CryEngine 3 demo impressions

Earlier this month a new video of CryEngine was shown at the SIGGRAPH 2009 conference.
CryEngine is well known to all gamers, well most of gamers. If you haven’t played Crysis you are one of very few…

In video below there are few things I would like to point out.

Even with use of DirectX 9.0c Crytek is managing to create impressive lighting environments with great performance. First part of the video, Sponza atrium, is built from 1.4M triangles and it looks great but I don’t like the camera movement – too fast and too sharp.




Second part, 53” from start is Manhattan apartment is much more interesting. This scene has little bit less details, only 1.1M triangles and it runs at 113 FPS. Author of this demo playes a lot with position of sunlight to illustrate light capabilities of new engine. The engine does it very nicely with diffuse coloured lights bouncing off objects like blue couch/chair or green and red carpets. Real time lighting is really good even if it may not be 100% accurate. I am not saying that it is not but programs like Lightscape create very, very realistic images. Here is a sample.

 

Development of the GPU and technologies like CUDA and FireStream enabled us to have scenes like one below in real time. Mind you, this is a screen capture from a video.



Last part of the video is about handling of object and materials. It starts at 2’26”. It is easy to see how light volumes are affected by objects like carpet. Light is reflecting from it and gives the light reddish colour.

Seeing this functionality really makes me keen to try is out for myself. Even if I could have the engine and the editor only. But if I can get all that plus the good game for about NZ$120 then why not?!

New voice for Kerrigan in Starcraft II?

From news on Kotaku Glynnis Talken Campbell will not give voice to Kerrigan. From the same source Karen Strassman will be new Kerrigan.

You can her audio clip here but it is at the very end of the clip 1’48”. I guess we will know for sure once game is released next year.

Gran Turismo 5 features announcement

For a short time Polyphony Digital web site had a list of features of Gran Turismo 5.
Features listed were:
Cars

• 1,000 vehicles
• 170 Premium new models (full interior modelling, the interior corresponds to vehicle damage)
• 830 standard models

Tracks

• 60 confirmed courses
• 20 yet to be confirmed

Physics

• New physics engine
• Full representation of physics with possible rollover
• Real time collision deformation
• Electric cars behaviour

Modes

• Arcade
• Single race
• 2 Player battle
• GT mode
• World map
• My garage
• Car dealer
• Tuning shop
• Car wash & oil change
• Race championship
• License test

Online

• Open lobby
• Text & voice chat
• Private rooms
• Online photo album
• Online replay album
• YouTube replay output

Photo mode

• Photo drive on circuit
• Photo stage

Gran Turismo TV

• Video output to PSP/PSP Go
• Progressive download
• Improved UI
• Continuous play for videos

Museum

• GT5 Prologue and other info

Sound

• Dolby Digital 5.1, 7.1
• Custom soundrack/playlist

These are features we saw and let’s hope it won’t be too long before we see it on the shelves.

Playstation 3 slim confirmed

On Sony’s official Playstation blog there’s news we been waiting for a long time – new slim PS3 will be available from 1st of September.



New PS3 will cost less - $299 (US) and will have 120 GB HD as standard. If you prefer picture for closer look of new hardware check them out on Flickr.

In addition to this another post from the same day (yesterday) is announcing firmware update to v 3.00. Firmware will be released on the same day as new PS3. New features of firmware are:

• What’s New -
• Status indicator
• Friends list
• PlayStation Store shortcuts
• Personalization
• Trophies

See new features in the video below.



Dynamic themes look interesting but I feel it can will be abused. It will come to sifting throu number of them until real gems are reveald.

Anyway I can't wait to get one of these and Gran Turismo 5...

Lord Of The Rings and Weta cave tour

At the end of last month my wife and I went to Wellington. During four days we saw majority of tourist attractions located within the walking distance from our hotel.

We also went to short Lord Of The Rings tour. This is organized by Flat Earth in Wellington. We went to “The Weta Cave and Rings Tour”.

Weather was not at it best but it held up to Wellington’s reputation – lots of wind. Apart from us, there were three lads from UK (now working in NZ). The tour started with visit to Mt Victoria. Our guide started the tour with lot of information and anecdotes about the making of the movies.

 
From top of the mountain we went on short ride to the location of the first scene filmed for the Fellowship of the ring.

As you can see on the screenshot our guide is holding the tree has not changed much since then.


Unfortunately, it is not visible on the picture above but houses are just 40 or 50 meters downhill from where we were standing. It is amazing how close it is and you would not know it is filmed in the middle of Wellington.

Not too far is a location of another famous scene. Can you guess which one from picture I took?

 

After this we went to Miramar where film studios and post production took place. Weta cave is also in Miramar. We made a quick stop at the wharf to look at the old ship. If it looks familiar then you’ve seen the King Kong (Peter Jackson’s version of course). The ship was bought for a $1 by a fan who now lives in the boat. If you have a close look at the third image you may see that there is a lot of painted wood used to mimic riveted steel.






In Miramar we also saw Park Road building – post production studio for Lord Of The Rings trilogy.



The last part of the trip was visit to Weta Cave. It is located in Camperdown Road in the corner of the building and it is packed with items and merchandise from Lord of the rings and other movies Weta worked on.



Part of the Weta Cave is a mini museum. It has quite a few models of characters and items from the movies. These are not for sale. Here are few shots.




I really admire level of details on these models.





There are items for sale and as you may have expected various Precious Rings are available.

 

More interestingly there are various items designed by Weta staff that is not created for any movie or project but as something they found interesting. I have to say that reminds me a lot of combination of Jumanji and Bioshock. How? Have a look at next few pictures.



This is very much like Hunter from Jumanji with weapon from Bioshock.

 

Very strange creatures…



One of the imaginary weapons – Infalliable Aether Oscillator. This model in particular is Manmelter 3600 ZX. Looks like it is using plasma for ammo.


This one could be yours for NZ$1,399 only. These are unique items crafted by Weta designers.

And for the end something that my brother-in-law is teasing me about. He is saying there is a striking resemblance… I know it is not true – I have way more hair (for now).