3D Polygon Games On 8/16-Bit Consoles

[Rogue Trooper]

Anyone know what sort of frame rates the 3D games on MD were running at? only ask as reading old issue  of The One (Amiga) May'91 and Preview of Microproses Air Power (Glyn Williams), talk of hope for final game to run at between 6 and 7 FPS, in current debugging it was running between 3 and 4.

Final game would use 16 colours and the 2-Player, split screen mode would see detailed halved.

[nakamura]

Is it not possible to use an emulator to actually test it?

[Rogue Trooper]

Is it not possible to use an emulator to actually test it?

Might well be, but i'd not have a scooby which version i was testing etc as Emu's i use are made idiot proof, plus from the comparison vids on here, people always say things are 'off' on the games being shown, so was'nt sure if this would be true of things like frame rate as well.

[nakamura]

I don't know tbh mate. It's probably more accurate an answer that I could give at least.

[TL]

Kega Fusion is very accurate. I could try a few games out at some point and see what the results are.

I would guess 8-10 FPS

[Rogue Trooper]

Just a curio.really, not looking at it from a ST VS AMIGA VS MD point of view, more to see just what was possible from the hardware and some clever coding routines.

[Rogue Trooper]

Yes indeed, the Lynx has the advantage of hardware scaling, rotation and near infinite sprites. Not to mention the blitter and a 16 Mhz graphics chip.

One thing Lynx programmers did was combine 3D polygons with sprites overlaid on top to very good effect, as seen in games like Xybots and Warbirds. The best example however will always be STUN Runner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlzyJuuzb6M

Lynx Stun Runner is'nt a 'true' 3D game though, in sense of hardware rendering polygons, if it did try that approach, you'd be looking at Hard drivin frame rates.Instead to maintain the frame rate (essential for this game) the Lynx hardware's fantastic 'Infinite sprite' engine is used to generate the 'effect' of fully 3D tunnels.Tunnels are constructed from multiple, differently-sized, concentric ring sprites, rather than say the ST versions filled in Polys approach.The main car and objects etc are scaled 2D sprites.Effect works wonderfully well.

Everything in Lynx Stun Runner (tunnels, craft etc etc, is sprite based) Programmer has talked at length about how game was created over on Atari Age and said although he did talk of using polygons, idea was quickly put to bed as it were as you just would'nt get the speed.So not sure where the idea game used polygons came from.....

[nakamura]

I absolutely smashed Stun Runner on the Lynx. What an absolutely superb game and IMO, more fun than the arcade version when playing at home.

[Rogue Trooper]

I absolutely smashed Stun Runner on the Lynx. What an absolutely superb game and IMO, more fun than the arcade version when playing at home.

Would have loved to see it get the '2000' treatment on the Jaguar.

[nakamura]

Hmm, not sure about that. I think Wipeout would have made it rather obsolete unless they made major upgrades.

[Rogue Trooper]

IF ATARI had got it as a launch title, it'd have appeared  before wipeout though and Wipeout never stopped likes of Gran Chaser (Saturn), Hi-Octane (multi) from appearing.

If it was done properly with the original and 2000 Mode, it could easily have stood apart from what Wipeout was doing, Wipeout was track based, Stun Runner tunnel based etc.

Wipeout was more inspired by ST/Amiga Powerdrome than Stun Runner.

[Rogue Trooper]

Steel Talons on Lynx pulled in 90% at review in C+VG's GO! magazine with both Frank o'Connor and Paul Rand being very impressed by it.

[TL]

Steel Talons on Lynx pulled in 90% at review in C+VG's GO! magazine with both Frank o'Connor and Paul Rand being very impressed by it.

I remember that review really well, I pretty much bought the game off the back of that.

[Rogue Trooper]

Steel Talons on Lynx pulled in 90% at review in C+VG's GO! magazine with both Frank o'Connor and Paul Rand being very impressed by it.

I remember that review really well, I pretty much bought the game off the back of that.

What did you make of Frank O'Connors review in GO! of Lynx Hard Drivin (40% score awarded) he said with out the steering wheel+gear stick, it's a sad parody.Forget it.

[TL]

Steel Talons on Lynx pulled in 90% at review in C+VG's GO! magazine with both Frank o'Connor and Paul Rand being very impressed by it.

I remember that review really well, I pretty much bought the game off the back of that.

What did you make of Frank O'Connors review in GO! of Lynx Hard Drivin (40% score awarded) he said with out the steering wheel+gear stick, it's a sad parody.Forget it.

I thought it was nonsense, I bought Hard Drivin' for the Lynx the week it came out and loved it. I thought they did an outstanding job with the conversion.