Animated textures

[Balthazar]

Zuzuf, have you find the way to implement in TA3D animated textures, that used in TA for many models? (like metal makers, moho metal makers, energy storage, Penetrator tank, Krogoth and others) ?

[zuzuf]

we need to modify the way units are drawn before it's possible, otherwise it would require to use lots of texture memory to do that.

Currently I don't know what is the most efficient way of drawing the units, so we'll see that at optimization time or maybe during holidays .

[Balthazar]

But you do know how it was implemented in TA?

[zuzuf]

yes I know how it's done in TA, but TA uses 2D acceleration not 3D acceleration, in OpenGL you must chose the texture you want to use for rendering, then you draw your stuffs, if we have to change texture for every polygon on a model it'll be slower (ok it would require less memory and loading 3DO objects would be faster) but rendering calls can be optimized by OpenGL itself using Display Lists (very fast compared to other methods because it optimizes texture changes, geometry, etc...). But doing this would require lots of display lists (takes less memory than textures so it's still doable). Currently I've tried other solutions, when I'll have a satisfying one I'll implement it.

[Balthazar]

Good, since units with animated textures must be very interesting for modders.

[Balthazar]

Any progress with this one?

[zuzuf]

no, I'll look at this when I'll optimize unit rendering (rendering a FatShrew is awfully slow)