Clams Progress

[jroseone]

Originally posted by cjmaddy:

Have you not considered that that may be the way that real clams behave?
There are lots of examples on the internet, check out some of the videos on these sites...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rulerofheck/3386724525/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOa3BMPMKBw&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuLdC...eature=related

Far from being unnatural, it's my understanding that Jim has gone out of his way to make his clam movement as natural as possible.  

The videos show exactly what I was talking about, the clams seem to close all the way and then open up slowly.

Allot of times in the screen saver they close slightly or partially and begin to open again.

When several fish go by they resemble an accordion type movement.

Jim perhaps you should set the close speed to full speed and have them open up slowly.

I think that would cut down on the slinky like movement.

[Ralph]

I know..but the impatient lot we are.. adding 30 lion fish is currently our only alternative to to making those clams work for having us wait this long

[Jim Sachs]

I just don't have the weeks required to finish fine-tuning the clams right now. They already work identically to the clams at my local aquarium store, except for moving at half-speed. They start closing until a threat is past, then immediately open, no matter where they were in the closing process. I suggest you switch to one of the other aquarium simulations with moving clams.

[cjmaddy]

The clams in those videos I've looked at behave very similar to Jim's. - Therefore I don't think there is anything wrong with their movement.

[jroseone]

No need to get any panties in a bunch, it was just a suggestion.

[cjmaddy]

I don't wear panties, - and I shouldn't think Jim does either.... Our wives would think that very strange! .....

[Ralph]

I agree the movement of the clams is fine.... My criticism is that the fish are programmed to swim too far away from them.. in my opinion...

There is a natural path that fish would normally follow.. between the crystal and corral... Jim's fish mostly go through this opening fairly high up (and thus they avoid triggering the clams).

I know this gets into the tricky collision avoidance and pass through problem... and I understand that this is an area currently (or will be) re worked. In due time when the "nibbling" feature is working the fish will be allowed to get closer to the bottom and clams

[Surferminn]

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

Though they dont have eyes, they are light-sensitive. The smaller ones like these are easily triggered by passing your hand over the tank, causing a slight shadow to fall across them. When the shadow has passed, they immediately open back up. I've slowed mine down to about half-speed in an attempt to avoid the "surely they don't move that fast" comments. I see that I was unsuccessful in this  

lol...One of my first thoughts was, "Surely they don't move that slow..." I have seen only 1-2 live clams and they snapped shut really fast like a reflex so I was kinda puzzled by these slowly closing. Then thought I might look around and do some homework before I put my foot in my mouth. And then after seeing Cliff's links, figured, well, maybe some of them do close that slow and let it go. Thanks for your comment above so I know I wasn't losing it. I'll just clam up now and admire your work.

Regarding the fishes, I have to say as I watched, sometimes I could swear they should be closing but they just sit there so I figure the fish must be closer to the glass than it looks. The best close connection I've seen is when the fishes seem to be foraging the pebbles nearby looking for something and then they close.

[Yodelking]

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

I just don't have the weeks required to finish fine-tuning the clams right now.  

Does this mean you're working on something else in the tank, or busy with other stuff?

[Jim Sachs]

Something else in the tank.

[Overlord]

I think the clams are perfectly fine. You'll never satisfy 100% of the people, Jim. Personally I think it is time to move forward with the new high resolution fish models. That would greatly compliment the new high resolution background of MA3. Just my opinion. And you know what they say about opinions!

[patscarr]

What are you working on now, Jim?

[Jav400]

An escape plan?

[Jim Sachs]

It's a secret.

[loub516]

Shhhhh.....

[Ralph]

We all love secrets.... gives us something to speculate about I am guessing "something that lives in the sea"

[Marian Nichols]

I am just so glad I don't have to change the water in this tank.

[dboyd420]

The movement is good. I would have them retract much faster, more like a flinch. When they open back up, the speed is fine. The accordion effect is caused by having the same speed in both directions (open/close).

[iMark]

at this point, I'm happy as a ...well....a clam..

looking forward to what's next...

as far as people never being happy, I think the never ending tweaking of the music and crystal episodes made that entirely clear...things that really had nothing at all to do with the heart of the aquarium, which is really what this project was about...but, all's well that ends well.....yeah...a clam...I'm happy as a clam...

[Jim Sachs]

dboyd420 - Do you really have the impression that they open and close at the same rate? They open at 1/4 the rate that they close.