Which is more efficient for realtime rendering - Nodes or polygon detail?

[Barnard]

Me and my cousin are considering getting into video game development. But I'm not sure which is more efficient on the processor - Using nodes to create the illusion of details like bricks on flat polygons or designing the bricks myself with additional polygons for example.

I've been thinking that it might be better to design the details myself, which might make my partners job easier in programming. That way, an option can be applied so the textures can be turned off while maintaining the visuals of the bricks. I know very little about programming, I'm more of a graphic designer.

But I'm not sure which is easier on the hardware, as this game would be initially on PC.

[Sensei]

???

You cannot use any LW nodes while rendering in game OpenGL..

Professional workflow in game development:

- make high res version of object, use nodes or whatever
- make low res version of object
- bake textures to images
- bake normal maps to images

In game engine load low res version of object with rgba and normal maps.

[Sensei]

To have good quality programmer must learn how to program gfx card shaders (they don't have anything to do with LW nodes or shaders!)
This way, you can program realistic reflections on water.

Transparent surfaces will need sorting from farthest to closest to camera. And drawing after everything opaque is on screen already.

If you will keep map as single object, then you will might quickly reach polygon limit count, so it might be better to split it to several small squares. Automatically everything behind camera, or too far from camera, will not be transfered to gfx card.

If you have good budget I can program for you core engine.

[Barnard]

Thank you. I will talk to my cousin about this. I wasn't sure how nodes would work in game developement. I assumed Lightwave may have had some flexibility with that with the export to collada / other formats feature.

Our first project will be a low budget first person shooter. Depending on it's success, we are planning a large online RPG, so having you on board for that project may be ideal, especially as you have a background in graphic design and programming.

Having someone around who understands how graphics and programming go together could be very helpful, but we'll see as the budget changes.

I'll keep this thread saved in my favorites for future reference. Thanks.