Gameplay Feature: The Way of Water

We have updated all the water effects in World of Anterra! This may not seem like a big feature, but water plays an important role in Anterra. Water factors into multiple game mechanics and features. For example, we have both shallow water and deep water environments, and there are resources, creatures, and enemies that can only be found in or near water... plus fishing and sailing.

Multiple techniques and systems have to come together to make our water look so good, but the most important one is the use of shaders.

Shaders are small programs that run on the GPU and are used to turn boring environments into beautiful ones. Shaders were originally made for creating shadows, hence the name, but nowadays they are used for so much more, like water! Shaders work on the GPU at various stages of the rendering pipeline to dramatically improve the quality of what shows up on the screen.

Here's an overview of how our water works.

Water transparency and refraction

• As with all our environments, we use many layers to achieve our water effects.

• The amount you can see through water is based on the depth and type of water. You can't see through bog water like you can through clean ocean water.

• Anything under the water appears distorted by the water. So the pixels move to reflect how light bends through water, making things look naturally distorted.

Movement and Visuals When Walking in Water

• The movement of creatures is slowed down based on the depth of the water, unless they are water creatures of course.

• Feet splash in the water, and water is disrupted around the creature as it gets deeper in the water.

Refraction Caustics

When the sun is shining directly on the water, it shines in "caustic" patterns.

Weather effects and reflections

• Water appearance changes based on the time of day and the weather conditions.

• Sunlight reflects and refracts off the surface of the water.

• At night, the moon's reflection can be seen in the water.

• Clouds can be seen reflected in the water.

• Raindrops cause ripples on the water's surface.

Movement of objects floating on the water

• Items that float on the surface of the water, like lily pads, move with the water.

Pond and lake water on a cloudy day, cloud reflections

Pond and lake water in the rain, rain drops on the water

That's our water effects! Hope you like it as much as we do.

Can't wait to see you splashing around in Anterra, just be careful not to drown your horse!

• Stephane, Game Director