Marine Aquarium 3 Rumors and Speculation - Page 17

Simple Steve · 11-28-2006, 12:12 AM

Oh, I doubt that Jim will compromise on the quality of 3.0 after spending so much time on it. He knows that most folks won't pay for something that doesn't look as good as the hype (which is sure to come) suggests that it does. And he is an artist after all. Obviously Jim has to pick a limit to what 3.0 will look like and do. But I expect nothing less than his masterpiece, and would be shocked to find that he compromised in places that he didn't have to after he's put so much effort into it.

cjmaddy · 11-28-2006, 05:26 AM

..... So no pressure there then, Jim.

Jim Sachs · 11-28-2006, 12:06 PM

I'm WAY past feeling pressure. Just blindly trudging on until it's done.

Tiny Turtle · 11-28-2006, 03:05 PM

Ok, I also want to apologise in advance for the idiot(s) who 30 minutes after downloading 3.0 will come back and ask the question:
"When will 3.1 come out?"

/Tiny Trudging

Jim Sachs · 11-28-2006, 11:10 PM

Apology accepted.

nicksteel · 11-29-2006, 07:34 AM

Originally posted by Tiny Turtle:

Ok, I also want to apologise in advance for the idiot(s) who 30 minutes after downloading 3.0 will come back and ask the question:
"When will 3.1 come out?"

/Tiny Trudging

And here I was wanting to inquire about 4.0!

Tiny Turtle · 11-29-2006, 08:21 AM

Believe me - those will pop up withing five minutes of the others as well...

ESHIREY · 11-29-2006, 04:28 PM

Ain't that the truth.

nicksteel · 11-29-2006, 07:19 PM

Ah, but think of all the future fun discussing MA3 and hunting for tiny details. etc. It's been too long and I really miss it.

Simple Steve · 11-29-2006, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

I'm WAY past feeling pressure. Just blindly trudging on until it's done.

Sorry, Jim. I didn't mean it that way. I only expect the best because it's pretty clear that you demand the best from yourself. I would never demand the best from you. Ultimately, what you do with 3.0 is none of my business, nor would I expect you to give a hoot about any opinions I might have on the subject. It's just fun to dicuss it-- that's all.

Jim Sachs · 11-29-2006, 09:35 PM

Feel free to discuss it.

GreenHsiF · 11-30-2006, 04:43 PM

Jim I haven't been here in awhile,but I noticed you named some of the creatures that will be in the aquarium.I was surprised that these guys didn't make it:

-Masked Angel
-Pakistani Butterfly
-Reticulated Butterfly
-Spotted Scat

^Aren't these fish in most pet stores,or do you not like them for some reason?

feldon34 · 11-30-2006, 05:01 PM

I'm not Jim, but those are fish, not creatures. There's a fine distinction.

Jim intends to retexture some or all of the existing fish with higher res textures. I don't know if he is considering adding more fish as well.

Jim Sachs · 11-30-2006, 09:07 PM

My plan is for the MA3 to have reworked versions of the current fish when it first comes out. Two Creature Packs will be added later, with (I think) about 5 new fish and 5 other type creatures in each. I'm still open to suggestions regarding which fish will make the cut.

feldon34 · 12-01-2006, 08:30 AM

A Pakistani Butterfly would require higher resolution textures and texture anti-aliasing.

as would a Majestic Angel:

{Click for incredibly sharp image}

I'd be excited to see the addition of more black and white fish as I think they add a great look.

Jim Sachs · 12-01-2006, 11:15 AM

It's true that those fish were too high-frequency for the 64x64 textures used in the current version of the Aquarium, but MA3 will use at least 128x128 fish textures. It all depends on my being able to find them in stores and take proper pics.

Jav400 · 12-01-2006, 11:52 AM

Pakistani's I haven't seen that often. But, the Majestic is generally a staple in about any store at one time or the other.

feldon34 · 12-01-2006, 12:44 PM

Jim made a point that right now, the best part of the Aquarium are the fish. Once the background is redone, the roles will be reversed and the lack of definition in some of the fish will become evident.

Current texture sizes in Marine Aquarium 2.6:

310 x 280 transverse (1)
Clearfin Lionfish

160 x 100 transverse (4)
Blue Ring Angel
Redfin Butterfly
Red Volitans Lionfish
Rock Beauty Angel

128 x 128 (11)
Achilles Tang
Addis Butterfly
Copperbanded Butterfly
Emperor Angel
French Angel
Forceps Angel
Powder Blue Tang
Regal Tang
Squarespot Angel
Wimplefish
Yellow Tang

128 x 64 (12)
3 Stripe Damsel
Blue Chromis
Clown Trigger
Koran Angel
Flame Angel
False Percula Clown
Picasso Trigger
Purple Tang
Queen Angel
Regal Angel
Royal Gramma
Threadfin Butterfly

Textures for 5 of the fish are mounted transversely (45°). This not only makes more use of the space, but allows for higher quality fin textures. As you can see, the Clearfin Lionfish is more than twice as detailed as the Red Volitans Lionfish and really flexes its muscle on a 1600 x 1200 display.

To upgrade them all to 256 x 256 -- transverse or otherwise -- would be quite an undertaking! Just upgrading the dozen or so 128 x 64's would go a long way.

Jav400 · 12-11-2006, 01:16 PM

Jim,

How is progress on the cave going?

Jim Sachs · 12-11-2006, 02:32 PM

The cave is done, at least for now. I may give it a tune-up later, but it's not bad. Now I'm working on objects in the distance.

11-28-2006, 12:06 PM	#323
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,790	I'm WAY past feeling pressure. Just blindly trudging on until it's done. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-28-2006, 03:05 PM	#324
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	Ok, I also want to apologise in advance for the idiot(s) who 30 minutes after downloading 3.0 will come back and ask the question: "When will 3.1 come out?" /Tiny Trudging Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

11-28-2006, 11:10 PM	#325
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,790	Apology accepted. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-29-2006, 08:21 AM	#327
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	Believe me - those will pop up withing five minutes of the others as well... Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

11-29-2006, 04:28 PM	#328
ESHIREY Smilie Dragon Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lebanon, PA Posts: 4,725	Ain't that the truth. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

11-28-2006, 12:12 AM	#321
Simple Steve Registered Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 25	Oh, I doubt that Jim will compromise on the quality of 3.0 after spending so much time on it. He knows that most folks won't pay for something that doesn't look as good as the hype (which is sure to come) suggests that it does. And he is an artist after all. Obviously Jim has to pick a limit to what 3.0 will look like and do. But I expect nothing less than his masterpiece, and would be shocked to find that he compromised in places that he didn't have to after he's put so much effort into it.

11-28-2006, 05:26 AM	#322
cjmaddy Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 7,854	..... So no pressure there then, Jim.

11-29-2006, 07:34 AM	#326
nicksteel Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Mississippi (and no, I don't watch FOX!) Posts: 244	Originally posted by Tiny Turtle: Ok, I also want to apologise in advance for the idiot(s) who 30 minutes after downloading 3.0 will come back and ask the question: "When will 3.1 come out?" /Tiny Trudging And here I was wanting to inquire about 4.0!

11-29-2006, 07:19 PM	#329
nicksteel Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Mississippi (and no, I don't watch FOX!) Posts: 244	Ah, but think of all the future fun discussing MA3 and hunting for tiny details. etc. It's been too long and I really miss it.

11-29-2006, 07:57 PM	#330
Simple Steve Registered Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 25	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: I'm WAY past feeling pressure. Just blindly trudging on until it's done. Sorry, Jim. I didn't mean it that way. I only expect the best because it's pretty clear that you demand the best from yourself. I would never demand the best from you. Ultimately, what you do with 3.0 is none of my business, nor would I expect you to give a hoot about any opinions I might have on the subject. It's just fun to dicuss it-- that's all.

11-29-2006, 09:35 PM	#331
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,790	Feel free to discuss it. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-30-2006, 04:43 PM	#332
GreenHsiF SereneScreenFanatic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: California Posts: 261	Jim I haven't been here in awhile,but I noticed you named some of the creatures that will be in the aquarium.I was surprised that these guys didn't make it: -Masked Angel -Pakistani Butterfly -Reticulated Butterfly -Spotted Scat ^Aren't these fish in most pet stores,or do you not like them for some reason?

11-30-2006, 05:01 PM	#333
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	I'm not Jim, but those are fish, not creatures. There's a fine distinction. Jim intends to retexture some or all of the existing fish with higher res textures. I don't know if he is considering adding more fish as well. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

11-30-2006, 09:07 PM	#334
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,790	My plan is for the MA3 to have reworked versions of the current fish when it first comes out. Two Creature Packs will be added later, with (I think) about 5 new fish and 5 other type creatures in each. I'm still open to suggestions regarding which fish will make the cut. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-01-2006, 08:30 AM	#335
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	A Pakistani Butterfly would require higher resolution textures and texture anti-aliasing. as would a Majestic Angel: {Click for incredibly sharp image} I'd be excited to see the addition of more black and white fish as I think they add a great look. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-01-2006, 11:15 AM	#336
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,790	It's true that those fish were too high-frequency for the 64x64 textures used in the current version of the Aquarium, but MA3 will use at least 128x128 fish textures. It all depends on my being able to find them in stores and take proper pics. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-01-2006, 11:52 AM	#337
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Pakistani's I haven't seen that often. But, the Majestic is generally a staple in about any store at one time or the other. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

12-01-2006, 12:44 PM	#338
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Jim made a point that right now, the best part of the Aquarium are the fish. Once the background is redone, the roles will be reversed and the lack of definition in some of the fish will become evident. Current texture sizes in Marine Aquarium 2.6: 310 x 280 transverse (1) Clearfin Lionfish 160 x 100 transverse (4) Blue Ring Angel Redfin Butterfly Red Volitans Lionfish Rock Beauty Angel 128 x 128 (11) Achilles Tang Addis Butterfly Copperbanded Butterfly Emperor Angel French Angel Forceps Angel Powder Blue Tang Regal Tang Squarespot Angel Wimplefish Yellow Tang 128 x 64 (12) 3 Stripe Damsel Blue Chromis Clown Trigger Koran Angel Flame Angel False Percula Clown Picasso Trigger Purple Tang Queen Angel Regal Angel Royal Gramma Threadfin Butterfly Textures for 5 of the fish are mounted transversely (45°). This not only makes more use of the space, but allows for higher quality fin textures. As you can see, the Clearfin Lionfish is more than twice as detailed as the Red Volitans Lionfish and really flexes its muscle on a 1600 x 1200 display. To upgrade them all to 256 x 256 -- transverse or otherwise -- would be quite an undertaking! Just upgrading the dozen or so 128 x 64's would go a long way. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-11-2006, 01:16 PM	#339
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Jim, How is progress on the cave going? Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

12-11-2006, 02:32 PM	#340
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,790	The cave is done, at least for now. I may give it a tune-up later, but it's not bad. Now I'm working on objects in the distance. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium