Game Guides Archive
Thread: Streamlined the terrain system to improve client performance
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ComCypher
Sat Feb 12, 2005 6:51 pm
#1
I've noticed something after the latest patch and I'm not sure if I'm just seeing things, so I wanted to find out if other's have noticed the same.
The terrain textures in the game now have a more obvious tiled, repetitive look. It almost seems as though the devs shrunk the sizes of the texture files in an attempt to improve performance. I believe it is related to this item in the patch notes:
"Streamlined the terrain system to improve client performance"
Anyway there's nothing wrong with streamlining stuff, but I don't particularly like it when they reduced the graphics quality of something without giving an option to override it. Especially since I haven't noticed a performance improvement in the game after the last patch anyway.
I'm sorry I don't have any screenshots to show what I'm talking about, but if you talk a walk around in the wild, particulary on planets where there aren't many trees (Lok, Tatooine, etc.) it should be pretty apparent. Unless of course I'm just imagining things 
.
.UPDATE: Jump to this post to see the latest info on this issue.
Com Cypher
Message Edited by ComCypher on 05-05-2005 10:43 PM
YeahMan
Sat Feb 12, 2005 6:54 pm
#2
That would be awesome, as I'm on a laptop, and it's a bit old. I lag a ton when loading, even in places like bestine.
/cheer
ComCypher
Sat Feb 12, 2005 7:11 pm
#3
YeahMan wrote:
That would be awesome, as I'm on a laptop, and it's a bit old. I lag a ton when loading, even in places like bestine.
/cheer
I'm on a laptop too, but like I said I didn't notice a performance improvement. And I still don't think the devs should have lowered the texture quality like this, especially since there is a slider in the options window that does the exact same thing. What they have essentially done is forced everyone to lower their graphics settings.
Com Cypher
Snaggoh
Sun Feb 13, 2005 3:46 am
#4
I haven't noticed anything - and I spend most of my time flying around on Tatoonie.
AEK
Sun Feb 13, 2005 9:39 pm
#5
Hmmm, at first I thought you were crazy, but today, clouds and the terrain SEEM to look more blotchy. Quit screwing with my brain!
Maybe a good test would be if somebody has a screenshot with terrain and stuff and they went back to the same location/angle and took another shot to compare (with same graphics settings of course.)
Maybe a good test would be if somebody has a screenshot with terrain and stuff and they went back to the same location/angle and took another shot to compare (with same graphics settings of course.)
Impo-UK
Mon Feb 14, 2005 5:42 am
#6
I've seen this and reported it in two threads entitled Textures and also ingame customer service.
On most planets now the ground texture appears only to have 1 type of texture for any given terrain type, if you zoom out and look down you endup witha large checkerboard of repeating patterns.
Outside Corellia starport is a good example, look at the ground tiles, they are all the same texture, this has only happend after pub 13 !!!
Ratel
Mon Feb 14, 2005 6:04 am
#7
I've noticed the tiling effect that your talking about, but I can't remember if it was like that pre-publish. As for a performance increased, nothing, I can see no noticable difference, that I am sure of.
ComCypher
Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:24 pm
#9
Impo-UK wrote:
I've seen this and reported it in two threads entitled Textures and also ingame customer service.
On most planets now the ground texture appears only to have 1 type of texture for any given terrain type, if you zoom out and look down you endup witha large checkerboard of repeating patterns.
Outside Corellia starport is a good example, look at the ground tiles, they are all the same texture, this has only happend after pub 13 !!!
Phew, I was about to let this thread drown because I was embarrassed that I was making the whole thing up . But I think now that witnesses are coming in we can start to bring this to the attention of the devs. We shouldn't let a graphics-comprising issue like this stay in the game.
Com Cypher
AEK
Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:32 pm
#10
But textures have always been tiled (in this and all other known games.) Is there some way to prove there was different mutiple-interlaced or higher resolution tiling before?
I just want to know that what I am perceiving is new and not induced by subliminal mind bending threads!
I just want to know that what I am perceiving is new and not induced by subliminal mind bending threads!
Message Edited by AEK on 02-14-2005 07:32 PM
ComCypher
Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:47 pm
#11
AEK wrote:
But textures have always been tiled (in this and all other known games.) Is there some way to prove there was different mutiple-interlaced or higher resolution tiling before?
I just want to know that what I am perceiving is new and not induced by subliminal mind bending threads!
Message Edited by AEK on 02-14-2005 07:32 PM
True, I have examined old screenshots I have and there always was some tiling. However I believe back then it was less noticable because they were of a higher resolution AND interlaced, like you said. Proving it will be a little more difficult however, I'll try to find some good comparison shots and post them here.
Com Cypher
ComCypher
Tue Feb 15, 2005 2:08 pm
#12
Okay I believe I have acquired the necessary proof that the devs have been messing around with the textures.
Before Publish 13
After Publish 13
As you can see the tiling is much more pronounced in the second. The coloring is also different, but that might be because of the time of day...not sure. This isn't even the best example of the tiling effect however, it becomes even more apparent in other areas.
Here is a shot of the tiling effect in the starport:
These screenshots are enough to convince me that the graphics were screwed up in the latest publish. Now it's just a matter of getting the devs to confess and do something about it.
Com Cypher
ReelaK
Tue Feb 15, 2005 2:10 pm
#13
Yea I've seen this. It becomes really obvious when on a speederbike and zoomed out. There also seems to be a reduction in the non-colidable flora. While I've seen an improvement in performance of a couple FPS, I'd also prefer an overide option. One of the reasons I put together a top of the line system, was to crank these options so I could really enjoy the lush landscapes.
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