There's a new interview with Chris Egerter here on flipCode, the developer behind Power Render . Code archive and message board coming soon. This release is designed to optimize specific multiplayer communication protocols used by DirectPlay and accommodate certain anti-piracy schemes that are coming into widespread use by game publishers. The timing of this release is to support titles currently in development or recently released by publishers. The sense of distance was incredibly well-conveyed.
Sunlight provides directional lighting which can be seen along the ground.
Weather is also part of the experience. Hall played god for a bit and changed the weather, drawing clouds across the sun and starting a thunderstorm complete with forks of lightning. Volumetric fog finished off the illusion of a typical Seattle afternoon. Decoupling the mouse pointer update from the frame rate . You render the scene, draw the mouse pointer, and then flip.