Torque 3D Development - Screen Space Ambient Occlusion
by Brett Seyler · 01/26/2009 (4:32 am) · 40 comments
Last week we looked at some really nice shader driven rain simulation by Gerhard Botha. This week, we're back for more with a preview of Screen Space Ambient Occlusion in Torque 3D.
The video below shows some of the functionality that will be accessible in real time from the editor or the Torque 3D console. For example, you can toggle various screen space shaders on and off and with SSAO, you can adjust contrast on the fly. Commands were keybound for this footage as we're not yet ready to show the new editor updates. Note that the lighting is still far from complete in this footage. Gerhard is still working with a hybrid of our new Torque 3D lighting, and the older TGEA lighting, but even still he's managed to make for a much faster, easier to use system than exists in TGEA 1.8.
The Torque 3D team is really starting to pick up the pace here, so watch for *much* more to come in the next few weeks. For a quick review in case you missed last week's blog, here's quick backgrounder on Gerhard and his work on Torque 3D.
Gerhard's Bio
"I am the head of software development in South Africa for an England based company developing software and hardware solutions for fatigue testing and structural analysis for the automotive and aerospace industries. My weekend hobby is the development of plugins for 3D Studio Max as well as the development of advanced gaming features and shaders for Torque. I am currently working on some AI and advanced shaders for Torque 3D which includes:
Screen Space shaders (Ambient Occlusion (SSAO), Bloom, Depth of field, Geometry smoothing. Motion blur) GPU cloth dynamics. GPU simulated water effects. GPU soft particles. GPU soft/rigid body dynamics. Dynamically destructible objects. Computational intelligence algorithms for AI usage. Multi-pass deferred CustomMaterial shaders."More development blogs to come. This is post #8.
Torque 3D development blogs:
- Post #1 - Kickoff
- Post #2 - Apparatus and Warrior Camp
- Post #3 - Luma's racing kit
- Post #4 - Josh Engebretson and Web Publishing
- Post #5 - Pricing and Licensing
- Post #6 - Pricing and Licensing CONTINUED
- Post #7 - Wetness & Precipitation
- Post #8 - Screeen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO)
- Post #9 - Matt Langley and the Torque Launcher
- Post #10 - Chris Robertson and Collada
- Post #11 - Depth of Field
- Post #12 - Advanced Lighting
- Post #13 - Soft Particles
- Post #14 - World Editor
- Post #15 - Pricing and Licensing ANNOUNCED!
- Post #16 - GDC Live Edition
- Post #17 - River & Road Editors
- Post #18 - Beta is UP!
- Post #19 - Light Rays, Undercity, Material Editor
- Post #20 - Mass Market Hardware
- Post #21 - Beta: Part Deux
- Post #22 - Marching Towards Beta 3
- Post #23 - pureLIGHT
- Post #24 - Lighting, Terrain, and Cloth
- Post #25 - Beta 3!
- Post #26 - Coming Soon!
About the author
Since 2007, I've done my best to steer Torque's development and brand toward the best opportunities in games middleware.
#2
01/26/2009 (5:15 am)
That's nice to see torque looking like that. 
#3
01/26/2009 (5:23 am)
Gerhard definately rocks. =) 
#4
01/26/2009 (5:52 am)
Torque 3D is coming along nicely ;) 
#5
EDIT: The video is pretty awesome!
01/26/2009 (6:06 am)
I really hope these blogs become a standard for you Brett! It's much better than the old silent days :)EDIT: The video is pretty awesome!
#6
So, now that Gerhard is on-board, T3D will come with SSAO as standard rather than as an "optional extra"/add-on?
01/26/2009 (6:39 am)
What a chilling tune!So, now that Gerhard is on-board, T3D will come with SSAO as standard rather than as an "optional extra"/add-on?
#7
Agreed, but are there any future blogs planned for stuff that's not eye-candy? This all looks cool (except for the aliasing error on the leftmost edge of the screen, above) but it's nothing that will win me over considering the new price point.
What will win me over is improved workflow (editors, pipe-line from tools to engine), and I know many others are reasoning like this as well. I realize eye-candy is what gets most attention, just asking.
I also realize these things are more difficult (and less interesting to most, I guess?) to show off with a video, though.
01/26/2009 (7:05 am)
Quote:
I really hope these blogs become a standard for you Brett! It's much better than the old silent days :)
Agreed, but are there any future blogs planned for stuff that's not eye-candy? This all looks cool (except for the aliasing error on the leftmost edge of the screen, above) but it's nothing that will win me over considering the new price point.
What will win me over is improved workflow (editors, pipe-line from tools to engine), and I know many others are reasoning like this as well. I realize eye-candy is what gets most attention, just asking.
I also realize these things are more difficult (and less interesting to most, I guess?) to show off with a video, though.
#8
It was also noted in one of the other blogs that T3D can load Collada files.
01/26/2009 (7:29 am)
@Stefan: Maybe you missed this part...Quote:Commands were keybound for this footage as we're not yet ready to show the new editor updates.
It was also noted in one of the other blogs that T3D can load Collada files.
#9
01/26/2009 (8:05 am)
Great video like always
#10
And I'm very pleased to watch a demo without a heavy metal hard rock soundtrack. Mogwaï is a very smart choice : thanks for these relaxing moment.
And kudos to Gerhard ! :-)
Nicolas Buquet
www.buquet-net.com/cv/
01/26/2009 (8:07 am)
It's nice to see these SSAO in action, and to learn that a new lighting model is in the pipe for Torque3D.And I'm very pleased to watch a demo without a heavy metal hard rock soundtrack. Mogwaï is a very smart choice : thanks for these relaxing moment.
And kudos to Gerhard ! :-)
Nicolas Buquet
www.buquet-net.com/cv/
#11
IMHO the "eye candy" is just as important as the usability/workflow. That is just the nature of the entertainment industry. The engine can be as easy to use as you could ever imagine but the fact of it is... if it looks like crap... then only a handful of people are ever going to even give it a chance to see how fun the game play is.
Thanks to the entire team for all your hard work and dedication!
01/26/2009 (9:04 am)
I personally love what I have seen so far of Torque 3D and want to say that "Gerhard… you are the man!"”, the new Torque3D visuals are amazing! IMHO the "eye candy" is just as important as the usability/workflow. That is just the nature of the entertainment industry. The engine can be as easy to use as you could ever imagine but the fact of it is... if it looks like crap... then only a handful of people are ever going to even give it a chance to see how fun the game play is.
Thanks to the entire team for all your hard work and dedication!
#12
This justifies a price increase of $50 from $295 (TGEA) to $345 (T3D) already :)
01/26/2009 (9:12 am)
Amazing!This justifies a price increase of $50 from $295 (TGEA) to $345 (T3D) already :)
#13
01/26/2009 (9:45 am)
woot good work here i cant wait till you show the vidio with cloth dynamics that one people will like the most i think besides that rain water wall that one looks the best. 
#14
01/26/2009 (11:37 am)
Brandon, don't be annoying. 
#15
This is so fantastic to see, awesome work Gerhard!
01/26/2009 (12:21 pm)
@Joe: That's great advice.This is so fantastic to see, awesome work Gerhard!
#16
01/26/2009 (12:29 pm)
I realy love what I'm seeing in T3D! at this rate whent the engine comes out it will be worth alot more than $1000!! I love what Gerhard is doing with the Engine It was a awesome thing that GG took him on!
#17
Sure did, thanks! :)
01/26/2009 (1:56 pm)
Quote:
@Stefan: Maybe you missed this part...
"Commands were keybound for this footage as we're not yet ready to show the new editor updates."
Sure did, thanks! :)
#18
01/26/2009 (4:59 pm)
T3D is looking better and better with each new blog :) I wonder if anything along the lines of Volumetric Light Scattering will be included? I would love to not have to roll my own :D 
#19
I just want to see more and more!
01/26/2009 (4:59 pm)
Guys ..come on, Thats outstanding ! The shadows look really dramatic.I just want to see more and more!
#20
01/26/2009 (5:36 pm)
AWESOME :D
Torque 3D Owner Michael K.
What effect does SSAO have on the frame rate?