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Sprites for 3D characters at distance

by Andy Hawkins · in Torque Game Engine · 12/08/2006 (4:44 pm) · 3 replies

When my characters are off in the distance I want them to be just billboards with pre-rendered images . But I still want the AI code / movement code to control them. I saw this done in Myth and Total War.

Could anyone suggest how I could do this in Torque script please?
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Torque Owner Brian Hill
#1
12/08/2006 (6:31 pm)
I don't think you do this in script -- you do it in your modeler when you export the DTS file.

The procedure varies by program/exporter, but you basically set up different LOD models for use at different distances or pixel sizes. I know that in the Lightwave exporter, you can set up the last LOD model (for the furthest distance) as a billboard.

Associate Andy Hawkins
DrewFX
#2
12/09/2006 (6:29 am)
Oh okay. But I can only put one image on the billboards at further LOD's right? I think I need to do something like an IFL that I control what image actually appears depending on it's movement and animation - I mean I still want them to appear to move and animate.

Torque Owner Thak
#3
12/09/2006 (7:09 am)
Max exporter can do auto Billboard Lods, however I have as of yet not figured out exactly how to do it properly.
Here's sum bits and pieces.
www.garagegames.com/mg/forums/result.thread.php?qt=48425
tdn.garagegames.com/wiki/3DSMax/ProExporters