Okay, so what you see here should be pretty self-explanatory (that is if you know the graphics of BF2 fairly well). If not, let me explain.
Battlefield 2 makes use of shadows that are divided into two systems:
1. Dynamic shadows.
This is used on most of all dynamic/moving objects such as soldiers, vehicles and commander assets. The shadows are rendered while playing, and aren't fairly soft on the eyes like what you can see on newer games such as Battlefield 4. They are also pixelated and the draw distance is poor (although it is increased to the limits in this mod). Lastly, these shadows are very limited and was intended to be drawn on only moving objects (hence, calling it dynamic shadows).
Here is an example of dynamic shadows:
2. Lightmaps:
Due to this game being old as it is, back when it was developed the average system couldn't handle and entire map being rendered out with the same type of dynamic shadows explained above. It was too taxing on the graphics card and was therefore left to another system called lightmaps. These shadows are pre-calculated shadows that are overlayed on the terrain and static objects like buildings as a texture. This means that it could be rendered in advanced software such as 3DS MAX in a much higher resolution. By default, the terrain lightmaps are 4096x4096 in resolution that stretches across the entire map, which isn't a lot if you take the large scale of the map into consideration. Now because I have much more control over the lightmaps and access to 3DS MAX, I will render the shadows at more than twice the size that will give much better visuals.
Here are examples of lightmap shadows in HD:
Perfect work! Things like this should be in Vanilla Bf2. Luckily we have modders like you which bringing those things to Battlefield.
Thank you! I agree, but we all should remember that 2005, when this game was released, graphics were overall weak. Although, there were games like Crysis, but I think DICE intentionally lowered BF2's graphics due to the scale of maps and memory requirements of large conquest etc.
Just an interesting side note, if you look at some of the alpha/beta content, the graphics were in some way better. :)
That's true but there was games like Far Cry 1, Half-Life 2 and Doom 3.
I haven't seen much Alpha content so I can't judge that but most of the games looks much better in Alpha version. For example Far Cry 2. That game could be amazing but it was a huge disappointment for me because of many cut features. Destruction, more alive companion sandbox, much more realistic jungle and so on.
I know that was a little of topic but original Far Cry 2 was way better than the released version. (It was probably one of first Ubisoft downgrades).
I really think that it was because of the massive maps that they had to cut some graphical features. I mean, neither Far Cry nor Half-Life 2 are open and massive when it comes to the amount of players and map sizes. During those years you couldn't have both high graphics and a large play zone.
I haven't seen Far Cry 2's alpha version really, one a screenshot showing a different compass model of some sorts, but otherwise that game is a masterpiece to me. The graphics was ahead of its time, and the gameplay was more or less fun. But I can see why some players might be disappointed with the gamepelay since it wasn't an easy game and certainly not for casual gamers.
It could be but they do that with Far Cry 3 too and of course Watch Dogs. Meanwhile, in 2014 many people was angry at Ubisoft for downgrading Watch Dogs but I was expecting it after Far Cry 2 and Far Cry 3 downgrades.
Here is the Far Cry 2 Alpha: Youtube.com Unfortunately it is in low resolution.
They had to make the game for consoles too. We didn't have Bf3 level destruction back then. Btw i enjoyed farcry 2 :P
Do you even watch that video? They said that everything can be destroyed.
It could be marketing of course but I saw a video which had four parts but the part with destruction is no longer available.
Far Cry 2 was a very good game but I was expecting more much more. I hate when they show something and then you play something completely different. Since then I don't trust them.
video memory was the problem back in time.
i can't find the download button
It is not released yet...
it's not relised
i still waiting for this mod.....
Any chance of a preview, I'm really interested in the new dynamic shadows. And the new tankskins look awesome. Keep up the good work!
how to downlaod this???
Woah, better graphics! The more I read about this mod: the more I get excited for it.
So... Is it dead?