Why D3 engine?

[Gabrobot]

FireFly said:Edit: In UE3, how are the shadow masks generated? I thought maybe they were just using a simple shadow mapping system.

I mean Carmack is going to be using shadow maps for all the real time lighting, so why not just bake all the static shadows into the map using this system? Each shadow could be recalculated when an object is moved in the editor.

Yeah, well that does make sense (Carmack will probably do this since he actually had an optimization in Doom 3 which wouldn't recalculate shadows if things were static, and apparently shadow maps make this even easier) but from what I've read the shadow masks in UE3 are like lightmaps only just for the shadows. Shadow maps are used on characters though.



Something I just noticed while looking at my PCGamer (it came today!) is that in the little round picture labeled "Your spirit guide", you can see in the background what looks like a canyon on Earth with some stone ruins. Also, the scans of the preview are missing a (fairly large) screenshot which is in the front page of the magazine...it shows three of those zombie girls rushing at the player. In the background there's a bunch of alien looking organic stuff. I'd say that while at first it seems to look like Doom 3, the art design seems to be more greenish organic alien...reminds me of some of the Duke3d levels actually.

[Ronald McDonald]

Something I just noticed while looking at my PCGamer (it came today!) is that in the little round picture labeled "Your spirit guide", you can see in the background what looks like a canyon on Earth with some stone ruins. Also, the scans of the preview are missing a (fairly large) screenshot which is in the front page of the magazine...it shows three of those zombie girls rushing at the player. In the background there's a bunch of alien looking organic stuff. I'd say that while at first it seems to look like Doom 3, the art design seems to be more greenish organic alien...reminds me of some of the Duke3d levels actually.

What page?

[X-Vector]

Post deleted by Joe3DR

[dark_angel]

John said:
It looks like a really badass Doom 3 expansion.

It is not.

[MeatWagon]

Doesnt look like doom3 to me, the tech design of the levels looks different, not to mention its more colourfull.

I wonder if the idea of the organic grenade, where the player rips off its limb in order to make it explode, is from the 2001 DNF video where duke rips that little creatures leg off.

[Drazula]

Post deleted by Joe3DR

[X-Vector]

Drazula said:
Someone hanging out at an Unreal 2 forum should not be making funny pictures of other games. He should be walking around with his tail between his legs. That game was a big time POS.

No argument about Unreal 2, but how does that relate to the topic at hand?

I don't think the picture is funny either, but I do think that if the Prey screenshots in the PCG article were announced as taken from a second DooM III expansion in stead, that a lot of people would have accepted it without question.
The more I look at them, the more striking the similarity becomes.

[Kristian Joensen]

The more I look at at them the less of a similarity I see.

[Gabrobot]

The second page...there's a couple pages for the contents and it's on the first one.

[Drazula]

X-Vector said:
No argument about Unreal 2, but how does that relate to the topic at hand?

None. I am just surprise an Unreal 2 forum even exists.

X-Vector said:
I don't think the picture is funny either, but I do think that if the Prey screenshots in the PCG article were announced as taken from a second DooM III expansion in stead, that a lot of people would have accepted it without question.
The more I look at them, the more striking the similarity becomes.

I don't see any pointy heads. And if you look at some early Unreal 2(!) shots of creatures, you'll see a more striking similarity in the models than with Doom 3.

While the environments that have been revealed of Prey are similar to Doom 3, should that be a surprise? Both are alien tech levels. I'm sure there will be places in Prey that will differentiate it from Doom 3, since there is no restriction in the engine itself that says it has to do alien tech environments.

The preview pictures are looking very doomish to me.
I can only pray, that they will have a lot of different settings.
Variety + epic cutscenes/story + action is the key to create a great game imho.
If it is a dark & boring maze game, where you have to search keycards it is a nobuy for me!
Somehow the old screenis in the pcgamer preview where much more appealing.

I will wait, till a demo is released, because I was soooo disappointed with Doom3. Halflife2 was great btw.

Maybe I sound to pessimistic in the above paragraphs. I really do anticipate this game and wish HumanHead good luck/success.

[Cerberus_e]

fritzchen1 said:
I was soooo disappointed with Doom3. Halflife2 was great btw.

funny comment
and you say you dislike the doom 3 engine because you don't want to search for keycards?

[lonestar]

it sure reminds on doom3 levels, but it doesn't have that of a dark look like d3 and this screenshot where you see earth in background gives me hope that it's not just some running through corridors. the article says, there's more variety in the architecture of enviroments and they modified the engine to be able to create large outdoor enviroments. here's hoping that i will be pleased.

it's ridicilous, when i see people posting "omg! look, a doom3 expansion!" in the end, it's a si-fi shooter, what makes you realise more similarities to d3, of course.

Cerberus_e said:
funny comment
and you say you dislike the doom 3 engine because you don't want to search for keycards?

No, I didn't like the game doom 3; the engine is fine!
But the screenshots of Prey didn't show what I expected. It shouldn't push you through endless claustrophobic dark corridors.
I don't have anything against some gloomy levels, but it isn't necessary to keep that mood the whole game, even if it's sci-fi.
Sure I do not expect it to be a colourfull outdoor shooter like FarCry.
A mix between FarCry and Doom3 would do it for me (graphicswise).

[Kristian Joensen]

The preview says:"The game features larger and much brighter environment than those seen in Doom 3. Wheras id's shooter relied on constricted passageways and omnious darkness, Prey's alien mother-ship is marked by huge, cavernous spaces as well as more traditional passages. "

Kristian Joensen said:
The preview says:"The game features larger and much brighter environment thatn those seen in Doom 3".

Ok, let's all hope that's the case
I'am sure HumanHeads leveldesigners know how to create a good atmosphere.
Nevertheless, I tend to play a demo and read a lot of user reviews before I come to the decision to buy a game lately.

[Kristian Joensen]

3D Realms logo on the box should be more than enough reason to buy a game, you can't get a better quality stamp than that.

[Tim. Just Tim.]

I agree that Prey looks like Doom3. Its using the Doom3 engine what did you expect? Anyway I dont think this is a bad thing - I thought Doom3s graphics were great. The game was pretty creepy the first time, but nothing special, and it was too dark of course. But Prety will improve on all of these things, so who cares that it looks like Doom3?

[hell-angel]

FireFly said:
Graphics + gameplay = game. Both are important.

Don't forget the sound (which mostly create the all important atmosphere. )

A great game need:

Graphics that are on par with the rest (preferably better)
Great gameplay
Good sound which complements the above two.


(story line is also important if the action is not that high)


this is just my opinion of course.

[Killd a ton]

I hate it when a game dosen't have voiceactors

[hell-angel]

Killd a ton said:
I hate it when a game dosen't have voiceactors

hmm... pacman with voice actors... I like the sound of that


voice actors should be used only when they are possible or required, Serious Sam for example can do pretty well without voice actors.

[Cerberus_e]

fritzchen1 said:

Ok, let's all hope that's the case
I'am sure HumanHeads leveldesigners know how to create a good atmosphere.
Nevertheless, I tend to play a demo and read a lot of user reviews before I come to the decision to buy a game lately.

ID knows too, I'm still impressed after almost a year

After taking a closer look at the Prey preview screenshots and reading the article once again, I am confident that HumanHead and 3DRealms will create a great game.
The shots are indeed well-lit so you do not need a flash light. Perhaps my earlier worries were arbitrary.

3DRealms is Apogee + they produced MaxPayne. So somehow I should trust in their ability to create wonderfull computer games.

[hell-angel]

fritzchen1 said:
3DRealms is Apogee + they produced MaxPayne. So somehow I should trust in their ability to create wonderfull computer games.

You should.

[Killd a ton]

hell-angel said:

hmm... pacman with voice actors... I like the sound of that


voice actors should be used only when they are possible or required, Serious Sam for example can do pretty well without voice actors.

OK, you got me there

[Eli Quinn]

I'll answer a couple of these just from an artist's perspective:

Nailed said:
1. Don't let the artists shine things up too much. People really don't like everything to be shiny.

Most of us grime the hell out of our textures in the game to give them a beaten appearance. However, sometimes you have to exaggerate the specular layer in places so that the level guys don't have to blow the room out with lights to make it appear shiny.

Nailed said:
3. Constantly compare your work to the levels in Doom3. If they're too similar in style, don't be afraid to redo things to make Prey different.

Don't worry, we've striven to create a unique look/feel and I think it's going great so far!

Nailed said:
7. Keep up the good work.

No joke, our level guys are talented as hell!

(and if that was intended as a general statement to the Prey team, thanks )

[ZuljinRaynor]

hell-angel said:

hmm... pacman with voice actors... I like the sound of that

It has it already. Remember?
"Wakka wakka wakka wakka."
and "Deun dun dun wack waq. (aka my interpretation of the deat sound."

[Spooger]

I have a feeling that once the E3 trailer for Prey is readily available, a lot of these comparisons are going to fade away. Doom III has a very distinct look, and some of the environments we see in the PC Gamer article echo that feel, but the big difference here will be artistic direction.

I think a misconception is that the Doom III only looks great in the dark (something of a paradox). There's no question that Doom III was all about being in the dark, and I think to an extent the engine was built around the idea, instead of say, building the idea around the engine. Creating light - but still realistic - environments in Doom III is quite possible, and it can look great. Some of the later levels in Doom III are proof of this, as they are generously lit.

I think Prey will show players a different side of the Doom III engine. Sure, it's modified and customized, so obviously it will be different, but besides that I know that Human Head isn't out to build something on top of Doom III - that was Nerve's job with Ressurection of Evil

No, this is certainly going to be something new, and if my guess is correct, a lot of what we'll see this E3 will bring things into a new light. No pun intended

Once again, good luck to all the members of Human Head Many of us are following the project with more dedication than might be apparant.

[Orochi Avlis]

I have one question to George:
You said that you chose Doom 3 engine at the time because it was the clear winner.
Looking now at the new engine, are you satisfied with your choice? Or would you like to see Prey in the Crytek engine, Source engine, F.E.A.R engine or the Serious Engine 2 engine?

[Drazula]

Eli Quinn said:
Don't worry, we've striven to create a unique look/feel and I think it's going great so far!

I can't wait!

[pec]

Orochi Avlis said:
I have one question to George:
You said that you chose Doom 3 engine at the time because it was the clear winner.
Looking now at the new engine, are you satisfied with your choice? Or would you like to see Prey in the Crytek engine, Source engine, F.E.A.R engine or the Serious Engine 2 engine?

Or even in the STALKER (X-Ray) engine!!! Photorealism at its best!

[Orochi Avlis]

That's another good one.