Multiple Mario Models?

[Nin_10_Dough]

I hadn't played through the game in a while, and I noticed this:
Look closely at Mario. That is the best picture I could get, when I try to get closer the other model is loaded it seems. Pic 1: Higher poly count , Pic 2: lower poly count.

Do allot of games do this? Sorry if this has already been discussed :blush:

 

[Clements]

Yes, and it's hardly noticable on a real N64. It's to reduce the overall polygon count of the scene since the real N64 had a limit before slowdown occurs.

 

[Bill Fleming]

I think even UT2007 does this, it is faster to have 2 separate models, one for close up and one for far away, than it is to scale the high res model down really low.
I would venture to say modern PC games are much better at it, or much less noticeable.
Mario was the first though I guess, so it was an inovation....

 

[ScottJC]

I'd love it if a paticular video plugin used a hack to replace the lower model with the higher model; *hint hint* *runs*