Hl2 Engine Shortcomings
DOOManiac
Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
<div class="IPBDescription">and what I'm a little disappointed...</div>Disclaimer: Don't take this post to be "omgz hl2 suxxxx", I'm quite confident its going to be a very good sp game, along w/ a good mp component. And I'm very, very confident it'll become the #1 platform for mod authors.
That said, from the stuff we've all seen by now of the HL2 engine for the eleventy billion scans/screenshots, there's some things that concern me quite a bit.. So since i'm nitpicky, I'll point them out:
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/lowpolycolumn.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Quake 3 has had true curved surfaces for almost 4 years now, and the brand new HL2 engine can't even handle more than a 12 sided column? pfft.. Also notice there is still the crappy half-life style lack of seamless texture wrapping around the column...
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/lowpolyweapon.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
If this new engine is so great, why are the p_ models still so crappy looking? I mean this mp5 looks completely FLAT. Hell, most regular HL mods have way better looking p_ models...
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/flatwall.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Again on engine limitations, why is this wall completely flat? The window sills and etc should all be brushwork, but here its completely flat and crappy. Also notice the very low-res texture on the wall. This could be done w/ HL1 right now... :/
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/flatbuilding.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
I sure hope this level is for demo purposes only. Being that the building has only 1 side to it, w/ a NULL texture (or whatever the hl2 equivilant is) for the sides... just, ugh...
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/squarehands_squarebreasts.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Look at how low-poly the arms are? They're practically square. Wish they woulda used less polys on the gun sights and more on the arms.. Also, the sidekick chicks' breasts are nice and square too. Unreal2 chicks had more polys. Don't take this as some sort of Freudian sexually charged comment, its just an observation on the polys of the model...
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/squarelevels.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Ugh, still low-poly levels. You can tell they still use worldcraft, as that tale-tell sign of "look, 1 unit is the smallest i can go" is all over the place (*edit* In retrospect, the 1-unit thing is easier to see in the first shot that came out, w/ the prison bars). Not to mention all the other perfectly square things. This level itself looks ilke it could be on HL1 right now... :/
So that's enough of my bitterness. Discuss away, call me a nub and a fanboy of this or that, I don't care. I'm just pointing out some shortfalls I see w/ the new technology. I'm sure the game is gonna be rocking though.
(p.s. all you nubs w/ the "omgz gameplay over graphics i want ZORK texturing only" people, don't bring up your "but HL was ugly" foolishness here, as you are wrong)
sv_rant 0
That said, from the stuff we've all seen by now of the HL2 engine for the eleventy billion scans/screenshots, there's some things that concern me quite a bit.. So since i'm nitpicky, I'll point them out:
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/lowpolycolumn.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Quake 3 has had true curved surfaces for almost 4 years now, and the brand new HL2 engine can't even handle more than a 12 sided column? pfft.. Also notice there is still the crappy half-life style lack of seamless texture wrapping around the column...
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/lowpolyweapon.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
If this new engine is so great, why are the p_ models still so crappy looking? I mean this mp5 looks completely FLAT. Hell, most regular HL mods have way better looking p_ models...
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/flatwall.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Again on engine limitations, why is this wall completely flat? The window sills and etc should all be brushwork, but here its completely flat and crappy. Also notice the very low-res texture on the wall. This could be done w/ HL1 right now... :/
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/flatbuilding.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
I sure hope this level is for demo purposes only. Being that the building has only 1 side to it, w/ a NULL texture (or whatever the hl2 equivilant is) for the sides... just, ugh...
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/squarehands_squarebreasts.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Look at how low-poly the arms are? They're practically square. Wish they woulda used less polys on the gun sights and more on the arms.. Also, the sidekick chicks' breasts are nice and square too. Unreal2 chicks had more polys. Don't take this as some sort of Freudian sexually charged comment, its just an observation on the polys of the model...
<img src='http://members.cox.net/doomaniac/hl2/squarelevels.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Ugh, still low-poly levels. You can tell they still use worldcraft, as that tale-tell sign of "look, 1 unit is the smallest i can go" is all over the place (*edit* In retrospect, the 1-unit thing is easier to see in the first shot that came out, w/ the prison bars). Not to mention all the other perfectly square things. This level itself looks ilke it could be on HL1 right now... :/
So that's enough of my bitterness. Discuss away, call me a nub and a fanboy of this or that, I don't care. I'm just pointing out some shortfalls I see w/ the new technology. I'm sure the game is gonna be rocking though.
(p.s. all you nubs w/ the "omgz gameplay over graphics i want ZORK texturing only" people, don't bring up your "but HL was ugly" foolishness here, as you are wrong)
sv_rant 0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
<!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
perhaps it's just crappy demo level so when HL2 comes out we all go !!!
it's still going to be a great game, just like you said
Also, the "new editor", Hammer, IS Worldcraft. Its one in the same. Sure its a new version, but its not a completely new editor like say Radiant or UnrealEd is...
So while you're out buying a new keyboard with working shift keys, I suggest you also read up on the facts. ;)
I aim to please so you aim too, please. :)
system required to run the game.
Remember that VALVe have said "2ghz recommended
but it will run fine on an 800mhz"
Maybe those of us with nice high-spec computers
will have our beloved curved walls, secksey
textures and damn fine ultra mega gonad killing p_ models.
Only time will tell. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Its marketting suicide to do otherwise...
even detailed scenery like this <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo-->
\/
<a href='http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/pc/doom3/0430/doom3_screen001.jpg' target='_blank'>warning may be distrubing</a>
DOOManiac do realise you might be provoking a riot ?!? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
DOOM, keep the black pictures with white captions away <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
In the second pic--- I thought the mp5k really does look like that?? Looks exactly like the Desert Crisis one...
In the third and fourth and fifth pics---I totally agree, lets hope it is purely testing levels/unfinished model. Where did you get the third shot though? I haven't seen it before.
In the sixth--- Obviously it isn't done yet, so you really shouldn't be commenting <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
And jobabob+ other people, read the last part of his post;
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->(p.s. all you nubs w/ the "omgz gameplay over graphics i want ZORK texturing only" people, don't bring up your "but HL was ugly" foolishness here, as you are wrong)<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Do we really know just how scalable this game is going to be? I mean, if it only needs DirectX6 and a TNT2 card, maybe it can be scaled so low it'll be close to the original's graphical quality?
The only reason a higher processor is needed is for the physics and stuff, which they say won't be scaled down, as they are used for practical things in the game, not just a gimmicky death like in ut2003
Its small but it's there - question is: what will the majority think is cooler? Engrossing gameplay or pixel perfect state-of-the-art super duper gfx? I prefer the former but hope for both <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Who knows, Doom 3 might actually be an interesting game while looking smashingly good and not just another mind numbingly boring painted jeezebel / reiteration of Quake.
Again, he is not saying that it is going to be bad, simply pointing out some obvious errors.
I personaly hope that hese are simply tests and will be cleaned up by the time release day rolls around <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://www.newtechnix.com/Webmasters/supertony/Images/News_PC_Half-Life_2_2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.newtechnix.com/Webmasters/supertony/Images/News_PC_Half-Life_2_4.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.newtechnix.com/Webmasters/supertony/Images/News_PC_Half-Life_2_3.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.newtechnix.com/Webmasters/supertony/Images/News_PC_Half-Life_2_5.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.newtechnix.com/Webmasters/supertony/Images/News_PC_Half-Life_2_6.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
*edit* is that arrow pointing at the gun or the poncho dealy. I assumed poncho...
Oh yeah, good eye Doom. I think it's hard to tell things like that from still pictures though so, yeah. Y'know?
<img src='http://www.hkpro.com/oicwright.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
With some of the massive outdoor enviorments they are showing off, plus the fact they will no doubt want to maintain quick load times, I can easily forgive them for not trying to slaughter my poor computer like Doom 3 did.