Bungie's weekly update!

In Bungie's latest weekly update, Frankie goes into great detail about the size and draw distance of the levels in Halo 3. 

The need for realistic distance drawing is vital in Halo 3, because of the sheer scale of our maps. The distant mountains in that E3 trailer are absolutely real geometry. You can detach the camera, fly out to them (which would take about fifteen minutes even with our camera’s “gas” button held down) and see that they’re even textured properly. This is a function of the nature of the Halo 3 engine, and testament to the 360’s horsepower. It means we don’t have to “cheat” as much with fancy skyboxes and obfuscation.

Frankie also talks allot about why the sky is blue and the science behind it. 

That scattering, of ostensibly white sunlight, through Earth’s atmospheric mixture of gases, produces a distinctly blue sky. But we’re just as interested in the dirt as the blue sky.

Now Frankie is talking about this because Halo 3 simulates these effects to give it a realistic look and feel.  Frankie said that the Bungie team is including:

“virtual” pollution and air and passing “real” light through it for a realistic effect

I don't know about you but I cant wait to see the final product.  The way Frankie is talking up these graphics in the last few weeks, it sounds like Halo 3 is going to be one of the most stunning games visually that has ever been released.

You can read the whole article here!