11-24-2009, 10:34 PM
Starfox is actually 3D even when it has a fixed camera. its a really low poly model. i don't believe that count as a sprite, in the very strict sense of the word. same applies to Virtua Racing on the Sega Genesis. these are all low poly models that, even when they are portrayed from a fixed point of view, they are still rendered as 3D models(the game can rotate the camera and show it from any angle just like the video shows in the game's credits).
this said, we should not mix stuff like lowpoly 3D models and Pre-rendered sprites.(as in DKC, Killer Instinc, starcraft, etc.) they're completely different things and should not be compared as they respond to different results. as the name implies, these are 3D models used to generate a predefined sequence of frames in order to create an animation based on still images, just like in the same way stopmotion techniques are used. they are actually fixed to a camera as they are, in the end, still images.
finally, on the subject of texture ripping, i do believe they are a huge help to anyone who's starting with his 3D works. these textures can and have proved to be a great reference material to anyone developing his skill in 3DModeling, and even on a personal experience i've learned more on how textures actually work and get some ideas on how i can maximize their efficiency. given the textures, a few poses of the 3D model to see how they are seen on the run would be, in my opinion, the best way to set them in a sheet, because it has been already stated that portraying every single and posible view of the model in a sheet would be utopic.
this said, we should not mix stuff like lowpoly 3D models and Pre-rendered sprites.(as in DKC, Killer Instinc, starcraft, etc.) they're completely different things and should not be compared as they respond to different results. as the name implies, these are 3D models used to generate a predefined sequence of frames in order to create an animation based on still images, just like in the same way stopmotion techniques are used. they are actually fixed to a camera as they are, in the end, still images.
finally, on the subject of texture ripping, i do believe they are a huge help to anyone who's starting with his 3D works. these textures can and have proved to be a great reference material to anyone developing his skill in 3DModeling, and even on a personal experience i've learned more on how textures actually work and get some ideas on how i can maximize their efficiency. given the textures, a few poses of the 3D model to see how they are seen on the run would be, in my opinion, the best way to set them in a sheet, because it has been already stated that portraying every single and posible view of the model in a sheet would be utopic.