Unlimited Detail Graphics

[drizztmainsword]

So, this is a little tidbit of information that I've stumbled across on the internet. It's a new form of graphics technology that allows for infinitely detailed environments using technology similar to search engines. It's some very cool tech. If this expands throughout the industry, we'll be seeing a new revolution in the amount of detail in graphics.

Here is a link to the company's website.

So what do you guys think?

 

[Lightslei]

To be honest although it may be ground-breaking in the future, I just don't see many companies being fast too adopt to this,

 

[Sir Kemper]

Fairly cool, although the only real problem is when Game NPC's start looking exactly like real humans.

Probably bring some some less desireable effects to the game industry, mostly in the form of controversy, and Eroge games.

 

[drizztmainsword]

The concept of the database searching makes a lot of sense.

And of course they're not going to say exactly how they do it. First off, it's just a youtube video, and secondly they don't want to loose their ability to market and sell the technology.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

I really want to believe it, but I just can't. One thing I notice is they only ever do average to short distance for their tests. I'll feel better if they can draw ground to the curvature of Earth.

 

[Deleted]

So, this is a little tidbit of information that I've stumbled across on the internet. It's a new form of graphics technology that allows for infinitely detailed environments using technology similar to search engines. It's some very cool tech. If this expands throughout the industry, we'll be seeing a new revolution in the amount of detail in graphics.

Here is a link to the company's website.

So what do you guys think?

People will still argue about which console does it better.

Personally I'm a fan of cartoony style, so I don't want to zoom in really far into my surroundings.

 

[Georgie_Leech]

Wow, that has a great deal of potential. And I hope it is implemented soon. Then people will finally stop judging games on graphics, 'cause they'll have pretty much the best possible.

 

[UnlimitedCreativity]

That pretty cool... although I highly doubt it will be available in 16 monthes. Like seriously, you need to teach all the developers how to use it so they can make games like this first.

 

[Lightslei]

Sounds like crap, mate.

Watching that video I had serious deja-vu to Spore's first GDC demonstration. They tell you "we can do this!" and then don't explain why or how. The guy says "This should be impossible. But, with our magic 'technology', it isn't! And I'm not going to tell you why!"

Rule of thumb: "Unlimited" isn't.

By unlimited, I'm assuming they mean more then will ever be necessary.

That pretty cool... although I highly doubt it will be available in 16 monthes. Like seriously, you need to teach all the developers how to use it so they can make games like this first.

I'd also assume a number of developers are going to be resistant to changing quickly.

 

[Axeli]

Sounds like crap, mate.

Watching that video I had serious deja-vu to Spore's first GDC demonstration. They tell you "we can do this!" and then don't explain why or how. The guy says "This should be impossible. But, with our magic 'technology', it isn't! And I'm not going to tell you why!"

Rule of thumb: "Unlimited" isn't.

He explained how it is supposed to work: Only display what you need at a time. I.e. if you are move closer to an object, it starts drawing more points, but at the same time other objects disappear from outside the view, keeping the number of points drawn at a time reasonable.

I will however reserve judgement until I see a proper tech demo and how impressive it actually looks in action. And how much power does it actually require to run that.

 

[thatstheguy]

Really bold statements being made here. Even though I'm skeptical, I'm really interested. If this works, you'll never have to upgrade your computer again, or if you do, it'd at least be a lot less frequently.

 

[Three Eyed Cyclops]

Personally I am a little skeptical. Although it is an interesting approach, I think that it will still require lots of computer power. My evidence is that a quick google of "unlimited detail" took 0.17 seconds. Although it is not exactly analogous, in order for the search method to work, it will have to operate around 10x faster than that search and it will have to do it for each pixel (of which I am currently running at 1680 x 1050)

 

[Void(null)]

Yeah, its going to be a good 6 years before anything like this truly hits the commercial sector in any meaningful form. Great concept however, one I have considered myself.

"Why do we need to render billions of polygons with we only have so many pixels?"

 

[eels05]

The day games look like real life is the day I'll stop playing them.

 

[zyoto12]

I call bull, now they must take the pile.

 

[squid5580]

Isn't this a potential DRM? Wouldn't you need a constant connection to use this? And what if the server goes down?

 

[BloodSquirrel]

Isn't this a potential DRM? Wouldn't you need a constant connection to use this? And what if the server goes down?

I think the idea is supposed to be that the database is local.

I'm sensing that there's a huge downside here that they aren't telling us about, probably related to how they actually store/handle all of that data.

 

[reg42]

I guess this means I need to upgrade soon... *sigh*
[sub]So much of money![/sub]

 

[Lemon Of Life]

Hmm. I'd rather play a game with a fantastic original art style than photorealism. If I want that, I can watch TV.

But still, pretty cool I guess, but it's likely they'll have to upgrade consoles for this to work.

 

[BloodSquirrel]

Just looked at the website, actually.

It looks like this technology will be used in the next Phantom Game Console.

Seriously, they can't even put a high-def screenshot generated using this technology on their website? They don't have anything up there that can't already be done using polygons and various mapping methods.