[TEC] The Multi-Resolution Merged Model MLD
 

:know:

In the mod communities for Flight Simulator games it's popular nowdays to fit 3D models into a file called MLD (Multi-Resolution Merged Model) to keep an acceptable frame rate. This file contains some models, each one linked to a virtual distance which is related to the size the object will have on screen. This allows to have low poly detail, for long distance and high poly detail in really close distance.

This format, from microsoft, is built through Flight simulator Design Studio, however it isn't the native format FS programs use for its models.

That made me think if our sh4 could suport this one, but the most interesting part would be if we can decode the format we'll can add FS and CFS models.

From: http://www.abacuspub.com/ds/cfs2/mrmdls.htm

It's an old technique used by game developers around 2000-2003.
Silent Hunter II and Destroyer Command did it with three different model resolution in one file, high-poly for near, med-poly for medium and low-poly for far viewing distance.

Today in game development this is doing on the fly by the render engine itself. The engine uses LOD (level-of-detail) values to render parts of a model or not based on the viewing distance. SH3 and SH4 use this also.