ARMA 3 development blog & reveals

[EricM]

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]

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

[CarlosTex]

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]

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]

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.

[NodUnit]

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]

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]

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

[Smurf]

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]

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.