Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!news
From: rs108@mdx.ac.uk (Robert Swan)
Newsgroups: scee.yaroze.freetalk.english
Subject: 10 reasons dynamic tmds are cool
Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 22:21:11 GMT
Organization: PlayStation Net Yaroze (SCEE)
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just off the top of my head people - get into creating tmds
dynamically - heres 10 reasons why

1) allows you to use primitives rsdform doesn't work with, ie textured
gradient pigment quads. They look wonderful

2) Allows much quicker download times. eg, my game with 50+ tmds.
would normally take 1-1.5 minutes to download, now it takes 10 seconds
max

3) Better use of memory. Remember all those complaints about after
your tims and sound files are copied into sound and video ram, and
they just waste main memory? Well, use that space again with dynamic
tmds. its brilliantly efficient

4) no need to worry about explicitly specifying memory to load the
darn tmds into. 

5) The scaling on tmds is perfect. Take a 3ds model or something, and
with rsdlink you have to scale it by some obscure number (1432.5 or
some other random figure) and you still cant gaurantee perfect
dimensions. With dynamic tmds, you specify vertices with world
coordinates.

6) Better control of semitransparancy for those primitives not using
textures. Forget using GsDOBJ2.attribute += (1<<30) to turn them all
on or off. this way you can turn on or off individual primitives in a
n object.

7) Better control of semitransparency for those primitives using
textures. (I think - i havent tried it out yet!) With a texture, you
can use any of the 4 methods of semitransparency, just like sprites.

8) um, er, being able to create models from mathematical formula to
create lovely and accurate models

9) Your model doesnt look right? well no need to load up your
favourite modeller, resave it, convert it with rsdlink, you can just
alter your main code. Never need to leave the development environment
(cough)

10) they are great for cheap people without modellers at all (grins!)
just like me.

of course, complicated models are impossible, but im working on a
yaroze modeller. That way you would get real WYSIWYG. Go on, get
excited about them.

Robert Swan
rs108@mdx.ac.uk
http://www.netyaroze-europe.com/~middex2

PS, Pete - I wish I could get AI cars to drive around my track like
they do on yours...