Hello all,
I have just started on a project to create Middle Earth (from LOTR). I have scaled it down quite a bit, seeing as the real middle earth is 3000 KM long. Here is a map These are the specs for the size i’m trying to create:
real world
- 500 miles or 3000 KM
- 3000000 meters
scaled world — I’m doing this one
- 200000x200000 meters
- 20000x20000 units
zones
-zone size 1000x1000 units
20x20 zones (or 400 zones)
Sight
5 miles - 8 KM, 8000 meters
800 units
The 3D world is based on units
1 unit = 10 meters
1 meter = 0.1 unit
I am planning to create a texture and a height map for each zone, all being in seperate files. Then i will have a detail texture to multitexture into the terrain. Each zone will be loaded from the Hard Drive as needed. When drawing it I will use a method of LOD (or geomipmapping) and will only draw within a 5 mile (800 unit zone). It will have the zone your in, and the 8 zones around it loaded.
I also plan to add buildings and trees, probably using glCallList() and also use a method of LOD for this. When far away it will be a simple blended texture, and as you grow near it will fade into the actual object. Should I have more detail levels for this? Maybe fade into a less complex object first than a more complex object?
Does this seem like a reasonable method to draw a world of this extent? I know the file sizes will reach a few GB.
Thank you for any replies
-Zix