CGTalk’s search is a great tool, but it didn’t land me the answer to this question.
When making a game model, should you make a copy of an eye mesh or should the eye be instanced?
This question may be more 3D Studio Max specific, but I’m sure it has applications in other programs.
Depends on the exporter, and the game engine. Instance is preferred if it’s supported.
I was under the impression that once exported they are all poly anyway.
Instancing is for speeding up viewport in max only, rendering is not changed.
(I could be wrong though)
Yes and no, depends on if the exporter and engine take advantage of it.
When we export, we store instanced objects as just one object in the file, only storing the translations for each copy. Saves a lot on storage space, also saves on vertex transforms, which directly affects rendering speed. Helps when you have a field of waving grass, for example.
VRML also supports instancing, although I’m not sure if the stock exporters use it. I did VRML so long ago… we were able to instance characters in a small VRML game, to keep the download super small. The fish, bubbles, and seaweed in this game are all instanced.
http://www.ericchadwick.com/portfolio/html/chadwick_chomp.html
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