In the contest rules it reads that you need a fallback if you use extensions in case their not supported. It also said that the minimum specs are a P350 with TNT. Can I assume that the basic extensions that even a TNT support can be used freely without some elaborate fallback? I''m talking about basic extensions like multitexture and compiled vertex arrays. Thanks! Sander Maréchal [Lone Wolves Game Development][RoboBlast][Articles][GD Emporium][Webdesign][E-mail]

In fact, you can set the minimum system requirements whereever you like. But the better the extensions, the less the number of systems will be able to run it.

Commonly used extensions like multitexture or compiled vertex arrays is a good bet, since something like ~1% of todays OpenGL cards don''t support them.

You can overview some OpenGL extension support at http://www.delphi3D.net under the "3D hardware" section. It is not an official report, though it is very useful !

For instance you can see that at least those cards/drivers do support multitexturing.

I know what extensions are supported on TNT. I program on one myself (makes it easy to conform to the contests minimum specs).

Just wondering if my entry will get disqualified if I don''t have a fallback for such a basic thing as multitexturing.

Sander Maréchal
[Lone Wolves Game Development][RoboBlast][Articles][GD Emporium][Webdesign][E-mail]

TNT2 supports Multi-texturing. Infact, TNT2 uses the Nvidia universal drivers, which means that they support anything NVidia supprts, although in software...

I guess if its very basic, then you can let it goto software rendering. Someone with a P3 350 and a TNT2 isn''t going to expect THAT great of a graphical experiance anyways

The universal Nvidia drivers don''t support all extensions. It still depends on the video card. It just saves you the hassle of downloading different drivers for different videocards. Also it''t pretty useful for end-users since even old and obsolete cards (like my TNT) can get updated this way. I bet you that if Nvidia had made separate drivers for each card, TNT would not have been uopdated since OpenGL 1.2.1 came out

Anyway, I am trying to make a very cool demo just for such old systems. I have to, I have no better hardware myself. I''m just going to gamle it and code it without a fallback. Multitexturing and stuff have been made core OpenGL in version 1.4. It''s just that I need the extensions since MS won''t update the lib''s (grrrr).

Sander Maréchal
[Lone Wolves Game Development][RoboBlast][Articles][GD Emporium][Webdesign][E-mail]

I don''t think you will ever be disqualified for extensions, be it for multitexture of for fragment programs. The thing being, you will get less votes if you are not opened enough.

Multitexture is a good assumption. I think you won''t be the only one who will assume that this extension is supported.

Okay, thanks!

*runs off to code some more*

Sander Maréchal
[Lone Wolves Game Development][RoboBlast][Articles][GD Emporium][Webdesign][E-mail]