Optimizing models for games (example in need of critique/advice)

AetherGauntlet · Feb 2015

Hey,

I've been reading about model optimization for games/real-time rendering and I have a wip where I could use your advice on how to improve further and/or what to correct.

I'm modelling in Blender and the intended game engine is Unity.

Base mesh:
[sketchfab]63fbf28affce4b65ba91936fb4ce18ea[/sketchfab]
Book 172tris (quads only, wip) by AetherGauntlet on Sketchfab

Optimized:
[sketchfab]520c7fd2e32b4dc5bc81368ec63655f6[/sketchfab]
Book 137tris (game ready, wip) by AetherGauntlet on Sketchfab

Thanks!

WarrenM · Feb 2015

I think 172 is fine. Reducing it to 137 seems like busy work. Even if you're targeting mobile.

Mark Dygert · Feb 2015

I agree with Warren, it seems like the gain is pretty minimal and it might make changes and doing UV's a little more difficult with the tri version.

Butthair · Feb 2015

Optimize too early is always a problem people fall into.

It's easier to down res than it is to up res. Not just for geometry, but textures too.

Keeping tri count low is good practice, but don't let the number restrict the piece. Your an artist after all, so stay creative and don't sacrifice quality when you don't need to.

AetherGauntlet · Feb 2015

Thanks for the feedback! I'll keep it in mind.

Seems to echo the programming mantra of "Premature optimization is the root of all evil".

WarrenM · Feb 2015

Something else to keep in mind too is that if you optimize TOO much you can end up with smoothing challenges and hard to resolve bake errors.

A low poly mesh with a reasonable number of triangles and predictable normals is FAR preferable to a highly optimized mesh that you have to futz with.

AlecMoody · Feb 2015

To expand on the busy work thing Warren said, with current hardware, production efficiency is almost always a higher priority than vertex count.

AetherGauntlet · Feb 2015

On a related note, when "showing off" models (example) is it more appropriate to show a vertex or a triangle count?

AlecMoody · Feb 2015

I say no to posting the vertex or triangle count. If you have wires, people can see your topology and you the only time that number is going to stick out to me is if it way too high.

Fabian Fischer · Feb 2015

AetherGauntlet wrote: »

On a related note, when "showing off" models (example) is it more appropriate to show a vertex or a triangle count?

It depends on you. If you are proud of it, you can show it off

jenioss · Feb 2015

Fabian Fischer wrote: »

It depends on you. If you are proud of it, you can show it off

100% agree with that ^^

plus, that can help beginner to compare with their works

kurt_hectic · Feb 2015

You can do a lot with it:

AetherGauntlet · Feb 2015

Guess I'll keep an inconspicuous tris count somewhere and concentrate on making the finished model look awesome. Cheers!

@kurt Thanks for the edits. It seems some of them will change the geometry but I'll try them out regardless for practise.

WarrenM · Feb 2015

There's not much value in showing the triangle count. That doesn't matter so much anymore on modern hardware. As long as the mesh is reasonable, I can see the wireframe and I can tell if you're being stupid with the geometry or you're cutting where it counts.

Optimizing models for games (example in need of critique/advice)

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