Backgrounds and skyboxes in Bad Company 2

Progg

I was curious if anyone knew of any tech breakdowns or knew of the process the guy's at DICE are using for some of the backgrounds in Bad Company 2.

It all seems really obvious, but I can't seem to replicate it well. Obviously there is a cube map/skybox in the very back with some general mountain shapes in the texture, and textured mountain geo in the midground.. Their mountains seem to stand up really well to not flattening out, which has been the problem I have always seen when fog and shadow draw distance occurs on objects really far from the camera. Are they are being lit by just one massive sunlight or specific light linked lights?

Any ideas?

Xendance

To me their backdrops look like real 3d models, instead of a flat texture on a skydome or box. Hard to say without having access to their tools >_>

felipefrango

Try using 3D Ripper or something to extract the geometry/textures from the scene.

Eric Chadwick

Most definitely a 3D model. Look closely at the vegetation above the misty cloud on the right... an x-shaped crossing-plane.

whats_true

I dont know many games now days that would have that type of background and not model it. Maybe if it were waaaaaaay in the background yeah, but something that "close", its definatly a 3d model.

Shogun3d

They use LOD backdrop models. Friends and I figured it out when we were C4/landmines/rocket jumping our vehicles to the edges of the maps.

doc rob

What I remember thinking is that they switched from standard terrain textures on their walkable terrain, to baked World Machine or hand painted textures on their distance terrain - giving it a matte painted look. I don't think it's billboarded, though - like you found out, that could make syncing with the lighting and fogging difficult - just very low poly 3D objects that are uniquely textured (including normal maps that give the impression of greater detail).

Progg

Yeah I assumed it was most definitely 3d geo, given the lighting, but it reads so well being that far away from the camera. Usually from draw distance you cant get that nice of a shadow on the mountains with the same sunlight lighting the foreground elements. Usually I'll get silhouetted objects or the fog flattens the whole thing out. They manage to do a nice job of keeping it really 3d and visible.

It blends seamlessly with the ground terrain as well... or atleast is well hidden with foliage.

Doorstop

http://www.slideshare.net/repii/terrain-rendering-in-frostbite-using-procedural-shader-splatting-presentation

little bit about frostbites terrain rendering from siggraph

and another

http://www.slideshare.net/repii/frostbite-rendering-architecture-and-realtime-procedural-shading-texturing-techniques-presentation

Ben Apuna

Very awesome links! Thanks Doorstop

Doorstop

no problem m8... the engine is pretty cool

Progg

Exactly what I was looking for Doorstop. Thanks

Shogun3d

Doorstop wrote: »

http://www.slideshare.net/repii/terrain-rendering-in-frostbite-using-procedural-shader-splatting-presentation

little bit about frostbites terrain rendering from siggraph

and another

http://www.slideshare.net/repii/frostbite-rendering-architecture-and-realtime-procedural-shading-texturing-techniques-presentation

Very nice, thanks for the linkage.

michi.be

some time ago the Geocontrol 2 website stated bad company uses their terrain tool.

Doorstop

yes they do to my knowledge.. I remember seein geocontrol 2 used in one of their slide presentations.

You're all very welcome.

motives

Its a combination of terrain and backdrop. If i recall correctly those two humps there are in the actual terrain. The big mountain behind it is a mesh with a mountain-texture applied to it. We then sculpted the mesh to match the texture as far as volume and form went. Match up the lighting to fit and voila.

We dont use any mountains or other defined terrain features in our skyboxes. The rez just isnt there.

About the Geocontrol 2 thing, yes we use it. Most of the time the terrain gets sculpted to fit the gameplay and then we erode it procedurally in GC or WM.

Eric Chadwick

Thanks motives!

Doorstop

yea thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions there motives

Mio

great topic and awesome link/reply

thanks guys...