DX9 Features in a game by March?

[Dave Baumann]

http://wire.ign.com/articles/383/383499p1.html

"By using DirectX 9 we will make Eve 'future proof,' meaning we can patch in special dx9 features, post release, without requiring a reboot. This will be for both sound and 3d abilities. "There are greatly improved runtime checks built into the debug runtime which reduce the time to find bugs on various hardware. As EVE is doing some amount of unconventional use of the 3d pipeline, this has already helped us to find problems. "On Cards which have a DX9 class driver (ATI Catalyst 3.0 being one), there are also new features in DX9 that increase EVE performance on hardware/drivers that support it: Two Sided Stencils, Scissor testing and Asynchronous queries."

Looks alike they are missing out on the banner DX9 features of PS/VS2, but it's good to see some of the features of DX9 hardware used already.

 

[DemoCoder]

I am always skeptical of titles that patch in new HW features afterwards. e.g. bump mapping, embm, etc. They always look piecemeal. A few bumps here, a few reflective waters there.

Basically, if a game isn't designed to be PS2.0 from the start, patching PS2.0 afterwards will be visually unimpressive IMHO.


Now, you could patch in performance boosts. But I think the real impressive DX9 titles won't be out until the first generation DX9 titles have disappeared.

 

[demalion]

Hmm...I think "if a game isn't designed to use pixel shaders from the start, patching pixel shaders afterwards will be visually unimpressive" might be true.

I also think that, depending on how pixel shaders are used, that adding "PS 2.0" functionality to a game designed around a lesser version can offer impressive visuals, with improved speed and quality as a result of the upgrade.

The game in question, atleast based on that excerpt, sounds like the latter, not the former.

 

[Nagorak]

How can there be DX9 features in a game when DX9 isn't even released yet? Or did I miss it and it's gone final finally?

 

[Dave Baumann]

Sorry

DX9 has been out for over a month

 

[Nagorak]

Oh.

 

[epicstruggle]

well its better than nothing. i love games that try to be cutting edge. Hope they do a good job. Btw how soon after dx8/8.1 before a game tried to take advantage of it? just wondering.

later,

 

[Ascended Saiyan]

I think it was about 6 months after if I'm not mistaken with the release of Aquanox.

It should be interesting with what results they come up with when using Directx 9 class hardware.Although,since this game is an MMORPG no matter what class of video hardware they code for to increase performance,it will always come down to low ping times.

 

[Ante P]

I think it was about 6 months after if I'm not mistaken with the release of Aquanox.

It should be interesting with what results they come up with when using Directx 9 class hardware.Although,since this game is an MMORPG no matter what class of video hardware they code for to increase performance,it will always come down to low ping times.

Then again, what's the sure for a low ping if you're cruising around with 15 fps?

 

[Nagorak]

If its an MMRPG it's going to run like crap anyway, since RPG programmers seem universally unable to code their way out of a paper bag.

 

[KimB]

well its better than nothing. i love games that try to be cutting edge. Hope they do a good job. Btw how soon after dx8/8.1 before a game tried to take advantage of it? just wondering.

later,

The special version of Giants was bundled with a few cards pretty much right away (Within ~2 months, if I remember correctly, but this is off the top of my head...). Besides the higher polycounts, I think it had somewhat better bump mapping through the pixel shaders.

 

[T2k]

It's not MMORPG, not even MMRP. Simply MMOG - there is no RPG.

Thus far it doesn't seems to be an RPG...

 

[epicstruggle]

ive read a review of this game sounds very cool. ive just fallen out of love with these types of games that charge a monthly fee to play them. ARG!!! Well it still looks good:

later,

 

[Randell]

well its better than nothing. i love games that try to be cutting edge. Hope they do a good job. Btw how soon after dx8/8.1 before a game tried to take advantage of it? just wondering.

later,

The special version of Giants was bundled with a few cards pretty much right away (Within ~2 months, if I remember correctly, but this is off the top of my head...). Besides the higher polycounts, I think it had somewhat better bump mapping through the pixel shaders.

yes thats my recollection as well. The marines armour looked more shiny and detailed. Kabutos skin was one of the best uses of DOT3 as well then anyway. Pity I thought the water looked crap.

Still enjoy playing that game. Wish there was a patch which upgraded all versions on all DX cards like they had to do with the bump mapping IIRC which didnt work with all DOT3 capable cards at first (another nVidia conspiracy ).

 

[DemoCoder]

I though the enhanced Giants was disappointing. Using HW with DOT3, you can achieve so much more, but only if you plan from the beginning. Sticking a few bump maps here and there don't really cut it.

 

[no_way]

I received my EVE beta tester account couple a days ago. Downloaded the beeotch. Indeed, it requires DX9 to run. but, its designed for DX8.
I've been folowing the game's development since it was announced. IIRC they did a complete graphics engine rewrite from ground up for DX8.

So far i've been unable to log on though, im in a unfortunate timezone. Every evening when i try to log on, the beta servers are being upgraded, or current version of game client patch doenst work on my system.
Oh well .. probably have to change phase for a couple of days

 

[mr]

Using HW with DOT3, you can achieve so much more, but only if you plan from the beginning. Sticking a few bump maps here and there don't really cut it.

Agreed.
Are there any known games currently under development that were designed with dot3 in mind from the initial design phase, besides Doom3?
IIRC in Giants dot3 was added very late in the design process, as vids from early 2000 did not exhibit it.

 

[epicstruggle]

I received my EVE beta tester account couple a days ago.
....
So far i've been unable to log on though, im in a unfortunate timezone. Every evening when i try to log on, the beta servers are being upgraded, or current version of game client patch doenst work on my system.
Oh well .. probably have to change phase for a couple of days

congratz on getting a beta account. hope you can connect and play the game. let us know how it looks and feels.

later,

 

[Randell]

IIRC in Giants dot3 was added very late in the design process, as vids from early 2000 did not exhibit it.

It was still the about the only game with DOT3 used for significant per pixel effects in late2000 early 2001 as far as I can remember. Kabuto had most of the benefit and looked pretty good - the scenery and other models werent special, but the gameplay was good and the humour top-notch - its not just all about the graphics you know

 

[Ante P]

IIRC in Giants dot3 was added very late in the design process, as vids from early 2000 did not exhibit it.

It was still the about the only game with DOT3 used for significant per pixel effects in late2000 early 2001 as far as I can remember. Kabuto had most of the benefit and looked pretty good - the scenery and other models werent special, but the gameplay was good and the humour top-notch - its not just all about the graphics you know

I still think giants looks great
perhaps not very technically impressive but its one hell of a job when it comes to design/art
gameplay rules, humor also
one of my top 5 games of all times on PC