Terrain Texture Problem
by Todd McCullough · in Torque Game Engine · 10/28/2003 (5:27 am) · 8 replies
I noticed today that when the texture is applied to the terrian it seems to only use a portion of a 256x256 texture. Actually only using 128x128. I noticed this when I made a grid texture and was given only a small area of it. Is there a way to change this? Why has everyone been using 256x256 if this can't be changed?
edit: ok I'll be honest. I'm not sure what is happening, when I applied a 128x128 texture stips of parallel empty terrain would run along parallel strips of textured terrain. That makes me think it is using 128x256!!!!???
edit: ok I'll be honest. I'm not sure what is happening, when I applied a 128x128 texture stips of parallel empty terrain would run along parallel strips of textured terrain. That makes me think it is using 128x256!!!!???
About the author
#2
05/12/2006 (5:49 am)
@Todd: are you seeing black lines? I've noticed certain 256x256 textures do this too 
#3
06/11/2006 (5:30 pm)
@todd, ya, its odd. i get the grid bug when trying to apply a 512x512 texture. it think it can be change within the engine, but not sure where.
#4
It's not really a bug. The base terrain textures are limited to 256x256. Detail textures of even higher resolutions can then used to add more spice to the terrains. Engine changes to boost the 256 limit would be execeptionally difficult, from what I hear. Mainly because they were done in ASM code (IIRC) way back in the Tribes days. And I think the people who worked on that part of the original engine aren't available any more.
Again, my memory could be a bit off on the history of it all. But it is a known limitation of TGE (not TSE though). There are a number of ways to improve the look of your terrain, even with 256 base textures.
A
06/11/2006 (7:15 pm)
T,It's not really a bug. The base terrain textures are limited to 256x256. Detail textures of even higher resolutions can then used to add more spice to the terrains. Engine changes to boost the 256 limit would be execeptionally difficult, from what I hear. Mainly because they were done in ASM code (IIRC) way back in the Tribes days. And I think the people who worked on that part of the original engine aren't available any more.
Again, my memory could be a bit off on the history of it all. But it is a known limitation of TGE (not TSE though). There are a number of ways to improve the look of your terrain, even with 256 base textures.
A
#5
It's either that or those levels have the same limitations, and the level designers are really clever at hiding it :)
I wonder if anybody's working on ressource to correct these limitations.
06/12/2006 (5:57 am)
I was kinda dismayed when I learned that Torque can only handle 6 texture graphics and that the graphics are low-res.. It seems to make torque a lower-end engine in that respect, at least, next to most modern games where the level designers can really cut loose. It's either that or those levels have the same limitations, and the level designers are really clever at hiding it :)
I wonder if anybody's working on ressource to correct these limitations.
#7
The 15 texture mod however forces use of the c++ texture blender, which is not nearly as performant as the assembly language version.
And you'd be very surprised just how capable 6 blended textures can be! The primary reason for the restriction is backwards compatibility with older graphics card (specifically low memory ones), because textures take up a lot of space on the video card, and must be budgeted well. It's easier to limit terrain textures since they can be blended than it is to limit player textures since they are not.
06/12/2006 (9:25 pm)
The "6 texture" limitation is actually an editor restriction, not a code restriction. I don't know the full history, but the assembly language texture blender works fine with 8.The 15 texture mod however forces use of the c++ texture blender, which is not nearly as performant as the assembly language version.
And you'd be very surprised just how capable 6 blended textures can be! The primary reason for the restriction is backwards compatibility with older graphics card (specifically low memory ones), because textures take up a lot of space on the video card, and must be budgeted well. It's easier to limit terrain textures since they can be blended than it is to limit player textures since they are not.
#8
06/13/2006 (12:07 am)
Ya, I've talk to a lot of industry professional. and they all tell me that 6 textures are plenty. i myself will probably upgrade it to 8. performance matters to me more then looks.
Torque Owner Desmond Fletcher
fletcher