So where is everyone?
Matt is taking the paychecks of LA hipsters in cards.
Oshyan is adventuring in some remote interesting place.
And Jo is helping to build software for giant earth moving robots that will eventually destroy all humans.
Or something close to that ;D
But whats up with Terragen? Anything new and improved on the way?
In the past there were lots of references to Alpha testers. But not so much lately, is that still happening? Anything going on? Anything on the way?!
Just curious whats happening with my favorite reality webTV stars! 8)
Shame on you Michael; this is crap: "Just curious whats happening with my favorite reality web TV stars!" However, to each is own.
It's quiet out there, but I account it to the holidays. But I certainly hope some life will come back, and some exciting stuff. It's way too quiet here as well, boring actually. Nobody is experimenting, I don't see any of the new assets (like displacable objects)....
I believe that many are concerned about the economy; not only here in the states, but also worldwide. One keeps making adjustments to afford to live. It is the first priority. The world is in turmoil now. Those of us in the middle are contemplating what is next for us and our families - a distraction we did not have to deal with in recent years.
Major changes are coming.
Dune -you don't see many experiments cause you keep getting there first!!!! I used displacable objects in my beach scene as the arch and as hero rocks!
Yeah, I know, but I wanna see more!
I used a displacable object in Rumble at Rhino Rock for the Termite Mound. The horn like protuberances on the mound are from adding a strata shader to the object. The strata appear to orient according to the normal of the object and look strange because the object is fairly small.
http://www.planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,18614.0.html (http://www.planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,18614.0.html)
There is always stuff going on behind the scenes, of course. :D Right now we're focusing largely on SDK details so we can get our early developer partners up to speed and making cool stuff to extend the Terragen ecosystem, so to speak. We hope to be able to talk more about that fairly soon. We've got interesting things in progress in the "labs" too, of course. But most major new features will now be targeting future major versions. Any remaining TG 3.x updates will likely be minor features and bug fixes. But that doesn't mean there's nothing more to come, or that well be silent from here on out. :)
- Oshyan
Well that is stimulating! But you know how things can get, when only a tiny bit of info is released...
From what I just read I think I can rightly deduce that planetside is about to release the so called "T-Virus". Thereby capturing one hundred % of the market by killing off all of the competition. An effective strategy I would guess. Also, news about the SDK is good to hear.
A little concerning that you are talking about 3.5 or 4 already but only because I hope to see some of the features we have been harping about without having to upgrade again. But then again, if its worth it, so be it.
Thanks for the words Oshyan.
@bob
Not all reality shows are of morons doing stupid things. Some are of interesting people doing interesting, even important things. :)
Can someone give me a rundown of what SDK is/stands for? I keep hearing the term, but have no clue what it means. Also, what about ray trace object by object (with displacement) or support for animated objects (FBX). Will these wait until V4?
Here you go....................
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development_kit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development_kit)
Quote from: yossam on July 30, 2014, 12:36:01 AM
Here you go....................
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development_kit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development_kit)
Thanks, Yossam. Does this mean what, that other companies will essentially develop parts of Terragen, new kinds of shaders, how does this work?
The SDK (Software Development Kit) will allow anyone who can code in C++ to write plugins for Terragen that extend its capabilities in a myriad of ways, from generating or loading new types of data (e.g. new fractal functions, or support for new data formats), to new types of shading, to automation and interoperability functions, and more.
It's an important option to have available for larger studios, who often use SDKs to integrate applications into their sophisticated multi-stage production pipelines, but it will also be used by individual independent developers to create plugins of any scale, large or small, to handle a variety of useful things. We're not so much intending that people develop core functionality with it - things that we have on our road map - but rather that they create new and different things to make Terragen more versatile and interesting. Imagine, for example, a generator that creates "classic" fractals like Mandelbrot, Julia, and other sets, for use as terrains, masks, etc. Or a new type of Erosion shader. Either of those could be done easily.
We're looking forward to seeing what the community will do with it, and we already have several prominent developers interested.
- Oshyan
Quote from: Oshyan on July 30, 2014, 02:20:34 AM
The SDK (Software Development Kit) will allow anyone who can code in C++ to write plugins for Terragen that extend its capabilities in a myriad of ways, from generating or loading new types of data (e.g. new fractal functions, or support for new data formats), to new types of shading, to automation and interoperability functions, and more.
It's an important option to have available for larger studios, who often use SDKs to integrate applications into their sophisticated multi-stage production pipelines, but it will also be used by individual independent developers to create plugins of any scale, large or small, to handle a variety of useful things. We're not so much intending that people develop core functionality with it - things that we have on our road map - but rather that they create new and different things to make Terragen more versatile and interesting. Imagine, for example, a generator that creates "classic" fractals like Mandelbrot, Julia, and other sets, for use as terrains, masks, etc. Or a new type of Erosion shader. Either of those could be done easily.
We're looking forward to seeing what the community will do with it, and we already have several prominent developers interested.
- Oshyan
the SDK devlopment is the best news I've heard inna while...
This plugins and stuff will work only with the new release or it will be compatible with 3? Just don't want to buy the full version of TG3 and then 2 months later buy the full TG4... :-\
Finances are running ultra low for me these days :(
Plugins will be compatible with whatever version of Terragen they're built for. The initial SDK release is being made on TG 3, so any plugins that do come out prior to TG4's eventual release will be compatible with TG3.
- Oshyan
Makes sense...thx.
Quote from: Oshyan on July 29, 2014, 05:36:29 PM
But most major new features will now be targeting future major versions. Any remaining TG 3.x updates will likely be minor features and bug fixes.
As someone currently trying to figure out if an upgrade makes sense (sadly no TG2 Deep to Creative + Animation option... :() - does this mean I'd be better off just waiting for Terragen 4 instead of spending money for the remainder of TG3?
With the SDK being available, it should be possible to write a really advanced populator plugin, right? If so, I hope someone feels challenged to write one.
Would it be possible to add functionality to the renderer with the SDK? I have always wished for an extension to the current volumetric render capabilities, so you could render volumetrics based on particle files (smoke simulation for example) or even clouds that don't rely on flat projection shader inputs but rather on particle files or even geometry input. Not that I wouldn't want this to be included in the regular TG ;)
^^ MY guess is that TG4 will be some time. And so far, upgrades have cost significantly less than other softwares.
Ill bet you that you can buy TG3 now, and use it happily for a good long while before TG4. TG3 just came out, and this thread is mostly just to provoke Matt and Oshyan to tell us some of their secrets. So I would not worry!
Sorry if this thread has made you a little nervous about buying. If I was buying new now, I would not wait for TG4. Unless Matt Or oshyan say so.
Ahem :D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_effect
Quote from: Kadri on August 05, 2014, 01:17:16 PM
Ahem :D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_effect
Exactly. The TG 3 announcement out of the blue was pretty smart. Unfortunately, some people (myself included) keep pressing for behind-the-scenes details. I always like to know what direction the software is taking, although at this point Terragen is so strong it is really only missing a couple of key features. It's nice to know what features are being worked on, though. I'm not too worried about versions. I, personally, have no trouble paying for every single update, so long as the features justify the cost.
Nice to hear, Oshyan. Glad Badger asked. ;D
Quote from: Kadri on August 05, 2014, 01:17:16 PM
Ahem :D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_effect
Sounds about right. Especially when it's phrased like Oshyan did it. But I might be biased a bit anyway since I work at a company that tends to release pretty high-up features in minor releases and saves just the really massive ones for major versions.
Quote from: TheBadger on August 04, 2014, 08:43:25 PM
^^ MY guess is that TG4 will be some time. And so far, upgrades have cost significantly less than other softwares.
Ill bet you that you can buy TG3 now, and use it happily for a good long while before TG4. TG3 just came out, and this thread is mostly just to provoke Matt and Oshyan to tell us some of their secrets. So I would not worry!
I suppose so. Besides, I'm still trying to figure out if I need TG3 over TG2 in the first place as I'm using it just for fun every now and then. The limited upgrade options don't really help either.
Quote from: Upon Infinity on August 05, 2014, 01:53:49 PM
I, personally, have no trouble paying for every single update, so long as the features justify the cost.
Do they, though? That's what I'm trying to figure out. What is it that TG3 actually brings to the table?
Maybe I'm a little late to the party but I kinda miss any serious information about that on the Planetside webpage. Up to now I haven't found anything that explains to me why the 3 behind the name is worth 199$.
Haven't used TG2 in a while, though, so maybe it's just me not recognizing the major changes...
Quote from: leafspring on August 06, 2014, 03:49:48 AM
Do they, though? That's what I'm trying to figure out. What is it that TG3 actually brings to the table?
Maybe I'm a little late to the party but I kinda miss any serious information about that on the Planetside webpage. Up to now I haven't found anything that explains to me why the 3 behind the name is worth 199$.
Haven't used TG2 in a while, though, so maybe it's just me not recognizing the major changes...
I suppose that's for everyone to decide for themselves. Focal blur, instance editing, populate on objects, and displaceables are the biggest new features. They might seem like small things but they make a big difference. Of course, an upgrade to TG 3 includes all 3.x updates, so there are more to come including the SDK release. I still don't understand what the SDK could potentially bring to the table but it sounds promising, so it may be worth it in the end, if you don't feel so now. For me, focal blur and populate on objects are big deals. Certainly, if PS charged for every small update, I would expect to pay less per update, though.
Quote from: Upon Infinity on August 06, 2014, 10:30:25 AM
I still don't understand what the SDK could potentially bring to the table
I think it will be plugins like in PS for example. There are seriously good plugins for PS and those were not done by Adobe but some other programmer...etc and u can buy and install these plugins under the main program. If this is the plan at Planetside then I think it will bring some cool new features :)
Quote from: leafspring on August 06, 2014, 03:49:48 AM
Do they, though? That's what I'm trying to figure out. What is it that TG3 actually brings to the table?
Maybe I'm a little late to the party but I kinda miss any serious information about that on the Planetside webpage. Up to now I haven't found anything that explains to me why the 3 behind the name is worth 199$.
Hey leafspring,
Here you go ... the initial announcement for 3.0
http://terragen3.com/announcing-terragen-3-professional/
And here is the announcement for 3.1, a free update to 3.0.
http://planetside.co.uk/tg-31-release
Worth $199 to you? That's for you to say. But I certainly thought it was.
Regards,
Micheal
Quote from: mhall on August 06, 2014, 11:14:53 PM
Here you go ... the initial announcement for 3.0
http://terragen3.com/announcing-terragen-3-professional/
And here is the announcement for 3.1, a free update to 3.0.
http://planetside.co.uk/tg-31-release
Worth $199 to you? That's for you to say. But I certainly thought it was.
Thanks a lot - didn't even realize there's an actual Terragen3 webpage.
Quote from: Upon Infinity on August 06, 2014, 10:30:25 AM
I suppose that's for everyone to decide for themselves. Focal blur, instance editing, populate on objects, and displaceables are the biggest new features. They might seem like small things but they make a big difference. Of course, an upgrade to TG 3 includes all 3.x updates, so there are more to come including the SDK release.
Apart from the DoF these things don't concern me much at the moment (they probably will later on, though), but I just realized that it doesn't even matter anyway.
In the end it all comes down to the Adobe principle - if I wait for TG4 to come around the upgrade over two versions will probably cost as much as the two separate upgrades over single versions. So I might as well do it now and be done with it.
Besides, the renderings on the TG3 page do look more natural regarding the lighting and, as a developer myself, the SDK sounds interesting. :)
Quote from: leafspring on August 07, 2014, 04:51:30 AM
Besides, the renderings on the TG3 page do look more natural regarding the lighting and, as a developer myself, the SDK sounds interesting. :)
Oh, right. They also made some improvements to the GI system, as well.
Quote from: leafspring on August 04, 2014, 08:01:34 AM
Quote from: Oshyan on July 29, 2014, 05:36:29 PM
But most major new features will now be targeting future major versions. Any remaining TG 3.x updates will likely be minor features and bug fixes.
As someone currently trying to figure out if an upgrade makes sense (sadly no TG2 Deep to Creative + Animation option... :() - does this mean I'd be better off just waiting for Terragen 4 instead of spending money for the remainder of TG3?
To be clear, Terragen 4 is not "coming soon". We don't have a release date for it yet, but it will be a while. The reason there is no "upgrade" from TG2 Deep to TG3 Creative is that Creative is missing several of the key TG2 Deep features (they're now in the Professional version). So it would be a "dowgrade" of sorts and you'd actually lose some features while gaining others. It just didn't make sense to offer that "upgrade" given our TG3 product line.
Pokoy, I'm not certain of the SDK limitations at this point, but I do know that at least some of what you're talking about will be possible, i.e. loading new file types, creating new types of shaders (like new volumetric shading, etc.). I'm not sure about a completely new populator system, but then I don't see why not...
- Oshyan