Special Stage Development

ICEknight · Mar 29, 2010

The Growler said:

Hamneggs said:

AND LOOK!

I think Ill draw up some extra frames for M.E.'s bomb and make it have the light pulse. Or at least the frames to do so, as I can't figure out how to animate it.
Click to expand...

Seeing as the track and everything is in 3D, I assume the best way to do the bombs is to create them in 3D too? That way, as the bombs get closer to you, they won't end up looking a little strange because they're spherical, rather than a 2D object mimicking a 3D appearance.
Click to expand...

Or perhaps the sphere itself should be a sprite? You know, so it won't look all blocky when close up.

Endgame · Mar 29, 2010

ICEknight said:

The Growler said:

Hamneggs said:

AND LOOK!

I think Ill draw up some extra frames for M.E.'s bomb and make it have the light pulse. Or at least the frames to do so, as I can't figure out how to animate it.
Click to expand...

Seeing as the track and everything is in 3D, I assume the best way to do the bombs is to create them in 3D too? That way, as the bombs get closer to you, they won't end up looking a little strange because they're spherical, rather than a 2D object mimicking a 3D appearance.
Click to expand...

Or perhaps the sphere itself should be a sprite? You know, so it won't look all blocky when close up.
Click to expand...

I was thinking more along the lines of perspective - rather than quality close-up - that might look a little awkward when they pass by.

I thought it was still called a sprite whether it's 3D or not? Since I'm not a programmer, I'm not entirely sure what the difference is.

Polygon Jim · Mar 29, 2010

The Growler said:

ICEknight said:

The Growler said:

Hamneggs said:

AND LOOK!

I think Ill draw up some extra frames for M.E.'s bomb and make it have the light pulse. Or at least the frames to do so, as I can't figure out how to animate it.
Click to expand...

Seeing as the track and everything is in 3D, I assume the best way to do the bombs is to create them in 3D too? That way, as the bombs get closer to you, they won't end up looking a little strange because they're spherical, rather than a 2D object mimicking a 3D appearance.
Click to expand...

Or perhaps the sphere itself should be a sprite? You know, so it won't look all blocky when close up.
Click to expand...

I was thinking more along the lines of perspective - rather than quality close-up - that might look a little awkward when they pass by.

I thought it was still called a sprite whether it's 3D or not? Since I'm not a programmer, I'm not entirely sure what the difference is.
Click to expand...

Sprites are flat static images, models are 3d and can be rotated in any direction.

Well that is the difference at the basics.

Hamneggs · Mar 30, 2010

A quick low poly bomb made in Google Sketchup. If anyone wants it lighted and reflective tell me, cause I'd have to update my copy LightUp, a real time lighting engine and .fbx exporter for Sketchup.

I guess I should; the blue is missing.

Approx 800 triangles.

RedStripedShoes · Mar 30, 2010

One word, people:

NURBS.

Elratauru · Mar 30, 2010

RedStripedShoes said:

One word, people:

NURBS.
Click to expand...

Two Words actually: Hyper Nurbs.

RedStripedShoes · Mar 30, 2010

I decided to have one more go at the special stage background. I think the colors are as close as they'll ever be. The only Photoshop file I had was non-HD image shaped, and I forgot to set the dimensions before making this. It's also really late and I should get to bed. So I'll post this, get the feedback from you guys tomorrow, and get a proper submission in then.

Synergy · Mar 30, 2010

RedStripedShoes said:

One word, people:

NURBS.
Click to expand...

...which have to be converted to polygons at some stage

This background is still my favourite, even without any choices made on stars etc. Can't wait to see it progress.

Canned Karma · Mar 30, 2010

Very true. There's no real need to start with nurbs anyway—I can accomplish the same result just by adding a meshsmooth or additional subdivisions. I'm currently working on other 3D projects at the moment, but if there's been no approved models done after my stuff is done I'll take a crack at them.

steveswede · Mar 30, 2010

RedStripedShoes said:

I decided to have one more go at the special stage background. I think the colors are as close as they'll ever be. The only Photoshop file I had was non-HD image shaped, and I forgot to set the dimensions before making this. It's also really late and I should get to bed. So I'll post this, get the feedback from you guys tomorrow, and get a proper submission in then.

Click to expand...

Well I'm in full support of this concept. The only things that needs tweaking from my point of view is that the top and bottom diamonds could do with it not blending in so much with the background.

RedStripedShoes · Mar 30, 2010

steveswede said:

Well I'm in full support of this concept. The only things that needs tweaking from my point of view is that the top and bottom diamonds could do with it not blending in so much with the background.
Click to expand...

Can do.

steveswede · Mar 30, 2010

The bottom of the diamonds stand out well now. The top diamond still needs tweaking more. It's more so at the very top.

Are you going to put some stars on? Even the constellation idea of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles?

RedStripedShoes · Mar 30, 2010

steveswede said:

The bottom of the diamonds stand out well now. The top diamond still needs tweaking more. It's more so at the very top.

Are you going to put some stars on? Even the constellation idea of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles?
Click to expand...

I was going to let someone else do it. As soon as I get the gradient adjusted to the point where it looks perfect, I'll post the gradient by itself and have people add the stars to it.

Hamneggs · Apr 2, 2010

Lit mine.

This plug-in works in real time, so the reflections are not spot on. The blue came from an HDR skybox, and the spikes were lit using alternate light sources.

steveswede · Apr 2, 2010

Well it's a start. Nice one. My issue is the roundness parts of the bomb and the spikes look blocky instead of being perfectly spherical. Also is that some aliasing around the edge of the red circle?

Canned Karma · Apr 2, 2010

Pretty much what steveswede just said. There's absolutely no reason to post up something even as a concept that has so few subdivisions. When we get a working platform, then we'll work within what limitations it has. As it stands, that render just looks bad. Smooth it out more and throw it up again.

Synergy · Apr 2, 2010

Canned Karma said:

Pretty much what steveswede just said. There's absolutely no reason to post up something even as a concept that has so few subdivisions. When we get a working platform, then we'll work within what limitations it has. As it stands, that render just looks bad. Smooth it out more and throw it up again.
Click to expand...

Well, I was actually going to say that 800 polygons for as simple an object as the mine was excessive if used realtime 3D, considering you have many of them on-screen at once. Might be worthwhile considering textured quads instead if you wanted perfectly spherical mines, or perfectly toroidal rings.

Canned Karma · Apr 2, 2010

800 for a sphere? Definitely excessive. Having a relatively smooth shape can be accomplished with a third as many.

As for the idea of using textured quads, are you referring to using image planes with alphas applied? I was talking about this with Gambit and scanline last week. While it is -a- solution, our concern is that mines done that way could look odd when they're approaching. By using 3D, you don't have to compensate for multiple viewing angles. In any case, it will all boil down to what the platform can handle.

Mastered Realm · Apr 2, 2010

People you are basing on the wrong sprite. There are 3 zoom levels for that bomb, you are working with the 2nd bigger zoom level...

test-object · Apr 2, 2010

There was an idea to put Robotnik's logo/face on the bombs in the previous forum. Perhaps time for a revisit of a charming little idea?

Special Stage Development

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