Graphics Engine Question.

Hello all, What exactly is the difference between the graphics engine of say "The Need For Speed" and GP2?? NFS flies on my P100 16MB Stealth64, while GP2 is still excellent the frame rates are (shall we say) disappointing. I also happen to think that the graphics in NFS are more than good enough, maybe even better than GP2. Is it that Pioneer Productions wrote a better engine or is it not a true 3D engine, why aren't more people going the same way, could the great Mr. Crammond have spent 2 years more frutifully and what are the long term effects of exposure to large doses of assembly language??? Patrick. Patrick Aspinall

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> What exactly is the difference between the graphics engine of say > "The Need For Speed" and GP2?? NFS flies on my P100 16MB Stealth64, while GP2 > is still excellent the frame rates are (shall we say) disappointing. I also > happen to think that the graphics in NFS are more than good enough, maybe even > better than GP2. Is it that Pioneer Productions wrote a better engine or is it > not a true 3D engine, why aren't more people going the same way, could the > great Mr. Crammond have spent 2 years more frutifully and what are the long > term effects of exposure to large doses of assembly language???

OK, try turning around in the NEED for SPEED. Can you see the track backwards or does the graphics engine just turn the image of the car around? Try spinning a car and staying in the***pit view. Does it work? I think NFS is a fair racing game, but the engine is not *complete* in that it does not allow views of the scenery from any direction. I think that while the graphics are nice, they are far from true 3-D. GP2,Nascar,ICRI&II = 3-d environment NFS = On Rails Environment Were you as disappointed as I when you first tried to race the Alpine circuit backwards and couldn't? Man, I can get better laptimes at Monaco going the wrong way <NOT> You should also consider the physics of the cars. GP2 has much better handling and responsiveness. Try editing an NFS track and put some decent 90 degree corners in, or a hairpin. A 911 in NFS has trouble getting around a 90 degree corner! I can get my friend's 911Carrera2 around 90deg. corners quite easily at reasonable speeds. Even my old beat up Starion Turbo gets around 90deg. corners without too much trouble (If a little sideways :) NFS looks realistic, and does great burnouts, but does lack true to life physics. NFS has too many different car models. It's like USNavy fighters vs. EF2000 (patched of course). You can either model 1 vehicle (F1, Indy, Nascar) very very well, or come close with 8 or 9 different vehicles. Geoff Crammond has produced a game which simulates F1 very well, and unfortunately the downturn is the requirement for a high end pentium (or fast Cyrix :) You could try overclocking (if you know what you are doing) or upgrade, or play with less detail or VGA. Jet (my opinions only - comments welcome)

One of the most closely-guarded areas of any developer's programming is their graphics "engine"....one of the reasons why no two companies are ever (or very rarely) the same when it comes to the frame-rate and definition. > Hello all, > What exactly is the difference between the graphics engine of say > "The Need For Speed" and GP2?? NFS flies on my P100 16MB Stealth64, while GP2 > is still excellent the frame rates are (shall we say) disappointing. I also > happen to think that the graphics in NFS are more than good enough, maybe even > better than GP2. Is it that Pioneer Productions wrote a better engine or is it > not a true 3D engine, why aren't more people going the same way, could the > great Mr. Crammond have spent 2 years more frutifully and what are the long > term effects of exposure to large doses of assembly language??? > Patrick. > Patrick Aspinall

I belive NFS is 2D graphics and not 3D. It is annoying that you are taken out of the car when you spin out or turn around. You are not surroung by the graphics so to speak. Like surround sound, I like surround ground..... Nigel of Lakewood Racing

I have no expertise on graphics engines, but I think you should take into account that the physical model of GP2 is very complex. IMHO the model of NFS is nothing, compared to GP2. Arnold