Question about source graphics (left 4 dead related)

[Mustacio]

Edit: i found out its called phong shading.

ok i been trying to find this out but cant seem to find anything about it anywhere so this is the only place i know where to ask so if u guys could help me out that would be great. i been looking at some of the pictures in Left 4 Dead and was looking at how cool the rim lighting/phong shading looked on characters, something like this (how the light shines off the zombies): http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t280/left4dead4 11/cornfield-tractor-infected-600.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t280/left4dead411/cornfield-tractor-infected-600.jpg)

what i want to know is where in the options would I find the settings for this? would this lighting be in Shader Detail or for something like shadow detail? cause i play with everything on high in source games but i keep shadow detail to medium to keep the framerate smooth. if my shadow detail is at medium wen left 4 dead comes out will i not be able to see the phong like in that screenshot above or is that not even part of shadows?

[dontleave]

Only HL2 Episode 1 and Episode 2 make use of this, the technology was introduced in Episode 1 but I don't think any other game has implemented it.

[Mustacio]

to make it work though does HDR have to be turned to Full? or is that shadow detail?

[Reptile]

Are you talking about "projected shadows"?

[Hona]

I think it's Shader Detail.

[Dead Fish]

That's a feature called Phong Shading (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Phong), isn't it? Somebody observed that while taking a look at the Witch screenshot. ;)

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/w/images/e/e9/Phong_reflection.jpg (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/w/images/e/e9/Phong_reflection.jpg)

[Zed]

I can already reach the same effect in CS: Source with everything on max.

Doesn't slow down framerate too much with a 256MB video card.

[gorgoth]

Okay, so glad this came up. When I play TF2, there is no rim shading or phong. Wtf? Yet in Gmod 10 when I have say the Heavy's minigun, there is phong and rim shading! How do I get the rim shading and phong back into TF2?

[dontleave]

Put everything to high? / Very High.

[Mustacio]

oh yeah phong shading is what i was asking about. to use phong shading in the game does Shader Detail have to be on high or is it something else?

[dontleave]

I would imagine, given the term "phong SHADING"

But remember - Only Episode 2 makes us of this I think, unless all the games have been updated without me knowing.

[fantimm]

Phong shading has been around for a very long time.... Those shiny bits aren't really Phong shading, they are more like specular highlights if thats what they are.

although to me it looks like the Witch may actually have some white vomit or something around her mouth... Doesn't just look like a shiny area or reflection to me...

[Zed]

Are there any predicted system requirements up yet? After looking at some HD gameplay videos, the impressive lighting and fire/explosion effects made me question my video card's ability to run this game smoothly.

Saphire 256MB video card here. Enough? I can run CS: Source flawlessly on max.

[bboi018]

If you're REALLY worried about being able to handle the game, you dont really need to worry too much, unless youve got junky parts...like 128mb ram, 32mb vid card, etc. This game is designed to allow mediocre computers to run the game without much lag. Zed, im pretty sure youve got nothing to worry about.

[Mustacio]

well i know this is kinda going to be a dumb question to some but i am not completely sure about it so im just gonna ask it since we're on the subject. i have a pentium 4 3ghz with a 512mb 8500. since i can run tf2 and episode 2 on max (episode 2 with medium shadow detail) do u guys think it will be the same for left 4 dead? cause yeah left 4 dead will have so much stuff happening on screen

[bboi018]

Nope, you're not gonna be able to run L4D with that junky comp. Theres gonna be so much shyt on the screen a 3ghz pent4 wont be able to handle it. maybe on low graphic settings, but i highly doubt ull play without lag. Goodluck to you. >.>

[Mustacio]

Nope, you're not gonna be able to run L4D with that junky comp. Theres gonna be so much shyt on the screen a 3ghz pent4 wont be able to handle it. maybe on low graphic settings, but i highly doubt ull play without lag. Goodluck to you. >.>


i was asking a serious question

[bboi018]

If you really were wondering if you can handle it, you shouldve looked at the other threads. There were other people who had lower specs than your comp who were told they could handle it. This game is made to accompany a variety of computer specs, not just hardcore gamer specs.

[Mustacio]

well i know i can handle it, but wat i wanted to know is if i could handle it at max settings with a smooth framerate. since im not so tech savvy i don't know anything about this since they still havnt released any recommended PC requirements, but i assume there is some people out there that know a lot bout the source engine and they might be able to take a logical guess for the recommended requirements.