Where is the terrain self shadowing??

[SkateZilla]

ALPHA

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

A video with working shadows in terrain:

 

[rrohde]

Yeah, the difference is obvious.

Thanks for reminding us how these terrain shadows can make a difference in terms look-and-feel. :)

[Gryzor]

Also terrain shadow is present on this video:

 

[ame]

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Look at minute 4:20 the mountain shadow extends even covering the road.

 

Besides, the density of brushes is higher than we have now, look the low level flight across the motorway there is a lot of brushes

[rrohde]

Thanks for the video link, Gryzor.

 

Here's a snapshot taken from that video that shows the self-shading terrain effect, which is quite spectacular:

 

 

The question is - why isn't the feature available to us in the current build, considering that this video was posted by Wags in Jan 2015? I believe our current 2.0.x Alpha is more advanced compared to what was out there almost a year ago? Or has the public Alpha release been segmented, to test certain aspects of the EDGE engine step-by-step, and self-shading terrain is thus not yet implemented for us?

 

Is quite astounding how a lot of these official ED videos have this self-shading terrain enabled, and here we are, wondering where it actually went. :)

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

Yeah, I think its probably one of the most important NEW features in EDGE so I really wonder why isnt it present right now...again, it would be nice to get some official support from ED on this regard...

 

Btw, here are some more official screens with terrain shadows:

 

Edited December 30, 2015 by watermanpc

[rrohde]

Thanks for those, watermanpc! Interesting to see these pictures featuring the much more recent M-2000C *and* our missing shadows. :)

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

Thanks for those, watermanpc! Interesting to see these pictures featuring the much more recent M-2000C *and* our missing shadows. :)

 

Thanks mate!! hope ED is now concerned about this and make something about...it would be great if shadows could be ready in the next update!:thumbup:

[NineLine]

The map is still in Alpha...

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

The map is still in Alpha...

 

Yes, thanks for the reply, we know it but I find it a bit weird to remove the feature now when even in "old" NTTR videos and screens the effect is working...

[Nate--IRL--]

It needed more work.

 

Nate

[NineLine]

Yes, thanks for the reply, we know it but I find it a bit weird to remove the feature now when even in "old" NTTR videos and screens the effect is working...

 

Thats how software development works, we had new grass early on, it had to be removed to be optimized... same with clouds, etc... Alpha's giveth, and Alpha's taketh away.

[SkateZilla]

Yes, thanks for the reply, we know it but I find it a bit weird to remove the feature now when even in "old" NTTR videos and screens the effect is working...

 

.

 

, thats why its an Alpha, everything is still WIP, everything is still being adjusted or re-done. etc.

 

Effects and shaders will be turned on or off as they are worked on.

 

thats the way it goes.

Edited December 30, 2015 by SkateZilla

[rrohde]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Good to hear that this hasn't been abandoned, but rather, is in continued development.

[OnlyforDCS]

Hmmm, interesting. I was convinced that terrain self-shadowing is in the Alpha. Strange, as all the other objects cast shadows, these can't be that more demanding than the hundreds of thousands of other objects already casting shadows can they?

[Nate--IRL--]

Hmmm, interesting. I was convinced that terrain self-shadowing is in the Alpha. Strange, as all the other objects cast shadows, these can't be that more demanding than the hundreds of thousands of other objects already casting shadows can they?

 

Nothing is ever simple™

 

Nate

[Manuel_108]

Well, great to know that you guys are polishing features rather than abandoning them.

[sobek]

Hmmm, interesting. I was convinced that terrain self-shadowing is in the Alpha. Strange, as all the other objects cast shadows, these can't be that more demanding than the hundreds of thousands of other objects already casting shadows can they?

 

Why can't they? It's much more probable that the shadow of a house will entirely fit onto a plane surface part as compared to the shadow of a mountain. Given that the surface area is much bigger, it most certainly won't be flat, making computation a lot more complicated.

 

Have any of you tried if terrain shadowing is on if you set shadows to non-flat?

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

Why can't they? It's much more probable that the shadow of a house will entirely fit onto a plane surface part as compared to the shadow of a mountain. Given that the surface area is much bigger, it most certainly won't be flat, making computation a lot more complicated.

 

Have any of you tried if terrain shadowing is on if you set shadows to non-flat?

 

Good point,maybe some one can make a test with the settings you proposed...

[rrohde]

Today's DCS newsletter (Jan 8, 2016) shows some nice new pictures of the Albtros - with terrain self-shading enabled:

 

 

Nice to see that it's still there in these latest screenshots. :)

[Manuel_108]

Was the first thing I noticed when looking at these screenshots. Did anyone see these shadows in game yet with flat shadows disabled?

[OnlyforDCS]

Well disable flat shadows and try it yourself. I myself think that someone would have posted a pic or two already if that were possible. The devs are obviously flying a different build than we are, or someone has been playing in photoshop :)

[Manuel_108]

Well disable flat shadows and try it yourself

 

I haven't downloaded 2.0 yet due to the huge download size and because said shadows aren't implemented yet. Huge immersion killer for me.

 

someone has been playing in photoshop :)

 

Oh I wouldn't worry about that, I'm sure ED isn't practising false advertising.

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

Any news about thit guys?? Did someone tested 2.0 to see if finally the shadows are working???

[rrohde]

The self-shading terrain doesn't work in the version we have. But it does work on the version that ED is using - see screenshot above. The question, of course, is - when do we get that updated DCS 2.0.x version that will let us experience that self-shading feature as well?