Overlapping DIFs question
by Gareth Fouche · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 02/15/2006 (4:24 am) · 6 replies
Hi there.
Ok, so in one of Tim Astes content packs, he talks about how putting a dif inside another one causes problems (slowdown). Does this apply if two difs are touching each other (overlapping)?
See, I've kinda been inspired by these two pictures here :
I want to try modeling a city like those, I want to model cities that extend in the vertical as well as horizontal. I could try to do one huge model, but I think that could cause issues, plus it would only do LOD when you aren't standing in the middle of it all. I want the to make the city in pieces, assembling it in the mission, putting them together like a layered cake, with base foundation pieces, buildings and towers etc on top of those, and so on. But, given the previous issue I mentioned, it seems like all these difs touching each other would create problems? Am I correct? Will this be a problem? Is there a work around, besides building it as one gigantic piece?
Ok, so in one of Tim Astes content packs, he talks about how putting a dif inside another one causes problems (slowdown). Does this apply if two difs are touching each other (overlapping)?
See, I've kinda been inspired by these two pictures here :
I want to try modeling a city like those, I want to model cities that extend in the vertical as well as horizontal. I could try to do one huge model, but I think that could cause issues, plus it would only do LOD when you aren't standing in the middle of it all. I want the to make the city in pieces, assembling it in the mission, putting them together like a layered cake, with base foundation pieces, buildings and towers etc on top of those, and so on. But, given the previous issue I mentioned, it seems like all these difs touching each other would create problems? Am I correct? Will this be a problem? Is there a work around, besides building it as one gigantic piece?
#2
My guess is what Tim meant is don't allow brushes to pass through eash other. I'm sure its ok for them to touch though.
02/15/2006 (6:52 am)
I'm constructing a monestary using the same method you just described. It has a foundation with wall sections sitting on that base and then ceiling brushes sitting on top of the walls. There are four separate buildings on this foundation with some wall pieces connected flush but I have experineced no problems. Framerate has been consistant.My guess is what Tim meant is don't allow brushes to pass through eash other. I'm sure its ok for them to touch though.
#3
02/15/2006 (9:17 am)
You might run into problems with lighting, for example. We once tried a DIF inside a DIF and the lights that reached the character were from the outside model and the interior lights were ignored. We still overlap some open areas, but that's about it. 
#4
This is kind of off topic, but I love those images. If it's ok to ask, where did you find them?
Thanks,
Aaron E.
02/15/2006 (9:38 am)
Gareth,This is kind of off topic, but I love those images. If it's ok to ask, where did you find them?
Thanks,
Aaron E.
#5
Browse the forums, the talent there is simply awe-inspiring.
02/15/2006 (10:08 am)
Www.conceptart.org. Browse the forums, the talent there is simply awe-inspiring.
#6
Thank you for the link. I'll add that one to my list of cool art sites. I can't get enough of this stuff.
Aaron E.
02/15/2006 (12:39 pm)
Gareth,Thank you for the link. I'll add that one to my list of cool art sites. I can't get enough of this stuff.
Aaron E.
Torque 3D Owner Gareth Fouche
Anyone?