BG 2 EE engine possibilities (lighting,opengl shaders)

brus

Does this new updated engine support specular lighting and bump maps?
Can BG 2 EE look like Shadowrun Returns?

TJ_Hooker

BG2:EE will use the same engine as BG1:EE. I know very little about computer graphics, but I don't think that it supports either specular lighting or bump maps.

Troodon80

brus said:

Does this new updated engine support specular lighting and bump maps?
Can BG 2 EE look like Shadowrun Returns?

Bump maps and specular lighting are more or less purely for 3D graphics. Since Baldur's Gate is basically made up cleverly-drawn bitmaps, it does not support either of those two maps. BG supports hight maps and such; maps that give the appearance of a character walking up hill in a particular area, or being risen above another character, and also maps that dictate where a character is allowed to walk. Since all the lighting is pre-drawn as a bitmap there is no real need for bump maps or specular maps.

This image is the bog-standard original BG2. Rendered in 3ds Max on a plane.



This is the same image with a bump map and specular map:



Aside from it looking like the gamma/levels/contrast and brightness have been turned up, there is little noticeable difference.

This is the same plane on a 45 degree angle:



As you can see, it is somewhat blurry due to the bump map.

This one is the bump map on on its own applied to the plane without a diffuse map:



So you can see that it is working as intended.

This is the plane with the bump and specular map, again with no diffuse:



So both maps are working as intended.

Unfortunatly, there is one of two outcomes:

• It works fine and there isn't much of a noticeable difference, or;
• It works but the imagery looks consistently blurry.

The only way to really get the affect of having proper 3D would be for Overhaul to redevelop the game in 3D. Obsidian decided to develop Project Eternity by pre-rendering the scenes from 3D to 2D, as well. I can't vouch for them, obviously, I have no idea why they decided to go that route, but it sounds like it would be an easier time creating levels like that rather than having to worry about lighting, shadows, and all the other things associated with having a game entirely in 3D.

Technically, given the right amount of funding and time, there's no reason why it couldn't be done - and done right. But I would say it is far more effort than is required.

ZanathKariashi

A few of the spell effects include 3D options...but...I don't see anything major being done....a lot of work, for not or no benefit, and a potential to F things up.

brus

Thx for clarification. Is BG EE open gl or directx game ?
Is it possible to add it some soft HDR or SSAO shaders?
Sweet FX can't be applied to it.

viader

@brus OpenGL

brus

For me doesn't work opengl shader injector
https://code.google.com/p/qeffects-gl/
Can someone give it a try.

gunman

As it was explained, 3D support in BG2/IWD/BG:EE is only for spell effects and alpha blending (BG/IWD2 does not make use of hardware 3D support at all). What exactly are you trying to achieve using QeffectsGL? The landscapes and character/monster models should look exactly the same either with 3D support or with software renderer.