GPU Shadows are now available on Test

[Brook]

I run in full screen mode, will try windowed tonight and see if there is a difference.

[Imago-Quem]

Nuladen@Runnyeye wrote:

Sorry, forgot I hadn't supplied specs yet

It's one of the original 8800 GTS 640mb cards, specifically a BFG one which I believe is the G80 chip.

Currently running the 181.20 drivers in XP, let me know if there are any specific driver versions you'd like me to try.

Ok, I've sent the specs in for review.  Hopefully we get the same bug and can provide a fix quickly.

[Imago-Quem]

Brook wrote:

I run in full screen mode, will try windowed tonight and see if there is a difference.

I'm having it checked on right now.  So far we're not seeing any dipping frames per second in Test.  It could be a hardware combination issue or driver issue or maybe even caused by other programs running on your machine.  I'll let you know if we find anything.

[Pitt Hammerfi]

You've mentioned GPU more times in this thread that all the devs combined posts over the last 4 years

It makes me all tingly

[Imago-Quem]

And of course, there are more tingles to come...

[OutcastBlade]

Imago, you (and your team, if you have one) rock! Thanks for the constant feedback. Makes this more exciting the more you post.

In AOC, the framerate dropped considerably when using shadows and they also used smoothed, blocky GPU shadow shaders from the looks of things. In saying that, it definitely is the best approach and I will be purchasing a new video card pronto.

I expect that you will be expanding upon your work by moving other graphics type stuff over to the video card. When can we expect a preview of things to come? Because I am a gonna be watching for your posts like a hawk now. LOL.

[Lethe5683]

Imago-Quem wrote:

And of course, there are more tingles to come...

You're officially my favorite dev.

[Imago-Quem]

Ah shucks guys, you're making me blush, but the earliest I can tell you what's coming is just before it posts in Test.

[Child]

Imago-Quem wrote:

Ah shucks guys, you're making me blush, but the earliest I can tell you what's coming is just before it posts in Test.

that's fine

got a guess as to when these shadows wil be considered done and hit live?

[Imago-Quem]

As far as "I" know updates like this stay in Test for at least a month, but it really depends on how many bugs are found, how fast I(we) can fix them, and how serious the bugs are.  Let's hope for the best.  I want to play with them on Live too!

[Mezza]

This is the most reasoned and well thought out update I have ever seen from this game. Honest its amazing how much communication works to keep us, the users happy. I really hope that other devs see how you have covered this and try and do the same. Hell if this for whatever reason failed miserably and never saw its way to live, at least i would know it wasn't for the want of trying.

I have seen posts from both yourself and Rothgar in the past and I massively appreciate what you are doing to make the engine that little bit more friendly to the latest technology. I'm also aware that you have a team beavering away in the background so big up to them also

[Brook]

OK, tried it in full screen and windowed mode and got the same result with the hitching.

The problem was on my end I think, I have been running the Windows 7 beta and it seems to have a problem in a few areas. I got to checking and found that my graphics card driver had been switched to one of thier certified drivers, it would seem by itself.

I switched back to Vista and it seems tons smoother, tried again on XP and got no hitching.

In XP though I did notice the cloud problem when I switched to stealth, and the problem was only at night..weird thing is that it is intermitant and can not be duplicated all the time. It seems that when it is happening it is drawing the clouds solid, the night sky appears normal in the areas where there are no clouds and I could see the tail of the shattered moon, but not the moon because there was a cloud over it.

[Pitt Hammerfi]

Thanks Imago

I also read your website the 3d gfx writeup you did was interesting.

Hopefully after shadows are done, you can take a look at improved pixel shader implementation and GPU processed particle effects

[Tary]

Pitt Hammerfist wrote:

Thanks Imago

I also read your website the 3d gfx writeup you did was interesting.

Hopefully after shadows are done, you can take a look at improved pixel shader implementation and GPU processed particle effects

Omg, yes!!!

Oh, please, Great Imago!  Your worshippers beseech ye!

[Child]

Imago-Quem wrote:

As far as "I" know updates like this stay in Test for at least a month, but it really depends on how many bugs are found, how fast I(we) can fix them, and how serious the bugs are.  Let's hope for the best.  I want to play with them on Live too!

hehe, i may just be picky, but personally, i'd rather play with cpu shadows if the gpu shadows will hit live all pixelly first.

the pixel shadows look downright horrible compared to cpu imo, especially on the charatcer itself.

also, my charatcer is knee high compared to a human, so my camera is ALOT closer to the gorund. i cna see problems much easier. that may be why it loooks so horrible to me

[Nulad]

Zyketor@Unrest wrote:

Imago-Quem wrote:

As far as "I" know updates like this stay in Test for at least a month, but it really depends on how many bugs are found, how fast I(we) can fix them, and how serious the bugs are.  Let's hope for the best.  I want to play with them on Live too!

hehe, i may just be picky, but personally, i'd rather play with cpu shadows if the gpu shadows will hit live all pixelly first.

the pixel shadows look downright horrible compared to cpu imo, especially on the charatcer itself.

also, my charatcer is knee high compared to a human, so my camera is ALOT closer to the gorund. i cna see problems much easier. that may be why it loooks so horrible to me

It's certainly interesting to see the different quality in the various techniques, I think my ultimate would be CPU shadows on my character and GPU and environment and stuff as I can't help but agree that CPU shadows on characters look way better.

[Rorasis]

Pitt Hammerfist wrote:

Thanks Imago

I also read your website the 3d gfx writeup you did was interesting.

Hopefully after shadows are done, you can take a look at improved pixel shader implementation and GPU processed particle effects

SLi support would be nice too! 

[Imago-Quem]

Note that an update is coming where the shadows are much less pixelated.  Live should not get the pixelated shadows.

[vochore]

once i saw this post i had to load up test and check it out....needless to say i am very impressed whith what is on test now....in kp with every thing set to max i was averaging 35 to 45 fps in kp.

cant wait to see what inprovments are coming...as far as i am conserned shadows looked pretty awsome as they  are now.character shadows just a little pale tho....need a little darkening.

any idea if shaders are also moving to the gpu or just shadows for now.

[Imago-Quem]

Shaders "are" in the GPU, but I couldn't tell you about any graphics projects underway, nay or yay, because of this contract I signed with SOE about not saying anything.

[Kokus]

Imago-Quem wrote:

Shaders "are" in the GPU, but I couldn't tell you about any graphics projects underway, nay or yay, because of this contract I signed with SOE about not saying anything.

Could you ask the powers above you to give us some sort of a teaser then?  Cause if GPU shadows are just the start of what is to come, I'm sure others, including me, are going to be very excited.

[Arkinon]

Wow im impressed... and im not easily impressed. The changes you and your team are make seem to be a definate right direction. Also I might add that the other devs could learn by your example... You have 2 or 3 responses on every page. That has to be some kind of record! Keep up the good work.

I have been noticing some of the same problems but you have already addressed the changes to them so Ill wait and see.

Thanks Again!

[Imago-Quem]

Thanks! 

I'll ask the "powers above" about a teaser, but in general teasers only come out when the feature is near done like the shadows.  Teasers usually show what is complete and don't reveal what is in progress and in graphics most things are "in progress" until they're at least 90% complete.

[Albrig]

Imago-Quem wrote:

Teasers usually show what is complete and don't reveal what is in progress and in graphics most things are "in progress" until they're at least 90% complete.

Good idea. You don't want other mmorpg developers to panic just at the moment. You know like, mmorpg executive1 slouching in billions of dollars: "Oh hell. Guys. You know that ageing donkey Everquest 2? Well they've just decided to make it look better and update it after 5 years. Let's add shadows to our game engine. We already have? Oh crap. Well I'm out of ideas!"

[Vonotar]

Aww, don't be mean to the nice graphics dev!

If you scare him off, that's another five years without upgrades to the graphics engine!

Personally I think the GPU shadows look fantastic, and don't worry too much about them being 'lighter' than the CPU ones, as IMHO the CPU ones are overkill

[Albrig]

Gwynian@Splitpaw wrote:

Personally I think the GPU shadows look fantastic, and don't worry too much about them being 'lighter' than the CPU ones, as IMHO the CPU ones are overkill

That's great you think that because I'm buying TSO Full pack today just to try it out or try and get into test. I haven't got EQ2 at all at the moment, but because of the graphic updates and shadow improvements, I'm in.

If they sort out the game engine, have it running reliably at consistent frame rates whether solo, group (not bothered with raid encounter performance), with very high detail, I'll pay a year sub. You can quote me on it.

I noticed there are very few ingame shots of the shadow changes. Is their an NDA or something going on?

[Detor]

Albright wrote:

I noticed there are very few ingame shots of the shadow changes. Is their an NDA or something going on?

No NDA, you can go into your EQ2 folder, and run TestEQ2.exe and try them yourself without signing any NDA.  Since anybody can log into test people only really need to post screenshots to demonstrate when something looks wrong and might need to be fixed.

[Albrig]

Detor wrote:

Albright wrote:

I noticed there are very few ingame shots of the shadow changes. Is their an NDA or something going on?

No NDA, you can go into your EQ2 folder, and run TestEQ2.exe and try them yourself without signing any NDA.  Since anybody can log into test people only really need to post screenshots to demonstrate when something looks wrong and might need to be fixed.

Suspected as much (the no NDA bit).

Saying that, still shots won't show you much anyway.

[Imago-Quem]

The reality of shadows becoming darker or lighter is really nothing.  I've programmed it to toggle easily by adjusting a simple variable.  Just got to find that sweet spot.  On "my" monitor they look much darker.  I'm considering adding a slider with a limited range for this feature since I've now seen, and heard of, this pale shadow effect differing greatly between peoples' systems.

[OutcastBlade]

The shadows look awesome, but the game jitters way too much. I hover at about 23 fps with shadows turned down low. So they still look decent but not like I would want them. But running around, is comical because I am slowing down and speeding up and stopping for a split second, etc.

Turn the shadows off, and its fine. FPS shoots up to about 40 to 50 which is expected.

Definitely need a new video card.

Core2 Duo 2.53 ghz2 GB DDR2256mb 7800 GT