I am wanting to implement some sort of shadow that looks real (not cheap) but I want to stay away from shaders (for now). One might wonder why, and I'll tell you, I am wanting to keep my program simple while I am still learning and also I need this to run on my prof's laptop;). Anyway, I implemented shadow volumes in code, but the effect is I went from >300fps to <.-05 fps, so that's a no go. I just want something that will look good (not great) but also give me ~60fps.

Quote:Original post by Alex Swinney
Anyway, I implemented shadow volumes in code, but the effect is I went from >300fps to <.-05 fps, so that's a no go.

Seems like something's wrong with your implementation, say, like using inefficient algorithms for silhouette detection.

What kind of system do you have? What kind of environment did you test this on?

Shadow volumes consume lots of fillrate, and for things like trees and fences (or walls with lots of holes) they should be avoided.

I basically adapted the codesampler 'tutorial' of DX9 Shadow Volumes..My system is actually quite new:

A64 3500+
1GB RAM
6800 Ultra

page here: http://www.codesampler.com/dx9src.htm

source here: http://www.codesampler.com/source/dx9_shadow_volume.zip

I have been thinking I must have missed something as well..