Profile: Phaethor
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• • Anyone know?

  •  

    2D CGI was first used in movies in 1973's Westworld, though the first use of 3D Wireframe imagery was in its sequel, Futureworld (1976), which featured a computer-generated hand and face created by then University of Utah graduate students Edwin Catmull and Fred Parke. The third movie to use this technology was Star Wars (1977) for the scenes with the wireframe Death Star plans and the targeting computers in the X-Wings and the Millennium Falcon. The first two films to make heavy investments in Solid 3D CGI, Tron (1982) and The Last Starfighter (1984), were commercial failures, causing most directors to relegate CGI to images that were supposed to look like they were created by a computer.

     

    The first real CGI character was created by Pixar for the film Young Sherlock Holmes in 1985 (not counting the simple polyhedron character Bit in Tron).The technology emerged from New York Institute of Technology. It took the form of a knight composed of elements from a stained glass window. CGI did not win over the motion picture industry until 1989, however, when The Abyss won the Academy Award for Visual Effects. Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) produced complex CGI visual effects, most notably a seawater creature dubbed the pseudopod, featuring in one scene of the film. CGI then took a central role in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), in which the T-1000 Terminator villain wowed audiences with liquid metal and morphing effects fully integrated into action sequences throughout the film. Terminator 2 also won ILM an Oscar for its effects.

    It was the 1993 film Jurassic Park, in which dinosaurs created with CGI were seamlessly integrated into live action scenes, that revolutionized the movie industry. It marked Hollywood’s transition from stop-motion animation and conventional optical effects to digital techniques. The following year, CGI was used to create the special effects for Forrest Gump. The most noteworthy effects shots were those that featured the digital removal of actor Gary Sinise's legs. Other effects included a napalm strike, the fast-moving Ping-Pong balls, and the digital insertion of Tom Hanks into several scenes of historical footage.

     

  • Posted: 9/05/08 11:27 AM
    General Discussion
• • TR can come back strong if they did one thing...

  • I was never interested in Space based games.  I was drawn to this game solely because of Richard Garriots involvment.  I wanted there to be PvP but settled on the defending the outposts and retaking ones that were overrun.  I really enjoyed the combat and would like to see some changes to that.  I think making the Bane a playable race would go leaps and bounds into improving this game.  But, it wil lnot be the one thing that saves it.

    Best,

    Phae

  • Posted: 9/04/08 1:27 PM
    Tabula Rasa
• • Darkfall... Everything we ever wanted in a MMO?

  • I am excited for Darkfall.  I was a little dissapointed with the polygons in the water and the interaction between the characters footfalls and the ground but that was basically about it.  The overall video was amazing.  The graphics can be tweaked prior to release.  Even if it isn't it will still look a million times btter than WoW.  And as long as the game play is at least what they have stated it will hands down be the game for many hard core players that are looking for a truly PvP game to bring back an amazing gaming experience.

    Best,

     

    Phae

  • Posted: 9/04/08 1:18 PM
    Darkfall
• • After 4 Weeks Free time i can say that >>

  • I played Vanguard from Beta in August 2006 until GU5 in 2008.  When there were alot of people who were complaining about game lag and unplayability I had very few minor problems.  I would get 30-50 FPS on average running around towns and in quest areas.  I would get 80+ when out in the middle of nowhere hunting alone or visiting a remote dungeon.  However that all changed when GU5 was released.  My dual core 3.6ghz PC with 2GB of Ram and 512MB PCI-E x1950 (Agreed not the best, but not shabby either) was incapable of playing the game at all.  I tried for over a week.  Uninstalling reinstalling, following the suggestions on the forums.  I eventually had to give up.  When I would log in I would have frame rates down in the single digits.  I was not able to fight mobs, heck I could barely move.

    I heard of the Free game play time but I had already completely removed the game from my system and re-enabled my EQII account from before I started Beta in Vanguard.  Everything was still there and the game played smoothly.  I was able to hook up with old friends who didn't follow me to Vanguard and caught up quickly to them.

    Now I am awaiting DarkFall and hoping that there won't be gameplay issues that make it impossible for me to play.

    Best,

     

    Phae

  • Posted: 9/04/08 9:59 AM
    Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
• • My First Rational Conversation about Darkfall

  • I'm new to these forums but I've been around MMO's since '99.  I found Darkfall around two years and a half ago or so and signed up for their forums about a year ago.  I was impressed with the write ups on their website.  I am a hardcore gamer and play on PvP servers where available.  I heard nothing but hate spewed about Darkfall wherever I went, even on their own forums.  It wasn't news to me I saw it at other forums as well.  But I didn't complain when I saw graphics which weren't as good as other games.  I have seen too many games with incredible graphics and horrendous game play.  Or games with millions of subs but horrendous graphics.  I didn't complain when release dates were pushed back or when there where excuses about publishing in North America.

    I've had dozens of conversations with people who have practically screamed "Vaporware" everytime I even consider mentioning Darkfall.  Now I know a good half dozen guys that will play along side me when this game releases and I can only hope to see alot of naysayers and what not there as well.

    I mean there will have to be someone to kill....

     

    Best,

     

    Phae

  • Posted: 9/03/08 7:59 PM
    Darkfall