I figured I'd stick neck out on this one, but its definitely something I'd like to get other's opinions on.
Also - I'm not trying to start any wars here, so please keep things objective as I feel each has its pro's and con's (and keep in mind TG2 isn't even 'officially' out yet for full consideration).
Here is how it worked out: Bored (while waiting for a TGTP preview to render), I started browsing other TGTP images on Renderosity. I saw some jaw-dropping images of foliage in someone's gallery, and initially thought they were rendered using TGTP. Instead, found out they were rendered in Vue 6.
Ironically, I had bought Vue 6 just before TGTP came out, mainly for Vue's spectral atmosphere models, which I would use to create background images for TG 0.9. Luckily, TGTP came out a few weeks after I bought Vue 6, and it immediately got shelved in favor of TGTP. So, since then, I haven't give much thought to using Vue 6, atleast until I saw those amazing foliage images recently.
With that in mind, here are my opinions about each. Be sure to reply with your own input.
TGTP Wins with:
-The node based network, which offers amazing power, flexibility, and work flow
-The terrain features are more realistic and flexible, as well as the 'distribution' features for terrain and shaders.
-The skies and clouds are more realistic and flexible (if done properly).
-The overall physics and big picture are way more realistic (ie. there is an actual planet to work with, not a studio room like most others).
Vue Wins with:
-The renderer, which already implements soft-shadows, subsurface scattering, lens effects, and reasonable render-times - they just look soft and natural
-The foliage, which is 100% unique for populations (using solid growth), visual benefits to the foliage from the renderer's abilities mentioned above, ability to 'paint' populations as needed more on a micro scale
-Huge expandable resource support (ie. cornucopia 3d).
-Easier to set up an 'up close' scene
TGTP Gripes:
-render times are way too long, making practical use very difficult, and pretty much impossible in some cases.
-lack of water transparency, sub-surface scattering, soft shadows (though these will be implemented when TG2 is released!)
-crashes (again, most remedied when TG2 is released)
-object import needs work
Vue Gripes:
-interface doesn't work as well for 'grand-scheme' design as TG2's does, so requires more input in a way.
-terrain generation and look, is just nowhere near as good in my opinion.
-just seems harder to get a good large scale scene going.
In a nutshell, one could say TGTP/TG2 works best for macro scale, and Vue works best for micro-scale (at this point). I'm really looking forward to TG2's official release.
Any thoughts?
