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Is this doable?

Started by Chrono1081 8 replies 1.5k views
Original Post
Chrono1081
Chrono1081
First off let me say this is just a concept but I would like to know if it would work before I take it any farther: Say I want to make a small RPG. Now, for background graphics I know a lot of games will use pre-rendered scenes for the background and have a character walk through the scenes. (Final Fantasy VII comes to mind) Now, if you were to set a game up in this fashion instead of using a rendered scene could you use a digital photo? I understand there would have to be a lot of optimization (as my camera takes 21 mega-pixel photos and they would be quite a memory hog) but I was just wondering if it was doable. I am not very knowledgable in the area of graphics yet as I am still a beginner. Also, I understand that this small RPG is many many years away, I was just curios as I like to design games on the side even though I cant create them quite yet :D.
_the_phantom_
_the_phantom_
Yes, it's doable; the only practical difference between a pre-rendered image and a photo is the source data.
Chrono1081
Chrono1081
Thank you. Ive just never seen it done before and I didn't know if there was a technical reason why (other then it would look super corny but thats kind of what I'm after.) Not to mention for someone just doing this as a side project that would be a lot easier way to make background images. Just a look through my portfolio and I can find half the stuff I need.
wasd
wasd
The major problem would be the depth information. If you want your character or anything to move behind an object, you need the depth information from the image. Games with pre-rendered scenes also render the depth information to another image, so that when things are drawn, they can be drawn behind parts of the image. With just a normal picture, the depth information is lost. You'd either have to manually recreate it, or somehow take a stereoscopic image.
wasd
wasd
The major problem would be the depth information. If you want your character or anything to move behind an object, you need the depth information from the image. Games with pre-rendered scenes also render the depth information to another image, so that when things are drawn, they can be drawn behind parts of the image. With just a normal picture, the depth information is lost. You'd either have to manually recreate it, or somehow take a stereoscopic image.
Chrono1081
Chrono1081
I never though about that. (Course Im new and im just about to learn sdl so I know I am a ways away from anything of this nature.)

Would manually recreating depth information be more trouble then its worth? I can create a stereoscopic photograph thats no problem.

I should also mention this is being designed to be a 2d game with 3d characters. The 3d characters would scale in and out of the background (like if there was a path to walk down your character gets smaller as they walk towards the end).
SimonForsman
SimonForsman
Quote:
Original post by Chrono1081
I never though about that. (Course Im new and im just about to learn sdl so I know I am a ways away from anything of this nature.)

Would manually recreating depth information be more trouble then its worth? I can create a stereoscopic photograph thats no problem.


It depends on the complexity of the scene.

A quick google search gives this

its not a trivial topic but there appear to exist tools that can automate this process. (I didn't find any free tools though, but then again, i only did a quick search)
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Shiny
Shiny
21 megapixel photos?!? Wow...how much did that cost? :S

~Shiny
------------'C makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot. C++ makes it harder, but when you do, it blows away your whole leg.' -Bjarne Stroustrup
Chrono1081
Chrono1081
Quote:
Original post by Shiny
21 megapixel photos?!? Wow...how much did that cost? :S

~Shiny


$8500. Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III. Its an amazing camera IF and only if you know how to use it. (Thats just for the camera, you gotta buy your lenses extra but those are only a few grand a piece.)

I still delve into my photography days every now and then. Its just a hobby now but it used to be a living, now I'm back to game programming and design where I originally started (and should have stayed!).

noisecrime
noisecrime
Thought you might find this of interest.

Its an application that converts 2D photos into a 3D model.
Make3D

There are demonstration videos, the ability to upload you own images to generate a 3D result and source code.

Its not strictly the same thing that has been discussed earlier, as those suggestions appear to go for the standard approach of having a depth buffer to define depth for use with layering or obscuring dynamic elements in the scene.

Instead this models the image as 3D, explicitly defining the depth of elements.
Its pretty cool though and has the potential to be quite impressive.

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