Other [Issue 63] The Beauty in Tanki: Graphics

[Hex 11,520]

 

There are a couple of options in the Settings which just can't be left for granted. They have been known to immensely level up your game-play, or strike it with eternal lag.

 

That's right people, they're graphics.

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What are they?

 

Well, to answer this simple question, let's just define graphics:

 

graph-ics

/'grafiks/

• the product of graphic arts, especially commercial design or illustration, or
• the overall quality (or resolution) of anything on a screen.

For this game and article's sake, we'll deal with the second one.

 

Do they matter?

 

Of course! They are those who beautify the game and make it such that it literally appeals to the person playing. If you have a good computer, or a laptop, feel free to enable some, or all of the graphic options. But there are those who don't have such computers. Don't worry, the 'Automatic Graphics Quality' will surely help. 

 

And without any further delays and brouhahas, let's look at some of the available graphic options.

 

One more question pls thx.

 

Are we, the Reporters, noobs?

 

Debatable. No. Let's ro.

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The Graphics:

 

There are a total of eleven graphics options available - ten ordinary and one for overall beautifying, named 'Automatic Graphics Quality'.

 

 

 

▶ General Difference b/w Graphics Types:

 

Below you can see some general, yet big differences between full graphics, automatic graphics and no graphics at all. From the first looks, full graphics almost wins the game. It appears that when all options are enabled, the game-play feels very smooth and lightened. Everything from the parachutes to the dust roaming in the map, tanks to paints, bushes to buildings feel suave and creamy.

 

Now, it does look like full graphics and automatic graphics do not actually have a big difference between them, in fact, they do. Full graphics, again, feels very real and smooth, whereas automatic graphics feels a bit rough. This difference can easily be seen on my tank, paint and very bridge itself.

 

The most basic graphics, or no graphics at all, just doesn't cut it. What's the point in playing if you can't enjoy doing what you are doing? I mean, people who disable all graphics and reduce the screen size seem a bit less happy than others. They are also prone to easy exaggeration, anger and tension. But that's just my opinion.

 

▶ The Skybox:

 

Then comes the skybox. Although it can't actually be classified as a 'graphics option', it does actually matter and holds great importance. Probably because it encapsulates the entire map and you can't outrun it - it's everywhere. There are many types of skyboxes, even limited ones who have appeared in special celebration maps.

 

You can read a review on skyboxes, written entirely on the subject on their beauty by none other than Nighty-Whitey herself.

 

▶ Mip-mapping:

 

Like the skybox, mip-mapping can't actually be classified as a graphic option, but since everything would look ABSOLUTELY UGLY when disabled, and also that it changes the quality of textures when enabling/disabling, I think it shouldn't be left out.

 

Here is how the Wiki describes it:

 

Mip-mapping is a method of texturing that uses multiple copies of the same texture with different levels of detail. It means that the level of details of textures will change depending on the distance from the camera. The technique allows to get rid of 'noise' in remote objects and significantly improves rendering performance.

Thanks Wiki!

It stabilizes the game where necessary. For example, when looking at a prop from very far away, it will actually be appearing in a resolution level lower than a prop nearby. In short: it is a technique where an original high-resolution texture map is scaled and filtered into multiple resolutions within the texture file.

 

▶ Dynamic Lighting:

 

Dynamic Lighting is advanced map lightening tool, used to give as much reality to objects possible. In Tanki, the sunshine, time and weather changes, lighting on flags, points and supply boxes, as well as the shots on some turrets are because of Dynamic Lighting. It can cause a bit of FPS lag, but not much if you have a good GPU in your computer/laptop.

 

This is also my favorite graphic option, even if all other are turned off. Mainly because it not only illuminates the entire map, but also keeps things 'dynamic' as the lighting changes time to time. Another reason why I like this is because it causes the most changes to the game when enabled, it beautifies your game-play and makes it look smooth and fluent.

▶ Dynamic Shadows:

 

Dynamic shadows are defined as the shadows that are calculated in real-time to look like the object's real shadow would, based on the shape of the object and the location of the light-source(s). Everything in Tanki has a shadow when this option is turned on, even pipes. Remember in the previous heading where I told you that Dynamic Lighting is good? Well, the mixture of these two is even better! Lighting lights up the map, whereas Shadows make it look as real as possible.

 

This can be seen here:

 

 

Dynamic Shadows are only possible in 3D games, where the x/y/z planes make it possible to create shadows that are firstly dynamic and secondly, look very real.

 

▶ Deep Shadows:

 

Deep Shadows are a bit like Dynamic Shadows, but add a bit more realism to the game. They also make the overall map seem smooth. Again, everything has a deep shadow, but your tank and the small-medium props seem to have more noticeable shadows than other objects. It is important to understand the trade-off between deep shadows and regular shadows. The deep shadows are superior in quality in most instances, but you pay with computation time and disk space - they cause a bit of FPS lag.

 

Here's how they look:

 

Left: Deep Shadows

Right: Regular Shadows

 

 

Another example where the smoothness can be seen:

 

Left: Deep Shadows

Right: Regular Shadows

 

 

▶ Fog:

 

This is pretty self-explanatory. Fog in Tanki Online is pretty much like real-life, except that it is much less denser. I would say its kind of a optional thing, that just adds to the beauty of the game.

 

Fun fact: Iran is the only map in which dust appears when Fog is enabled, instead of fog.

 

Below you can see the difference when fog is enabled and disabled:

▶ Soft Particles:

 

Enabling and disabling this literally changes the whole view of the game. Now, this change can't actually be easily seen in Tanki, it does actually change. Particle sprites are widely used in most games. They are used for a variety of semi- transparent effects such as fog, smoke, dust, magic spells and explosions. However, sprites commonly produce artifacts – unnaturally sharp edges – where they intersect the rest of the scene. To smooth these edges out, this option is used.

 

Here's what I mean:

 

Left: Soft Particles disabled

Right: Soft Particles enabled

 

Now, in Tanki, since there is only fog, explosions and dust to deal with, Soft Particles will only effect fog and explosions when Dust is turned off.

 

▶ Dust:

 

*cough* Iran *cough* Dust also appears under the tracks of hulls. It's also important to note that no matter what kind of a surface you're driving over, dust will always appear brown. It would've been better if it was different for different surfaces, like grassy kinda dirt for the grass, brownish-silver for concrete and so on. Nevertheless, Dust not only adds a different level of realism, it also looks kind of pro-ish, especially when you drift and the dust goes spinning.

▶ Shadow Under Tank:

 

This is pretty self-explanatory too. All this option does is add a shadow of your tank under it. This add to a deeper view and overall realism of the game.

 

▶ Anti-aliasing:

 

Anti-aliasing is a technique used to add greater realism to a digital image by smoothing jagged edges on curved lines and diagonals. If disabled, props and the map on your screen will appear rough, bad, noob, trolled, unsatisfactory, inadequate, unacceptable, ugly... ok enough. In short, when it is enabled, it makes the picture less blurry and pixelated. For example, in MS Paint, drawing a diagonal line appears as a staircase.

 

Left: Anti-aliasing enabled

Right: Anti-aliasing disabled

 

 

I didn't understand AA the first time either, so here's a very good video:

 

 

 

To serve an example, this is the result of an 1080p HD screen, with 'Automatic Graphics Quality' turned on. Impressive, isn't it?

 

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In conclusion, graphics are the gods of resolution. The fact that they impressively escalate your game-play and that they add more beauty into the game means that they are the THING. Something that is truly worth it. I would definitely upgrade my stuff if I knew there is going to be a better result.

 

What do you think about these? Do you like them, do you play with all of them, some of them or none at all? Share your thoughts below!

 

✯ DestroyerPdox ✯

 

 

[Arcohhs 67]

they work for making nice edits with nice CCs, not that anyone knows what im talking about

[Ninja 10,468]

Waw, LinusTechTips... Much Like.

[Destrod 2,634]

Didn't know that continents could write good articles. Nice job.