DirectX 11 ?

[Skigorn]

We got the core DX11 technology merged into the game engine during Q1 as planned. We're now in the process of integrating that new engine technology back into the game client.

While I don't have an official ETA for it yet it should be in the next major game update. There are a number of improvements to both visuals and performance on the DX11-class hardware from ATI that we've been working with.

It's still a little early to share public screenshots and videos, but we're working on it and should have some more info in the coming weeks.

Ooooo, exciting

[Mithrandir3]

We got the core DX11 technology merged into the game engine during Q1 as planned. We're now in the process of integrating that new engine technology back into the game client.

While I don't have an official ETA for it yet it should be in the next major game update. There are a number of improvements to both visuals and performance on the DX11-class hardware from ATI that we've been working with.

It's still a little early to share public screenshots and videos, but we're working on it and should have some more info in the coming weeks.

Hoping you can answer this without breaking any NDA's or company rules...


I'm buying a new computer soon. Specifically DX11 compatible (to be honest LOTRO is the primary driver behind this decision). I'm stuck on the video card decision.

My inner cheapskate wants to go with an ATI 5770, because it's in that price range I usually shoot for. But with such a lack of DX11 games out there, I'm hearing rumours that people think it may not actually be good for DX11 features when games finally start utilizing them. So is a 5770 good enough for LOTRODX11, or would I be better off looking at a 5830/5850?

[delphinius81]

Hoping you can answer this without breaking any NDA's or company rules...


I'm buying a new computer soon. Specifically DX11 compatible (to be honest LOTRO is the primary driver behind this decision). I'm stuck on the video card decision.

My inner cheapskate wants to go with an ATI 5770, because it's in that price range I usually shoot for. But with such a lack of DX11 games out there, I'm hearing rumours that people think it may not actually be good for DX11 features when games finally start utilizing them. So is a 5770 good enough for LOTRODX11, or would I be better off looking at a 5830/5850?

AMD announced that they will be doing a refresh of their DX11 cards in the second half of this year. I would wait until more details of this emerge before you buy a DX11 card. For one, there might be some nice performance/power improvements. And second, that will push the current gen of DX11 cards down in price. Now is the wrong time to pull the trigger on a DX11 card unless you are really itching for an Eyefinity setup.

[Mithrandir3]

AMD announced that they will be doing a refresh of their DX11 cards in the second half of this year. I would wait until more details of this emerge before you buy a DX11 card. For one, there might be some nice performance/power improvements. And second, that will push the current gen of DX11 cards down in price. Now is the wrong time to pull the trigger on a DX11 card unless you are really itching for an Eyefinity setup.

Unfortunately I've really needed a new setup for almost a year now; my computer is barely hanging on and I really wanted to get this done in the next month. I've put it off this long in anticipation of seeing DX11 cards released.

Such is the problem with computers; there's always something better on the horizon that makes you think "meh I'd better wait". Then you never get anything new, heh.

[ThePhobos]

We got the core DX11 technology merged into the game engine during Q1 as planned. We're now in the process of integrating that new engine technology back into the game client.

While I don't have an official ETA for it yet it should be in the next major game update. There are a number of improvements to both visuals and performance on the DX11-class hardware from ATI that we've been working with.

It's still a little early to share public screenshots and videos, but we're working on it and should have some more info in the coming weeks.

Awesome news, thanks marketroid.

Is there any info you can give us on which aspects of DX11 will be implemented? I would assume it's too much to implement all of the DX11 features but it would be interesting to know which ones in particular made the cut.

[Graythandor]

Unfortunately I've really needed a new setup for almost a year now; my computer is barely hanging on and I really wanted to get this done in the next month. I've put it off this long in anticipation of seeing DX11 cards released.

Such is the problem with computers; there's always something better on the horizon that makes you think "meh I'd better wait". Then you never get anything new, heh.

Well, if it helps any, with the debut of DX11 cards from both camps and Intel not scheduled to make any major introductions to the cpu lineup until at least next spring, now is a very good time to upgrade. Anything you get now will be "current gen" for at least a year or more -- that's about as good a deal as you can get in the computer world.

Just make sure you get a socket 1156 or 1366 setup, it should be of use for some time to come.

[Morcanden]

Is there any info you can give us on which aspects of DX11 will be implemented? I would assume it's too much to implement all of the DX11 features but it would be interesting to know which ones in particular made the cut.

This. Even just some broad bits of information would be good. I'll offer up my list of things I'd like to know about, whether we get the information now or later:

1) Did you make use of tessellation for models and/or terrain?
2) What kinds of new shaders can we expect to see?
3) Should we expect to see more realistic shadows?
4) Did you decide to make use of DX11's new multithreading support?

[StiofanGA]

We got the core DX11 technology merged into the game engine during Q1 as planned. We're now in the process of integrating that new engine technology back into the game client.

While I don't have an official ETA for it yet it should be in the next major game update. There are a number of improvements to both visuals and performance on the DX11-class hardware from ATI that we've been working with.

It's still a little early to share public screenshots and videos, but we're working on it and should have some more info in the coming weeks.

Bah....when we getting 3D in game?




J/K, although I know you guys have to be thinking about it.

[Graythandor]

Bah....when we getting 3D in game?

YES PLEASE. Tweaking the animation to work better in stereoscopic 3d mode would make me happier than almost anything else Turbine could do in the next update (although I realize I would be the vast minority on this and the ROI on a coding change like this wouldn't really be worth it for Turbine....but I can stil ask for it! )

I'd be thrilled if they could just change on-screen text to have z-depth rather than hover at UI depth.

[marketroid]

Awesome news, thanks marketroid.

Is there any info you can give us on which aspects of DX11 will be implemented? I would assume it's too much to implement all of the DX11 features but it would be interesting to know which ones in particular made the cut.

I really can't confirm further details until we complete the next pass of integration. Once that's done we'll have a very good idea of the final feature set for the initial DX11 update and I'll be able to share more info.

[Tannus]

Awesome news Marketroid, that's pretty much the info I was after.

thanks

[mars505]

I have a 5850 here and it hungers for dx11 !

[Adalas]

I have a 5850 here and it hungers for dx11 !

Me too. Thanks to Marketroid for sharing the information.

The amazing thing about the 5850 is that I bought it cheaper last november than I could buy it now. Thanks to NVidias paper launch.

[Kraggy]

I really can't confirm further details until we complete the next pass of integration. Once that's done we'll have a very good idea of the final feature set for the initial DX11 update and I'll be able to share more info.

So when someone from Turbine said last year it was 'hoped' that DX11 support would appear in Q1, that simply meant the behind the scenes part of it, and the rest of it needed to actually make a difference to players is still months away: your use of the phrase 'next major content' leads me to think we're not talking about the 'free content' updates that in recent times have simply added some fluff and a few quests, more probably the next expansion.

Indeed, in a recent post you (I think it was you) used the phrase "in the coming months", and by that I'm taking monthS to mean more than two.

[FoxFire]

Bah....when we getting 3D in game?




J/K, although I know you guys have to be thinking about it.

I've seen the 3D implementations in other games and I have to say I was thoroughly underwhelmed. In fact, to me it made the games look bad and unplayable, as I could anticipate getting eye strain and headaches within a short period of time trying to play such games.

[StiofanGA]

I've seen the 3D implementations in other games and I have to say I was thoroughly underwhelmed. In fact, to me it made the games look bad and unplayable, as I could anticipate getting eye strain and headaches within a short period of time trying to play such games.

Maybe so but it's coming and sooner than you may think.

http://www.boston.com/business/techn...nology+stories