fafalada --- your opinion of APEX (Xbox racer)

Discussion in 'Console Technology' started by bbot, Dec 28, 2002.

  1. DeathKnight

    Regular

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2002
    Messages:
    744
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    I would think the polycount is a bit higher than your estimates. What impresses me is the full cube environment mapping on every single car (including the rims).
     
  2. Legion

    Regular

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2002
    Messages:
    598
    Likes Received:
    3
    and apparent distortions from damages.
     
  3. Peppermonkey

    Newcomer

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2002
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Cube environment mapping does not add that much to the poly count.

    Cube environment mapping is not a completely true reflection.
     
  4. marconelly!

    Veteran

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2002
    Messages:
    2,742
    Likes Received:
    0
    It definitely looks impressive, but I have heard from a (supposedly) playtester, that reflections get updated at half the main framerate - that would mean at 15FPS.
     
  5. DeathKnight

    Regular

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2002
    Messages:
    744
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Reflections look buttery smooth from all of the videos I've seen (unlike PGR's reflections). Although, it could be another case of dev kit prowess being used for the vids and the somewhat finished product or testable product being more optimized for an actual Xbox.
     
  6. _phil_

    Veteran

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2003
    Messages:
    1,659
    Likes Received:
    13
    maybe they sacrified 60fps ,also because 1/4 frame reflection update would have feel too "popy" ?
     
  7. Peppermonkey

    Newcomer

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2002
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Usually "reflections" run at a lower framerate than the actual game. It's kinda weird, but that's how it works.
     
  8. Phil

    Phil wipEout bastard
    Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2002
    Messages:
    4,786
    Likes Received:
    377
    Location:
    127.0.0.1
    What ever the reason is, it's certainly very distrating and unfortunately quite present in most Xbox racers that I've seen. It also looks quite unnatural IMO.
     
  9. marconelly!

    Veteran

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2002
    Messages:
    2,742
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yeah. That's why I prefer reflections in GT3 more, even though they use simpler, spheric mapping model. It just looks more smooth and natural.
     
  10. JavaJones

    Newcomer

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    0
    Actually, you can see in the video how the reflections update: geometry clipped at a much closer distance (noticeable pop-up in reflections), and rendered at a visibly lower resolution. I'm not sure if the framerate was lower, though it doesn't appear noticeable so from the videos.

    - JavaJones
     
  11. Ug Lee

    Newcomer

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2002
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Is that just another term for vertices?
     
  12. _phil_

    Veteran

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2003
    Messages:
    1,659
    Likes Received:
    13
    just a cheap PR 'tech' FX. It means that all the polygons (triangles) are
    attached together to gain efficiency ... 8) i don't think a single one developper on earth doesn't use tristrips ...
     
  13. Kolgar

    Regular

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2002
    Messages:
    698
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Apex is almost here! EB says it'll ship February 18. The short video on the recent OXM disc looked promising. And the game's gotten an 8.0 from EGM.

    Who's going to bite? I might check this game out for the graphics alone. Looks like a gorgeous racer, and from all accounts, it plays pretty well too.

    Kolgar
     
  14. elchuppa

    Newcomer

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2003
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    has anyone else noticed how a lot of these games appear to have a much higher resolution in posted screenshots than final gameplay?
     
  15. Peppermonkey

    Newcomer

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2002
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yeah, Panzer Dragoon Orta didn't look anywhere near as sharp/anti-aliased as the screenshots portrayed. (I play on an HDTV in 480p)

    I don't understand why they keep posting screenshots of things that look either photoshopped or rendered (at a higher res and crazy antialiasing)
     
  16. Ug Lee

    Newcomer

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2002
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Consider me disappointed. I grabbed the game on the way home from work today and visually it is nowhere near the quality of the screenshots (not a huge surprise). No widescreen support, 30fps, average detailed cars.

    Nice backgrounds though. Very nice. Handling is like a much looser Gran Turismo. There's heaps and heaps of tracks which is good.

    But I was expecting more, particularly in the visual department.
     
  17. zidane1strife

    Banned

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2002
    Messages:
    899
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    End of time
    heheh... interesting...
     
  18. wazoo

    Regular

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2002
    Messages:
    866
    Likes Received:
    1
    FYI, the game has a lethal bug related to the memory save, that prevents any progression in the career mode.
     
  19. Ug Lee

    Newcomer

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2002
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Also it appears that the PAL version has a nasty sound bug. Don't play this game up too loud. :?
     
  20. Ug Lee

    Newcomer

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2002
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Thanks for the info.

    30k 'tristripped' polygons per car, yet it also says "More than 12 cars each with up to 10000 polygons".

    Well I'm confused. :oops:
     
Loading...

Share This Page

  • About Us

    Beyond3D has been around for over a decade and prides itself on being the best place on the web for in-depth, technically-driven discussion and analysis of 3D graphics hardware. If you love pixels and transistors, you've come to the right place!

    Beyond3D is proudly published by GPU Tools Ltd.
Loading...