From 9c46c8cc6c39fbd1c9dbe57f174625ca38a0f27a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Christian Semmler <mail@csemmler.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2026 16:00:14 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] Use MeshLambertMaterial for original game-like rendering

Switch from MeshStandardMaterial (PBR) to MeshLambertMaterial for flat,
vibrant colors matching the original game. Simplify lighting setup for
solid colors without visible shadows.
---
 src/core/rendering/VehiclePartRenderer.js | 28 ++++++-----------------
 src/core/rendering/WdbModelRenderer.js    | 23 +++++++------------
 2 files changed, 15 insertions(+), 36 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/core/rendering/VehiclePartRenderer.js b/src/core/rendering/VehiclePartRenderer.js
index 607d908..477f81f 100644
--- a/src/core/rendering/VehiclePartRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/rendering/VehiclePartRenderer.js
@@ -32,20 +32,12 @@ export class VehiclePartRenderer {
     }
 
     setupLighting() {
-        const ambient = new THREE.AmbientLight(0xffffff, 0.6);
+        const ambient = new THREE.AmbientLight(0xffffff, 0.8);
         this.scene.add(ambient);
 
-        const keyLight = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 0.8);
-        keyLight.position.set(2, 2, 3);
-        this.scene.add(keyLight);
-
-        const fillLight = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 0.4);
-        fillLight.position.set(-2, 1, 2);
-        this.scene.add(fillLight);
-
-        const rimLight = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 0.3);
-        rimLight.position.set(0, 1, -3);
-        this.scene.add(rimLight);
+        const sunLight = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 0.6);
+        sunLight.position.set(1, 2, 3);
+        this.scene.add(sunLight);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -145,11 +137,9 @@ export class VehiclePartRenderer {
 
                 if (isColorable) {
                     // Mesh has INH prefix - use the LEGO color
-                    material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
+                    material = new THREE.MeshLambertMaterial({
                         color: legoColor,
                         side: THREE.DoubleSide,
-                        roughness: 0.7,
-                        metalness: 0.1,
                         transparent: isTransparent,
                         opacity: opacity,
                         depthWrite: !isTransparent
@@ -157,11 +147,9 @@ export class VehiclePartRenderer {
                     this.colorableMeshes.push(null); // Placeholder, will set after mesh creation
                 } else if (hasUVs && meshTextureName && this.textures.has(meshTextureName)) {
                     // Mesh has its own texture
-                    material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
+                    material = new THREE.MeshLambertMaterial({
                         map: this.textures.get(meshTextureName),
                         side: THREE.DoubleSide,
-                        roughness: 0.8,
-                        metalness: 0.1,
                         transparent: isTransparent,
                         opacity: opacity,
                         depthWrite: !isTransparent
@@ -169,11 +157,9 @@ export class VehiclePartRenderer {
                 } else {
                     // Fallback to mesh's vertex color
                     const meshColor = mesh.properties?.color || { r: 128, g: 128, b: 128 };
-                    material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
+                    material = new THREE.MeshLambertMaterial({
                         color: new THREE.Color(meshColor.r / 255, meshColor.g / 255, meshColor.b / 255),
                         side: THREE.DoubleSide,
-                        roughness: 0.8,
-                        metalness: 0.1,
                         transparent: isTransparent,
                         opacity: opacity,
                         depthWrite: !isTransparent
diff --git a/src/core/rendering/WdbModelRenderer.js b/src/core/rendering/WdbModelRenderer.js
index 675e3f6..26f47c9 100644
--- a/src/core/rendering/WdbModelRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/rendering/WdbModelRenderer.js
@@ -35,14 +35,12 @@ export class WdbModelRenderer {
      * Setup scene lighting - override to customize
      */
     setupLighting() {
-        // Flat, even lighting similar to in-game
-        const ambient = new THREE.AmbientLight(0xffffff, 1.5);
+        const ambient = new THREE.AmbientLight(0xffffff, 0.8);
         this.scene.add(ambient);
 
-        // Soft front light
-        const frontLight = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 0.3);
-        frontLight.position.set(0, 0, 5);
-        this.scene.add(frontLight);
+        const sunLight = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 0.6);
+        sunLight.position.set(1, 2, 3);
+        this.scene.add(sunLight);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -62,22 +60,18 @@ export class WdbModelRenderer {
         this.texture.magFilter = THREE.LinearFilter;
 
         if (texturedGeometry) {
-            const texturedMaterial = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
+            const texturedMaterial = new THREE.MeshLambertMaterial({
                 map: this.texture,
-                side: THREE.DoubleSide,
-                roughness: 0.8,
-                metalness: 0.1
+                side: THREE.DoubleSide
             });
             this.texturedMesh = new THREE.Mesh(texturedGeometry, texturedMaterial);
             this.modelGroup.add(this.texturedMesh);
         }
 
         for (const { geometry, color } of nonTexturedGeometries) {
-            const material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
+            const material = new THREE.MeshLambertMaterial({
                 color: new THREE.Color(color.r / 255, color.g / 255, color.b / 255),
-                side: THREE.DoubleSide,
-                roughness: 0.8,
-                metalness: 0.1
+                side: THREE.DoubleSide
             });
             const mesh = new THREE.Mesh(geometry, material);
             this.modelGroup.add(mesh);
@@ -126,7 +120,6 @@ export class WdbModelRenderer {
                 }
             }
 
-            // Build mesh vertices following brickolini-island logic
             const meshVertices = [];
             const meshNormals = [];
             const meshUvs = [];