gamedev-GDC web games report 2004-03-30 - By Taumel
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Hi,
> Has anyone had much experience of virtools? It seems to check a lot of
> boxes, ie mac/pc support, integrated development environment, havok
> physics support (albeit expensive), tiny plugin size (under 1mb),
> additive framebuffer blending, vertex and pixel shaders. Are there any
> big negative aspects other than the very high price?
We'll the price is high but they have updated their license so that you can
publish at least web-games for free now.
The plugin-size is a bit above 1Meg for the actual virtools 3 player - i
guess it was appoximately 1.4 MB now - dunno exactly.
Beside of that it really rocks when it comes to graphics (direct-x9
support).
It kicks ass to take a existing shader or just build and test your shader in
tools like rendermonkey or shaderFX,
export the *.fx files and just simply import them into virtools. Link them
to your Material and there you go... :O)
And i simply love the particle engine... :O)
And it has additives blending, stencil shadows etc.
So from the graphics point of view it's a dream.
It's building blocks schema is a bit strange when you come from director but
anyway...
On the bad things side is that you'll have to pay extra for physik and ai
and vr-packages....
Greetings,
taumel
>
> -- --Original Message-- --
> From: dir3d-l-bounces@(protected)
> [mailto:dir3d-l-bounces@(protected)] On Behalf Of noisecrime
> Sent: 30 March 2004 10:56
> To: dir3d-l@(protected)
> Subject: [Dir3d-l] gamedev-GDC web games report
>
> Hi,
> Just came across this on the gamedev site, thought it might be of
> interest to the list. Two very brief articles written by a John Hattan
> about 3D browser technologies from the GDC last week.
>
> Part 1
> I got to hear about all kinds of other interesting browser-based 3D
> technologies in the afternoon portion of the 3D browser technologies
> all-day tutorial. The main ones covered were Shockwave 3D (of course),
> Java3D, WildTangent, VirTools, and 3D Groove. I also recall last year I
> questioned WildTangent's role as a viable deliver-er of 3D web content.
> This year I'll go one step further and state that I no longer see
> WildTangent as a viable 3D technology for browsers. Unless the company
> president's line regarding 3D Groove's capabilities are overstated (and
> that never happens I'm sure), they 've got WildTangent beaten on every
> front. Every other browser 3D technology had something to distinguish it
> from the others. Shockwave 3D had high browser penetration and a very
> mature development environment. Java3D had the Java name and highest
> system portability. VirTools had a very innovative "design your
> landscape on the screen" development environment. 3D Groove had a very
> fast script language and software renderer. Every product seemed to
> distinguish itself in some way save WildTangent. Add to it the fact that
> several spyware cleaners will wipe out the WildTangent Web Driver and
> its "load up games you didn't ask for" technology on sight, and I give
> 'em a dim future. On the other hand, they are preparing a new release
> based on .NET, so WildTangent will have the only browser-based 3D that
> is programmable in C# or other .NET languages.
>
> Part 2
> Well, half one of the Web Based 3D Gaming tutorial is now done, and I'm
> enjoying my only-slightly-soggy turkey sandwich provided by the GDC. On
> the whole, it was similar to the presentation given by Gary Rosenzweig
> last year, except with different demos. The take-away this year was
> similar to last year's - "doing 3D and physics in Director is easy". The
> lecturer showed off some fun demos of doing a 3D flight simulator,
> running monster, and physics-based driving game.
>
> The only worrisome part is that Shockwave 3D, undoubtedly the most
> pervasive 3D technology for the web, has now gone over three years
> without an update, substantial or otherwise.
>
>
> Comments
> Personally its rather positive in that Shockwave3D appears to be well
> established and respected (mainly due to its mass penetration and the
> efforts of Gary Rosenzweig at the GDC by the sound of it), but it puts a
> very good point, its been 3 years since it was updated! No, i'm sorry I
> don't count an exteneded modelsunderray and some additional
> anti-aliasing feature as an update. I'm sure i'll just be preaching to
> the converted here, but 3D technology moves so fast these days I think
> sw3d should be updated every year/release otherwise it can't help but
> fall behind.
>
> However perhaps there is now an oppertunity for MM to give sw3d the
> update it deserves. Its got so much to catch up on, they could dedicate
> a whole new release to it ;) If you want to see what I mean by whats
> missing check out the amazing Virtools Shader demo here
> http://www.virtools.com/applications/technology-effects.asp you'll need
> a 3d card that supports pixel shaders, although a group of the effects
> look like they shouldn't need them.
>
> Interesting that WildTangent appears to have fallen back somewhat from a
> couple of years, although as stated in the article perhaps the immenent
> new version will put that right. Took a second take on the 3D groove
> comment to actually realise what the author had said. Interesting that
> they have appraently developed their own scripting language and
> presumably distanced themselves from Director/shockwave.
>
> Noisecrime 2004
>
>
>
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