Revolution to use displacement mapping?

[Guess Who]

Nintendo has filed a patent relating to displacement mapping, which, using this new method of displacement mapping, is an efficient way to add detail to polygons while keeping the polygon count low. Here is a basic rundown of how displacement mapping works:



So, how could this be used on the Revolution? As you know, Iwata has said that the graphics for the Revo will be on par with the 360 and PS3. Recently released specs say otherwise. However, with displacement mapping, look at what is possible:



That is an extremely detailed suit using few polygons. Awesome, ain't it?

What Nintendo's patent is is a new, more efficient way to handle displacement mapping. Using this method, developers could make the Revo's graphics look just as beautiful as the 360 or PS3.

Here is a Wikipedia article on displacement mapping.

Here is the blog that found the patent and came up with this speculation.

[Marik]

So basically using an alpha pic, you got your map?

[Morphed Chaos]

Thats pritty much how it works, yes. I wounder why Sony or Microsoft don't think of thease things? They would get a much better profit per system if they did. (They lose profit per system sold.)

[Tailsfan]

Didn't Microsoft use the same technique with Halo 2?

[Marik]

It's unconfirmed, but reports say that the Wii can't use normal mapping.