Author Topic: Impostor builds  (Read 1325 times)

This thread is in General Discussion as it is less about the example and more about the concept and its potential.

And now for something completely different: A building style that focuses almost exclusively on removing detail.

In games, impostors are simpler versions of the same object which replace it when you're farther away. The detail is reduced so you can still see the object in the distance, but it's a simplified impostor which makes rendering easier. That's how any computer not owned by NASA can run GTA IV.

I intend to make a city, currently named Lyndway, designed for making videos, which uses a large amount of separate save files to make it look good up close while remaining possible to film in. It will be broken into sections, only one of which at a time will be the "real" build. All buildings, or, at the very least, their silhouettes, will remain visible in the background from any full-detail area loaded.

I used the Apartment as an example to illustrate this.



In an area with many buildings with full interiors, the effectiveness of the brick reduction and the impressiveness of the finished product will be more profound.

Holy crap this is cool. :O

The building on the left is called a prop building, facade, or movie house.


This could also be used for interiors I suppose, If you have a city where you just want people to stay on the road, buildings in the distance could be low detail.

The building on the left is called a prop building, facade, or movie house.
If you have a city where you just want people to stay on the road, buildings in the distance could be low detail.
Well, it works more like a graphics impostor than a prop building. The point of it is that it's an actual build which is otherwise fully accessible, rather than simply being a prop or a background feature. Rather than just creating a very simple build, I'm taking an existing detailed one and turning it into a recognizable prop version.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2011, 06:42:52 PM by Eksi »

So, just basically use less bricks, right?

So, just basically use less bricks, right?

Basically, but also have a fully detailed version for when you're close to it, and make sure it looks similar from a distance.

Basically, but also have a fully detailed version for when you're close to it, and make sure it looks similar from a distance.
Blockland doesn't support LOD scaling or whatever so this isn't that effective unless it's an area-based RPG.

Blockland doesn't support LOD scaling or whatever so this isn't that effective unless it's an area-based RPG.
Only one detailed area would be loaded at any given time. It's for videos with scenes filmed in different parts of the same city. Not gameplay. This has nothing to do with LOD scaling. The detailed version and the impostor version are built manually, and cleared/loaded manually. This is not a suggestion or request. I don't think you read the OP.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2011, 06:57:45 PM by Eksi »

Sounds brilliant, although the whole 'having a city in sections' sounds kinda hard to do. If your manually (Dwand) far away builds and and keeping the detailed ones, and then loading a version of the city which is low detailed, or vice versa, or whatever, sounds confusing.
Nice concept though.

If you are going to spend so much time making and remaking sections with simplified areas, you may as well just build lots of small streets and scenes and film them in a way that makes it appear as a huge city. Its far easier to be clever with camera angles and editing.

I don't get how this can work. You couldn't possibly make simplified backgrounds for every area and possible angle in the city. You'd limit areas to film in and work with.

this is really coool! your such a good video maker eksi i love your work!

If you are going to spend so much time making and remaking sections with simplified areas, you may as well just build lots of small streets and scenes and film them in a way that makes it appear as a huge city. Its far easier to be clever with camera angles and editing.

I don't get how this can work. You couldn't possibly make simplified backgrounds for every area and possible angle in the city. You'd limit areas to film in and work with.
sorry but i think he knows what hes doing more than you do! ive seen some of your vidoes too and their not as good as his

this is really coool! your such a good video maker eksi i love your work!
sorry but i think he knows what hes doing more than you do! ive seen some of your vidoes too and their not as good as his

Thats all a matter of opinion. Either way, Eksi isn't unquestionably right just because you like him.

You are a very strange person indeed. :o

Thats all a matter of opinion. Either way, Eksi isn't unquestionably right just because you like him.

You are a very strange person indeed. :o
no i like his work and his video editing skills i never said anything about him personaly. i think he is right because of his skills as a producer