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Where is the THING?
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
Where is the THING? // Roundtable
Post by Délé // May 8, 2007, 7:31am
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Délé
Total Posts: 1374
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Wizard: Of course it's not possible to have an "exact" progress bar, but I think a rough estimate is perfectly feasible. It would get more accurate as the it gets closer to the end. It doesn't need to move at a steady pace, it would just be updated as an approximation as things get done.
Take your example for instance. When you have the modeling done, you're probably 25% to 35% done with the scene. Then when you have the textures done, you're about 60% to 75% done. And when you get the lighting done, you're about 80% to 95%. Then the last ~5% is post process and final touches.
Yes you may have to go back and add some things here or there, but you don't have to advance the progress bar until it's caught back up. There is no predetermined amount of time that the progress bar needs to be updated. So for instance, the progress bar might stay at 75% for a while if unforeseen problems need fixing.
I think it's perfectly feasible. Though I highly doubt it would get implemented. :) |
Post by Délé // May 8, 2007, 7:45am
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Délé
Total Posts: 1374
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Wizard: BTW, I agree with your last statements. I was merely suggesting another way to go about it. As a beta tester, I'm always hoping the releases get pushed back a little more so more can get implemented. A delay means more features and a more stable program, so I'm all for it. :) Still, I agree that Caligari seems to get a lot of grief no matter what they do. That's why I suggest the progress bar, it would be an estimate of how close to done they are rather then an estimated date for release. Anyway, I digress. :) |
Post by rrf // May 8, 2007, 8:07am
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rrf
Total Posts: 319
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I also agree with W!Z. Although I understand (and identify) with the 'impatient child' type of anticipatory excitement with regard to something 'new and shiney', I've also pulled enough 'all-nighters' to know that right now there's probably a lot of people at Caligari that are completely drained and stressed and want it all to be over. They've given everything they had to this effort, and to them I say ThankYou! Actually you should be able to recognize both of these viewpoints within yourself, an ask - What do I want to be today? Right, that Caligari missed a date and upset my fragile emotional state? or Ecstatically Happy that by Friday (or so) I get to work with TS7.5 !!! :)
rf |
Post by Paul Boland // May 8, 2007, 8:20am
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Paul Boland
Total Posts: 383
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Well, I'll be waiting for the postman to arrive with my copy so not much else for me to do but wait for others to get it first and start posting about it. |
Post by moogaloonie // May 8, 2007, 8:29am
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moogaloonie
Total Posts: 64
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I know there was a recent mail which mentioned being billed as orders were shipped. I, too, thought this was odd as it seemed I had also been billed already. Then I remembered I'd also gotten TS 6.6 as part of the deal. I wouldn't expect to get something like that and still not be billed until 7.5 ships... |
Post by roman // May 8, 2007, 8:49am
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roman
Total Posts: 320
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Unfortunately, there si not such thing as 75% (or 99%) finished code, but after last new features are completed, it usualy goes very fast with bug fixes. We made just amazing progress in last few weeks and months, pretty much working round the clock, Beta testers can attest to that. We realy listened to them (I hope they attest to that too:) and made new builds based on their comments almost on daily basis in the final stages.
I think TS7.5 looks beautifull, we include lots of content (objects, characters, animations, scenes, shaders) created by Beta testers which explain new features realy well. I was just testing DX9 translucent skin shader provided by Marcel Barthel and DX9 Glass reflecting shader provided by David Bokon and they are just excellent, realy showing the power of real time workspace. There is tons of new content, it will take you a week just to go through it and play with it.
We plan to start downloads tomorrow afternoon. We have better servers this time, so downloads should be faster. TS7.5 comes around 100MB V-Ray will be another 10MB, Manual will come around 50MB or so. |
Post by TomG // May 8, 2007, 9:08am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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And its not just users who are like excited children! Let me tell you that we have been eager to let this loose for a long time, we are all really excited to get this software into your hands and see what you start making with it.
For what it's worth, as both a Caligari team member, and purely as a trueSpace user, this is by far and away the most awesome release of trueSpace I have ever seen, both in terms of what it can do, and in terms of how far it has come since the last release.
To me the jump between tS7.11 and tS7.5 is like the jump between tS2 and tS6.6, or maybe even larger since finally there is an animation system where I can start to get the results I intuitively expect from it, "it does what I think it should do" basically, and that's never quite been true in any version before.
Naturally I am biased :) But it's because I feel that way that I am really excited to see it being downloaded, installed, fired up, and have people start using this, with as much impatience as any user has to get their hands on it!
HTH!
Tom |
Post by skipper // May 8, 2007, 9:23am
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skipper
Total Posts: 113
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I thought the countdown was meant for the pre-release pricing, not the actual release time of the product, which is indeed silly, since you can't pinpoint the exact moment when your product is going to be ready to be let loose on the public at large.
I'd rather have a stable and tested product that everyone can be happy about, than have to download a patch immediately after installation because the software was shoved out the door before it was time. |
Post by Steinie // May 8, 2007, 11:52am
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Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
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So is the Party still planned tomorrow night (Wed at 8:00pm EST) ??? I got me a cake to make!:) |
Post by Asem // May 8, 2007, 12:54pm
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Asem
Total Posts: 255
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Why not lift the NDA if the hold up was nothing more than bug fixes. Possibly a way to calm people down around here was to have the beta testers and proteam members post specific things about the UI and tools that would seem interesting to us (thanks for the pictures guys). I could wait as long as there are pictures of current tools being used and what things look like. So I have to extend my thanks to Roman for at least keeping us informed on the progress of ts7.5 but is it now possible for the NDA to be dropped? |
Post by Steinie // May 8, 2007, 1:41pm
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Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
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Why not post the manual early? |
Post by Burnart // May 8, 2007, 2:06pm
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Burnart
Total Posts: 839
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I mentioned the postage situation earlier (this thread?). Don't get me wrong I have no problems with paying to have the CD burnt and posted to me. As I said the 7.1 update cost me US$25 (about Aus$30). My concern is the cost does seem a little excessive for the task. For example I just had a pack of 7 DVDs sent from the US to me here in Australia airmail for US$13 (postage cost only! www.animationtrip.com - check it out.) Seems to me airmail on a single disk shouldn't be very much so the cost of burning a disk and putting it in an envelope must be almost US$20! Can't help but think a small amount of profit is being made off me simply because I don't have access to broadband. I already paid a premium to have the boxed tS7 sent to me. The most significant point is that when I bought some courses a couple of years ago it only cost US$10 to have them sent! - so why $25 for the 7.1 update and presumably the 7.5 as well? If thats the price I'll pay it but I reserve the right to whinge about it! :( :p |
Post by nowherebrain // May 8, 2007, 3:17pm
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nowherebrain
Total Posts: 1062
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For what it's worth, as both a Caligari team member, and purely as a trueSpace user,.....
C'mon Tom...Purely...either you are very clever or you at least research other packages(lightwaves spinning lights trick...)...sorry not trying to put you on the spot...too late for sorry..I'm about to click "submit reply". |
Post by Jack Edwards // May 8, 2007, 3:49pm
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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I think it'd be really cool if the manual could be accessible online so that prospective buyers can browse it to see if TS really does what they need. Also it'd be cool if the online manual could be continually updated, or maybe even set up sort of like a Wiki type page where users could add comments, suggestions, and tutorials.
As far as releasing the manual early goes, I bet Norm is still typing in last minute sections and recording demonstration vids for the manual. Hehe, probably everytime he gets almost done with a recording the obvious sounds of frustrated developers getting violent with the office equipment can be heard in the background and he has to start all over again... :p
-Jack. |
Post by nowherebrain // May 8, 2007, 3:51pm
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nowherebrain
Total Posts: 1062
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HA!, we would crash the server! I like your thinking though...just like me, a junkie!
I can hear the keyboard punches and mouse throwing, with the soft sizzles of a recently punched flat screen. |
Post by TomG // May 8, 2007, 3:55pm
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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Oh I never meant "purely as a tS user" to mean "who never uses anything else" - I meant, purely as a user, not as a Caligari staff member. Outside of my role here at Caligari, as regular 3D type guy.
Sorry for the confusion :)
The spinning light trick is a handy one too for soft shadows. Most clever. (Though I do prefer getting the program to do it all for me with a soft shadows check box of course! Still always nice to know these tricks and techniques, and also to think about why they work, which is fun to explore).
HTH!
Tom |
Post by Jack Edwards // May 8, 2007, 3:56pm
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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:D I was thinking more like printers and monitors flying across cubicles.... :p Hehe it must look like a war zone in there by now!
-Jack. |
Post by nowherebrain // May 8, 2007, 4:01pm
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nowherebrain
Total Posts: 1062
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There would be wacoms and pocket protectors everywhere and the smell of burnt wire and sweat...and some doritos scattered about the floor.
Once every few mminutes Roman would come to check on the state of things, and Tom would feverishly alt+tab from the forums back into MS-Word or Camtasia/Adobe Macromedia 9. |
Post by Methusela // May 8, 2007, 10:32pm
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Methusela
Total Posts: 414
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I'm excited! I was so worried my new work schedule wouldn't allow me to be at the release tonight on TruePlay. But I got (sort of) lucky! I got the 1-9:30 shift Friday-Tuesday! Possibly free 7.5 upgrade, here I come!
Also this'll be my first time using TruePlay. XD |
Post by brotherx // May 8, 2007, 10:36pm
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brotherx
Total Posts: 538
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Wasn't the party supposed to be last night? I'd love to go into trueplay but getting up at 4am is not really an option.... |
Post by Jack Edwards // May 8, 2007, 10:50pm
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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Says the guy who posts at 4:49AM EST LOL ;)
-Jack. |
Post by weaveribm // May 8, 2007, 11:00pm
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weaveribm
Total Posts: 592
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So maybe I've finished the main modelling and positioned and textured most items but then cannot resolve a lighting issue? Or maybe I realise that the picture requires more models or that existing models are not of sufficient quality and so on.
I'm sure you have experienced this process yourself.
<golf applause>
Couldn't agree more Wiz, great analogy. Developers are suffering in hothouse-hell and they bring us er, heavenly things so lots of slack being cut.
Plus there's that anticlimax thing when what you wanted maybe too much is finally in your hands. Travelling hopefully is better than arriving </oldchinese>
Personally? Hugely excited :)
Peter |
Post by brotherx // May 8, 2007, 11:02pm
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brotherx
Total Posts: 538
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Says the guy who posts at 4:49AM EST LOL ;)
-Jack.
But it's 10am GMT ish here.... :D |
Post by wireframe // May 8, 2007, 11:10pm
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wireframe
Total Posts: 62
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11:10 here ;)
Phil |
Post by weaveribm // May 8, 2007, 11:17pm
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weaveribm
Total Posts: 592
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Bring on the feeding frenzy :)
Peter
http://www.sv-viewfinder.com/images/cay-caulker-sharks.jpg |
Post by nowherebrain // May 9, 2007, 1:03am
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nowherebrain
Total Posts: 1062
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Are we there yet...been up since 04:00...now it's 06:03 gotta run. |
Post by W!ZARD // May 9, 2007, 1:33am
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Wasn't the party supposed to be last night? I'd love to go into trueplay but getting up at 4am is not really an option....
Option or not it would be the wrong time anyway. The release party is at 8pm (20.00) Pacific Standard Time which is 8am (08.00) in Ireland. A much more sociable hour!
Arrgh! Ooops Edit - I've just realised the party is at Eastern standard Time NOT Pacific Standard time - which means it's at 05.00 am in Ireland = sorry, that is a bit anti-social. For me it will be at midday on Thursday! |
Post by brotherx // May 9, 2007, 1:45am
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brotherx
Total Posts: 538
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8pm PST is 4am GMT...PST is -8 hours from GMT...
and if it is EST, that's -5 so it's 1am...a bit more acceptable but not much |
Post by Steinie // May 9, 2007, 1:48am
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Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
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W!zard I thought my email said 8:00 PM EST not PST |
Post by Délé // May 9, 2007, 3:04am
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Délé
Total Posts: 1374
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W!zard I thought my email said 8:00 PM EST not PS
There really is a party? There was an email? |
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