Someone explain exactly what "clipping" is?
 

I've seen this term used alot on these forums. I have an idea of what it means (in the NFL it's a block from behind or below the waist, which is now "Illeagal Use Of Hands") but if someone can give me the technical "definition" of the term I'd really appreciate it.

Being able to see through walls and other things, that you shouldn't be able to see through. Somtimes you see whats on the other side. Sometimes you just see blue or black. It tends to happen a lot with corners, and other places where polygons come together.

It's a graphical glitch that occurs in most 3D games.

Yeah.. A common thing that happens in games is when you kill an enemy that's standing near a wall, and he falls to the ground. Maybe half of him is sort of "inside" the wall, and just his legs are sticking out. That's an example of clipping.

okay it turns out this is completely different than what I thought it was. I was thinking it was the term for when a game "stutters". Like in Grand Theft Auto 3 when it seemingly moves frame by frame at some points.

Thanks

:whofart:

Captain, that would be slowdown. :)

:lol: - ok, so who's gonna start the official video game terminology thread?

GTA3 and Vice City are full of both.

It really doesn't bother me much in most games. Its something that just goes with 3D gaming.

Well, Tom Clancy games are notorious for bad clipping and Splinter Cell has almost none. I only noticed a few things that were so minor it didn't bother me in the slightest. It's pretty difficult to code for a fallen enemy to become a new object - some games do it, but it often makes for new strange occurences... like dead bodies floating in mid- air. A little bit of clipping is often a good tradeoff.

Yeah that's something I've noticed alot since I first got the PS1 back in 1998. One thing I've noticed with GTA3 especially the action is a little jerky in places too. Remember during some games on the PS1 when you'd hear the laser grinding away to access parts of the disc? Something that I imagine can't be helped with the CD/DVD based technology as opposed to cartridge.

:whofart: