I direct you to my essay on Abstract vs. Realistic graphics
Always remember that the absence of a solution in no way means there is not a solution.
I direct you to
euphoriaI also Direct you to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00gAbgBu8R4Imagine having a complete world where the very stones in the dirt existed and could be mined out individually.
I am a bit skeptical on that second link. I have done a bit of research and the maker of minecraft points out that a lot of the geometry is instanced. Not sure about the reality of it.
Maybe I will make a df scene in 3d and show you guys how completely awesome it would look.
With the incredibly detailed engine running behind the scenes I really believe that there is a groundwork here for an amazingly complex and detailed 3d game.
I was recently derping around with bitcoins. I learned that GFX cards are super good at processing some types of data like on the magnitude of 1000 times better.
I am not sure of the exact type of calculations but I tapped into my 5700 series radeon and was able to do some bit coin mining at about 1000 times the speed as my quad core 3.4ghz processor.
I would imagine that a lot of the calculations for df could be optimized and ran through the gpu in the video card.
Oh, here is what could be used for terrain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf8YQ9WSdiw
It is fractal generated so you could have complete randomly generated landscapes.
This is how the camera and ui would function
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rX06lGgMB4&feature=related also with the ability to til and look to the horizon, or go into freelook mode.
Regardless if it is possible at the moment or not. The technology will be there eventually.
I feel the df engine is amazing, expertly crafted, most likely not optimized to the fullest but intricate and deep nonetheless. If toady could expand his horizon and find someone that had the same motivation and personal vision for the gfx this could be one of the best games of all time.
of course some things would have to change. Characters would not move instantly to a new tile, they would walk to each tile, the game would move a bit slower combat would need to be tweaked so that fights wouldn't last for too long.
I don't know, I am highly optimistic and I think it is completely in the realm of possibility to do something like this.