Refine environment surfaces and skyline haze

src/game/world_builder.gd

@@ -17,10 +17,14 @@ const T_SKYLINE_NIGHT := preload(PICK_DIR + "skyline_night.png")
 ## Height of each backdrop plane (metres); the bases sit on the ground plane.
 const SKYLINE_HEIGHT := 90.0
 const SKYLINE_BY_PHASE := {
-	Rules.Phase.EARLY: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DAY, "tint": Color(0.98, 1.0, 1.04)},
-	Rules.Phase.MIDDAY: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DAY, "tint": Color(1.02, 1.04, 1.08)},
-	Rules.Phase.EVENING: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DUSK, "tint": Color(0.9, 0.92, 1.0)},
-	Rules.Phase.LATE: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_NIGHT, "tint": Color(1.5, 1.55, 1.65)},
+	Rules.Phase.EARLY: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DAY, "tint": Color(0.98, 1.0, 1.04),
+		"haze": Color(0.62, 0.71, 0.82), "haze_strength": 0.36},
+	Rules.Phase.MIDDAY: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DAY, "tint": Color(1.02, 1.04, 1.08),
+		"haze": Color(0.66, 0.75, 0.85), "haze_strength": 0.34},
+	Rules.Phase.EVENING: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DUSK, "tint": Color(0.9, 0.92, 1.0),
+		"haze": Color(0.55, 0.43, 0.40), "haze_strength": 0.30},
+	Rules.Phase.LATE: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_NIGHT, "tint": Color(1.5, 1.55, 1.65),
+		"haze": Color(0.07, 0.09, 0.14), "haze_strength": 0.22},
 }
 ## steps, building facade, restricted door, sidewalk, pavement, and street edge.
 ## Surfaces use the shared PBR profiles in `src/game/materials.gd`; street
@@ -648,8 +652,10 @@ func _build_sunset_neighbours() -> void:
 	# Ground-floor shopfront and a red canvas awning.
 	_add_box(west, Vector3(8.6, 2.4, 0.12), Vector3(-22.6, 1.5, west_front + 0.08),
 		Color(0.08, 0.10, 0.12), false, null, Vector2.ONE, "glass")
+	# Keep the cream stripe: tinting the whole atlas dark red collapsed the
+	# canvas into a flat band at portrait distance.
 	_add_box(west, Vector3(9.2, 0.22, 1.3), Vector3(-22.6, 3.0, west_front + 0.65),
-		Color(0.48, 0.10, 0.08), true, T_AWNING, Vector2(3, 0.5), "awning")
+		Color(0.62, 0.62, 0.62), true, T_AWNING, Vector2(4, 1), "awning")
 	# Balcony rails on the upper floor.
 	for x in [-24.8, -21.2, -17.6]:
 		_add_box(west, Vector3(2.4, 0.08, 0.85), Vector3(x, 5.6, west_front + 0.55),
@@ -1379,8 +1385,10 @@ func _build_walk_of_fame() -> void:
 	var walk := Node3D.new()
 	walk.name = "WalkOfFame"
 	root.add_child(walk)
+	# Reuse the paver map as a dark terrazzo: a flat colour read as a black
+	# strip at close range, while the texture supplies the small aggregate.
 	_add_box(walk, Vector3(30.0, 0.035, 1.75), Vector3(0, 0.198, 9.15),
-		Color(0.20, 0.18, 0.17), false, null, Vector2.ONE, "stone")
+		Color(0.34, 0.30, 0.27), false, T_CONCRETE, Vector2(18, 1.05), "concrete")
 	var star_mesh := _star_mesh(0.40, 0.17)
 	var brass := Materials.flat(Color(0.70, 0.55, 0.24), "metal")
 	var coral := Materials.flat(Color(0.72, 0.30, 0.28), "stone")
@@ -1595,6 +1603,8 @@ func _build_skyline_backdrop() -> void:
 	mat.shader = shader
 	mat.set_shader_parameter("sky_texture", SKYLINE_BY_PHASE[_phase]["texture"])
 	mat.set_shader_parameter("tint", SKYLINE_BY_PHASE[_phase]["tint"])
+	mat.set_shader_parameter("haze_color", SKYLINE_BY_PHASE[_phase]["haze"])
+	mat.set_shader_parameter("haze_strength", SKYLINE_BY_PHASE[_phase]["haze_strength"])
 	mat.set_shader_parameter("repeats", 2.0)
 	_skyline_mat = mat
 	var mesh := PlaneMesh.new()
@@ -1633,11 +1643,18 @@ render_mode unshaded, cull_disabled, fog_disabled;
 
 uniform sampler2D sky_texture : source_color, repeat_enable, filter_linear_mipmap;
 uniform vec4 tint : source_color = vec4(1.0);
+uniform vec4 haze_color : source_color = vec4(0.62, 0.71, 0.82, 1.0);
+uniform float haze_strength = 0.36;
 uniform float repeats = 2.0;
 
 void fragment() {
 	vec4 panorama = texture(sky_texture, vec2(UV.x * repeats, UV.y));
-	ALBEDO = panorama.rgb * tint.rgb;
+	// Atmospheric perspective: blend the lower part of the panorama toward
+	// the horizon colour so the towers sit in the distance instead of reading
+	// as a crisp cardboard cut-out.
+	float world_y = (INV_VIEW_MATRIX * vec4(VERTEX, 1.0)).y;
+	float horizon = clamp(1.0 - world_y / 42.0, 0.0, 1.0);
+	ALBEDO = mix(panorama.rgb * tint.rgb, haze_color.rgb, horizon * haze_strength);
 	ALPHA = panorama.a * tint.a;
 	ALPHA_SCISSOR_THRESHOLD = 0.5;
 }
@@ -2241,6 +2258,8 @@ func set_phase(phase: int) -> void:
 	if _skyline_mat != null:
 		_skyline_mat.set_shader_parameter("sky_texture", entry["texture"])
 		_skyline_mat.set_shader_parameter("tint", entry["tint"])
+		_skyline_mat.set_shader_parameter("haze_color", entry["haze"])
+		_skyline_mat.set_shader_parameter("haze_strength", entry["haze_strength"])
 	var night: bool = phase == Rules.Phase.EVENING or phase == Rules.Phase.LATE
 	set_night_mode(night)
 	if _street_mat != null: