Dragon Empires (MMORPG) [Archive]

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Rodéric

26-Jan-2003, 10:56

Gollum

26-Jan-2003, 12:39

Yeah I stumbled across them a few days ago too, damn impressive looking landscape engine, hopefully the rest of the graphics (characters etc.) can match that beauty (some of the older screenshots have pretty blocky looking monsters IMO). Know next to nothing about the game itself though....

Tagrineth

26-Jan-2003, 22:05

Post subject: Dargons Empire

:evil: Don't you ever misspell Dragon again... *grumble*

Rodéric

27-Jan-2003, 10:02

not only did I mispell Dragon but I also misspelled the game's name.

It's : "Dragon Empires"

28-Jan-2003, 17:28

Heh, I read the subject line and was wondering, "Who is Dargon?" :)

saf1

30-Jan-2003, 18:58

just came across :
http://www.codemasters.com/dragonempires/uk/thegame/index.php

look at the screenshots, and tell me how you find them, please.
I find them beautifull.

Anyone knew/knows about this game ?

I have been following this game for some time now and it really does seem to be picking up a rather large following. Graphics - so far what have been shown, look rather impressive as far as the current MMORPGs go. In fact, it makes just about all of the current MMORPGs look like they where made in a garden shed. Sorry - just my opinion.

However, graphics are only one thing. Game play will be another. I wish I could get in the Beta in May - but I honestly doubt I'll be lucky enough.

The real question is - is it too late. There are already a ton of these games and the market can only hold so many. I see some of these subscription based games going under. EQ/2, AC/2, DaOC/SI, E&B, Sims Online, soon to be SWG, EVE, and WoW...then throw in Dragon Empires.

I play way too much DaOC/SI now as it is. The game play suits my play style. However, ask me if I will ever level another toon to 50...no way. I just do not have the time. Most of these games do not cater to the "casual" gamer. That is a critical flaw if you ask me. Time vs. Reawrd vs. Number of people to kill epic creatures.

This one does things a little differently than the others. Until you really start to play it or read beta notes - anything is possible. I sure hope the devs are playing some of the existing MMORPGS. That would help. Maybe also read some of the forums. Weed out the whinners and what have you, there is some great info out there to make any game better.

I'd like nothing more than to sit and have a cup of joe with a honest to goodness game developer and/or designer. Seems like a fun business to be in - but what a tough market.

The question remains - is it too late, and can it deliver?

I always wonder if the Unreal engine can handle a large number of people?

Rodéric

30-Jan-2003, 19:43

Nebuchadnezzar

30-Jan-2003, 21:05

OH MY FUCKING GOD!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

NEW SCREENIES!

THOSE THINGS LOOK LIKE OFF-LINE RENDERED!!

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

*takes deep breath*

saf1

30-Jan-2003, 22:10

While we are at good looking games, just watch those screens :

http://www.vtales.com/game/temp/

They are awesome, taken on a realtime engine, Athlon XP 2100+ and GeForce4 Ti4600 @ 40FPS, details about the shots are written on the page.

Ok - let be retract my comments above...

Ingenu - if you are a developer, my hats off to you. I'd be happy to buy you a glass of wine, cup of joe, or a soda.

Those images you sent, well, pretty much make everything I have seen look like it was made in a Garden Shed. Very well done.

Esoa - very nice.
Temple ruins - nice depth.

What can you tell us of the game? Resolution of the images? Single player, multiplayer, MMORPG, or a hybrid like BF42 with tons of people.
Speaking of, how many characters can be in the same area at once?

Nebuchadnezzar

31-Jan-2003, 15:32

Are there anymore screenies? I'm a little bit dubious about those shots, look at them, they have Deepht-of-field (Or how is that speelled?) ! :shock: THat ain't normal in realtime game-rendering ...

Rodéric

31-Jan-2003, 16:06

It is, unfortunately, not my engine :(

I'm very impressed by its quality, but the minimal specs of the engine (for that quality) is a GF3.

It uses shadow maps for shadowing instead of shadow volumes, you don't see it on those pics, but the sky is beautifull too.

They indeed have depth of field :) according to the engine lead it's not distracting in-game, and really adds to the quality.

Here's a quote from Yann L. lead programmer of the engine.

About the shots: They were all taken on a test framework, since I don't have the full scenes here at home. I wanted to show a few pics with our new water system, but well, it currently doesn't work. Non-functional ARB_fragment_program raytracing shader says hello. I'm working on it.

The FPS depends on the shot. But it's never below 40 fps. That's on a GF4 Ti4600, Athlon XP 2100+. The code is not fully optimized yet. The shots were taken at 1600x1200 with 4x FSAA, and then downsampled to 640x480. Looks smoother that way, for web-presentation. No additional processing was done. That's full realtime, folks.

Lighting is fully dynamic per-pixel (bumpmapped DOT3, with distance attenuation). All the lightsources, as well as the sun, can move. Everything casts shadows on everything, in realtime. Shadows are done through shadowmaps (ARB_shadow). The trees and vegetation in the forest/temple shots are full 3D, no sprites are used.

Minimum sysreq for the game is a GF2. If you want the neat effects, you'll need a GF3/4. If you want the *really* neat effects, you'll need a GFfx or Radeon 9700

The firm making this RPG/Adventure game has funding problems atm. :(

Tahir2

03-Feb-2003, 01:43

Are there anymore screenies? I'm a little bit dubious about those shots, look at them, they have Deepht-of-field (Or how is that speelled?) ! :shock: THat ain't normal in realtime game-rendering ...

Yea... looks dodgy to me but if I am wrong then my jaw would hit the ground if it ran on my system looking like that.

Rodéric

03-Feb-2003, 10:11

StarFox Adventure has Depth Of Field, it's not distracting, and it's rather nice.
It's used in fights and allows you to concentrate on your ennemy.