id Tech 5 Update: Ready For License Soon, Strong Cross-platform Performance Touted

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In an interview with Shacknews, id Software lead artist Kevin Cloud said that the development of the company's upcoming id Tech 5 graphic engine is progressing well, and should be ready for licensors in the near future.

"Things are moving along great," Cloud told Shacknews. "We're currently preparing it for licensors to take a look at it. It's in a good position. The SDKs have to be put together--we obviously can't just put together the code and have them figure it out. There's work done on that level."

Cloud could not clarify a specific release window for id Tech 5, but said that the updated graphics engine is already running well in cross-platform development environments.

"You don't even have to worry about how it's going to look on PS3 or 360. Right now we've got it running cross-platform running 60 hertz, and it looks really good," Cloud said. "In terms of what artists are available to achieve--it's something you have to see for yourself. I can say this, but you still won't get it until you see it."

"Because of the universal texturing everything in the world can be uniquely textured, and it's a look you just can't get in any other game. Once you see it you go 'shit, I have not seen that anywhere else.' We're really proud of what we've put together there."

Revealed last June, id Tech 5 is the latest update to the studio's in-house graphics engine. The studio plans to make use of the new engine in its upcoming open-world shooter Rage (PC, PS3, X360).

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    April 17, 2008 5:12 PM

    "Strong cross-platform performance" eh? I'd like to see the engine scale it for the Wii, lol

    • reply
      April 17, 2008 5:13 PM

      They've already said it's not for the wii

      • reply
        April 17, 2008 5:19 PM

        Um no- Carmack said that with a little extra TLC it would also be feasible for the Wii. The gist of what he was saying was if Nintendo etc wanted it, it could be done without being a big deal.

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          April 17, 2008 5:25 PM

          No, basically he said it wouldn't make sense because there's a big different in what the hardware can do, so you'd be forced to use different content and it goes against their idea of faithful ports with no extra effort.

          GI: You’ve got all the platforms except one. Could someone theoretically use a light version of id Tech 5 to develop a Wii title?

          Carmack: We could port the Megatexture stuff over, we could port most of the engine over there, but you wouldn’t be able to use the same set of original content. There’s a bigger gap there. We don’t have any major intention to port this entire technology platform to the Wii. (...)


          http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200708/N07.0803.1731.12214.htm

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            April 17, 2008 6:09 PM

            obviously you would have to use different content, but adrian carmack was certainly gung ho about licensing the tech to whoever wanted it, and from what JC is saying here, that would be perfectly doable.

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      April 17, 2008 5:14 PM

      its not cross-platform if it doesn't run on my calculator.

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        April 17, 2008 5:17 PM

        Hmm maybe on a TI-92 but anything lower than that is silly to expect really

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