Ben Garney's Forest Pack Status?
by Jay Barnson · in General Discussion · 05/22/2005 (4:49 pm) · 146 replies
I know Ben has been swamped with higher-priority things lately, but I've been anxiously awaiting news of the forest pack that he was working on way back when. Is that one going to see the light of day anytime soon, or is it in a pretty back-burnered state?
If it's pretty much dead, is there any chance that what was done on it might get released to the community in its existing state?
If it's pretty much dead, is there any chance that what was done on it might get released to the community in its existing state?
About the author
Jay has been a mainstream and indie game developer for a... uh, long time. His professional start came in 1994 developing titles for the then-unknown and upcoming Sony Playstation. He runs Rampant Games and blogs at Tales of the Rampant Coyote.
#23
So how many others can't wait to pick this up?? I count at least 10 so far :)
04/11/2007 (12:26 pm)
Wow!!! So how many others can't wait to pick this up?? I count at least 10 so far :)
#24
IIRC, this pack will be TGEA only, no TGE support (though the development started in TGE).
@Tom, am I right?
04/11/2007 (1:23 pm)
@All who waining for this pack:IIRC, this pack will be TGEA only, no TGE support (though the development started in TGE).
@Tom, am I right?
#25
04/11/2007 (1:41 pm)
I am totally waiting for this. Hopefully it will work with TGE, I can't see why not... 
#26
@Rubes - We ported the original code to TGEA and added SpeedTree support. In that process the code changed radically for the better. It is easier to add to your project, has no dependencies on the terrain system, and allows for mixed rending of DTS and SpeedTree. So now i have to port it all back to TGE.
I really do want to support TGE, but TGEA is where you'll see better performance and features.
04/11/2007 (1:49 pm)
@bank - Sorta... @Rubes - We ported the original code to TGEA and added SpeedTree support. In that process the code changed radically for the better. It is easier to add to your project, has no dependencies on the terrain system, and allows for mixed rending of DTS and SpeedTree. So now i have to port it all back to TGE.
I really do want to support TGE, but TGEA is where you'll see better performance and features.
#27
In response to "...but TGEA is where you'll see better performance and features."
I think thats true for TGEA all around :-), still would be nice to see something that performs better than fxShapeRep for trees... Isn't that the point.. an improved replicator?
Great work all!
04/11/2007 (2:07 pm)
Again I Wow, Seeing the forest pack with the numbers of shapes that TSEA can handle, as well as normal mapped goodness... Wow. In response to "...but TGEA is where you'll see better performance and features."
I think thats true for TGEA all around :-), still would be nice to see something that performs better than fxShapeRep for trees... Isn't that the point.. an improved replicator?
Great work all!
#28
04/11/2007 (2:18 pm)
@Ed - It will perform much better than the fxShapeReplicator. 
#30
04/11/2007 (2:55 pm)
@Tom: Thanks...until TGEA is OpenGL, though, looks like I'll be stuck on the outside...
#32
04/11/2007 (3:08 pm)
@James - Barring any problems... that's the plan.
#33
Can you describe in laymans terms to an artist what this feature does? I still would need to buy a 9k speed tree license yes? But it would be like a fast implementation, so fast in fact, one only has to plug speedtree into this pack?
Cheers
04/11/2007 (3:16 pm)
Tom, I know I should not be asking questions, for that distracts you from working on this beast ;), but I do wonder what the Speedtree thing is. I mean I know what Speedtree is but I don't understand what you mean by "speedtree support", doesnt that work standalone in TGE/TGEA.Can you describe in laymans terms to an artist what this feature does? I still would need to buy a 9k speed tree license yes? But it would be like a fast implementation, so fast in fact, one only has to plug speedtree into this pack?
Cheers
#34
How the ForestKit w/ SpeedTree support will be licensed isn't yet decided, but if someone is really interested in purchasing it (and can afford it... don't waste people's time) you can drop an email to bizdev@garagegames.com.
04/11/2007 (4:02 pm)
@Thak - SpeedTree rocks! Their tree library and tool for creating custom trees is hands down the best in the industry. Advanced features like dynamic wind effects and deformation are not possible with DTS. The SpeedTree integration with the ForestKit allows you to add SpeedTrees to your forests and saves you the effort of creating a smooth integration with TGEA. How the ForestKit w/ SpeedTree support will be licensed isn't yet decided, but if someone is really interested in purchasing it (and can afford it... don't waste people's time) you can drop an email to bizdev@garagegames.com.
#35
04/11/2007 (4:18 pm)
So does this mean there will not be an indie license? You make it sound expensive.
#36
04/11/2007 (4:34 pm)
ForestKit w/ SpeedTree is a separate license from the normal Forest Kit which will be available in both indie and commercial flavors. 
#37
edit: oops, stepped on Tom's post above
04/11/2007 (4:39 pm)
@MB6019: Simply put, there will be two versions of this kit... one version for use with DTS shapes at both indie and commercial pricing, and another for use with SpeedTree. Can't comment any pricing specifics other than that.edit: oops, stepped on Tom's post above
#38
04/11/2007 (4:53 pm)
It would be nice if ForestKit w/ SpeedTree could work out a deal for Indies. the SpeedTree is way expensive for an indie $9000 is alot an indie. I would pay $500 to $1000 for the two, but there is no way I could come close to $9000 for SpeedTree.
#39
04/11/2007 (5:14 pm)
@MB6019 - I agree it would be nice... but i don't see that happening. That's why the ForestKit works with DTS by default.... you can develop using it then "upgrade" to SpeedTree later. 
Torque 3D Owner James