I''m pretty sure that you are right saying that they are using large textured quads for the effect. If they would handle every particle on its own, there''d be a huge slowdown and it wouldn''t look much better.
I guess that they''re spawning new particles at a position similar to (PlayerPos-WindDirection*SomeScaleValue)+RandomVector()*AnotherScaleValue

I thought so. When I posted on this question on the NeHe forum it was suggested that a particle engine could be used, but honestly, I don't think it would be feasible to fiddle around with that many particles.

[edited by - tuita on October 17, 2002 3:08:33 AM]

Maybe what they mean is a particle system with a little particle number but *BIG* particle size. Anyway, you need a random billboard polygon generator and that is the basic function of a particle system.

[edited by - Nil_zm on October 17, 2002 5:48:29 AM]

Although we are getting out of the 3D realm here, I believe my post still applies to the issue at hand. In the Gameboy Advance game Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (White Night Concerto), there is a magic or two that creates a field of sparkly particles around the hero character. Upon seeing this effect one is lead to believe that each of these particles are being drawn individual. Given that the GBA only handles 128 hardware sprites at a time, the effect is rather impressive, but in reality the particles are grouped as one large sprite. With a clever bit of sprite animation are made to look as if they are processed individually.

So, as per your original idea, perhaps generating a few variations of a noise function to create some chaotic appearance to your large quads may help liven up the effect a bit. Experimentation is definately necessary here. Morrow does perform this effect rather nicely, and truely creates atmosphere.

Good luck getting it to work, and post your demo here when you have it ready.

Danny