TGE "Features" list misleading
by J. Coleman · in Site Feedback · 10/25/2006 (10:17 am) · 4 replies
(From http://www.garagegames.com/products/torque/tge/features/ )
"GeoTerrain
Generate mountains, valleys, and other terrain that spans incredibly vast distances.
The GeoTerrain heightfield generator is used to algorithmically create realistic heightfields spanning miles of terrain."
This is an extremely misleading blurb, one that some might construe as false advertising. The engine.overview.txt included with 1.5 states that TGE is (still) using a single 256x256 heightmap for terrain. Even if it's tiled infinitely, it's still the same block of terrain, over and over again. How is this "vast" or "spanning miles"?
"GeoTerrain
Generate mountains, valleys, and other terrain that spans incredibly vast distances.
The GeoTerrain heightfield generator is used to algorithmically create realistic heightfields spanning miles of terrain."
This is an extremely misleading blurb, one that some might construe as false advertising. The engine.overview.txt included with 1.5 states that TGE is (still) using a single 256x256 heightmap for terrain. Even if it's tiled infinitely, it's still the same block of terrain, over and over again. How is this "vast" or "spanning miles"?
#2
Even so, that's simply a zoom factor... My concern is with calling 256x256 "vast". I probably shouldn't be so bothered with it, since I'm planning to upgrade to TSE next month anyway, but I have to wonder how many people will read that and then be upset when they see the actual limit on the terrain size.
I have nothing against this engine being limited (out of the box) to a single 256x256 terrain block. However, it should not be advertised like this.
10/25/2006 (10:41 am)
Actually it's 4 square km, with a zoom factor of 8 the sides of the terrain are 2048m each. 4 square km = ~1.56 square miles.Even so, that's simply a zoom factor... My concern is with calling 256x256 "vast". I probably shouldn't be so bothered with it, since I'm planning to upgrade to TSE next month anyway, but I have to wonder how many people will read that and then be upset when they see the actual limit on the terrain size.
I have nothing against this engine being limited (out of the box) to a single 256x256 terrain block. However, it should not be advertised like this.
#3
Now... if you look at actual true life milage in a game setting.. thats pretty big.... the entirety of Oblivion took place on an area only 16 sq. miles... however 1.5 sq. miles is in no way shape or form.. " vast" or spanning miles" .. which is why we are using the TSE.... :P lol
10/25/2006 (10:54 am)
Actually.. 1km = 0.62 miles... so 2 sq. kilometers would equal an area 2km on one side and 1 km on the other for a vast expanse of 0.77 sq. miles.. however I have a feeling that what you meant to say was 2 km squared.. being 2km on each side.. which would be 4 sq. km... which would still only be 1.5 sq miles.... untiled of course...Now... if you look at actual true life milage in a game setting.. thats pretty big.... the entirety of Oblivion took place on an area only 16 sq. miles... however 1.5 sq. miles is in no way shape or form.. " vast" or spanning miles" .. which is why we are using the TSE.... :P lol
#4
10/25/2006 (1:02 pm)
In 1.5 you're no longer bound by a square size of 8. Bump it up to 16 to quadruple your terrain size.
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