Ok, this is complicated, and difficult. It is HARD to get things just right, but possible. The best way to do it with 3D charactors and space is to either paste the image, or to use plains. There are issues with both.
First of all collision: Easiest way is to make a really low poly collision model, basically the charactor can go anywere in the model, but can't leave it. This model is either hidden, or textured with the prerendered backdrop. The problem is perspective though...
Another way to display the prerendered BD is to paste onto plains. This can cause problems on some systems that can't handle textures over 256x256, and can look ugly on some machines. These plains then have to be spaced and positioned properly, and the collision would be done on the above mentioned model.
Pasting images is memory intensive, especially with 3D models in the Background/foreground, but it can be done, and is a bit easier than plains. Collision would be done on a model again.
Guys, it's REALLY hard to do that, and I would think that you'd need a specialized engine to do it, so you could specify the rendering order on models and such, but I spose it is possible on DB/P.
And no, squaresoft didn't completely change their engine for every scene. Thats lunacy.
Now that I've discouraged Pre-Rendered backdrops, I'll encourage real time backdrops, as seen in FFX. Easier to make and implement in DB, and far nicer IMHO.
Alex Wanuch
aka rapscaLLion
Kousen Dev Progress >> Currently Working On Editors
