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PS4: The Dark Sorcerer - Quantic Dream's full tech demo released

D

DieH@rd

Banned
Relax ppl. Official Dark Sorcerer on YT is directfeed [directfeed = captured directly from the device, not recorded from the webstreaming transmission], but its not encoded to have high bitrate.
 
P

Paganmoon

Member
DieH@rd said:
Relax ppl. Official Dark Sorcerer on YT is directfeed [directfeed = captured directly from the device, not recorded from the webstreaming transmission], but its not encoded to have high bitrate.
Click to expand...

Yeah but what's asked for is a direct feed download, not a YT stream. As little compression as possible, like UBI did with The Division.
 
D

DieH@rd

Banned
Paganmoon said:
Yeah but what's asked for is a direct feed download, not a YT stream. As little compression as possible, like UBI did with The Division.
Click to expand...

You can download YT files with any number browser plugins [addons]. This Dark Sorcerer YT directfeed footage is 308MB.
 
P

Paganmoon

Member
DieH@rd said:
You can download YT files with any number browser plugins [addons]. This Dark Sorcerer YT directfeed footage is 308MB.
Click to expand...

But it won't change the fact that it's compressed to hell and back. For instance, the UBI download for the division was 550MB for 7 minute video, this would be 12minutes at 308, (I know I know, different compressions and all that).
 
H

hesido

Member
This was the best realtime graphics I've seen. But for facial expressions, QD will make it even better in future, it doesn't seem to use adaptive displacement for wrinkles on certain expressions, which make some expression look duller. I've totally pulled the "adaptive displacement" word out of my rear end, as you may have already guessed.

(I mean, I'm expecting some wrinkles on forehead when the eyebrows are up, but I never got to see any, please JIF it if you see it)
 
R

Rogue_Ledr

Banned
This demo as an RPG needs to happen.

Seriously Sony has plenty of shooters, action titles, etc.

However, they have no western style RPGs. This could be the one!
 
D

dragonbane

Member
Computer said:
heavy_rain_quack--article_image.jpg


What a creepy son of a bitch he was in Heavy Rain.
Click to expand...
He sure as hell was:

djdjmtcxe.gif


He also voiced the ultra creepy Motel receptionist. To this day I still don't know how he did this voice. Incredible range lol
 
I

IonicSnake

Banned
Rogue_Ledr said:
This demo as an RPG needs to happen.

Seriously Sony has plenty of shooters, action titles, etc.

However, they have no western style RPGs. This could be the one!
Click to expand...

It would be interesting to see QD do a comedy RPG but they seem to only do their kind of games (Heavy Rain, Beyond).
 
K

Kaako

Felium Defensor
Blimblim said:
Our PR contact at Sony was surprised it wasn't released like the other videos, but so far it doesn't look like there is any plan to do anything but that youtube version.
Click to expand...
It baffles my mind why they haven't release an uncompressed, direct feed version of this. Undoubtedly the most impressive real-time tech demo at E3 this year.
 
D

dragonbane

Member
hesido said:
This was the best realtime graphics I've seen. But for facial expressions, QD will make it even better in future, it doesn't seem to use adaptive displacement for wrinkles on certain expressions, which make some expression look duller. I've totally pulled the "adaptive displacement" word out of my rear end, as you may have already guessed.

(I mean, I'm expecting some wrinkles on forehead when the eyebrows are up, but I never got to see any, please JIF it if you see it)
Click to expand...
Are you talking about this?

beyondgif3t9eyi.gif


This feature is already in Beyond, so I see no reason why they won't use it on PS4. Probably not yet implemented.
 
H

hesido

Member
dragonbane said:
Are you talking about this?

beyondgif3t9eyi.gif


This feature is already in Beyond, so I see no reason why they won't use it on PS4. Probably not yet implemented.
Click to expand...

Oh, exactly! That one is probably done with blending normal maps tho. I'm guessing with the polycounts on these newer models (and maybe with some tesselation?) displacement mapping would be possible.

I've just watched the 1080p youtube version again, looking for added horizontal wrinkles when eyebrowses are up, and the vertical wrinkles when eyebrowse get closer to midpoint, and extra wrinkles lateral to the eyes when skin compresses between the cheeks and the temporal region... Couldn't see any, but I'd like to be corrected!
 
D

dragonbane

Member
hesido said:
Oh, exactly! That one is probably done with blending normal maps tho. I'm guessing with the polycounts on these newer models (and maybe with some tesselation?) displacement mapping would be possible.

I've just watched the 1080p youtube version again, looking for added horizontal wrinkles when eyebrowses are up, and the vertical wrinkles when eyebrowse get closer to midpoint, and extra wrinkles lateral to the eyes when skin compresses between the cheeks and the temporal region... Couldn't see any, but I'd like to be corrected!
Click to expand...
Couldn't see any too, but the actor of the sorcerer doesn't move his eyebrows that much unfortunately.

Either way, the engine is pretty incomplete in this demo, so they can still change it or at least add the solution from Beyond:

David Cage said:
The PS4 engine used for Dark Sorcerer is only in its first iteration, and most of the features scheduled for the final version of the engine haven’t yet been implemented. This demo is only a first test that is well below the visual quality we hope to achieve in our next game.
Click to expand...
 
SilentFlyer

SilentFlyer

Member
Dualshocker site has further elaborated the tools and techniques used in this tech demo.

http://www.dualshockers.com/2013/06/29/ps4-demo-the-dark-sorcerer-even-more-impressive-technical-specs-unveiled-and-a-little-mystery/

  • The demo ran in 1080p native resolution. Texture resolution was 1080p as well.
  • The framerate was not optimized at E3, and ran between 30 and 90 frames per second.
  • The demo used only 4 GB of the PS4′s 8 GB of RAM.
  • The DualShock 4 can be used to dynamically move the camera position and switch lighting (between studio mode and film mode) within a single frame.
  • The set uses about one million polygons.
  • Each character takes a little less than one million polygons and 150 MB of textures (there’s a reporting discrepancy here. See at the bottom of the list).
  • The textures for the skin and face models were actually obtained by scanning the face of actors actually cast for the project.
  • The sorcerer is played by David Gant, the Goblin by Carl Anthony Payne II, the Demon by Christian Ericksen and the Director by David Gasman.
  • The vertex density of the 3D models is comparable to the CG used for film making.
  • Each character uses 40 different shaders.
  • The scene uses Volumetric Lightning, allowing individual beams of light to be displayed when the light shines through the environment.
  • Color Grading and Full HDR ensure that colors are truly vivid and realistic.
  • All particle effects are simulated in real time and emit light/create shadows.
  • Limb Darkening is used to naturally darken the edges of the screen.
  • Effects that would normally be applied in post production like Lens Flare, True 3D Depth of Field and Motion Blur are implemented in real time based on an accurate optical simulation.
  • Camera lens distortion and imperfections are also simulated.
  • Physics-based real time rendering is used for reflections and done by the rendering engine. When the lighting changes, the shaders don’t, but the reflection effect still changes dynamically based on lighting. This is a technique that was previously possible only for pre-rendered CG at this level of detail.
  • An advanced technique named Subsurface Scattering (SSS) is used to simulate the shading of the skin. It involves letting the light penetrate translucent materials and then scatter and refract a number of times at irregular angles and exiting the surface again a different points. It’s another technique that was previously only used in CG.
  • The same Subsurface Scattering effect is used for the green skin of the goblin, the the wax of the candles and the crystal of the wand as well, despite the fact that the final result is entirely different.
  • To simulate the effect of wetness of the eye surface, the engine applies to it a mirrored image of the surrounding scene.
  • The cornea and pupil are actually modeled in 3D inside each eye.
  • Each hair is drawn separately instead of being a texture applied to a polygonal model.
  • All clothes, accessories and hair (including the feathers in the sorcerer’s collar) are physically simulated in their motion and interaction with the environment, like they were worn by a real actor
  • Each human model has 380 different bones: 180 in the face, 150 for the body and 50 for the exoskeleton. This is three times the number of bones used in Heavy Rain and twice the number used in Beyond: Two Souls.
  • The performance capture studio used for motion and facial capture has been built internally at Quantic Dream and uses 64 cameras tracking 80 markers attached to the face and 60 to the body.
  • The demo has been created by using the PS3 development pipeline used for Beyond: Two Souls, as PS4 development tools still weren’t available.
Click to expand...
 
8

8bits

Banned
  • Each hair is drawn separately instead of being a texture applied to a polygonal model.
  • All clothes, accessories and hair (including the feathers in the sorcerer’s collar) are physically simulated in their motion and interaction with the environment, like they were worn by a real actor
  • Each human model has 380 different bones: 180 in the face, 150 for the body and 50 for the exoskeleton. This is three times the number of bones used in Heavy Rain and twice the number used in Beyond: Two Souls
Click to expand...

Those next-gen budgets...
 
R

Rogue_Ledr

Banned
You know if this were going to be a game ....... I wonder what kind it would be?

Epic fantasy open world RPG where you play a hero trying to stop the Dark Sorcerer? Sure, it would be a Skyrim knock-off, but in the right hands it could be brilliant.

OF course, I really don't see Quantic Dreams doing an epic open world RPG. IT would probably be more of a "Choose your own adventure" style fantasy game. Where you play through a story making choices along the way.Which to be fair, would be pretty cool too, for those who enjoy those types of games.
 
K

kaching

"GAF's biggest wanker"
Rogue_Ledr said:
You know if this were going to be a game ....... I wonder what kind it would be?
Click to expand...
Someone already suggested the perfect type - a Dungeon Keeper -like game. The sense of humor would be a perfect match and the confined spaces of DK games would enable the game to stay close to this level of fidelity.

'Course, I'd probably be just as happy if someone made a Dragon's Lair game with this.
 
C

Can Crusher

Banned
All clothes, accessories and hair (including the feathers in the sorcerer’s collar) are physically simulated in their motion and interaction with the environment, like they were worn by a real actor
Click to expand...

Next gen my folks. Freaking next gen!
 
N

Norml

Member
hesido said:
Oh, exactly! That one is probably done with blending normal maps tho. I'm guessing with the polycounts on these newer models (and maybe with some tesselation?) displacement mapping would be possible.

I've just watched the 1080p youtube version again, looking for added horizontal wrinkles when eyebrowses are up, and the vertical wrinkles when eyebrowse get closer to midpoint, and extra wrinkles lateral to the eyes when skin compresses between the cheeks and the temporal region... Couldn't see any, but I'd like to be corrected!
Click to expand...

What about the earlier demo?

iyrxa5KH8FMSV.gif
 
R

Rogue_Ledr

Banned
kaching said:
Someone already suggested the perfect type - a Dungeon Keeper -like game. The sense of humor would be a perfect match and the confined spaces of DK games would enable the game to stay close to this level of fidelity.

'Course, I'd probably be just as happy if someone made a Dragon's Lair game with this.
Click to expand...

Dungeon Keeper? Meh! Those types of games get reptetive fast.

A Dragon's Lair type game could be interesting though. Maybe Dragon's Lair with more of a focus on gameplay rather than QTE's.

You'd wander through a haunted castle/dungeon/caverns dealing with different scenarios and perils.

It could be really thrilling in the right hands.
 
R

RoboPlato

I'd be in the dick
JordanN said:
Surely this was an error? 1080 x 1920 textures don't exist. They work in multiples of 2 (i.e 128 x 128, 256 x 256, 512 x 512 etc).
Click to expand...
I've heard a couple people say this before and they generally mean 2k textures, which looks about right given the sharpness of them in the demo.
 
H

hesido

Member
Norml said:
What about the earlier demo?

iyrxa5KH8FMSV.gif
Click to expand...

If you look carefully, it's just vertex changing positions (including the bulge right above the brows), there's no extra wrinkling that's not already there, the forehead wrinkles should otherwise be greatly pronounced..

But I believe they'll get it right. The hard part being, when they scan in the face or whatever it is they do at that level of detail, there are already wrinkles on the skin, and the folding has to exactly match the character, once you go that detailed, it couldn't simply be done with a standard normal map. The wrinkles has to match the character. That may partly explain why they didn't want to do the normal map blending.. But I'm guessing they'll do it given time. If some gaffers are working for QD, they could give us an explanation too!
 
S

-SD-

Banned
If next week does not bring the promised TDS goods I'm going to be angry, and that's going to make all the difffffference in the world:)
 
R

Rogue_Ledr

Banned
I think it is kind of dissappointing that QD keeps making these sci-fi/fantasy tech demo trailers, but then doesn't explore these elements in the actual games they spawn.

I wish QD had given us the sci-fi game we were promised from the Kara demo.

Sadly, we probably won't get a fantasy game when the final game of this is revealed.
 
K

kaching

"GAF's biggest wanker"
Rogue_Ledr said:
Dungeon Keeper? Meh! Those types of games get reptetive fast.

A Dragon's Lair type game could be interesting though. Maybe Dragon's Lair with more of a focus on gameplay rather than QTE's.

You'd wander through a haunted castle/dungeon/caverns dealing with different scenarios and perils.

It could be really thrilling in the right hands.
Click to expand...
You call DK repetitive but think the DL idea isn't? :eyebrowraise

Even if that's true, we're talking DK with this kind of production values - I think it would cut down on the sense of repetition significantly if you've got wisecracking goblins like this wandering around.
 
D

DBT85

Member
PSY・S;71914301 said:
Doesn't sound like it's direct feed if it's not even 1GB.
Click to expand...

How do we define Direct Feed? Uncompressed 1080 straight out of the PS4? Of course it isn't the file size would be monstrous.

No idea what resolution they use for HD films on PSN or what the quality is like, but for example, TDKR is a 7.5GB download for the HD version which is 165 minutes which is 45MB a minute and includes 5.1 audio. This video is 70MB a minute.

filopilo said:
Oh Man. Some Serious BS in there....
Click to expand...

Go on...
 
C

Chris_C

Member
PSY・S;71914301 said:
Doesn't sound like it's direct feed if it's not even 1GB.
Click to expand...

It's obviously direct feed if it's on PSN. If it weren't compressed, you'd be looking at a stupendously large file.
 
C

Cheese Raptor

Banned
GHG said:
Ok, now I see what people mean about coding to the metal beating PC's. This looks insane. Albeit its not gameplay, but still, this is insane.
Click to expand...

Considering the size of game worlds and how much is being rendered here isn't exactly impressive, maybe for a cutscene. Look at the gameplay from FF Versus and tell me where all the "coding to metal" power went.
 
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