Polycount problem
Hey guys,
I am facing a big problem. I am developing a low poly tank for simulating in Unreal Development Kit. I am using 3D max 2010 for modelling. The problem I am facing is that the tank track contains 77 individual pieces. Now when I am modelling the pieces in low poly, I am having around 130 triangles per piece at the minimum which keeps the silhouette of the high poly(cant take it below 130 triangles), which comes to around 20000 triangles for just the 2 tank tracks. I am estimating it would be around 30000 tris at least when the whole low poly tank is completed. Will UDK be able to run so many triangles? If no, please suggest a way to reduce triangle count significantly without compromising the shape.
The tank will be a major asset (this tank will be run by the player like in Third person shooter games) so I need to keep crisp details. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
I am facing a big problem. I am developing a low poly tank for simulating in Unreal Development Kit. I am using 3D max 2010 for modelling. The problem I am facing is that the tank track contains 77 individual pieces. Now when I am modelling the pieces in low poly, I am having around 130 triangles per piece at the minimum which keeps the silhouette of the high poly(cant take it below 130 triangles), which comes to around 20000 triangles for just the 2 tank tracks. I am estimating it would be around 30000 tris at least when the whole low poly tank is completed. Will UDK be able to run so many triangles? If no, please suggest a way to reduce triangle count significantly without compromising the shape.
The tank will be a major asset (this tank will be run by the player like in Third person shooter games) so I need to keep crisp details. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
Replies
Tank tracks are mostly implemented using scrolling/panning UV's, from what i gather.
-You do not want to model every tank track piece individually. Use a Spline/Loft shape and have a tiling texture scroll over that. This same method was used for UT3's tank.
-The issue is not tricount (30k is fine if you LOD a bit at distance), but bone count. I bet you're gonna end up with almost 200 bones, which is absolutely mental for a vehicle. Don't go there!
If you want to see how it's done in detail, get part 2 of my DVD.