Defining the Anomalies
Hi Guys!

With all the new solutions on the market, we are working on a new way to rank and review games and their S-3D compatibility success.

The first step is to differentiate anomalies that are completely unacceptable (Tier 1) or make the game unpleasant to play, and anomalies that can be gamed with, but are still visual imperfections (Tier 2). It would be much appreciated if you could participate in this thread so we have a basis to work with. The more precise we are, the better. The list is not solution specific.

[url="http://mtbs3d.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=2870"]http://mtbs3d.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=2870[/url]

Thanks in advance,
Chopper
Hi Guys!



With all the new solutions on the market, we are working on a new way to rank and review games and their S-3D compatibility success.



The first step is to differentiate anomalies that are completely unacceptable (Tier 1) or make the game unpleasant to play, and anomalies that can be gamed with, but are still visual imperfections (Tier 2). It would be much appreciated if you could participate in this thread so we have a basis to work with. The more precise we are, the better. The list is not solution specific.



http://mtbs3d.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=2870



Thanks in advance,

Chopper

#1
Posted 02/13/2009 11:06 PM   
hi chopper,

One of the things I look for in an s3d game is whether or not the On-Screen-Data (OSD) is at screen depth
and if it's not, can I get it there using the "screen depth" hotkey? So for your issue, if it's not at screendepth,
is that a tier 1 or 2 rating? Well it depends on the game and how a person likes their settings. You can develop a
standard but some people will like it different than that. I have games without screendepth OSD that are playable
and some that are not. The standard I suggest is for a third-person view: use convergence to put your character
at screendepth, then set separation so that things on the horizon look good and distant. Then check to see how the OSD is.

The real answer for this issue is to make sure that the frontplane and backplane controls work. What I've learned
over time is that they often work with HW-TnL off and don't work with HW-TnL on. So the answer is to make
the cards so that you can control those planes with HW-TnL on. This means the function should be built into
the hardware, not the software of the stereo driver. They put so much work into complicated new hardware
features. They should put this function into hardware too. It shouldn't be that complicated.

The bottom line is that there are two categories and five subcategories:

good OSD:
the game has a screendepth OSD by default without using the plane control hotkeys.
the game has a fixable OSD using hotkeys.
the game has an unfixable OSD that is usable.

bad OSD:
the game is playable without a usable OSD (OSD not that important or you can shut it off in game)
the game is unplayable.

Just a thought: Some people may not want the OSD at screendepth. It would be nice if you had
more hotkeys to change the depth of the OSD independantly from everything else.

Next issue: LaserSight
Does the setup have a 3d lasersight that shows up or not? (lasersight from outside of game)
Is it autoranging like a lasersight should be or is it at a constant depth like a targeting reticle?
What kind of reticle does the game have built-in? 3d/2d? Can you turn the game reticle off/on?
For nvidia setups: Is the nvidia lasersight affected by HW-TnL and frontplane/backplane controls? (it is in my experience)
Generically: what settings affect the lasersight?

Next issue: rendering options
What rendering options does the game have that you need to change in order to get good s3d?
eg: reflections, water effects, shading, other post-processing, etc.

All these things should be in a database indexed with card and driver version.
too bad things can't be simpler.
hi chopper,



One of the things I look for in an s3d game is whether or not the On-Screen-Data (OSD) is at screen depth

and if it's not, can I get it there using the "screen depth" hotkey? So for your issue, if it's not at screendepth,

is that a tier 1 or 2 rating? Well it depends on the game and how a person likes their settings. You can develop a

standard but some people will like it different than that. I have games without screendepth OSD that are playable

and some that are not. The standard I suggest is for a third-person view: use convergence to put your character

at screendepth, then set separation so that things on the horizon look good and distant. Then check to see how the OSD is.



The real answer for this issue is to make sure that the frontplane and backplane controls work. What I've learned

over time is that they often work with HW-TnL off and don't work with HW-TnL on. So the answer is to make

the cards so that you can control those planes with HW-TnL on. This means the function should be built into

the hardware, not the software of the stereo driver. They put so much work into complicated new hardware

features. They should put this function into hardware too. It shouldn't be that complicated.



The bottom line is that there are two categories and five subcategories:



good OSD:

the game has a screendepth OSD by default without using the plane control hotkeys.

the game has a fixable OSD using hotkeys.

the game has an unfixable OSD that is usable.



bad OSD:

the game is playable without a usable OSD (OSD not that important or you can shut it off in game)

the game is unplayable.



Just a thought: Some people may not want the OSD at screendepth. It would be nice if you had

more hotkeys to change the depth of the OSD independantly from everything else.



Next issue: LaserSight

Does the setup have a 3d lasersight that shows up or not? (lasersight from outside of game)

Is it autoranging like a lasersight should be or is it at a constant depth like a targeting reticle?

What kind of reticle does the game have built-in? 3d/2d? Can you turn the game reticle off/on?

For nvidia setups: Is the nvidia lasersight affected by HW-TnL and frontplane/backplane controls? (it is in my experience)

Generically: what settings affect the lasersight?



Next issue: rendering options

What rendering options does the game have that you need to change in order to get good s3d?

eg: reflections, water effects, shading, other post-processing, etc.



All these things should be in a database indexed with card and driver version.

too bad things can't be simpler.

#2
Posted 02/14/2009 10:30 AM   
Some good ideas here. Add them or copy and paste them to the thread. I will draft a final list shortly for community review.

Regards,
Chopper
Some good ideas here. Add them or copy and paste them to the thread. I will draft a final list shortly for community review.



Regards,

Chopper

#3
Posted 02/15/2009 05:19 PM   
Hi Guys!

Ok, need your final input in the thread below:

[url="http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=2870"]http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=2870[/url]

It is understood that many games will need to have their settings reduced to work properly in S-3D, and this goes for all S-3D solutions. However, even with all setting reduction options exhausted, we need to acknowledge and classify the anomalies that remain - if any.

Once we finish this, we will be able to move on to the next stage...

Regards,
Chopper
Hi Guys!



Ok, need your final input in the thread below:



http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=2870



It is understood that many games will need to have their settings reduced to work properly in S-3D, and this goes for all S-3D solutions. However, even with all setting reduction options exhausted, we need to acknowledge and classify the anomalies that remain - if any.



Once we finish this, we will be able to move on to the next stage...



Regards,

Chopper

#4
Posted 02/17/2009 04:13 PM   
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