TGE lighting capabilities
by Nick Sinnott · in Torque Game Engine · 09/12/2006 (8:41 am) · 11 replies
Quick question about TGE (and/or TSE):
How easy is it to implement stencil shadows and/or light masks that interact with the character model?
I'm trying to pick a render engine for a relatively simple detective game prototype, and it's extremely important that all of the shadows (esp. those cast from horizontal window blinds) wrap around the character as he walks through them. Here's an extremely rough example of what I need:
http://www.sinnottflicks.com/blinds.jpg
My background is in filmmaking & special effects, not programming, so if TGE isn't capable of handling this kind of lighting w/o engine source modifications, does anyone know of a free/cheap engine that is?
Thanks!
-NS
How easy is it to implement stencil shadows and/or light masks that interact with the character model?
I'm trying to pick a render engine for a relatively simple detective game prototype, and it's extremely important that all of the shadows (esp. those cast from horizontal window blinds) wrap around the character as he walks through them. Here's an extremely rough example of what I need:
http://www.sinnottflicks.com/blinds.jpg
My background is in filmmaking & special effects, not programming, so if TGE isn't capable of handling this kind of lighting w/o engine source modifications, does anyone know of a free/cheap engine that is?
Thanks!
-NS
#3
I'm a licensee of C4, as are most of my friends so feel free to drop by the C4 forums if you have any questions.
09/12/2006 (9:37 am)
No worries! Your needs fit the C4 Engine like a glove, or other way around. =)I'm a licensee of C4, as are most of my friends so feel free to drop by the C4 forums if you have any questions.
#4
However, I've gotten fairly adept at coding TorqueScript (I have a TGB license), so I'd obviously still like to know if interactive shadows & light masks are possible/easy in TGE.
09/12/2006 (10:22 am)
One thing I just noticed about the C4 engine: the mesh format it uses has poor Maya support, and virtually no support for Maya under OSX (which is a deal-breaker). Doing c++ programming also terrifies me, so I'm leaning towards Unity3d.However, I've gotten fairly adept at coding TorqueScript (I have a TGB license), so I'd obviously still like to know if interactive shadows & light masks are possible/easy in TGE.
#5
I've heard good things about Unity, though I have no idea what type of lighting it uses.
Collada supports Maya, doesn't it work on the Mac version?
www.feelingsoftware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=73
09/12/2006 (10:30 am)
Possible yes, easy no. TSE might be worth a look, but in its current form it won't provide the lighting that you're after. Unless something's changed, I don't believe TSE supports self shadowing either. I've heard good things about Unity, though I have no idea what type of lighting it uses.
Collada supports Maya, doesn't it work on the Mac version?
www.feelingsoftware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=73
#6
09/12/2006 (10:32 am)
Oh I see, just read that Feeling Software have no plans to support Collada on Mac or Linux. That is a real shame. 
#7
09/12/2006 (10:46 am)
Projectors in Unity seem to be what you're looking for. Check on the Unity forums for more information.
#8
09/12/2006 (10:48 am)
Plus Unity is very Mac friendly.
#9
09/12/2006 (10:58 am)
@Tim: Your statements about TSE's capabilities become not correct with MS 4--dynamic lighting and self-shadowing are both part of the MS 4 release.
#10
09/12/2006 (11:04 am)
That's great news. I was aware of the dynamic lighting, did not know about the self-shadowing DTS objects.
#11
09/12/2006 (12:08 pm)
It's a little subtle, but you can catch it at about 50-53 and 56-60 seconds in on the TSE Space Orc Lighting Demo video. 
Torque Owner Tim Heldna
I think it deserves your consideration.
C4 Engine