Marine Aquarium 3 Rumors and Speculation - Page 42

Marian Nichols · 10-23-2007, 08:13 AM

I have been following this and am also glad you are out of there.

Surferminn · 10-23-2007, 09:12 AM

Some good news, my brother emailed this morning that after he packed the car all up, a friend told him to look at the news. The fire dept said they made some mistake in issuing something called a reverse 911 and that the northern part of his area of San Diego was on voluntary evacuation, not mandatory. So he is still at home.

Jav400 · 10-23-2007, 09:35 AM

Lets not get too far OT in this thread, but here is a link for sat views:

NASA

schneb · 10-24-2007, 11:24 AM

I live in Redlands, CA. I feel like a smoked brisket and my car is sprinkled in ash. All too familiar from four years ago. Here are some maps of that disaster from where I work...
http://www.esri.com/disaster_respons...res071506.html

Glad to see Jim is back on track, boxes and all. If I could work from Oregon, I would move in a heartbeat. Pretty state with very friendly people.

Simple Steve · 11-04-2007, 05:38 AM

I'm sorry Jim, maybe this has already been answered. But are you going to have bottom dwelling creatures in 3.0? I'm referring to octopi, squids, lobsters and such.

Jav400 · 11-04-2007, 06:55 AM

3.0 lays the foundation for the non-fish creatures. They must be created first after the fish get redone, and will be released in a separate creature pack.

Jim Sachs · 11-04-2007, 11:06 AM

Yes, the program will first be released with the new background, but the same fish as 2.6. Then there will be updates as I re-create each fish in the new format. The new-style mesh has more polygons -- the fish will be able to move their mouths and gills, peck at the corals, dart around, school together if inclined, and chase each other. After that's done, I'll start on the Creature-Packs. These will be extra-cost add-on modules which will each contain somewhere between 5 and 10 unusual creatures like the ones you mentioned.

ESHIREY · 11-04-2007, 11:22 AM

That will make people happy again. Even if they have the same fish. Getting updates as fish are redone. That's what most people want.

Glad to hear things are going good for you.

Jim Sachs · 11-04-2007, 11:33 AM

Well, I wouldn't say "good" exactly. I was up until 3 a.m. adding the two Lionfish to the tank. (At least the time change helped.) All the other fish are in the tank, but those two would just NOT load. Crashed the program every time. Switching from DX6 to DX8 means that every 3D model has to be reworked by hand in text mode, and it turned out that those two models accidentally had a two-point polygon buried deep in the list. DX6 was much more forgiving and just overlooked the mistake, but DX8 is a harsh mistress.

Jav400 · 11-04-2007, 09:21 PM

Jim do you have any estimation of how many polygons it will take to get the new fish to the level you want them to be?

Jim Sachs · 11-04-2007, 10:15 PM

Not as many as I had originally thought. About 400, compared with 220 for the current fish. The added polygons are mostly in the extra detail for the mouth and gills, and the fin tips. The complexity of the fish bodies will remain about the same.

ESHIREY · 11-05-2007, 10:04 AM

Heck that's ok. That's not many.

Jim Sachs · 11-05-2007, 10:30 AM

Remember, that's just the fish. The background has over 10 times as many polygons as the old one.

ESHIREY · 11-05-2007, 10:31 AM

Still cool. I can't wait to see it.

Marian Nichols · 11-05-2007, 12:54 PM

same here.

Stew2000 · 11-07-2007, 08:01 AM

How do you model a fish?
it seems like a rather complex task.

Jav400 · 11-07-2007, 08:05 AM

Run the screensaver and hit "W".

Stew2000 · 11-07-2007, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by Jav400:

Run the screensaver and hit "W".

Doesn't really explain how Jim makes them

really scary though seeing fish swim around like that :P

Jav400 · 11-07-2007, 08:24 AM

The program Jim used is Lightwave. Costs about ~$1,000. Depending on what you want with it.

feldon34 · 11-07-2007, 08:36 AM

Lightwave was the first 3D program that really catered to making organic shapes and models. Lightwave was used for virtually all of the 3D effects on TV shows during the 90's and early 00's. Nowadays it has steep competition from Maya and SoftImage.

10-23-2007, 08:13 AM	#821
Marian Nichols ~Author~ Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rocky Mount, NC Posts: 7,429	I have been following this and am also glad you are out of there. Write paranormal mysteries. Six books so far.

10-23-2007, 09:12 AM	#822
Surferminn Senior Puddle Jumper Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: California Posts: 6,017	Some good news, my brother emailed this morning that after he packed the car all up, a friend told him to look at the news. The fire dept said they made some mistake in issuing something called a reverse 911 and that the northern part of his area of San Diego was on voluntary evacuation, not mandatory. So he is still at home. Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes.

10-23-2007, 09:35 AM	#823
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Lets not get too far OT in this thread, but here is a link for sat views: NASA Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

11-04-2007, 05:38 AM	#825
Simple Steve Registered Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 25	I'm sorry Jim, maybe this has already been answered. But are you going to have bottom dwelling creatures in 3.0? I'm referring to octopi, squids, lobsters and such. Friends don't let friends eat carp.

11-04-2007, 06:55 AM	#826
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	3.0 lays the foundation for the non-fish creatures. They must be created first after the fish get redone, and will be released in a separate creature pack. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection Last edited by feldon34; 11-05-2007 at 07:33 AM.

10-24-2007, 11:24 AM	#824
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	I live in Redlands, CA. I feel like a smoked brisket and my car is sprinkled in ash. All too familiar from four years ago. Here are some maps of that disaster from where I work... http://www.esri.com/disaster_respons...res071506.html Glad to see Jim is back on track, boxes and all. If I could work from Oregon, I would move in a heartbeat. Pretty state with very friendly people.

11-04-2007, 11:06 AM	#827
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Yes, the program will first be released with the new background, but the same fish as 2.6. Then there will be updates as I re-create each fish in the new format. The new-style mesh has more polygons -- the fish will be able to move their mouths and gills, peck at the corals, dart around, school together if inclined, and chase each other. After that's done, I'll start on the Creature-Packs. These will be extra-cost add-on modules which will each contain somewhere between 5 and 10 unusual creatures like the ones you mentioned. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-04-2007, 11:22 AM	#828
ESHIREY Smilie Dragon Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lebanon, PA Posts: 4,725	That will make people happy again. Even if they have the same fish. Getting updates as fish are redone. That's what most people want. Glad to hear things are going good for you. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

11-04-2007, 11:33 AM	#829
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Well, I wouldn't say "good" exactly. I was up until 3 a.m. adding the two Lionfish to the tank. (At least the time change helped.) All the other fish are in the tank, but those two would just NOT load. Crashed the program every time. Switching from DX6 to DX8 means that every 3D model has to be reworked by hand in text mode, and it turned out that those two models accidentally had a two-point polygon buried deep in the list. DX6 was much more forgiving and just overlooked the mistake, but DX8 is a harsh mistress. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-04-2007, 09:21 PM	#830
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Jim do you have any estimation of how many polygons it will take to get the new fish to the level you want them to be? Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

11-04-2007, 10:15 PM	#831
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Not as many as I had originally thought. About 400, compared with 220 for the current fish. The added polygons are mostly in the extra detail for the mouth and gills, and the fin tips. The complexity of the fish bodies will remain about the same. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-05-2007, 10:04 AM	#832
ESHIREY Smilie Dragon Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lebanon, PA Posts: 4,725	Heck that's ok. That's not many. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

11-05-2007, 10:30 AM	#833
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Remember, that's just the fish. The background has over 10 times as many polygons as the old one. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-05-2007, 10:31 AM	#834
ESHIREY Smilie Dragon Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lebanon, PA Posts: 4,725	Still cool. I can't wait to see it. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

11-05-2007, 12:54 PM	#835
Marian Nichols ~Author~ Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rocky Mount, NC Posts: 7,429	same here. Write paranormal mysteries. Six books so far.

11-07-2007, 08:01 AM	#836
Stew2000 Registered Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 89	How do you model a fish? it seems like a rather complex task.

11-07-2007, 08:05 AM	#837
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Run the screensaver and hit "W". Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

11-07-2007, 08:14 AM	#838
Stew2000 Registered Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 89	Originally posted by Jav400: Run the screensaver and hit "W". Doesn't really explain how Jim makes them really scary though seeing fish swim around like that :P

11-07-2007, 08:24 AM	#839
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	The program Jim used is Lightwave. Costs about ~$1,000. Depending on what you want with it. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

11-07-2007, 08:36 AM	#840
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Lightwave was the first 3D program that really catered to making organic shapes and models. Lightwave was used for virtually all of the 3D effects on TV shows during the 90's and early 00's. Nowadays it has steep competition from Maya and SoftImage. "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