Limit Theory Forums

Doesn't Voxel Farm have CSG?

Wait, I just checked, actually it doesn't. But the creator seems to have solved the same problem using different tools (using L- systems I think?). Here are some blog posts he's made that discuss his approach-

Video with spherical subtraction- https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... nbUoU_UIaM

Some blog posts where he answers comments about CSG-

https://procworld.blogspot.in/2012/04/r ... angle.html

https://procworld.blogspot.in/2012/08/p ... hapes.html

Are these any help Josh?

how about this ?

https://github.com/gilbo/cork

https://stephanfr.com/2016/03/21/cork-a ... perations/

Thanks for the various replies on CSG

@Silverware: That sounds very interesting, I will try to have a look at what they're doing. If UE4 is using it for serious stuff they must have a robust and performant solution...!

@Vartul: Voxel Farm is using volumetric CSG & surface extraction. That's how I would do it right now if I needed an asteroid base, for example. The reason Miguel's solution might actually work for a complex cave through an asteroid is that he's developed literally the most advanced voxel tech in existence. His magic is in his ability to compute & store fields incredibly quickly + his ability to extract surfaces that are higher-quality (because he's using Dual Contouring IIRC, not a simple technique like Marching Cubes or Surface Nets). So TL;DR: it's not really an option for LT. He's spent many years building that tech (a whole engine around it); it's not just a new algorithm for CSG or anything. And the L-systems are used for generating procedural geometry, not for CSG

(Yes, I keep up with that guy, he's on the 'best of the best' list in my head)

@Astearon: Sadly not an option. Several problems: abandoned, using C++ (11 ), using arbitrary-precision numeric libraries (GMP). Biggest problem being that it's incomplete/abandoned

JoshParnell wrote: @Vartul: And the L-systems are used for generating procedural geometry, not for CSG

Whoops, that's what happens when one is insufficiently nerdy.
Thanks for the reply anyway Josh. I have been following his blog for many years too. It's incredible what he's managed alone. I hear he has a team now though.

JoshParnell wrote:@Silverware: That sounds very interesting, I will try to have a look at what they're doing. If UE4 is using it for serious stuff they must have a robust and performant solution...!

Unreal has had it in since the first version iirc.
It'll be a slog, but if you REALLY want to get CSG shit done, then it'll be totally worth it.

I don't think CSG is planned for LT 1.0.

JoshParnell wrote:Fun UI times are not over :)

Hooray!! :)

Talvieno wrote:I don't think CSG is planned for LT 1.0.

No, but if you look at how dejected he seemed in his message about how he couldn't get it to work they way he wanted to...
Then I expect he actually intended to use it along with platemeshes for his ship construction and asteroid stuff.

Josh never intended to use it as part of a real-time damage mechanic for either ships or asteroids. He did, however, intend to use it for creating asteroid bases and carriers. He couldn't find it, though, and eventually seemed to abandon it.

Talvieno wrote:Josh never intended to use it as part of a real-time damage mechanic for either ships or asteroids. He did, however, intend to use it for creating asteroid bases and carriers. He couldn't find it, though, and eventually seemed to abandon it.

Who said anything about damage?

The best way to handle damage is two model layers, Armor and Structure, and dynamic transparency and decals for damage.
Gives you the look of losing armor and showing substructure, without dynamic model changes which are FAR more expensive.


I would however expect him to use it in his ship generation, as it allows him to form single meshes, although with triangles being basically random, it wouldn't take to the method above so well. Dynamic textures on multiple tris that are not hand crafted is a hard problem.


Hopefully UE4 has some stuff he can make use of, I can see some massive gains in visual quality of models if he does manage it.

JoshParnell wrote:he's on the 'best of the best' list in my head

Life goals

JoshParnell wrote:Thanks for the various replies on CSG
....
@Vartul: Voxel Farm is using volumetric CSG & surface extraction. That's how I would do it right now if I needed an asteroid base, for example. The reason Miguel's solution might actually work for a complex cave through an asteroid is that he's developed literally the most advanced voxel tech in existence. His magic is in his ability to compute & store fields incredibly quickly + his ability to extract surfaces that are higher-quality (because he's using Dual Contouring IIRC, not a simple technique like Marching Cubes or Surface Nets). So TL;DR: it's not really an option for LT. He's spent many years building that tech (a whole engine around it); it's not just a new algorithm for CSG or anything. And the L-systems are used for generating procedural geometry, not for CSG
...

I remember years ago, I started following you and Miguel around the same week.
and both of you have developed some amazing and unique game engines.