Zelda MM point lighting

**Gonetz** · March 7th, 2005, 10:04

I want to talk about “point lighting” implemented in RiceVideo 6.1.0. Yes, with this feature ZeldaMM looks much more correct. But is it 100% correct? Since I don’t have N64 console, I can’t answer this question. However, I can analyze Rice’s plugin work. As I see, point lighting means that under some condition all directional lights are ignored and only ambient light is used. Well, may be it must work this way. However, sometimes it looks strange. Look at these screen shots. On the first screen Link is flat lit (no directional lights used). One step aside and he becomes lit by directional light. Why? What is so different in both cases? I think, light sources are the same. So how to explain directional light absence on the first screen? May be somebody can post screens from real system?

**Rice** · March 7th, 2005, 15:34

Gonetz

The implementation in my plugin is just better than before, as you said, it is not way to be accurate. One thing we are sure is that directional lighting, ambient lighting and point lighting are all used in this game.

I would like to see some shots from the real console, too.

I would like to see how Orkin has done with his Direct64 plugin about this.

**Reznor007** · March 7th, 2005, 16:44

I have my N64 connected to my PC and can take screenshots if you want. Just tell me a place to take them. It has to be in town though, as my MM cart doesn't have any saves on it right now(I beat it on Gamecube).

**Sirmatto** · March 7th, 2005, 16:52

It's been ages since I beat this game, but I do still have my N64 and game still. If somebody can tell me what point in the game is best, I can find my digital camera and I can remember after sitting through my hydraulics class for a very long time, I'll gladly take a picture and post it if no one else does by the time I get back

**Orkin** · March 7th, 2005, 18:02

Point lighting is where the light's direction is computed per-vertex by finding a the normal from the light's position (specified in the light structure) to the vertex. I haven't completely figured it out yet either (still working on how it's supposed to be attenuated), but I don't think my implementation in Direct64 has the problem you mentioned, Gonetz. At least, I never noticed it. I'll check tonight after work...

From what I can tell, directional and point lights can be used at the same time (they can in Direct64 anyway), but MM will usually set the directional lights' colors to black when using point lighting.

**Orkin** · March 8th, 2005, 20:26

I was wrong. Direct64 does the same thing that's shown in the screenshots above. However, it's not a problem with the point lighting, as disabling it leaves the same issue.

Could this be the way it was on the N64? Or maybe there's another type of light that we're still missing?

A few shots from the N64 of the bomber tunnel could help out...

**Sirmatto** · March 8th, 2005, 21:32

Originally Posted by Orkin

A few shots from the N64 of the bomber tunnel could help out...

I know I promised I'd get around to it yesterday, but I'll do it later today, in maybe 3 or 4 hours.

**Federelli** · March 9th, 2005, 00:51

Not the bomber hideout, but still, point lightning is used here as well at night (shop alley)

**Sirmatto** · March 9th, 2005, 01:28

Ok, here are the pictures I promised. No one told me any place specific, so I just took the bomber's hideout. Seems a lot more illuminated than using and emulator with Rice's plugin. But if you want anymore pictures, let me know the place and the position you want me to stand at. And the last picture is just to show how awesome I am.

And sorry for the grainy pictures, I lost my S-video out cable for the N64 and am left for now with composite only. I will try to take better picture if these actually help and are useful for this topic.