New AO engine screenshots

[Bluerush2]

For those interested which I'm guessing is everybody

http://www.anarchy-online.com/wsp/anarc ... ,1008,1036

Oops I thought there were more than just 1.

[Shigy]

Still cool

[Tarryk]

My reaction is a big big wow. Awesome texturing aside, those shadows make all the difference in the world. I think that will do quite a good job at alleviating the downside of avatars not getting included in the love. I'm really excited about this.

(still crossing my fingers and hoping I'll be able to scale it back enough to not chop out on my weak system during a live show)

[Tarryk]

Relinked here so you can see it full-size (it doesn't seem to let you blow it up in their gallery)

http://www.anarchy-online.com/anarchy/frontend/files/CONTENT/playerenginepreview-2.jpg

[Samalicious]

Hell yeah, a big huge YAY for the figure-like shadowing of the avatars!!

[Alex_Fitz]

Only 2 of those pictures out of the whole bunch are pictures of the "Partial" (Not finished version) of the AO GFX Update.

[Cupboady]

Is there a final release date on the engine? Been waiting for ages

[promethial]

Just cracks me up some that the NT has "Sniper Bait!" written all over him when wearing a deck.

Still pondering what the other nano visuals will look like. Twice as "glowy?"

Prom.

[Tarryk]

There won't be any immediately apparent changes to characters, armor, or worn items. All changes in the engine will more directly impact the environment and static objects (and probably wildlife & spaceships, if you have them turned on).

Don't count out character changes though. While the poly-count and animations will likely stay the same, I'm betting textures will start shuffling around in the future beyond the "big" patch.

[promethial]

So in theory its a swirl of nanobots that we "see" as a visual when using a nanoforumla. Just wondering now if those have sufficient mass in the engine to cast a shadow when swirling about.

Probably not. But, pondering senseless topical additions is free and relatively harmless.

Other odd shadow effects, will the Alien Mothership be like an eclipse?


Prom.

[Tarryk]

So in theory its a swirl of nanobots that we "see" as a visual when using a nanoforumla. Just wondering now if those have sufficient mass in the engine to cast a shadow when swirling about.

Good question, and I think that's actually a yes. When talking with them, they did mention that nano and weather effects IS something that's being affected (and completely overhauled) with the new engine -- it is in fact one of the tougher processes they're going through, causing the length of time it's taking to put the patch in.

So I don't know if a nanoproggie effect will cast a shadow, but I think it's a good bet that it will.

[Gridfan]

If you think scientifically then no, the mass of the nano swarm would not be dense enough to make that much of a shadow, and if it did the light the energy they generate would negate that anyway.

Game tech wise, if it uses normal lighting formulas it will light things up, how much I got no idea.

Will be interesting to see though.

There you are, in the wilderness, its very dark.

Flash. You look more carefully in the direction of those cliffs.

Flash. There it is again, the whole side of that cliff is lighting up for a moment.

What the hell is going on over there?


*laughs* I truly hope that is what we'll see.

Why? I assume that nano effects will be given full lightsource calculations, along with the self shadow of characters and objects around.
I imagine that Halloween 2009 is gonna be really spooky lightingwise in AO

[Shigy]

I hope so griddy