Waves Created 13 years ago2010-09-23 01:55:18 UTC by Don Punch

Not looking for overlays for a shoreline, not looking for basic hl water.

I am looking for some help getting creative on how to make huge rolling waves like you would find on the ocean.

Currently the only way I can think of doing this, would be making it a large animated model.

I don't need it to have any physics, doesn't have to even have water properties, as it will never be entered.

I am basically looking to recreate the type of waves from the 1st mission of Modern Warfare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIpYp-oPaJE

Best view starting at 7:58 in video

This is to be used for a cinematic sequence.

You can't possibly make this out of what the engine has to offer you. At least it wouldn't look any good. The only way is to create a model. I believe Habboi here on TWHL made one for Livewires L4D recreation of Wetwork. But I don't think Livewire ended up using it

Anything can be done, its just a matter of being creative.

All I can think of is a model. But even then you'd have to hide it behind layers of particle and screen effects to make it look semi-decent.

The waves in Modern Warfare honestly don't look that great to me, but they hide it well enough behind all the moody lighting, lightning flashes, rain particles, colour correction and so on.

Yeah, you'll need a model, perhaps you can use the program Valve used to make the flowing water in L4D2? (I forget which one they used, but it should be in the commentary and Wikipedia)
Unfortunately, Source's water is always flat. Maybe someday you'll be able to effect it with env_wind or uneven water surfaces, etc. That'd be cool.
EDIT: Valve used Houdini to make surface maps for the water, But I dunno if that will help make huge waves.