Hey Adam,
I was wondering, I know that Nascar 2 will be rendition ready, I am already impressed with the graphics in the demo. Can you describe how the graphics will look different for those that have a Rendition based board? I know the speed will be incredible, but how will the graphics look different/better.
Thanks!
Todd
I wouldn't say the speed will be incredible. It should be faster, but the
main improvement will be in image quality not framerates. There is a
before/after shot of IndycarII that will ship with the Intergraph
Resctor3D. The URL is: http://205.139.128.5/ics/reactor/differen.htm
Notice the textured sky and the anti-aliasing of lines and polygons (look
at the tops of the side mirrors, the windshield, and the tires). Bi-linear
filtering should also allow for better look texture maps for the cars.
BTW, they did kinda cheat by turning off textures in the non-accelerated
version, but the Rendition version still does look impressive.
--
Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/
already impressed with the graphics in the demo. Can you describe how the
graphics will look different for those that have a Rendition based board?
I know the speed will be incredible, but how will the graphics look
different/better.
Eric,
I have seen that picture before and after at the URL that you specified, and I wrote them about it being misleading turning off car, track and grass textures.
Also, I would consider 40 fps incredible, since we are only getting about 25 fps today without the boards.
l8r
Todd
It's not only misleading, it is downright wrong for a company to make
claims like that. It reminds me of ATI's new comparison of their RageII
chip to the Mystique. They tested the boards with Bi-linear filtering
enabled, which just happens to be a feature the Mystique lacks. As a
result of the Mystique's software emulation it is much slower than the ATI
card. This is misleading to the consumer, as a Direct3D game will not use
bi-linear filtering on the Mystique. I had high hopes for Intergraph (as
compared to Creative Labs) but with this kind of advertising I'm
rethinking. Well, enough rambling on unfair product comparisons.
BTW, what's your source for the 40fps figure (I'm not doubting you, I've
just never seen it quoted)?
--
Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/
and I wrote them about it being misleading turning off car, track and grass
textures.
25 fps today without the boards.
>Hey Adam,
>I was wondering, I know that Nascar 2 will be rendition ready, I am
>already impressed with the graphics in the demo. Can you describe
>how the graphics will look different for those that have a Rendition
>based board? I know the speed will be incredible, but how will the
>graphics look different/better.
I'll follow this up with a couple more questions...
* When will Sierra's Rendition board be shipping?
* What software will be included with it?
* I understand that Intergraphics Reactor board will ship with
a Rendition-version of ICR2. Will any other Rendition Verite
boards ship with Papyrus (ICR2 or NASCAR1/2) software?
* And, for bonus points, how fast are the Rendition boards
with other generic DOS (say, F1GP2?) and Win95 tasks?
I'm going to get a new CPU and motherboard (and PCI video card)
Pretty Darn Soon, so all of these questions are most pertinent.
Thanks for any hard info you can offer.
Pick one or more: Model Rockets (competition-NERCB) / PCs (even Atari!) /
Papyrus ICR-ICR2-NCR / Who needs a life when you have multiple non-lives?
The Sierra Screamin' 3D looks to be shipping in late October after both
Creative Labs and Intergraph ship their boards. This is only an estimate,
but it makes sense as it was the last announced board.
The only announced titles so far are hardware accelerated version of
IndyCar Racing 2 and Silent Thunder II.
None will ship with Nascar2 as it will not be in production at the time of
the boards' releases. Nascar2 will be Rendition-Ready when it is released.
ICR2 however will also be shipping with both Intergraph's and Sierra's
boards.
Sources say their DOS VGA speed is quite slow, but SVGA VESA 2.0 speeds are
quite fast (equal to or faster than a Matrox Millennium). Regular Windows
2D looks to be about 60% as fast as the Millennium.
--
Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/
> BTW, they did kinda cheat by turning off textures in the non-accelerated
> version, but the Rendition version still does look impressive.
Gee, they did more than cheat on the textures. They took the instrument
panel and made it unreadable in the left picture. It makes me wonder what
other things they lie about. I'm not saying that the Rendition version
would not be an improvement - but honesty sure WOULD be an improvement.
Mike
Well apparently what they did was turn off textures on the regular version
until the frame rates equaled the hardware accelerated version. They were
trying to emphasize the increased detail that the card could deliver at the
same speed. They are supposedly going to update the page to make this
clear.
--
Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/
