Game developer Digital Illusions CE (DICE) disclosed that it has greatly used photogrammetry in the development of the first-person shooter video game “Star Wars: Battlefront 3” to give gamers and fans the most realistic Star Wars experience.
“Star Wars: Battlefront 3” would be hitting the next generation gaming consoles and the PC on November 17.
The game is actually the third in a series of similarly-titled video games that is why it is being referred to by gamers as “Star Wars: Battlefront 3.” In reality however, the game’s official title is “Star Wars: Battlefront” and it is technically different from the first two video games.
In addition to major changes in the gameplay compared to the previous two games in the series, “Star Wars: Battlefront 3” has actually done away with large-scale destruction in favor of video game fidelity through more detailed environments.
The photogrammetry technique
Photogrammetry is actually the technique of processing still pictures to produce a high resolution 3D mesh. It usually involves the taking of photos of a subject or subjects first before running the images through a photogrammetry software.
The Sixth Axis further explained that when the still images are fed to the software, the program will create reference points based on the angles and create a highly detailed foundation of a 3D model.
In order to expand its image bank to be subjected eventually to the photogrammetry software for the “Star Wars: Battlefront 3,” the development team of DICE were actually allowed to take pictures of the characters, ships and other items in the Star Wars cinematic universe found at the Lucasfilm Cultural Arts Museum.
Andrew Hamilton, lead environment artist, says that DICE actually hopes that gamers of “Star Wars: Battlefront 3” will get the same feeling as they got from the development team’s trips so that they would really feel like they’re inside the movies when they’re playing the game. He added that photogrammetry would also open the gamers’ eyes to new experiences as well as new planets.
An immersive experience
According to Niklas Fegraeus, design director of game developer Digital Illusions CE (DICE), that part of their philosophy in the development of “Star Wars: Battlefront 3” is to recreate the Star Wars universe in ways never done before.
He disclosed that DICE has looked into several technologies that enabled them to truly take a leap into the new generation of video game fidelity. He said their efforts have resulted in physically-based renderings and better photogrammetry workflows.