Google Earth on US2's earth [Idea]

[wubbzy301]

Yep, It's make this very realistic. XD

[SpyCreepers]

but. it's going to took network data :/

[Electrodynamix]

Maybe just as an option.  However will it need to be integrated into the climate system and collision system, etc.?  I dunno,  but it sounds like a truckload of work when the team has already worked so hard on the planets as they are...

[Xriqxa]

Yep, It's make this very realistic. XD

nope, that would require LOADS of data and downloading time. I don't even see the use of such detail if your actions in US2 are on such large scales.

[Vince77]

Maybe this : http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/74000/74418/world.topo.200408.3x21600x10800.png

[C7]

Maybe this : http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/74000/74418/world.topo.200408.3x21600x10800.png

Unfortunately that texture isn't something that could be used even by dx11_1 level hardware. It would have to be cut up and streamed in as a composite at best. Not to mention your poor gpu ram...

Long story short, Max texture dimension is 16384 pixels, and this image is 21600 pixels wide.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff476876(v=VS.85).aspx#Overview

[pac0master]

nope, that would require LOADS of data and downloading time. I don't even see the use of such detail if your actions in US2 are on such large scales.

It depend, I believe that if it was made in a way where detail get loaded only when the camera is close by, Like Gta for instance.  the terrain would load gradually.


At least, having mountains and stuff would be nice. instead of a perfectly smooth looking planet.

[Vince77]

I find this idea stupid anyways... who need to have a huge amount data just for "some little visual details" that will make ours computers lag ?

[pac0master]

No need to be always activated.

The option to toggle such thing should be in the graphic option settings.

You have a low end computer?  then don't turn in on.
I think it would be nice to have a non smooth looking planet when you land on

[Xriqxa]

Yep, It's make this very realistic. XD

Why do you always design your polls in a way that makes people who disagree look like assholes?

I think it would be nice to have a non smooth looking planet when you land on

I don't think it's necessary to have a huge amount of detail down to the smallest leaf, just a couple cities and mountains, etc.

[pac0master]

That's basically what I meant,   Just basic landscape will be enough for me.

If I remember right, KSP ( kerbal Space program ) simply make the landscape out of a Heightmap shader.  I guess it can be used the same way.

[C7]

That's basically what I meant,   Just basic landscape will be enough for me.

If I remember right, KSP ( kerbal Space program ) simply make the landscape out of a Heightmap shader.  I guess it can be used the same way.

KSP uses a procedural quad tree system (Designed by Mu, who is a code wizard), and is based off a coherent noise field, that is much higher resolution then a texture could be.

Though, for the purposes of LOD, when you're far enough away from a planet, you're seeing a baked version of the terrain. The noise is sampled to generate a diffuse texture, normal map, and vertex displacements.