Creating World Class Graphics on the PSP Creating

Creating World Class Graphics on the PSP • Shipped Titles • PSP Art Topics

The Lord of the Rings: Tactics LOTR used assets from 3 previous console titles

Lord of the Rings: Tactics Attract Mode Video EA, Publisher LOTR Movie Here

The Si. MS 2 Attract Mode Video EA, Publisher Sims Movie Here

Pirates of the Caribbean Walk Cycle movie here Text

Pirates of the Caribbean Attract Mode Video Buena Vista Games, Publisher Pirate Movie Here

PSP Perceptions The PSP is not a true PS 2 in terms of what

PS 2 vs PSP workflow Smaller memory pool requires more coordination of art, sound,

RUNTIME vs. LOAD TIME (Frame rate issues vs. Memory budgets) “To LOD, or not

Total Visible Mesh Count • Hard edges • Multiple shaders • Combining close proximity

Bone/Joint Count • 200 Total Bones on screen is the (self-imposed) limit for frame

Lighting • “Fast Track”: Like PS 2, our pipeline like 2 Dynamic Lights, 1

Texture Resolution Less resolution resulted in less noise and cleaner looking characters. LOTR test

Shaders • Too much alpha = sorting issues • Too many passes on a

Environment Resolution Foreground, middle ground, background/skybox

LODs • [Level of Detail] • Spend the memory loading in extra meshes to

Clipping • No PSP software/hardware clipper built in • Software clipper can be added

The Lord of the Rings: Tactics Chart Here

rd TBA 3 Person Action/Adventure Chart Here

Slides: 52

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Creating World Class Graphics on the PSP

Creating World Class Graphics on the PSP • Shipped Titles • PSP Art Topics • Asset breakdowns • Open Q & A

Shipped Titles

The Lord of the Rings: Tactics LOTR used assets from 3 previous console titles and 1 PC title with additional assets created to match. All had to go through strict approvals by multiple parties in a very short development cycle. LOTR included 40 min of film footage & re-edited to tell story of Middle Earth from Mordor’s perspective. No true in-game cinematics were created, flythroughs introduced the levels and lots of combat cameras were used throughout.

The Lord of the Rings: Tactics Text

Lord of the Rings: Tactics Attract Mode Video EA, Publisher LOTR Movie Here

The Si. Ms 2 Text

The Si. MS 2 Attract Mode Video EA, Publisher Sims Movie Here

Pirates of the Caribbean Text

Pirates of the Caribbean Walk Cycle movie here Text

Pirates of the Caribbean Text

Pirates of the Caribbean Attract Mode Video Buena Vista Games, Publisher Pirate Movie Here

PSP Art Topics

PSP Perceptions The PSP is not a true PS 2 in terms of what can be loaded into memory (approximately 0. 75) “Porting to PSP is not a simple matter of texture resolution!”

PS 2 vs PSP workflow Smaller memory pool requires more coordination of art, sound, and design to pull back on typical PS 2 pipeline and practices. • Level effects vs sound files • Game art vs. HUD texture resolutions • # of unique characters vs design balancing

RUNTIME vs. LOAD TIME (Frame rate issues vs. Memory budgets) “To LOD, or not to LOD…. ”

Total Visible Mesh Count • Hard edges • Multiple shaders • Combining close proximity meshes • Separating large meshes – Skybox for example • Cels and Portals • Fog & far clip

Bone/Joint Count • 200 Total Bones on screen is the (self-imposed) limit for frame rate • LOTR: 16 characters max, each about 30 -35 bones. • TBA 1 P Shooter: 7 characters max; 1 Player, 2 - 3 allies, 3 - 4 opponents (per average level) • TBA 3 P Action/Adventure: 16 characters max; target 25 -30 bones each

Lighting • “Fast Track”: Like PS 2, our pipeline like 2 Dynamic Lights, 1 ambient & 1 directional • Baked in lighting for environments is best for load & run time issues. • Painted-in shadows or baked into verts.

Texture Resolution Less resolution resulted in less noise and cleaner looking characters. LOTR test image.

Shaders • Too much alpha = sorting issues • Too many passes on a surface = Runtime Slowing (decals, shine, UI, shadows, layers, etc) • Effects: a good savings is to use add blend for glowing effects. No alpha channel needed

Environment Resolution Foreground, middle ground, background/skybox

Total Visible Mesh Count • Hard edges • Multiple shaders • Combining close proximity meshes • Separating large meshes – Skybox for example • Cels and Portals • Fog & far clip

LODs • [Level of Detail] • Spend the memory loading in extra meshes to help run-time? Shadows • Blob/Dots shaded across all, use LOD to draw, or go full detail?

Clipping • No PSP software/hardware clipper built in • Software clipper can be added at a runtime cost • Environments can be subdivided, use scalable terrain mesh, or LOD system • Overdraw: Try to minimize the amount so runtime sorting is less taxing.

Project Asset Breakdowns

The Lord of the Rings: Tactics Chart Here

The Si. Ms 2 Chart Here

Pirates of the Caribbean Chart Here

TBA Flight Combat Chart Here

st TBA 1 Person Shooter Chart Here

rd TBA 3 Person Action/Adventure Chart Here

Creating World Class Graphics on the PSP