Author Topic: Ambient occlusion in Blockland (ie. Making anything look all fancy 'n pretty) (Read 2317 times)

Demian · June 20, 2013, 04:29:05 AM

Since only a select few read the 3D model thread I'll crosspost it here. Zeblote had the bright idea of baking ambient occlusion into textures and putting it in-game. Ambient occlusion is the general make-anything-look-realistic button in 3D rendering.

Quote from: Demian on June 19, 2013, 02:45:38 PM

Alrighty then. Here's what baked ambient occlusion looks like in Blockland. The minor banding visible is caused by GIF compression. It looks fine in Blockland.

http://i.imgur.com/sRZ1wzd.gif
http://i.imgur.com/sPpuWFp.gif
http://i.imgur.com/tHdojAE.gif
http://i.imgur.com/oHYxYgw.gif

Quote from: Demian on June 19, 2013, 05:14:39 PM

Both screens at minimum texture quality.

http://i.imgur.com/4XyOqzn.png
http://i.imgur.com/W5UHQPn.png

One 256x256 texture per color. No problem with 2-3 colors but if you have more it might increase the loading time with a dozen seconds at worst. Colorshifting works.

I'd like to test this properly so if anyone wants their upcoming Blockland model/released add-on done in this style let me know.

I think this could look awesome on vehicles.

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Masterlegodude · June 20, 2013, 04:41:08 AM

I dunno, it feels like something that's just gonna be overlooked most of the time and it'll only add unnecessary load times to download a 256 or 512 black and white texture (and yes i do know that it won't extend the load times by super long amounts, but still, it seems like more to download than the usual textures like blank, whiteCheck, etc)

Not that i'm entirely against the idea, my only problem is that the flatshading makes it hard to notice the AO on certain models

Demian · June 20, 2013, 05:17:36 AM

Quote from: Masterlegodude on June 20, 2013, 04:41:08 AM

I dunno, it feels like something that's just gonna be overlooked most of the time and it'll only add unnecessary load times to download a 256 or 512 black and white texture

256x256 will be fine in almost any situation and it's a color texture.

Quote from: Masterlegodude on June 20, 2013, 04:41:08 AM

(and yes i do know that it won't extend the load times by super long amounts, but still, it seems like more to download than the usual textures like blank, whiteCheck, etc)

It does take longer to download. Four 16x16 PNGs download faster than four 256x256 PNGs.

Quote from: Masterlegodude on June 20, 2013, 04:41:08 AM

Not that i'm entirely against the idea, my only problem is that the flatshading makes it hard to notice the AO on certain models

Flatshading and smoothshading have fairly few differences in AO. It depends almost entirely on the topology of the object.

PurpleMetro · June 20, 2013, 06:42:19 AM

Eh will this even fit in with the style of Blockland?

It is just lego-themed after all..

Steemer · June 20, 2013, 06:56:31 AM

I give my support for this.

I <3 AO

Fob · June 20, 2013, 06:59:55 AM

Quote from: PurpleMetro on June 20, 2013, 06:42:19 AM

Eh will this even fit in with the style of Blockland?

It is just lego-themed after all..

did shadows fit in? honestly? i think ambient occlusion fits in better than the shadows and shaders together

i highly support this!

lolz?? · June 20, 2013, 07:09:04 AM

Quote from: Steemer on June 20, 2013, 06:56:31 AM

I <3 AO

Quote from: Fob on June 20, 2013, 06:59:55 AM

i highly support this!

Port · June 20, 2013, 07:11:00 AM

Quote from: Steemer on June 20, 2013, 06:56:31 AM

I give my support for this.

I <3 AO

General · June 20, 2013, 08:03:57 AM

Blockland needs AO, it'll go better with shaders as all shadowed areas will not all be one flat colour.

Operator� · June 20, 2013, 08:05:55 AM

What does it look like with shaders?

Zeblote · June 20, 2013, 08:11:25 AM

Quote from: Operator� on June 20, 2013, 08:05:55 AM

What does it look like with shaders?

It stops the shadows from turning the weapon into one flat color

Prozy · June 20, 2013, 08:18:19 AM

Make this happen.

/Support

Tonkka� · June 20, 2013, 08:22:25 AM

Imo Blockland's graphics should be focused on just shaders and ambient occlusion since the shadows we have now are ugly and come with high performance costs.

Demian · June 20, 2013, 08:51:05 AM

Quote from: Operator� on June 20, 2013, 08:05:55 AM

What does it look like with shaders?

Shaders do not affect the AO since it's just a texture. It works and looks the same with or without shaders. The screenshots are taken with minimum shaders.

Quote from: Zeblote on June 20, 2013, 08:11:25 AM

It stops the shadows from turning the weapon into one flat color

Not really.

Crystalwarrior · June 20, 2013, 09:01:54 AM

Oh my loving god.
Badspot, if the next update doesn't feature Ambient Occlusion I will kick your dog.