Halo 2 Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Bump Mapping!?!??!?!
  • Subject: Bump Mapping!?!??!?!
Subject: Bump Mapping!?!??!?!
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Alright guys as we all know Bungie is using bump mapping in Halo 2. Bump mapping however is actually making a flat texture look more three dimensional by painting it darker and lighter in some places. So its still a flat image, not a nice high polygon count. To be more exact bump mapping is an illusion. Now I know bump mapping is a better alternative to making high polygon counts because high polygon counts have a tendency to lag and even jam, especially in live. In Halo 1 there was definitely signs of bump mapping in the floors and the walls. From a fair distance they looked nice and one may have beleived that the the texture was painted over a large high complex polygon with many grooves and curves. However as you got closer you could see that it was actaully painted over one flat polygon. The point I am trying to make is that I'm not sure if bump mapping is going to be the best thing for Halo 2 and this is a big concern of mine since everything in Halo 2 is going to be "bump mapped". I would rather have less detail for more authenic polygons that illusions over simple polygons. I have also heard of an alternative called normal bumping, but I'm not really sure what that is exactly. Please send feedback and maybe even reassurance that bump mapping is going to work in Halo 2.

[Edited on 6/22/2004 10:00:48 PM]

  • 06.22.2004 10:00 PM PDT
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it isn't going to work, again

  • 06.22.2004 10:04 PM PDT
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look at the Halo2 screenshots. You'll find your answer there. But besides that, I can see your worry. Remember, it's been 3 odd years since halo came out, and technology has improved. Also, to the fact that all bungie is doing to halo right now is "tweaking." So I don't think we have much to worry about. Just trust them; Halo2 will come just as gleaming as it is now.

  • 06.22.2004 10:04 PM PDT

-S

It's better than you think. The illusion is convincing when the lights are dynamic.

  • 06.22.2004 10:04 PM PDT
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  • Exalted Mythic Member

January 30, 2004 (Warthog's Day)
The Master Chief emerged from his code. After seeing his dynamically lit realtime shadow, he went back for 9 more months of development.


Behold the power of the Originals, the Gods Axeone-Neurone.

Well do you want more polygons and less animations? These are the types of choices you have to make.

[Edited on 6/22/2004 10:06:10 PM]

  • 06.22.2004 10:05 PM PDT
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yea I have in Bungie, but I'm just a little insecure about bump mapping...

  • 06.22.2004 10:06 PM PDT
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thanks shishka. Besides, I'd rather have great graphics (bump mapping) with little lag, then great graphics (polygon) and have more lag.

  • 06.22.2004 10:06 PM PDT
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k, i am al little lost. what the hell is bump mapping?????????

  • 06.22.2004 10:07 PM PDT
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Don't worry. In Halo, the bump mapping is great! Now, with greater technology! (and more time to work on. In halo, they didn't have much time, since they had to come out for the xbox's release) Just the screenshots of Early Halo2 are amazing, easily able to rival that of Half-life 2 and doom 3. Also, graphics isn't everything. You must also consider gameplay, storyline, multiplayer (online): how much lag is in a game, and a lot more.

  • 06.22.2004 10:09 PM PDT
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  • Exalted Mythic Member

January 30, 2004 (Warthog's Day)
The Master Chief emerged from his code. After seeing his dynamically lit realtime shadow, he went back for 9 more months of development.


Behold the power of the Originals, the Gods Axeone-Neurone.

Posted by: h8 x thunder
k, i am al little lost. what the hell is bump mapping?????????

Watch this video Bungie describes it.

  • 06.22.2004 10:09 PM PDT
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ill go with bumb mapping just so i can fight 50 covies at once instead of 20

and by the way, if it looks better than halo by just a little bit, then theres no problem

  • 06.22.2004 10:10 PM PDT
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bump mappings an illusion, it's a flat polygon with a great image on it, that makes the polygon look 3D. (don't know how better to put that)

  • 06.22.2004 10:10 PM PDT
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Posted by: h8 x thunder
k, i am al little lost. what the hell is bump mapping?????????


Okay bump mapping is "painting" or "drawing" with the use of the computer, a three dimensional image. How can you paint a three dimesional image you might ask. Well using dark and light colors for shading and highlighting a three dimensional like image is produced. That image is then place over a low or simple polygon. A polygon is a shape in a video game, for instance a wall or a rock. That polygon then looks very nice and detailed, but as you approach it from a side view you can clearly see that there is no "3dness" to it. Just a nice looking "image" on a shape. This is done to give a game more detail without the cost of having lag.

[Edited on 6/22/2004 10:15:23 PM]

  • 06.22.2004 10:13 PM PDT
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Posted by: Hedwig
Posted by: h8 x thunder
k, i am al little lost. what the hell is bump mapping?????????

Watch this video Bungie describes it.


what video there's just a bunch of magazine covers

  • 06.22.2004 10:17 PM PDT
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It is not possible to make everything with a higher polygon count. The bump mapping in Halo was very well done, I did not spend hours zoomed in on the floor with a sniper rifle so I can't say much about the one polygon bump mapped surface thing you have going on. Bungie knows what it is doing. People who played the game say it looks simply amazing. Screenshots look unbelievable, movies look unbelievable. Honestly I have to wonder why you have doubt in your mind.


A note for everyone. Think about what you say before you type, go back and collect some evidence.

  • 06.22.2004 10:24 PM PDT
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Posted by: ThermalZeal
It is not possible to make everything with a higher polygon count. The bump mapping in Halo was very well done, I did not spend hours zoomed in on the floor with a sniper rifle so I can't say much about the one polygon bump mapped surface thing you have going on. Bungie knows what it is doing. People who played the game say it looks simply amazing. Screenshots look unbelievable, movies look unbelievable. Honestly I have to wonder why you have doubt in your mind.


A note for everyone. Think about what you say before you type, go back and collect some evidence.


Okay first of all I didn't stand there in Halo zooming my sniper rifle into everything. I simply turned the corner of a wall (in one instance) and was like, wait a sec, what the hell is going on and soon realized that it was a flat image. However it wasn't really a huge problem, or even a problem at all because there was too much bump mapped. But with Halo 2 everything has a bump map so I am just a little concerned.

  • 06.22.2004 10:27 PM PDT
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If you noticed a wall...prepare to notice (DUM DUMMM DUMMM) 2 rocks and a blade of grass in Halo 2.

[Edited on 6/22/2004 10:41:02 PM]

  • 06.22.2004 10:40 PM PDT
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seriously those things didn't use bump mapping...it was only some of the alien structures' walls and floors, that's all

  • 06.23.2004 8:06 AM PDT