Hi, this is me again with patches for the graphics in AC:)
Today I want to introduce you dds textures. Dds is an old format for textures and has one big advantage: dds uses 8 times less memory, than jpg! In other words you can use 512x512 texture instead of 256x256 without performance kick. How? Modern graphics cards (Geforce 2 and newer:) can store compressed dds textures directly in video memory. So engine even doesn't have to decode texture: just read data and send it to video card.
More about DXT compression look in Google.
Advantages:
I used Nvidia Texture Tools to convert almost all AC textures into dds format. I also ported Cube's 2 dds loader for cube 1 engine. You don't need to modify maps: if texture has name "texture.jpg", engine first looks for "texture.dds" and loads it, if "texture.dds" loading failed, loads "texture.jpg".
Dds textures, patches and modified source applied: just compile.
Based on AC 1.1.0.4 release.
Full AC with textures, modified source, patch: ***removed***
Patches only (for source 1.1.0.4, for developers): http://ompldr.org/vYWp1dw
Today I want to introduce you dds textures. Dds is an old format for textures and has one big advantage: dds uses 8 times less memory, than jpg! In other words you can use 512x512 texture instead of 256x256 without performance kick. How? Modern graphics cards (Geforce 2 and newer:) can store compressed dds textures directly in video memory. So engine even doesn't have to decode texture: just read data and send it to video card.
More about DXT compression look in Google.
Advantages:
- Good quality lossy compression. Dds texture also may be compressed with zip.
- FAST loading (much faster than jpeg or png), now AC switches between maps in a flash
- Pre-rendered mip-maps stored in dds file (also loads faster), better quality of mip-maps
- 8 times less video memory needed (my AC mod uses only 90 mb)
- Faster rendering (less memory needs to be readed)
I used Nvidia Texture Tools to convert almost all AC textures into dds format. I also ported Cube's 2 dds loader for cube 1 engine. You don't need to modify maps: if texture has name "texture.jpg", engine first looks for "texture.dds" and loads it, if "texture.dds" loading failed, loads "texture.jpg".
Dds textures, patches and modified source applied: just compile.
Based on AC 1.1.0.4 release.
Full AC with textures, modified source, patch: ***removed***
Patches only (for source 1.1.0.4, for developers): http://ompldr.org/vYWp1dw