20 March 2020, 07:34 | #1 |
I've got a new byline
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 1,219
|
Nebulus' 'precise hidden surface removal'
In the manual for the various versions of Nebulus it proudly exclaims the implementation of "Rotational 3D scrolling with precise hidden-surface removal running at 25 frames per second, and multi-layer parallax scrolling on underwater levels at 50 frames per second."
Hidden-surface removal? |
20 March 2020, 08:31 | #2 |
Gets there in the end...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Wales
Posts: 872
|
Im assuming it's when the steps go around the side?
|
20 March 2020, 21:34 | #3 |
I've got a new byline
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 1,219
|
I dunno. If you remove a hidden surface (even if it's done precisely), how would anyone know anything had changed? It sounds like a running gag from Catch-22 to me. :|
|
25 March 2020, 04:54 | #4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Posts: 51
|
It removes the surfaces that won't be seen so they don't have to be drawn, speeding up the process by only drawing (or rendering in the case where there is actually something 3d happening here) what the player can see.
|
25 March 2020, 10:26 | #5 |
I've got a new byline
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 1,219
|
Ah, now I get it, thanks. So a technically impressive trick used to deliver the rotating tower effect, although something that goes on in the background that wouldn't even occur to the player unless they knew about coding. That's where I was lost - I was expecting to be able to actually see some change or other on screen.
|
25 March 2020, 10:40 | #6 |
Lemon. / Core Design
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Tier 5
Posts: 1,213
|
seems to me it can just be done with a couple of compares.. nothing technically impressive really
|
25 March 2020, 15:16 | #7 |
Shameless recidivist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Duluth, Minnesota (USA)
Age: 38
Posts: 266
|
They're taking the piss. No way is it actually doing 3D math of any kind, when you can far more easily just draw a 2D representation of brick lines scrolling across a rectangular area and cycle it with the player position.
|
25 March 2020, 16:11 | #8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 3,436
|
I always thought it was just a cleverly designed animation. Note that they also have the same game running on much less powerful hardware and it still runs great, which makes me suspect it's animation all the more.
Does anyone know for sure? |
26 March 2020, 03:22 | #9 |
J.M.D - Bedroom Musician
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: los angeles,ca
Posts: 3,592
|
More than animation is z-stacking with double buffering imo
|
28 March 2020, 12:21 | #10 |
cheeky scoundrel
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Spijkenisse/Netherlands
Age: 42
Posts: 6,969
|
I ran into this coding secrets video about Mickey Mania which actually has a rotating tower inspired by Nebulus in it. The video shows some of the tricks to get the tower to work, quite interesting.
[ Show youtube player ] |
28 March 2020, 18:50 | #11 |
Shameless recidivist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Duluth, Minnesota (USA)
Age: 38
Posts: 266
|
Hah, nice breakdown.
|
28 March 2020, 20:52 | #12 |
J.M.D - Bedroom Musician
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: los angeles,ca
Posts: 3,592
|
The mickey mania tower has the addition of angled steps compared to the static blocks of nebulus, though; i suspect the c64 one is even smaller in footprint
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
WinUAE and the Microsoft Surface | squirminator2k | support.WinUAE | 5 | 30 May 2018 21:09 |
Games with hidden/un-hidden symbolism? | markpjd | Retrogaming General Discussion | 8 | 06 December 2017 16:56 |
Precise timing in WinUAE for ripping audio | mulder | support.WinUAE | 3 | 25 January 2016 22:35 |
Why is Amiga clock never precise? | ancalimon | support.Apps | 17 | 03 June 2014 15:46 |
Magnetic surface duration | Another World | project.SPS (was CAPS) | 1 | 10 September 2008 20:10 |
|
|