagle2 @ Feb 9 2011, 02:08 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830776"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->For atmospheric lighting, I openned ns2_junction in editor, added a spotlight behind the window, set it to atmospheric = true and then tried it ingame, it looks wonderful!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

pics or it didnt happen

Deagle2

<!--quoteo(post=1830799:date=Feb 9 2011, 04:41 PM:name=peregrinus)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peregrinus @ Feb 9 2011, 04:41 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830799"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->pics or it didnt happen<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It did happen :
<img src="http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7015/sanstitrelm.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/876/sanstitre2je.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

It makes you feel like you're on Mars.

Kouji_San

Obviously the life support systems are set to high humidity there :P

peregrinus

Just.....beautiful!

yimmasabi

Thank you Max and all others for those answers and effords.

Great efford while typing "356,074 lines" and I cant imagine what efford u spend, long nights, holidays ... bla bla
I would like to help to UWE about some codings if I can but my biggest code is only about "10k lines" with less comments, and totally coded by me, no packages no lines. So 356k is really huge if all lines are coded by you.

Sometime I think I'm going to give you something about some sort of codes which may be helpfull.