3DPathfinding editor for TECNO (need hard testing)

I need a hard beta testing for this tool, but I don't have time to test a hundred nodes combinations so ... if you have time ... :)

Actually, it doesn't always find the >shortest< path, but I don't care about that.
I would like to know if you can find a nodes combination where the code can NOT find the path when it actually exists.
Press F1 for help, and it is important to read the "important" message in the Help :)

http://www.angelfire.com/games5/tecno/imgs/3dpath.zip
(right click -> Save target as... , or copy the link to the browser bar)
(800kb)

You can also load your own level mesh if you want.



Paolo.

Testing right now...

[EDIT]: Zip File is invalid or corrupted... :'( [/EDIT]

corrupt

Ok, sorry the inconveniences,

I uploaded it to Angelfire, I downloaded it from there, and it worked fine ... if it still doesn't work for you, it is not my fault :(

http://www.angelfire.com/games5/tecno/imgs/3dpath.zip
(right click -> Save target as... , or copy the link to the browser bar)

Paolo.

Anglefire does not allow direct linking and is killing the download. AIM me at DryLand404 to have the file hosted for you. I can put it on my server.

Seems to work fine here (the download and the path finding, tried quite some combinations).
Looks awesome as well.

Can't wait till Tecno's done.

Was that level made in Maplet?

(link worked for me, too)

OK, had to get it by copying the link and pasting it in a different browser. If your browser passes the referred from data Angelfire will detect linking from an external site and redirect your request.

"Angelfire does not allow direct linking
from offsite, non-Angelfire pages,
to files hosted on Angelfire.

This practice of 'remote linking' reduces
our ability to serve out the homepages
of our members quickly and efficiently. "

Yes, that's how I did it as well, that's what you always do when the server doesn't allow remote linking :)

It always work for me to right click the link and select "Save target as..." .

Anyway,
Thanks for the comments and keep testing, jejeje :)

@No Enemies,
No, I don't use Maplet, I have 3D Studio Max R3, that's what I use for all my 3d needs.

Paolo.

Probably angelfire directlining works when you block the referrer info in your browser settings. Nice pathfinding thing. It's a hard job, especially dynamic realtime stuff since a* easily pauses for several seconds when it has to search for a zic-zac way. I'd really like to know how you made this, what methods where used.

@jfk,

Ok, I finished the 3d pathfinding editor,

but the code is certainly > dirty <

I'm starting to cleaning it up to adapt it to my game
but I don't know when I will finish or how much generic
it will be when I finish.
So I decided to post the code as it is now ...

The best I can tell you is to see the help with F1

good luck :)
Paolo.

AppTitle "3DPathfinding editor by Paolo Cosentino"


Graphics3D 800,600,16,2

Function interpolate#(v#,a#,b#,c#,d#)
Return c+(((v-a)*(d-c))/(b-a))
End Function


AmbientLight 255,255,255


Global cam_player=CreateCamera()
	CameraRange cam_player,.01,200
	RotateEntity cam_player,0,90,0
	EntityRadius cam_player,.8,1.9

;----------------------------------------------
;--------- LOAD A LEVEL HERE --------------

;The 3D space is empty so is better if you load
;something to understand where you are.



;----------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------



font=LoadFont("arial",15,0,0,0)
SetFont font


;***************************************
;------- PATHFINDING --------
reset=True
Global node1=0
Global node2=0


Global path_picked=0
Global path_editing=1
Global path_nodeselected=-1
Global path_total$=""
Global path_maxnodes=50 ;999

Dim paths1(path_maxnodes,5)
	;a,0 = Visual of NODE (it should contain a pivot to retreive POSITION of the NODE)
	;a,1 = In Open or Closed list, =0 Default , =1 in Open , =2 in Closed
	;a,2 = F  (it is G+H)
	;a,3 = G ,distance from actual node to before node
	;a,4 = H ,distance from actual node to detination node
	;a,5 = Parent of the node
	
Dim paths1b$(path_maxnodes)
	;a = Contain a string with the nodes that are linked with the actual node (00102030 ...)

Function LOAD_NODESFILE(f$)
	file=ReadFile(f)
	If file
		While Not Eof(file)
			l1$=ReadLine(file)
			l2$=ReadLine(file)
			l3$=ReadLine(file)
			l4$=ReadLine(file)
			l5$=ReadLine(file)
			
			paths1(l1,0)=CreateSphere(2);CreatePivot()
				ScaleMesh paths1(l1,0),.2,.2,.2
				EntityColor paths1(l1,0),0,150,0
				EntityFX paths1(l1,0),1
				;EntityAlpha paths1(l1,0),.5
				PositionEntity paths1(l1,0),l2,l3,l4
				EntityPickMode paths1(l1,0),2;???????????
				
			paths1b(l1)=l5
		Wend
	EndIf
End Function

Function SAVE_NODESFILE(f$)
	file=WriteFile(f)
	If file
		For p=0 To path_maxnodes ;999
			If paths1(p,0)>0
			WriteLine file,p
			WriteLine file,EntityX(paths1(p,0))
			WriteLine file,EntityY(paths1(p,0))
			WriteLine file,EntityZ(paths1(p,0))
			WriteLine file,paths1b(p)
			EndIf
		Next
	CloseFile file
	Delay 250
	EndIf
End Function

LOAD_NODESFILE("nodes.txt")

Function ADD_NODE(x#,y#,z#)
	For p=0 To path_maxnodes ;999
		If paths1(p,0)=0
		paths1(p,0)=CreateSphere(2) ;CreatePivot()
			ScaleMesh paths1(p,0),.2,.2,.2
			EntityColor paths1(p,0),0,150,0
			EntityFX paths1(p,0),1
			;EntityAlpha paths1(p,0),.5
			PositionEntity paths1(p,0),x,y,z
			EntityPickMode paths1(p,0),2 ;???????????
		Exit
		EndIf
	Next
End Function

Function GET_NEARNODE(ele)
	dist1#=100000
	num=-1
	For p=0 To path_maxnodes ;999
		If paths1(p,0)>0
		dist2#=EntityDistance(ele,paths1(p,0))
			If dist2<dist1
			dist1=dist2
			num=p
			EndIf
		EndIf
	Next
	Return num
End Function

Function FIND_PATH(from_node,to_node)

	If from_node+to_node>-1 And from_node<>to_node
	
	;-------------------------
	;--- Reset Path --------
	path_total=""
		For p=0 To path_maxnodes;999
		paths1(p,1)=0
		paths1(p,2)=0
		paths1(p,3)=0
		paths1(p,4)=0
		paths1(p,5)=0
		Next
		
		For amark.paths_marks=Each paths_marks
		FreeEntity amark\ele
		Delete amark
		Next
	
	;-------------------------

	dist#=0
	
	;If parent=-1 Then parent=from_node
	parent=from_node
	
.path_again

	nodes_in_list=False

	;For p=0 To path_maxnodes;999
	;	If p=parent ;If exists a node
		;nodes$=paths1b(p)
		nodes$=paths1b(parent)

			For l=1 To Len(nodes)/2
			num=Int(Mid(nodes,l*2-1,2))
				If paths1(num,1)=0 ;if in Default
				nodes_in_list=True
				
				paths1(num,1)=1 ;add node to Open list
				paths1(num,5)=parent ;-> set node parent
	
				;Calc G:
				dist=paths1(parent,3)+Int(EntityDistance(paths1(parent,0),paths1(num,0))*10)
				paths1(num,3)=dist
				;Calc H:
				;dist=EntityDistance(paths1(num,0),paths1(to_node,0))*10
				h=Abs(EntityX(paths1(num,0))-EntityX(paths1(to_node,0)))*10
				paths1(num,4)=h
				h=Abs(EntityY(paths1(num,0))-EntityY(paths1(to_node,0)))*10
				paths1(num,4)=paths1(num,4)+h
				h=Abs(EntityZ(paths1(num,0))-EntityZ(paths1(to_node,0)))*10
				paths1(num,4)=paths1(num,4)+h
				;Calc F: (G+H)
				paths1(num,2)=paths1(num,3)+paths1(num,4)
				
				ElseIf paths1(num,1)=1 ;if in Open list
					nodes_in_list=True
					
					For l2=1 To Len(paths1b(num))/2
					num2=Int(Mid(paths1b(num),l2*2-1,2))
						If paths1(num2,1)=2;if it is a parent
						checkg=paths1(num2,3)+Int(EntityDistance(paths1(num2,0),paths1(num,0))*10)
							If checkg<paths1(num,3)
							paths1(num,3)=checkg
							paths1(num,2)=paths1(num,3)+paths1(num,4)
							paths1(num,5)=num2;-> set new parent
							EndIf
						EndIf
					Next
				EndIf
			Next

		paths1(parent,1)=2;add parent to Closed list

		;Exit
		;EndIf
		
	;Next
	;Stop
	;Find lowest F and repeat the process:
	dist=100000
		For p=0 To path_maxnodes;999
			If paths1(p,0)>0
				If paths1(p,1)=1 ;if in Open list
					If paths1(p,2)<dist
						If nodes_in_list=False
						dist=paths1(p,2)
						newparent=p
						
						Else
							;For l=1 To Len(paths1b(parent))/2
							;s$=Mid(paths1b(parent),l*2-1,2)
							;	If Int(s)=p
								dist=paths1(p,2)
								newparent=p
							;	Exit
							;	EndIf
							;Next
						EndIf
					EndIf
				EndIf
			EndIf
		Next

		If parent=newparent ;-> indica que no hay solucion
		Goto path_false
		Else
		parent=newparent
		EndIf
	
		If parent=to_node
			If to_node=0
			path_total="00"
			ElseIf to_node<10
				path_total="0"+Str(to_node)
			Else
			path_total=Str(to_node)
			EndIf
			
			If Len(paths1b(from_node))>0
	
				Repeat
					newparent=paths1(parent,5)
					If newparent=0
					path_total=path_total+"00"
					ElseIf newparent<10
						path_total=path_total+"0"+Str(newparent)
					Else
					path_total=path_total+Str(newparent)
					EndIf
					parent=paths1(parent,5)
				Until newparent=from_node
				
			EndIf
	
		Else
		Goto path_again
		EndIf
.path_false
	;-----------------------------------------
	EndIf
End Function

Function CREATE_PATH()

	;--------------------
	;ADD a NODE
	If KeyHit(49) ;N
	ADD_NODE(EntityX(cam_player),EntityY(cam_player),EntityZ(cam_player))
	EndIf

	;--------------
	;Pick a Node:
	If MouseHit(1)
	path_picked=CameraPick(cam_player,GraphicsWidth()/2,GraphicsHeight()/2)
	EndIf	
	
	;----------------------------
	;----- MOVE A NODE ------
	If KeyDown(29);Left Ctrl
		If path_picked>0
			;Trasladar NODE
			If KeyDown(23); i - Forward
			TranslateEntity paths1(path_nodeselected,0),0,0,.05
			
			ElseIf KeyDown(37); K - Backward
				TranslateEntity paths1(path_nodeselected,0),0,0,-.05
			
			ElseIf KeyDown(36); J - Left
				TranslateEntity paths1(path_nodeselected,0),-.05,0,0
			
			ElseIf KeyDown(38); L - Right
				TranslateEntity paths1(path_nodeselected,0),.05,0,0
				
			ElseIf KeyDown(22) ;U - Up
				TranslateEntity paths1(path_nodeselected,0),0,.05,0
	
			ElseIf KeyDown(24) ;O - Down
				TranslateEntity paths1(path_nodeselected,0),0,-.05,0
			EndIf
		EndIf
	EndIf
	;----------------------------

	;-------------------------------------------
	;Asociate a NODE with the selected NODE
	If KeyHit(46) ;key C
		If path_picked>0
			For p=0 To path_maxnodes ;999
				If path_picked=paths1(p,0)
	
				SetBuffer FrontBuffer()
				Color 0,0,0
				Rect 20,25,GraphicsWidth(),30
				Color 255,255,255
				Locate 30,30
				FlushKeys
				s$=Input("NODE number to connect: "+paths1b(p))
				FlushKeys
					If Len(s)>0
					paths1b(p)=paths1b(p)+s
		
						If p=0
						s2$="00"
						ElseIf p<10
						s2$="0"+Str(p)
						Else
						s2$=p
						EndIf
					paths1b(s)=paths1b(s)+s2
					EndIf
	
				SetBuffer BackBuffer()
				Exit
				EndIf
			Next
		EndIf
	EndIf
	
	;---------------------------------------------------------
	;------- DELETE A CONNECTION with a NODE ---------
	If KeyHit(45) ;X
		If path_picked>0
			For p=0 To path_maxnodes ;999
				If path_picked=paths1(p,0)
	
				SetBuffer FrontBuffer()
				Color 0,0,0
				Rect 20,25,GraphicsWidth(),30
				Color 255,255,255
				Locate 30,30
				FlushKeys
				s$=Input("Delete Connection with NODE: ")
				FlushKeys
					If Len(s)>0
						For l=1 To Len(paths1b(p))/2
						s2$=Mid(paths1b(p),l*2-1,2)
							If s2=s
							paths1b(p)=Left(paths1b(p),Instr(paths1b(p),s2)-1)+Mid(paths1b(p),Instr(paths1b(p),s2)+2)
							Exit
							EndIf
						Next
						For l=1 To Len(paths1b(s))/2
						s2$=Mid(paths1b(s),l*2-1,2)
						p2=s2
							If p2=p
							paths1b(s)=Left(paths1b(s),Instr(paths1b(s),s2)-1)+Mid(paths1b(s),Instr(paths1b(s),s2)+2)
							Exit
							EndIf
						Next
					EndIf
	
				SetBuffer BackBuffer()
				Exit
				EndIf
			Next
		EndIf
	EndIf
	
	;-------------------------------------------
	;---- DELETE A NODE FROM SCENE ------
	If KeyHit(32) ;key D 
		If path_picked>0
			For p=0 To path_maxnodes ;999
				If path_picked=paths1(p,0)
				FreeEntity paths1(p,0)
				paths1(p,0)=0
				paths1(p,1)=0
				paths1(p,2)=0
				paths1(p,3)=0
				paths1(p,4)=0
				paths1(p,5)=0
				paths1b(p)=""
					For p2=0 To path_maxnodes ;999
					s$=paths1b(p2)
						If Len(s)>0
							If p=0
							checks$="00"
							ElseIf p<10
							checks$="0"+Str(p)
							Else
							checks$=Str(p)
							EndIf
							s2=""
							For l=1 To Len(s)/2
								s3$= Mid(s,l*2-1,2)
								If Not s3=checks
								s2=s2+s3
								EndIf
							Next
						paths1b(p2)=s2
						EndIf
					Next
				Exit
				EndIf
			Next
		EndIf
	EndIf

	;-------
	;Reset
	If KeyHit(57) ;SPACE
	path_total=""
	;enem_path=""
	parent=-1
		For p=0 To path_maxnodes ;999
		paths1(p,1)=0
		paths1(p,2)=0
		paths1(p,3)=0
		paths1(p,4)=0
		paths1(p,5)=0
		Next
		
		For amark.paths_marks=Each paths_marks
		FreeEntity amark\ele
		Delete amark
		Next
	reset=True
	EndIf
	
	;----------------------------------------------------
	;Change de Nodes From/To for the Pathfinding:
	If KeyHit(25) ;P
	SetBuffer FrontBuffer()
	Color 0,0,0
	Rect 20,25,GraphicsWidth(),40
	Color 255,255,255
	Locate 30,30
	FlushKeys
	Print "Enter two digits per node, eg: 37-00 (means the path will be found from node 37 to node 0)
	Locate 30,45
	s$=Input("Enter new NODES:  ")
	FlushKeys
		If Len(s)>0
		node1=Int(Left(s,2))
		node2=Int(Right(s,2))
		EndIf

	SetBuffer BackBuffer()
	EndIf
	
	;-------------------------------------------
	;---- SAVE NODES & CONNECTIONS ----
	If KeyHit(60) ;F2
	SAVE_NODESFILE("nodes.txt")
	EndIf
	;----------------------------------------

	;---------
	;Help
	If KeyHit(59) ;F1
	FlushKeys
	SetBuffer FrontBuffer()
	Color 0,0,0
	Rect 0,0,GraphicsWidth(),350
	Color 255,255,255
	Print:Print
	Print "     -Important:"
	Print "     -When you enter a node number anywhere in the editor you will have to do it with two digits."
	Print "     For example: if you want to point to the node number 5, you will write 05, if you"
	Print "     want the node 0, you write 00, if your node number is bigger than 9 then write it normally."
	Print:Print
	Print "     Cursors + Mouse  ------> Move"
	Print
	Print "     Key N                     -----> add a node at the camera position"
	Print "     Key D                     -----> delete selected node"
	Print "     key LMB                -----> pick a node"
	Print "     key C                     -----> enter a node number to connect the selected node to"
	Print "     key P                     -----> enter new "+Chr(34)+"from node"+Chr(34)+" -> "+Chr(34)+"to node"+Chr(34)+" numbers to use in the pathfinding"
	Print "     CTRL+[I,K,J,L,U,O] --> translate selected node"
	Print "     key X                     -----> delete a connection with a node"
	Print
	Print "     key ENTER            -----> Find path"
	Print "     Key SPACE           -----> Reset pathfinding"
	Print
	Print "     F2                           -----> Save Nodes+Connections to a .txt file>"
	Print "     key M                    -----> Load a new Mesh (you must write the path to the mesh, eg: 3dmodel/mylevel.3ds)"
	WaitKey()
	FlushKeys
	SetBuffer BackBuffer()
	EndIf
	
	;--------------
	;Load a Mesh
	If KeyHit(50);M
	FlushKeys
	SetBuffer FrontBuffer()
	Color 0,0,0
	Rect 0,0,500,350
	Color 255,255,255
	Print:Print
	s$=Input("     Load new mesh, write path: ")
		If Len(s)>0
			If m Then FreeEntity m
		m=LoadMesh(s)
		EndIf
	FlushKeys
	SetBuffer BackBuffer()
	EndIf
	
End Function

Function SHOW_NODES_STATS()
	;EntityColor the Nodes, draw numbers, and draw connection lines:
	For p=0 To path_maxnodes ;999
		If paths1(p,0)>0
		EntityColor paths1(p,0),0,150,0
		
		CameraProject cam_player,EntityX(paths1(p,0)),EntityY(paths1(p,0)),EntityZ(paths1(p,0))
		x1#=ProjectedX()
		y1#=ProjectedY()
		z1#=ProjectedZ()
		
			If z1>0
			Color 255,255,255
			Text x1,y1,p
				If EntityDistance(paths1(p,0),cam_player)<10
				Text x1,y1+10,"F: "+paths1(p,2)
				Text x1,y1+20,"G: "+paths1(p,3)
				Text x1,y1+30,"H: "+paths1(p,4)
				Text x1,y1+40,"Parent: "+paths1(p,5)
				Text x1,y1+50,"OnList: "+paths1(p,1)
				EndIf
			EndIf
			
			If path_picked>0
				If path_picked=paths1(p,0)
				EntityColor paths1(p,0),255,100,0
				path_nodeselected=p
				EndIf
			Else
			path_nodeselected=-1
			EndIf
			
			If paths1(p,1)=1
			EntityColor paths1(p,0),0,255,255
			EndIf
			If paths1(p,1)=2
			EntityColor paths1(p,0),255,0,0
			EndIf
			
			;Draw lines:
			Color 0,255,0
			If Len(paths1b(p))>0
			s$=paths1b(p)
				For l=1 To Len(s)/2
				num$=Mid(s,l*2-1,2)

				CameraProject cam_player,EntityX(paths1(num,0)),EntityY(paths1(num,0)),EntityZ(paths1(num,0))
				x2#=ProjectedX()
				y2#=ProjectedY()
				z2#=ProjectedZ()
					If z1>0 And z2>0
					Line x1,y1,x2,y2
					EndIf
				Next
			EndIf

			Color 255,255,255
			If path_picked=paths1(p,0)
			printnodes$=""
			s=paths1b(p)
				For l=1 To Len(s)/2
				printnodes=printnodes+Mid(s,l*2-1,2)+"-"
				Next
			Text 10,80,printnodes
			EndIf
		EndIf
	Next
	;------------------------------------
End Function

;***************************************

;Red cubes to show the found path:
Type paths_marks
	Field ele
End Type

Function ADD_MARKER(node1,node2)
	node1=paths1(node1,0)
	node2=paths1(node2,0)
	
	amark.paths_marks=New paths_marks
		amark\ele=CreateCube()
			EntityColor amark\ele,255,0,0
			EntityFX amark\ele,1
			PositionMesh amark\ele,0,0,1
			ScaleMesh amark\ele,.1,.1,1
			PositionEntity amark\ele,EntityX(node1),EntityY(node1),EntityZ(node1)
			PointEntity amark\ele,node2
			ScaleEntity amark\ele,1,1,interpolate(EntityDistance(amark\ele,node2),2,4,1,2)
End Function


While Not KeyDown(1)


	If KeyDown(200) MoveEntity cam_player,0,0,.2
	If KeyDown(208) MoveEntity cam_player,0,0,-.2
	If KeyDown(203) MoveEntity cam_player,-.2,0,0
	If KeyDown(205) MoveEntity cam_player,.2,0,0
	TurnEntity cam_player,MouseYSpeed()/12.0,-MouseXSpeed()/12.0,0
	RotateEntity cam_player,EntityPitch(cam_player),EntityYaw(cam_player),0
	MoveMouse GraphicsWidth()/2,GraphicsHeight()/2


	;--------------
	
	
	If KeyHit(28)
	parent=-1
	reset=True

		FIND_PATH(node1,node2)
		
	
	EndIf




	UpdateWorld
	


	;----------------
	
	RenderWorld
	

	;--------------------------------------------------
	;-------------- NODES EDITING -----------------
	If KeyHit(82) ;Numpad 0
	path_editing=Not path_editing
		If path_editing=1
		FlushMouse:FlushKeys
			For p=0 To path_maxnodes;999
				If paths1(p,0)>0
				ShowEntity paths1(p,0)
				EndIf
			Next
		Else
			For p=0 To path_maxnodes;999
				If paths1(p,0)>0
				HideEntity paths1(p,0)
				EndIf
			Next
		EndIf
	EndIf
	
	If path_editing
	CREATE_PATH()

	SHOW_NODES_STATS()
	
		;SHOW THE PATH
		If reset=True
			If Len(path_total)>0
			reset=False
				For l=1 To Len(path_total)/2
				s1$=Mid(path_total,l*2-1,2)
				s2$=Mid(path_total,l*2-1+2,2)
					If Len(s1)>0 And Len(s2)>0
					ADD_MARKER(s1,s2)
					EndIf
				Next
			EndIf
		EndIf
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2,5,"NODES >ED<",1
	Else
		For amark.paths_marks=Each paths_marks
		FreeEntity amark\ele
		Delete amark
		Next
	EndIf
	;--------------------------------------------------
	;--------------------------------------------------
	
	Color 255,0,0
	Oval GraphicsWidth()/2-3,GraphicsHeight()/2-3,6,6,0

	Color 255,255,255
	Text 10,100,"Nearest node to camera: "+GET_NEARNODE(cam_player)
	Text 10,120,"Selected node: "+path_nodeselected
	Text 10,140,"path_total: "+path_total
	Text 10,160,"Path: from <"+node1+"> to <"+node2+">"
	Text 10,180,"Enem_Path: "+enem_path
	Text 10,200,"Finding: "+finding
	
	Text 10,5,"F1-Help   |   Use Numpad 0 to enable/disable NODES editing"
	Text 10,20,"polys: "+TrisRendered()
	
	If KeyHit(17) w=Not w WireFrame w
	Flip
Wend

MoveMouse 400,300:End

I think your art style would look really good with bumpmaps. Just render some bumpmaps straight from the texture and use my Doom3BB code to set the vertex colors.

I tried to implement some kind of bumpmapping some time ago, but I found it was too much work to do ... :(
Also, a good bump effect is only visible when you have lights >moving< around, so I would also have to think about that.
So,
I ended up doing static lighting with lightmaps, and in some dark rooms I set the ambient light to cero and use directX lights (they don't look so bad you know :)

Don't worry about dynamic lights. Moving lights on a bump map just make you sick to your stomach. Think of bump maps as being like a non-repeating detail texture. If you put them on your walls, and color the vertices relative to the closest light, your walls will look a lot shinier and more extruded. I could set it up for you without a lot of work.

Bumps are cool ... add 'em!!!

Trust me guys,
my intention is not building the next doom (obvious that
I can't, isn't it?
Also, I have made some test of bumps in my levels and
I don't really like them so much, since my levels are
not looking for a 100% photorealistic look, and sometimes they don't feel so good in such scenes,
and as I said, they are also a pain to implement (at least for me),
so ... what the hell ... I prefer
to concentrate a little bit more in gameplay ...
... and not a gameplay that is going to blow you away... but at least a little different methods to jump from level 1 to level 2 to level 3... :)

We all love your graphics, but want to see them bump-mapped! Just send me your code, or a little test map. I can do it in like 5 minutes. It would make everything look so much crisper.

So, whats the license on the code you posted, Eurythmia?
Free? *Crosses fingers...*

Yep, is free,
use it for whatever you want, ... under your own risk of course :)


I will see if I can send you a small piece of a level later, Halo.

bye!

Cool!
Thanks Eurythmia!

You are my new favorite person! :D

I don't know if that is good or bad :)


Also, in case you use the code,
a tiny mention in the Credits would be appreciated :D

later!
Paolo.

Thanks a lot for sharing, Paolo! Just saved in the "precious stuff" folder.

BTW. Bumpmapping may be nice if it's implemented nicely. But it really has to look better, because the user won't think "wow, bumpmapping, so it must be good". If it looks like "it looks crappy, but it's bumpmapping" then better skip it. I see what you mean, your style has some artistic elements, something I think I know from HiQ Comic Artists. Photorealism easily could kill this ambiance.

hey Paolo... sorry i missed most of this earlier...

also, glad to see that TECNO is still on track :)

yeah, implementing bumpmapping IS a real pain... i can see why you went without it.

yeah, your pathfinding ed looks like great stuff, getting it now...

--Mike

Hi Mike !
I saw your post about "working with bumpmaps"
I think that's is what happens to anyone,
...there's always a point where you get disappointed in one way or another
... and then you find it still doesn't look as good as the stuff you see in Doom3 or whatever... :)

So, as JFK said, and I agree,
it is not only applying bump maps, IT IS MAKE THEM LOOK GOOD also,
and that's the real problem I think :)

cheers!
Paolo!.

ps: so Mike, at last, What engine are you using now???

Blitz, 3dgs is taking up most of my time right now...

BlitzMax will become the choice of choices once the 3D module shows it's head...

Torques shader version looks promising as well...

still playing with 3DRAD a lil now and then...

in short... i'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off :)

--Mike