[New build - EXPERIMENTAL] 21w38a: Rendering Tech Improvements

[tsunamayo]

This build focuses on the some improvement to the rendering technology:

• Decals performance issues when viewed close are fixed.
• Decals popping issues when viewed from afar are massively reduced.
• GPU Performance is greatly improved in interior with a heavy use of decals / lights.
• Item Preview is now fully integrated into the global renderer, hence improving performances.

New Additions

• Flood light block.

Community Requests:

3852 HUD now Scaling Unit displayed

[tsunamayo]

Build is up!

[Servomotor]

Rock on my man!

[Servomotor]

Feedback on the Flood Light Block.

• It does not appear to actually shining any light (see screenshot). The light was dragged to the floor.-
• The light needs the abilty to have its arc changed. To make the light spread narrow (like it currently is) or wider. Maybe a "F" option on the light to set the arc? EDIT TO ADD: Possibly even the sharpness/blur of the light. Basically a value that increases the sharpness of the lights border, or the softness (gaussian blur). Is there anyway to remove the bounding box of the stretchable light part itself? If its dragged to the floor, it now acts as an object in the way as you can highlight the light itself (not the light housing) with paint or stickers etc. This gets in the way.

[Servomotor]

[tsunamayo]

@Servomotor Thanks mate! Btw I had a look at your kiosks, they are simply lovely! Huge fan of those.

[Servomotor]

This is what I mean by the outline on the light getting in the way

[Servomotor]

@Servomotor Thanks mate! Btw I had a look at your kiosks, they are simply lovely! Huge fan of those.

Thank you boss. I am trying to build smarter to do more low poly work, and trying to encourage others to do so (for your assets), its not easy, but a challenge.

[tsunamayo]

I see, yes they are not real light, do you think it would better if they would or is it just a matter of confusion with the name? Also for the shape I will see if I can offer some other later one. Tapered cylinder could be possible as there is a closed raycast formula for those. For the soft border if you can figure the math for me that would be great ;) ... Good point for the box. I simply made those for the Item preview refactor, and I figure I might just give you a dedicated brick because I am a kind guy ^^. Also I think for those kiosks and station it could be cool! Ultimately I might add those to many more block, like thrusters, standard light (albeit in much dimmer), even maybe screen...

[Servomotor]

I see.

I would like an actual cone light option to supplement the actual lights we have.

I have a number of reasons.

1. Cone lights can offer more "atmosphere" and change the feeling of an environment. Shadows are just as important as light in photography.
2. Cone lights SHOULD offer more performance, as there is less to render ray casts. I like how you can drag the light, but in my mind this should show how far the light travels (so we can keep it from leaking through the ceiling of a room below).

We had cone lights when we built in landmark and we had omnidirectional lights, this never confused the player base. So I dont think its an issue here.

As far as gaussian blur and sharpness of the cone...I am terrible at math, I am a designer, not a wizard like you :D. Its not necessary to have this feature..I think the render engine would have it fade gradually anyway.

You are a kind guy and we appreciate all the love you have given us lately. We know it is taking time from working on survival and game play, but these requests should help us build more efficiently (like the arch brick) and with more atmosphere (the cone light) making environments not only fun, but possibly mysterious. :)

[Servomotor]

Ohh I should add. I do like the fake ones, and I think the fake cone light should stay. They are good for shelves, cockpits, all kinds of uses. Just like the glow tiles.

They allow us to give the FEELING of light, without introducing more rendering.

So really both options are good. Just bundle the cone light that works as a light, with the lights. Bundle the fake cone light that works as a glow tile with the glow tiles. That association alone will instruct the player of their use. Of course we just need to change the names.

Perhaps "Flood LIght" for the actual light and "Glow Flood" for the glow version. or "Glow Cone" to break up the names.

[tsunamayo]

By shadow you mean actual shadow - or are you just talking simply about the region lit? But yes I wanted to do cone light instead of just point light. Ideally I would like the wedge light to only light the quarter space it is in it, and the flat one the half-space over it.

[Servomotor]

When I said shadow I mean the region. A dark room is a good shadow region, but a small light in the dark room shining on a table brings emphasis to the table, invokes mystery. That is what I meant by my comment.

I love your idea on the wedge. It makes a lot of sense. The wedge light ideally would operate similar to a cone light, just a different shape.

[Servomotor]

@tsunamayo

Also, just as an example of how the proper brick can (should) be better for rendering.

In the top picture is the front of my spaceship. There are three round objects in the foreground. This consists of (8) Rounded Corners, (1) Round Thin Tile and (3) Simple Hole Markings.

I just replaced all of that with (3) Flood lights. I don't know your poly counts, but I imagine the new scenario not only looks better, but renders better.

Now, I know you cant make a brick for every single scenario, especially as you need to work on survival, planets and all that other stuff, but in some cases having the right brick for the right scenario should allow for greater performance.

Its like the old saying. "The right tool for the right job".

BEFORE - (8) Rounded Corners, (1) Round Thin Tile and (3) Simple Hole Markings.

AFTER - (3) Flood Lights

[BruceLeedleLeedleLeedleLee]

Ok, they are not real lights, but great for decor in my opinion. also great for using them as pretty thrust plumes

Unrelated note, turrets are having a really hard time aiming lately. like completely missing most of their shots or just giving up on aiming.

Edit, could there be a way to add these plumes to certain thruster blocks and having them appear as the thruster is working? cause currently ships seem fairly stiff while moving around

[cloudrambler]

Big thumbs up to the idea of adding similar light beams / cones to thrusters. As @BruceLeedleLeedleLeedleLee has aptly demonstrated, it makes a world of difference. Ideally the length and intensity of the "plume" would scale with thruster size and power level respectively. So when the thruster is inactive, the plume would fade out.

It would also be good to have spotlights that brightly illuminate a target item. This would be especially useful for external spotlights to light up other structures. Think: exploring a derelict, or assessing an asteroid for mining. Those objects would ideally be dimly lit so that a directed light will make all the difference. Just like the body flashlight that we already have, though it's a little too bright and diffuse to be really atmospheric.

[TIKIRobo]

I love these new flood lights however i do have a few issues with them

• The extension bit will collide with other blocks not letting you place it
• when turned off the light becomes dark black which is cool however it does ruin the effect of being able to turn them off
• and like previously mentioned they dont actually emit light
  over all this is quite the cool update!

[tsunamayo]

@TIKIRobo Collision and turned off issues fixed. thx

[tsunamayo]

@BruceLeedleLeedleLeedleLee Hi, dont use that on "official" ship, as I will add a proper flume vfx at one point! cheers edit: by official I mean ship we will integrate in the base game ^^