Development Blog & Reveals

[SWAT_BigBear 0]

Keen on rocket jumping, are we? :)

They are part of the normal movement animations.

No jumping, just falling. :)

This is smurf from a previous life.

wcW_Ygs6hm0

[Flash Thunder 10]

The guy on the right in the night vehicle picture sitting down has a 2D face LOL!

Anyone else notice that?

[Steakslim 1]

It's the lighting. The glass visor bits over his eyes don't help matters.

[Whirly 1]

There are more pictures on the Q&A from PC Gamers. :)

The screenshot of vehicles driving past a goat looks incredibly realistic, the lighting is amazing.

[CTCCoco 1]

Thanks for the extra pictures, looks epic O.O They don't have enough to bring us an epic gameplay... they'll give us epic graphics...

Edited February 25, 2012 by CTCCoco

[EricM 0]

Except for the plane diving, which features what seems to be soft shadows (could be baked though) I don't see much about the "new amazing lighting".

Seems to be the same forward lighting technology with dynamic shadows limited to very few sources. I Could be wrong, but it's not very obvious to me. I really wonder what really changed...

In the pic with the jeeps at night, they do not seem to cast shadows on themselves or on the rest. The green one at night looks strange as well. Not sure what they are trying to showcase here.

I only see hard shadows in most pics (save the plane one), no visible contact shadow (despite ambiant occlusion, which is strange...) for instance under the merkava or even inside the car...

I'm not asking for light bleeding/realtime GI simulation a la frostbite /enlighten... but I still fail to see the "wow" factor.

This aside, the terrain and unit certainly look nice. Looking forward to it.

[neokika 62]

I agree, the changes in the Light seem purely cosmetic, but with same old gameplay issues since objects do not block light.

[carlostex 38]

Actually we are. Since the community pays for the game development in the first place basically.

I've read a lot of BS here (including by yourself), but this is the mother of all BS.

MOABS.

[ziiip 1]

I've read a lot of BS here (including by yourself), but this is the mother of all BS.

MOABS.

It doesnt sound bad to me.

[bobocz 10]

I agree, the changes in the Light seem purely cosmetic, but with same old gameplay issues since objects do not block light.

I'm not quite sure that object do not block light. I've just made quick comparison between Arma 2 and Arma 3. Not quite same composition, but it doesn't matter.

If I understand Arma3 screenshots, there are three 3 cars in line, first car (right one) has light off, second car(left one) has light on and there is third car(or whatever) outside the scene.

It seems to me that first car block light from second car, it is not quite clear, I can be completely wrong. Only what car doesn't do that don't cast shadows, I think that is OK, I can't imagine e.g. 10 dynamic lights casting shadows, poor hardware :). Also what I admire how second illuminate third car's light. It seems that lighting is not so exaggerated like in Battlefield 3, Crysis 2, BIS don't use artificial reflection, lens glare, I appreciate that.

Anyway picture shows how "horrible" is night lighting in RV3, also there is clear that car doesn't block lights (note first car has light off!).

Arma 3 screenshots looks absolutely more natural, million times better, but this perception can vary across individuals. Even if lights are only cosmetic I really welcome this change.

added:

Now I'm not quite sure, I see light inside Arma3 cabin, see left car's window, so then it have to be some light inside vehicle. It is not reasonable make result from one picture. :)

Edited February 26, 2012 by BoboCZ

[nodunit 397]

Thanks for the extra pictures, looks epic O.O They don't have enough to bring us an epic gameplay... they'll give us epic graphics...

They'll show that when ready I'm sure, it's harder to showcase gameplay in stills afterall and besides we'll have the community alpha to find out what's what.

[ProfTournesol 956]

Even if lights are only cosmetic I really welcome this change.

Yep, but light engine change isn't one if those "fancy graphics" changes, but a very necessary one for the gameplay and immersion.

[roberthammer 582]

Objects should block the light , because in OA the searchlight was able to light up whole hill which is very ridiculous

[Smurf 12]

If they fix this, Im happy:

(guy behind a wall with flashlight, iluminates whatever is behind the wall)

Dynamic shadows for multiple sources may be a little too much for the hardware to handle.

[maddogx 13]

If they fix this, Im happy: (guy behind a wall with flashlight, iluminates whatever is behind the wall)

Dynamic shadows for multiple sources may be a little too much for the hardware to handle.

The flashlight problem is caused precisely by the fact that lights (other than the sun and moon) don't cast shadows, so I fail to see how they can fix that without enabling dynamic shadows for multiple light sources. Or what do you think should happen if multiple flashlights are shining on the same spot? If only one source were to cast a shadow, the others would still shine through and we'd be back to square one.

I'm afraid this is one issue we're just going to have to learn to live with, unless the devs have some major surprises up their sleeve.

[Smurf 12]

Yep.... and thats why I shouldn´t post right after gettin up after a wild night :p

[Minoza 11]

That's why deferred lighting was mentioned as a good solution. After initial performance hit, you can have huge amounts of dynamic light sources, while retaining performance.

[neokika 62]

I'm afraid this is one issue we're just going to have to learn to live with, unless the devs have some major surprises up their sleeve.

I sure hope so, the Devs mentioned somethin about the Lighting being their weapon to promote the game, but I guess they do not mean the light in that stage.

[gammadust 12]

That's why deferred lighting was mentioned as a good solution. After initial performance hit, you can have huge amounts of dynamic light sources, while retaining performance.

^^ this.

[Flash Thunder 10]

If deferred lighting isn't already in production for Arma 3 then somewhere down the line in expansions or DLC whatever BIS should invest in it unless there is some better solution out there that's achievable.

But man if deferred lighting is going to make its way into Arma 3 that's going to be icing on the cake. The feature list for this game is phenomenal already!

DX10 and 11

Physx interactions and parameters

Underwater exploration/dimension

New animations

3D Editor

Picture in Picture

Updated lighting engine

Updated particles

Updated User Interface

Updated MP experience

ON AND ON AND ON

If I see deferred lighting on there too I will be forced to wire BIS some monies soon. :D

Edited February 27, 2012 by Flash Thunder
grammar

[Craig_VG 20]

If deferred lighting isn't already in production for Arma 3 then somewhere down the line in expansions or DLC whatever BIS should invest in it unless their is some better solution out there that's achievable.

But man if deferred lighting is going to make its way into Arma 3 that's going to be icing on the cake. The feature list for this game is phenomenal already!

DX10 and 11

Physx interactions and parameters

Underwater exploration/dimension

New animations

3D Editor

Picture in Picture

Updated lighting engine

Updated particles

Updated User Interface

Updated MP experience

ON AND ON AND ON

If I see deferred lighting on their too I will be forced to wire BIS some monies soon. :D

And some people get excited when their game franchise gets updated with only a new(ish) campaign and a new MP game mode or two, without even considering the idea that in some games anyone can make whole new game modes...

(cough cod cough)

:)

[purepassion 22]

Arma3official

#Arma3 Wisdom! Sage noticeboard advice from 3 titans of gaming word-smithery, @BuckSexington @ELahti and @DanStapleton!

big version

[f27sharps 1]

Arma3official

#Arma3 Wisdom! Sage noticeboard advice from 3 titans of gaming word-smithery, @BuckSexington @ELahti and @DanStapleton!

big version

Project Splendid ?

[Smurf 12]

Codename for A3.

TKOH was "Project Awesome"

[Flash Thunder 10]

Should've been project beerlift

It will take copious amounts of beer to keep the BIS programmers sane. :)