Shadow Mapping in Source

[Gary]

I don't recall seeing anything that would appear to be a LOD system on it. I highly doubt there is one, seeing as until now Valve has only used shadowmapped lights for the player's flashlight and GMAN scenes.

[Dr. Delta]

Whether you're the boss
Or someone's pet
The more you give
The more you're gonna get

[Gary]

Well, I was able to change the cvar that controls shadowmap resolution. Though it appears to have no real affect...

Must be something I'm missing...

[Groxkiller585]

This reminds me, I still need to figure out how to port AS models to Source. I got as far as the actual model. The skin doesn't work though, as expected. Must be in the model itself.

[Gary]

Well, that's cool. Not greatly surprising though, I doubt the mdl format changed very much or at all from the L4D2 version. By the way, ASW is Source, just a different codebase(like a mod).

Also, these env_projectedtexture fixes work in other 2007+ Source based games as well(Ep2 for example).

[Jordash]

Groxkiller, you seem to have a lot of problems with materials

[Gary]

Apperently, if you start in tools mode, you while in the main menu, you can set the shadow map resolution through it's console(r_flashlightres). Any higher then 2048 cut my framerate down to 1fps.

Sadly, there is not much gain, because you have to disable the filter to get any kind of decent shadows and that has to be done through code. And I can't start my mod in tools mode!

So, I need to find out what all tools mode does to override the shadow map res limit.

Working on it.

[Gary]

Well, not much progress still. I appear to be able to change the res Cvar through an autoconfig, but it just causes all shadows to no longer render.

I know you can change the shadow map resolution, but so far, only in -tools mode...

[ScarT]

Are you sure the engine itself isn't changing it, if its launched with -tools on the commandline?

[Gary]

Well, in HL2, it changes it from 512 to 1024 in -tools mode, but it appears I can not change the value(r_flashlightdepthres).

I could of sworn I could change the value in ASW while in tools mode, but for some reason, I can not enter -tools mode in ASW anymore.

[Bites]

Near line 1380, comment out these two lines

m_nDepthTextureResolution = depthTex->GetActualWidth();
r_flashlightdepthres.SetValue( m_nDepthTextureResolution );

Now add this below it

m_nDepthTextureResolution = r_flashlightdepthres.GetFloat();

And remember to define the default values near line 96.

(I got this info from my friend 1/4 life, don't credit me!)

[Gary]

That's awesome. I wondered why my values never made a difference.

I have been trying to get in contact with Gear for a while now. I am very happy you could give us this information.

I'll go ahead and try out different resolutions and post the results.

Thank you.

[Gary]

Hmm, interesting, it showed the same results to that of a similar modification.

I tried forcing it while back, by setting the values directly. It caused the game to no longer render shadows and the frame rate to drop to about one. Sadly, the instructions you just gave me ended with the same result.

I'll try a fresh codebase after a nap. Maybe I messed something up.

[pfannkuchen_gesicht]

hm, works for me, but after changing the shadow resolution I need to tab out and back in otherwise the image just flickers.

[Gary]

Not surprised it works, I just need to create a new "mod" in case I broke something.