State of the Aquarium report?

DeepSeaFan · 05-12-2005, 08:23 AM

I've looked at different threads and I'm confused as to what the progress and the state of development is on the aquarium.

Can someone give me something like a state of the aquarium report? I'm not asking for a release date or anything, just wondering how things are going.

Jim Sachs · 05-12-2005, 09:57 AM

I'm currently going through a couple-hundred photos I recently took of aquarium objects, deciding what will make it into the new 3D background. I've created a 3D clam which I'm reasonably satisfied with, which will open and close while the insides retract. My hopes for understanding 3D shader technology are waning. I may have to reduce everything to the old-fasioned polygon and texture system.

Q-Beam · 05-12-2005, 04:24 PM

Whoa, a Clam??? That would be totally awesome.

Marian Nichols · 05-12-2005, 06:06 PM

Wouldn't it though, maybe it can have a pearl hidden inside.

ESHIREY · 05-12-2005, 06:35 PM

That is great news.

I hope we can see a picture of it.

DeepSeaFan · 05-13-2005, 05:21 AM

Thanks for the update, Jim. I'm sure the clam will be very cool.

Jim Sachs · 05-13-2005, 10:33 AM

Actually, there are 5 clams. All will open and close when touched by a fish or other critter.

ESHIREY · 05-13-2005, 10:55 AM

surfer · 05-13-2005, 01:02 PM

Jim,

I my get a lot of flack for my feelings about your future 3D updated version, but here it is:

You have already given us the best fish screen saver to date - and many, many FREE updates to make it even better. With all the time and effort you have already put into the 3D version and the hours yet to come before completion, I must say this - I would happily pay an upgrade fee.

$5.00-$10.00 is too little for all your efforts, but would probably be acceptable and understood by most everyone. I know others will complain that you said it was to be free, but your time has to be worth something.

I will now put my helmet and flack jacket on and prepare for the barrage of flames

Surfer

Marian Nichols · 05-13-2005, 02:11 PM

I, so agree. I would pay an upgrade fee happily.

Jim Sachs · 05-13-2005, 03:27 PM

Prolific is still deciding whether to charge a small upgrade fee for 3.0 when it comes out. I vote no, since we do plan to charge for "Creature Packs" later on, and 3.0 really just sets the stage for that. Just having a new version come out always triggers a huge wave of new sales, and I'd rather give the existing fans a break. Either way, don't worry about the profits. The Aquarium has been doing very well for 5 years, and continues to support myself, Prolific, Encore, and a lot of retailers in the manner to which we've become accustomed

Marian Nichols · 05-13-2005, 04:20 PM

Good news,

Jav400 · 05-13-2005, 06:29 PM

I sorta vote with Jim on this one. It was his word before that told people that the upgrade would be free. He has worked hard to keep his word all this time, and while us die hard fans would understand, I fear alot of people wouldn't, and like he says, the creature packs have always been proclaimed as an "addition fee" upgrade.

CatLikingFish · 05-14-2005, 10:56 AM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

My hopes for understanding 3D shader technology are waning. I may have to reduce everything to the old-fasioned polygon and texture system.

Come on, Jim, don't give up so easily. I am 50 years old and I understood shader programming within a week - at least well enough to make some shaders of my own. Don't put shame upon our greying heads! ;-)

Falz · 05-15-2005, 12:14 AM

I've always thought reasonbly priced software will sell a lot more copies and make more profits than people who charge exorbitant prices for their software (like the $200 I once stupidly payed for an MP3 encoder).

Then again, I never got donations on my free softwares, only asking $5... so I guess if people don't have to pay for something, no matter how cheap, they often wont

Then again my software is pretty basic stuff.

Jim Sachs · 05-15-2005, 03:32 AM

Cat - Yes, I could understand things when I was 50, too. In fact, that's when I wrote the Aquarium. At 56, my brain seems to have turned to mush.

loub516 · 05-15-2005, 05:40 AM

Oh crap, I turn 50 this month. It's all down hill from here.

feldon34 · 05-15-2005, 08:33 AM

I can understand PHP, Pascal, and QB, and Lingo just by looking at it.

C/C++? Forget it. I need a roadmap, compass, and tour guide.

ESHIREY · 05-15-2005, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by loub516:

Oh crap, I turn 50 this month. It's all down hill from here.

Damn, I'll be 50 in September.

Marian Nichols · 05-15-2005, 09:30 AM

Yes, I can saftly report not only is it all down hill, but it is like a roller coaster, the steeper the grade the faster the ride.

05-12-2005, 08:23 AM	#1
DeepSeaFan Viperfish Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusets, USA Posts: 46	State of the Aquarium report? I've looked at different threads and I'm confused as to what the progress and the state of development is on the aquarium. Can someone give me something like a state of the aquarium report? I'm not asking for a release date or anything, just wondering how things are going.

05-12-2005, 09:57 AM	#2
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	I'm currently going through a couple-hundred photos I recently took of aquarium objects, deciding what will make it into the new 3D background. I've created a 3D clam which I'm reasonably satisfied with, which will open and close while the insides retract. My hopes for understanding 3D shader technology are waning. I may have to reduce everything to the old-fasioned polygon and texture system. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-12-2005, 06:06 PM	#4
Marian Nichols ~Author~ Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rocky Mount, NC Posts: 7,429	Wouldn't it though, maybe it can have a pearl hidden inside. Write paranormal mysteries. Six books so far.

05-12-2005, 06:35 PM	#5
ESHIREY Smilie Dragon Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lebanon, PA Posts: 4,725	That is great news. I hope we can see a picture of it. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

05-13-2005, 10:33 AM	#7
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Actually, there are 5 clams. All will open and close when touched by a fish or other critter. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-12-2005, 04:24 PM	#3
Q-Beam Chi Rho Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 297	Whoa, a Clam??? That would be totally awesome.

05-13-2005, 05:21 AM	#6
DeepSeaFan Viperfish Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusets, USA Posts: 46	Thanks for the update, Jim. I'm sure the clam will be very cool.

05-13-2005, 10:55 AM	#8
ESHIREY Smilie Dragon Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lebanon, PA Posts: 4,725	Thank you for taking the time to read this.

05-13-2005, 01:02 PM	#9
surfer Registered Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 17	My feelings on the future 3D updated version Jim, I my get a lot of flack for my feelings about your future 3D updated version, but here it is: You have already given us the best fish screen saver to date - and many, many FREE updates to make it even better. With all the time and effort you have already put into the 3D version and the hours yet to come before completion, I must say this - I would happily pay an upgrade fee. $5.00-$10.00 is too little for all your efforts, but would probably be acceptable and understood by most everyone. I know others will complain that you said it was to be free, but your time has to be worth something. I will now put my helmet and flack jacket on and prepare for the barrage of flames Surfer Last edited by surfer; 05-13-2005 at 02:15 PM.

05-13-2005, 02:11 PM	#10
Marian Nichols ~Author~ Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rocky Mount, NC Posts: 7,429	I, so agree. I would pay an upgrade fee happily. Write paranormal mysteries. Six books so far.

05-13-2005, 03:27 PM	#11
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Prolific is still deciding whether to charge a small upgrade fee for 3.0 when it comes out. I vote no, since we do plan to charge for "Creature Packs" later on, and 3.0 really just sets the stage for that. Just having a new version come out always triggers a huge wave of new sales, and I'd rather give the existing fans a break. Either way, don't worry about the profits. The Aquarium has been doing very well for 5 years, and continues to support myself, Prolific, Encore, and a lot of retailers in the manner to which we've become accustomed Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-13-2005, 04:20 PM	#12
Marian Nichols ~Author~ Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rocky Mount, NC Posts: 7,429	Good news, Write paranormal mysteries. Six books so far.

05-13-2005, 06:29 PM	#13
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	I sorta vote with Jim on this one. It was his word before that told people that the upgrade would be free. He has worked hard to keep his word all this time, and while us die hard fans would understand, I fear alot of people wouldn't, and like he says, the creature packs have always been proclaimed as an "addition fee" upgrade. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

05-14-2005, 10:56 AM	#14
CatLikingFish Registered Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: My hopes for understanding 3D shader technology are waning. I may have to reduce everything to the old-fasioned polygon and texture system. Come on, Jim, don't give up so easily. I am 50 years old and I understood shader programming within a week - at least well enough to make some shaders of my own. Don't put shame upon our greying heads! ;-)

05-15-2005, 12:14 AM	#15
Falz Registered Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 118	I've always thought reasonbly priced software will sell a lot more copies and make more profits than people who charge exorbitant prices for their software (like the $200 I once stupidly payed for an MP3 encoder). Then again, I never got donations on my free softwares, only asking $5... so I guess if people don't have to pay for something, no matter how cheap, they often wont Then again my software is pretty basic stuff.

05-15-2005, 03:32 AM	#16
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Cat - Yes, I could understand things when I was 50, too. In fact, that's when I wrote the Aquarium. At 56, my brain seems to have turned to mush. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-15-2005, 05:40 AM	#17
loub516 Registered Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Savannah, Ga. Posts: 421	Oh crap, I turn 50 this month. It's all down hill from here. LB

05-15-2005, 08:33 AM	#18
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	I can understand PHP, Pascal, and QB, and Lingo just by looking at it. C/C++? Forget it. I need a roadmap, compass, and tour guide. "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

05-15-2005, 08:50 AM	#19
ESHIREY Smilie Dragon Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lebanon, PA Posts: 4,725	Originally posted by loub516: Oh crap, I turn 50 this month. It's all down hill from here. Damn, I'll be 50 in September. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

05-15-2005, 09:30 AM	#20
Marian Nichols ~Author~ Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rocky Mount, NC Posts: 7,429	Yes, I can saftly report not only is it all down hill, but it is like a roller coaster, the steeper the grade the faster the ride. Write paranormal mysteries. Six books so far.