New technology for EP2

[^Ben]

Some of it was in the EP2 trailer



These are not the normal Source shadows, so as I was going back and forth with Gabe on how the episode worked out I slipped in this question

Me: "P.S. In the EP2 trailer when the mini strider drops down in front of you the shadows are not the usual kind of shadows in the Source engine, is this a new graphical feature in EP2?"

Gabe: "Yes, that's new lighting in Episode 2."

Now he did not specifically say shadows, but it is a safe bet that is what he meant.

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As I am now being cited as a reference for a couple of sites i'll just move all the information into the first post.

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Well here is some more fuel which I think furthers my theory.

From the newest EP2 article:



And from the trailer at around the same angle and movement(the magazine seems to be taken from a slightly higher angle)



Intresting.

Reference of what it looks like in the current engine build.

[Duke:hazzard]

In episode 2 the dynamic shadows became more filtered. Oh well looking forward to this if it's anything like the shadows in Blood Money or oblivion it'll be ace.

[azz0r]

Whats wrong with Sources current shadows?

Theyre fine.

[Silly_HuzZz!]

Quote:

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azz0r opened his big mouth to say:
Whats wrong with Sources current shadows?

Theyre fine.

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They do look cool, except for the fact that opaque objects cast translucent shadows, and having 1 opaque object stacked on top of another causes the shadow to become darker as they overlap.

[^Ben]

Quote:

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azz0r opened his big mouth to say:
Whats wrong with Sources current shadows?

Theyre fine.

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Well.. at the moment they are "ok" but it's about time they got an update, they only cast from 1 central location - no self shadowing - cast through objects - dont properly blend with the map shadows(basically if the floor is dark enough there should not be another darker shadow on top of that) and just some other stuff.

[zeta]

So what's new in that picture? Just looks like the current engine

[azz0r]

I didnt ask what is wrong with Valves whole lighting model, I know dynamic lighting is what it needs as its based off a central light right now, what I asked if whats wrong with dynamic shadows off characters, as the screenshot you posted looks no different to me, shadow wise, to how it would in hl2 or ep 1.

[^Ben]

o nigga plz

now ima have to go in game and make a comparison screeny.

[entity]

get to it

[^Ben]

[Hyperion2010]

Our pleas have been heard!

Looks like doors will FINALLY be able to block light

[azz0r]

eh...its probably just the suns angle making it stretch out and fade abit.

[bnewsom]

You couldve just took the screenshot from the ministrider thread.

Also of course the shadows look different, it now looks like it has softshadowing with light relative shadow positioning, and hell, look at that forest out there, how could you say it looks like what we can do now. Show me a sexy lush forest like that in currentgen source.

[^Ben]

Azz0r everything in current gen is done with a shadow_controler or r_shadowangles it does not matter where the sun is.

[zeta]

Doesn't look any different to me.