Update:
CROTEAM WEEKLY REPORT, ISSUE 2
Bloom (HDR?) added
Our programmer Dean 'Den' Sekulic added a Bloom effect code. We are still arguing over the issue if this is to be called HDR (High Dynamic Range) rendering or just Bloom effect.
Anyhow, we already added that effect to some levels and they all look quite amazing. Of course, the Bloom code still needs to be optimized, but it's definitely the ultra-cool feature. Excellent work, Den.
Serious Particle Editor in function
We now have fully functional Serious Particle Editor, thanks to our two programmers Davor 'Sky' Hunski and Kresimir 'Sokre' Prcela. This is turning out to be a very useful tool for Artists, as they don't need to depend on programmers any more to create a handful of fantastic visual effects like fire, explosions, smoke, stars, rocket trails, etc. for our future big blockbuster Serious Sam 2. Sky already conducted his first lecture on Particle Editor usage and Artists listened in 'stand still' position.
Level Design is progressing well
Levels look better and better each day, while having less and less vertices by each new version. This is actually a very common trick used by Level Designers, when they first use ridiculous amount vertices on models to kill any PC in the office and then 'optimize', meaning reduce them back to the original number.
However, we need to give them credit, as even some hard Croteam skeptics here now think that Serious Sam 2 looks to be visually at least 'aux par' with other games that will be released around the same time as Serious Sam 2 (Doom 3, Half Life 2 and Halo 2 were mentioned in particular). We'll have to wait and see.
Cut-scenes, two and three
After first cut-scene, we saw the second and third one, each better than previous. Many saw them and laughed more than once, which is good.
BTW, Damjan 'DoubleD' Mravunac was car-assed by some woman while driving to work. His ass survived witohut a scratch, but his car didn't.
Official Painkiller Demo
Some guys here played official Painkiller Demo and it appears to be very good. I still don't know how they managed to find time to actually play the Demo, while apparently working 25/8. This is definitely going to be investigated. Anyhow, it's still early to say final thoughts until full game is released, but with lots of action and enemies, big bosses, interesting weapons, physics, power-ups, coins, visually very solid, all this gives a good reason to try it once it's published.
Hmmmm... se assim for será novamente killer.
