Say I ran a track contest....

[ddmx]

The only thing is Pine Creek gives people trouble at 50,000. Do you get much lower with model detail set to 11? If it doesn't change much maybe you just have too many polygons in your lowest LOD.

I guess we shouldn't really base this around our track, but we should work around what you desire. Although I do feel that a track contest should not be limited in any way, unless that track gets put in game and then it becomes the decision of the maker to lessen the detail if he/she wants to. The poly's on the fence go from 28 to 6.

[dearnhardtfan7]

ok I'm confused about the lod's. I honestly don't even know what it is. Is it something that I would need to do to the model when I make it in blender? Or is it something in a file somewhere? Is it even something I fix or do I just have to watch my poly count when making the object and let the game handle the lod's itself? I really don't have any idea.

[DJ99X]

They are lower definition versions of your main model, which you have to create yourself.

[dearnhardtfan7]

Ok but I don't get what everyone is talking about as far as the poly count changing based on your distance from it in game. If I'm understanding correctly, basically the further you get from the object the less detail it has. Do I have to make a hi-def and lo-def version of the object and put them both in the file in order for this to occur?

[DJ99X]

Yes that is exactly what happens.

Depends on how detailed your model is, and how many of them you will need to place. If its something like a house, you wouldn't need to make a LOD for it, because you will probably only place 1-5 of them, and with the amount of poly's you save from making LOD's probably wouldn't be worth it.

[Garasaki]

DJ your not really answering the question that Mr 7 is asking.

How do you implement LOD's?

[dearnhardtfan7]

thanks garaski that is exactly what I need to know. Anyone?

[ddmx]

What you do, is you make a lower poly version of the model you want and name it modelname_lod6.jm, the number depending on how far you want the rider to be away when the lod takes place according to this:

tree.jm < 2 feet
tree_lod1.jm 2-4 feet
tree_lod2.jm 4-8 feet
tree_lod3.jm 8-16 feet
tree_lod4.jm 16-32 feet
tree_lod5.jm 32-64 feet
tree_lod6.jm 64-128 feet
tree_lod7.jm 128-256 feet
tree_lod8.jm 256-512 feet
tree_lod9.jm > 512 feet

If an lod is missing it will use the next higher lod.

[jlv]

I guess we shouldn't really base this around our track, but we should work around what you desire. Although I do feel that a track contest should not be limited in any way, unless that track gets put in game and then it becomes the decision of the maker to lessen the detail if he/she wants to. The poly's on the fence go from 28 to 6.

I see now. When you said 3000 units before you meant there are 3000 individual fence sections. You might want to make a separate fence model that is just 4 sections of fence joined together which you would use for straight sections. Each model has to have a matrix set up to translate and rotate it into position, so you want to reduce the total number of models if you can to limit that overhead.

I think I'll go with 40,000 polygons with model detail set to 20. The goal here is to keep things playable on all computers by turning the down the detail. If it uses tons of geometry at higher settings that's fine.

I'll post a first draft of the rules soon.

[ddmx]

Sounds like a good deal. The fence model right now is 3 sections of 12 foot fence put together, so really they are 36 foot sections of fence. I'll be awaiting the final version of the rules.

[jlv]

Here's my first draft of the rules. Let me know if I missed anything.


Rules

- This competition is for outdoor motocross tracks. Other types of track will be rejected.

- Tracks that use more than 40,000 model polygons when "Model Geometric Detail" is set to 20 will be rejected. The test will be the maximum value after two laps.

- You may not enter a previously released track.

- By entering you are granting Josh Vanderhoof permission to freely distribute your track for the purposes of this competition.

- By accepting any prize money you agree to release your track under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

- Any objects used by your track that aren't included with it must be distributable under the Creative Commons Attribution License or public domain.

- Team efforts are allowed, but you must choose an individual to represent your team and receive any prizes.

Schedule

- The deadline for entries is Sep 1 12:00:00 UTC 2009.

- The judging period will start on Sep 8 and end on Sep 15.

- Results will be announced on Sep 18.


Prizes

1st place - $100
2nd place - $75
3rd place - $50
4th place - $25

Prizes will be paid via Paypal.

[yomo]

Are replica's allowed?

Also is DJ and other people allowing there objects to be distributed? Or is that up to the individual person to contact the creator and ask for permission. Is written proof required?

How will the tracks be judged? Similar to what Puremxs is set up?

Will anything be done to reduce bias of voting?


Thats all i can think of so far

[LuizH]

wow that will be nice contest
but i can just enter if anybody wants team up here i can give objects

[DJ99X]

I likes the sounds of those prizes

I'll have to kidnap Gordy and force him to be my partner

[yomo]

What you do, is you make a lower poly version of the model you want and name it modelname_lod6.jm, the number depending on how far you want the rider to be away when the lod takes place according to this:

tree.jm < 2 feet
tree_lod1.jm 2-4 feet
tree_lod2.jm 4-8 feet
tree_lod3.jm 8-16 feet
tree_lod4.jm 16-32 feet
tree_lod5.jm 32-64 feet
tree_lod6.jm 64-128 feet
tree_lod7.jm 128-256 feet
tree_lod8.jm 256-512 feet
tree_lod9.jm > 512 feet

If an lod is missing it will use the next higher lod.

Is it possible to set up a lod at a large distance to be a billboard or to totally disappear?