3D Graphics?

[C4]

I was under the impression that the graphics would be 3D. So far, nothing I've seen looks like it's 3D. Maybe I'm confused between the meaning of 3D graphics and 3D rendered graphics?

[TankGirl]

3D rendered graphics are 2D images created using 3D models and usually light-sourcing and other graphical effects. All the ships and components in SE4 are 3D rendered 2D images.


TankGirl

[WendellM]

quote:

---

All the ships and components in SE4 are 3D rendered 2D images.

---

Exactly. This should make it easier to create mods for the game. While I could, I wouldn't fancy having to create real 3D models for all my modified items when a simple picture would do (maybe even a photo or screen-grab for media-based mods).

Imperium Galactica II is an example of a "real" 3D game, and while it's an OK game and their models are fairly nice, there are no user mods for it that I know of. This seems due to both the 3D issue and the fact that they "closed" their universe (unlike the wonderfully open SE IV model where almost everything is modifiable!).

[Psitticine]

I second that, and since I'm a 3D animator (in training), I'm going out on a limb there!

Properly used, pre-rendered images from 3D models can look much better than images generated on the fly. Just think about how much more sophistication can be added to a model when the computer is given hours instead of microseconds to kick out the actual image from it.

[C4]

I've seen very few games so far where real 3D graphics actually added to gameplay. Thanks for clarifying what exactly 3D rendered graphics are.

[Possum]

quote:

---

Originally posted by C4:
I've seen very few games so far where real 3D graphics actually added to gameplay. Thanks for clarifying what exactly 3D rendered graphics are.

---

Umm, never played Quake 3, have you?

Seriously, C4, any modern FPS game has killer 3D graphics. In the space genre, Homeworld had killer 3D graphics, (even though I'm totally unimpressed with Cataclysm), and I find it difficult to imagine playing in the full 3D world of HW without true 3D models, so I would say that definitely added to gameplay