Episode 13: US Computer Trash Exported, Control of the Internet, and LOTS of Game News!

For the show, the technology used to make this look more 3D, without adding more Polygons is either Bump Mapping or Normal Mapping, in this case, I'll bet it's normal mapping (mapping the normals of a texture give much better overall results than simply mapping the height)

From Wikipedia: "In 3D computer graphics texture mapping, MIP maps (also mipmaps) are pre-calculated, optimized collections of bitmap images that accompany a main texture, intended to increase rendering speed and reduce artifacts. They are widely used in 3D computer games, flight simulators and other 3D imaging systems. The technique is known as mipmapping. The letters "MIP" in the name are an acronym of the Latin phrase multum in parvo, meaning "much in a small space"."

Another RTS that has been rather popular that you may, or may not like is WarHammer 40k: Dawn of War and it's expantion Winter Assult, the Resource system is completly different from the traditional peons gather gold and lumber style. There are two resources, power and requisition. To get power, you build power generators, power generates at 6 units per 10 seconds per normal power generator. Requisition is quite different, since all the buildings already exist in orbit, you need to show that you deserve them, to do that you need to capture strategic locations on the map and defend them against the enemy. Another interesting thing about DoW is it's squad based tactics (instead of building one unit at a time, you get a few, all tied together into a squad) you can reinforce a squad, upgrade their weapons, or add leaders to their ranks.

The Developer of DoW was the one that brought us Homeworld in 1999, Relic

(God I sound like an ad)

You guys talk about HDTV and how 1080p is so great, take a look at this Slashdot article

Linky

Brillaint show guys. I'm glad that the point was bought up about "Why do these countries keep accepting the computer trash?" I spent must of my day pondering (instead of studying) how these computers should be put to better use rather than exporting them as garbage and using developing countries as landfills. Although I came no avail. All the same, brilliant shows guys (and gal). Keep up the great work. As an aspiring programmer (hopefully game developoer) I enjoy hearing about the advancements in technology and gaming

 

Regards