I think that's the intention, to have the etched look as an option for the time/date.

Yes.

I think it goes (loosely) something like this:

"Hello, Mr Jim Sachs.

I have registered on the Serene Screen site. For several years since you created the first one, I've been collecting the various screen savers. They're all really lovely, but this latest one, Marine Aquarium 3, even though it's still in beta, is a splendid! I'd like to thank all those who participated in the program and I look forward to getting the finished article really soon.

Bravo, Mr Sachs, for this marvel! I hope this is a preview of future developments.

Thanks in advance."

Thanks, Mark (and Jean-Pierre).

I have installed Marine Aquarium three and think that it looks superior to the old version in all ways but one. The background is far more realistic, and I love the scanning effect. It's beautiful!

However, I have to say that (on my computer) the motion of the fish is less realistic than it was in 2.6. I'm noticing a slight Ray Harryhausen effect. The movements of the fish are just not quite as smooth as they were in 2.6.

Thinking that perhaps the program is pushing the limits of my computer's graphics card or CPU or something, I tried reducing the number of fish, but that very slight stutter is still there.

Any ideas? Have other people noticed that the movements of the fish in this new version are not as smooth as they were in the old?

The fish movement is what I've been working on for several months.

But you are right about the higher equipment requirements. What frame rate are you getting?

How is the fish movement going?

Verrrry slowly.

Hey there all. First post from South Florida! I think the program is GREAT so far and can't wait for the evolution. I love being involved in the development of a program such as this. Much of my time is spent in and around water, being a part of The US Coast Guard and free time on the ocean, everglades, and surrounding lakes.

As for Jim....I've been lurking for a few weeks here. Your work is great and there is no hurry at this end for progression. What happens will be at a pace that is comfortable. They sure the heck didn't rush Van Gogh.
Just want to acknowledge your work and thank you for the previous programs. I was able to upgrade from 2.6 with no probs. Running ZT Quad core 2 Intel with W-7 (64) :TU::TU::TU:

Hi, Spetro - welcome to the Forum and thanks for the kind words.

I too would like to WELCOME you to the boards. http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs38/f/20..._by_Artush.gif

I have been a huge fan of MA for many years and absolutely love the the current beta but I have a suggestion for making it seem even more realistic. To my eye the fish look too similar in size to eachother and wonder if you have considered or even tried making some three times as big as others, or even better, custom scalable in the settings?

P.S. May I please have control of the lights for x-mas? (I have MacOSX)

Yes, there is a scale function built into the new fish models. I've played with fish sizes over the years, and it's hard to judge if it would be effective. Generally, the smaller fish just seem farther away. When I introduce schooling behavior, size and pattern differences within the school would probably be more noticeable.

So can someone give me an idea of when this might be ready for purchase as a finished product? I know it takes a while to create something like this, but you know, damn! :eek:

Jim has said the it will probably never be "finished" until they lower him in the ground. MA 3 is finished when you think it is............................ If you are satisfied with it the way it is now - then for you it is finished. For Jim - there will probably always be something he is tweaking or playing with..............

Simple Steve, - I agree with Michael, there is absolutely no reason to wait any longer, and to not buy MA3 in its present condition. - It is the best Marine aquarium simulation out there... bar none! - Purchase it now and enjoy it. Then watch it develop even more over the years to come.... Just like we have all been doing for more years than I can remember! ..... I made a one-off payment, a LONG time ago, and I have never regretted a penny of it!

Buy it NOW! :)

Finished? October 2017.

Just buy it and enjoy it!

It's already about as "finished" as any software out there - it's in the stores and available for download on SereneScreen.com. I plan to keep improving it, as I have for the past decade.

And a great job too.

.

A friend of mine gave me a computer that had MA2 on it a while back. Loved the screensaver so decided to come see if anything new was around, saw the 3.0 version and bought it sight unseen/untested. Only disappointment is the current inability to darken the lighting. My comp is in my bedroom, and it is usually always running, so having the screen-saver being able to darken the background and foreground lighting like the 2.0+ versions would be wonderful as the current version adds a bit to much light to my bedroom at night.

I read the notes for future patches and look forward to seeing this eventually added. So far, totally loving it other than that one basically small detail. Thanks for producing such a high quality and enjoyable product.

~Sam

Thanks, Sam - and welcome to the Forum!

Some time ago, Jim, "...let us in to a little secret", for making a temporary change to the background colour, - in this thread.....
https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...81&#post112995
A sample of my settings, (BackgroundTopColor ff000080 and BackgroundBottomColor ff113111), can be seen here....
https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...94&#post113094

It might be worth experimenting a little? .... I know this doesn't darken the foreground lighting, - but it might help you get some sleep! ;)

Yup that worked wonderfully. I'll keep it at that setting until the finish for it comes up :-) Thanks again!

~Sam

Frame Rate
 

Hi Jim,

Sorry about the slow reply. I've been away. Unfortunately, I don't know where I would find my frame rate.

Can anyone tell me?

Thanks,

Eyesuckle

After you have pressed the 'S' key to show the stats, use the UP-DOWN arrow keys to decrease/increase the Sleep() time, this will change the frame rate. Slow the fps down to something like 50 to 60. - Anything higher will just overheat your system, and not improve the quality
On my system, Sleep(17) gives about 65 fps.

Thank you!
 

cjmaddy:

I did as you suggested, and my frame rate was at about 45 fps. So I used the arrow keys to bring it up to about 56 fps, and the Harryhausen effect went away!

Thanks, also, to Jim Sachs for helping me with this problem--and a wonderful program.

I'm glad everything worked out for you.

In keeping with the thread title - "Comments and Appreciation", I've already expressed Appreciation, so now, a comment:

In my opinion, a true "screen saver" changes all of the pixels on the screen every so often. MA3 almost does that, except for some of the background which at this time doesn't change color so unless a fish swims by that section the pixels aren't changed. Also, it doesn't appear to me that the fish make it all the way up to the top of the screen either, so that area is not changing as well.

I know - there is a future change that will vary the background similar to the way it does in ver 2.x. However, until that is completed, there remains this problem.

So - If one notices, the bubble column, when panned all the way right, comes to just a little way to the right of the center of the screen. As it pans left, these bubbles resolve the "screen saver pixel change" just fine.

Therefore, my question is - How difficult would it be to move the bubble column a bit to the right of the elk horn coral thereby allowing it to accomplish the full screen "pixel change" as the screen completes it's left/right scan?

With that change, assuming there are no known bugs, could this not be what is needed to drop the "beta" and then proceed with further enhancements as Version 3.1?

Just throwing this on the wall to see if it sticks. I'll clean up the wall later.

:)

I future versions, I plan to let the user choose the number and locations of bubble columns.

Cool, I like bubbles, especially in sodas, beer, champagne and similar. :)

Just offering up a suggestion that might help you remove the "beta" tag while you continue with the other enhancements. Might help with the cash flow, too, since a lot of folks don't want to pay for a "beta".

Otherwise, hope you are having a pleasant Christmas Eve.

You're correct, of course.

As noted elsewhere in the forum, Jim does not think of MA3 as being a Screen Saver.

The night before I first shipped the Sachs Marine Aquarium simulation program (in 2000), a made a change which would allow the customers to use the program as a screen-blanker. I did this by changing the extension from .exe to .scr. From then on, many people seem to call it a screen-saver.

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays Everyone. Again Jim, thank you for the great program. I've had neighbors asking where to get it when they see it come up. I point them here. They can't believe it's programming and not video animating the fish. lol.

~A

I understand, Jim, and appreciate both the difference and the capability.

I guess I'm just pointing out that since so many of us use this as a "screen saver", having the entire screen experience a "pixel change" is somewhat desirable.

I know you've said you are working on having the background color change somewhat like it does on V 2.6 which would effect the complete pixel color change. I was only suggesting another possibility. Maybe it is more difficult to move the bubble column, in which case my suggestion isn't viable? I know you've said that ultimately you may provide a setting that allows an end user to place the bubble column in a few places in the aquarium.

We are simply looking at this from two very different perspectives - as programmer and end user. As an end user, I'm very happy with the program (except for the complete pixel change I've noted) as it is knowing that other improvements are in the wings. A lot of programs promise future enhancements or additions, so this is nothing unusual. I'm just expressing an opinion that if a complete pixel change capability was in MA3 beta, I believe you could drop the "beta" label. I also believe that the "beta" label prevents some folks from purchasing the product. Without the "beta", I suspect that cash flow would increase somewhat. I would think you would think that that is a "good thing", or at least a "couldn't hurt" thing.

Please don't take this an being argumentative or derogatory - that is not my intent. If I've stated this correctly I would hope that you recognize that my intent is sincere and offered as a beneficial suggestion not designed to imply any sort of negativity.

I've been in or around some level of the PC industry since 1983, and Marine Aquarium is the first "screen saver" that I've actually paid for - the free ones have worked fine for me - so if this isn't the best endorsement I can make, I don't know what would be. As I've stated in another thread, I've recommended MA3 beta to a lot of folks and show it every month at the local PC User's Group meeting, projected on a "big screen", during our Q & A session.

Sorry to be so long-winded.

Wish you well.

Angalador - Thanks for the kind words.

JohnWho - Thanks for the suggestions.

Recent contributors seem to be concerned with the fish movements, background lighting, and the "Beta" tag... etc, etc.
As an old-timer here, (in both senses of the word), for me, fish movements appear slightly better, (ie. smoother), in MA2.6, for a number of reasons....

A, There are fewer fish in MA2.6.
B, The tank size was only one screen wide in MA2.6, - not the 2.5 screens wide as in MA3
C, The environment is only 2D in 2.6, whereas in MA3 the environment is 3D. - Which is far more complicated and demanding.
D, MA2.6 had "calculate Normals", (by pressing the 'N' key), which gave a more fluid lifelike movement. Particularly noticeable around the tail areas.

All will change, however... once Jim succeeds in his efforts to completely rebuild the new MA3 fish models... and then add all the other planned-for features.

Therefore, I think that the fact that the current fish in MA3 are all based on the older fish models from MA2.6, (and not the ones Jim intended for MA3).....Then it is more than reasonable to still call this current 10d version of MA3, 'Beta'.

A read back through a few of the threads here, (or even just this one thread), will show what is planned and has been discussed over the years.

All true.

Could you expound on why this is desirable for you?

The original definition, and purpose, of a "screen saver" was to either blank the screen or often "refresh" all of the screen "pixels". So, it is "desirable" now, since it is much more difficult to burn in an image on a modern LCD screen (although still possible) mostly for aesthetically cosmetic reasons.

To me, and possibly others (I can not be sure), refreshing all of the screen simply shows attention to detail. Ver 2.6 can do it. While the program may not be offered primarily as a screen saver, since that capability is afforded, why not make it more "complete"?

Some of the planned features of MA3 will allow this, so in the long term, it's really a non-issue since it will be addressed for whatever reason.