64 replies to this topic

[Jimbo63]

In the Course Architect for TW2008 it is possible to create rough/deep rough textures with the blades of grass actually incorporated into the texture. Will this be possible using Course Forge/Unity? Or will 3d grass effects have to be planted separately as when using  the APCD for Links courses?

[IanD]

Planting and Painting, I believe are totally separate in Unity.

[Acrilix]

I really hope PP eventually add that 3D grass blade effect. HB Studio's The Golf Club has it (another Unity based title) and I think it looks stunning in their promo video.

[axe360]

There aren't any grass blades for this game?

[shimonko]

I really hope PP eventually add that 3D grass blade effect. HB Studio's The Golf Club has it (another Unity based title) and I think it looks stunning in their promo video.

 

Was this the shot that stood out to you from that video? It definitely did to me: (blurry spots will be YouTube's compression)

 

 

I'm not sure if this is planted grass or a properly normal mapped grass texture, but it's definitely impressive. 

Also the other thing that stood out about the shot was the ball bounced substantially uphill after hitting that side slope, like it can do in real life. I liked that.

[Acrilix]

That's exactly the bit that impressed me.  

[axe360]

Just asking but whats so unusual about 3d grass blades, they've been in the game for years... TW's that is... Haven't you all ever played a golf game with 3d grass? 

[LasseThid]

The latest version of Links was released in 2003 and was in 2D, so those of us who never cared much for EA's golf game aren't used to seeing 3D grass on the courses we play. 

[IanD]

Well said sir....lol..

[axe360]

The latest version of Links was released in 2003 and was in 2D, so those of us who never cared much for EA's golf game aren't used to seeing 3D grass on the courses we play. 

 

I keep forgetting about that.. Maybe we will get an answer soon...

[Sinewiz]

If 3d grass is included I certainly hope it's done better than it was in TW. There was nothing realistic looking about the oversized individual blades of grass in TW which looked more like old glory flapping in the wind. When is the last time you were on a golf course and saw the grass whipping around unless it was some decorative form of wild grass?

[Jimbo63]

I did not want this to turn into a debate about how good TW2008 or Links is. I only mentioned TW2008 because that has 3d grass incorporated into some textures and Links does not. It seemed a very simple question to answer IMO, but obviously not as there has been no definitive answer yet.

[Kablammo11]

It's a simple yes-or-no question, Jimbo63. Not my place to make that call, and I feel I have no right to field that question in the first place, but there is a bit of flu going around and maybe the Devs caught some of it. Anyway, my answer is unofficial.

 

There was no sight of TW08-like 3D grass textures, including tiny little 3D grass blades, in my CF private beta.

But 3d grass is mainly a Unity3D functionality, independent from the CF. You can "paint" grass onto a terrain in Unity, but not as a texture, but as a billboard (a transparent 2D cutout of a grass bush - or blade). Here's one (out of many, many examples).

 

 

Never mind that the guys in the video want to sell you some stuff, it's about the method employed to get a 3D grass effect that is basically the same as attaching grass blades to a texture -  But this way you can get more variety in your grass and mix up your nature elements a lot more than you could if you only had a very uniform roster of grass blades assigned to a texture. So the Unity way implies that you need to work a bit more (getting different length grass materials, weed, flowers etc and applying them by hand) but will be rewarded with a superior result.

 

So I am going to answer: No.

No TW08-like 3D grass. No endless rows of identical, stubbly blades.

But something potentially better, if handled correctly. Check out the thread  "The Course of Mike" and marvel at the grass in his pictures from Shadow Land.

[Jimbo63]

Thanks for the reply K11, that sounds very promising

[axe360]

LMAO, is that grass blowing in the wind on a golf course. whoo hooo! My Goodness. 

I  noticed that it doesn't render very far in the distance, basically same problem in TW08, if you want grass to render from a distance you have to thin it out..  There's your problem..

 

However having grass in the game to me is a must and I hope they do come up with better grass then Links or TW's had/has... Details make the game...

[Acrilix]

I'm much more interested in seeing something like that ultra-realistic looking short rough from the TGC video making it to PG than the long swaying type that we've already seen in many games.

We've seen plenty of nice views of PG from a distance, and this is where the texture method employed is at its best, but when you're actually playing you are going to be viewing everything close up. This is where I think some extra graphics trickery would pay dividends.

[axe360]

I do agree about seeing the short rough, that is key I believe, the long grasses  are  just a complimentary type thing IMO and while it can add some variety, we're mostly playing on the short rough... Concentrate on a good rendering short rough for now and I'll be happy..

 

I'm sorry, a first cut, short rough and deep rough would make me happy.. I think..

[axe360]

I know I'd be happy to see something at least as good as this..

 

 

 

 

[IanD]

Actually, I wouldn't.... it's not good enough !

[Jimbobh]

If your grass gets too long, you'll have to get one of these.