BG Cliff Construction Kit discussion

#181 Konrad, no problem, I had no time to port to 1.8.1, but I wrote a custom material, and I can use it in 1.8.1 :)

#182 I know I sound like an ass for asking, but any chance for the 1.8.1 version to be released soon? (note: I bought in for 1.8.1...I merely tested in 1.7.1 to see the functionality at first hand.)

I am only asking because Konrad posted that it was successfully ported *2 months ago.

#183 Hey eb,

It's my turn right now to do some paperwork, I suck at this, bit its very close.

The problem is that the 1.8.1 version's install is not a differential one, it's the full source, so I can't just send it out.

I know I've been asking you guys for your patience enough. I'll try to hurry things up a bit.

#184 ok my turn to ask when :-) lol

#185 Three months waiting...

'Nuff said.

#186 First of all, I need you guys to know how awful I feel about this already. I received news a few days ago, that IRS needs to know very personal information in order to give me an ID with which I can fill out a new form that would finally make me not have to tax in two countries leaving me with roughly about 20% of the entire income from a single sell.

With all the hassle, I've been trying to avoid this. I really wanted the Kit to make it into the GG store, and - I am sure you've already realized - that I totally underestimated the bureaucracy that's needed to get things done for someone who's not located in the US.

I've come a long way to be notified just about 3-4 days ago, that I have to give out very personal, very sensitive information (think bank account details) to IRS about myself in order to be accepted - but without a real reason. I just don't trust IRS and the US government to handle that information with respect to why it was supplied. So this - regardless of the time I spent going after getting the Kit into the store - is something I am not willing to do, simply because I am not willing to give up my rights for a small amount of profit.

How does that affect you? Well, I started preparing my own - albeit simple - store this weekend, and I'm hoping to finish sometime before the next one. I'm planning to email existing licensees a temporary password that you can use to log in and access the Kit.

Again, I know it might not mean much, but I've been trying to give you guys the best possible features in the Kit, and the best possible support by wanting it to appear in the GG store.

I had not even one complaint about support so far. I tried to personally help every single licensee to even get the solution into their own modified code. I imagine that waiting for the store with the 1.8.1 version was not a good choice, but I didn't see it being delayed this much back then.

Since the Kit was accepted into the GG store, I believed that by making the 1.8.1 version available only when it got into the GG store, both me and you would benefit. I would not have to spend resources on creating a webshop, and you would not have to work with patches - instead, you'd get files ready to drop into your code.

So, Carl and David, believe me guys, there's no bad intention in all this. It just didn't happen the way I saw it would.

I'm sorry if I - against my best intentions - caused disappointment. I am hoping to bring things back up to speed, and maybe one day, when IRS will not need to hoard up irrelevant information just about anyone on this planet, the Kit will find its way into the store - if GG will still accept. Or when GG reworks the affiliate system.

If anyone has a say on this, I'd be very interested in hearing it.

As always, thanks for reading though the rant, hopefully it cleared a few things up.

#187 I think you should just sell it on your own website.
Create a little more of a website and make a few more packages to sell.

..You'll get to keep a large percentage of each sale, no IRS tax forms to fill out *for you*(afaik) and did I mention you get to keep a large percentage of each sale ?

- If I had to release 'half of every sale'...I doubt that I would bother creating anything. In fact, I would learn to be that person who sells other peoples' merchandise for 50%. ::sings::Get your money for nothing and your chicks for free!::[/dire straights]

#188 Konrad not a problem
I be happy if you just give out the patch file that allows us to upgrade :-)
as this is stop the problem of people getting the full code of 1.8.1.

anyway I wait for the good news :D

thanks

#189 Hey Konrad,

I'd be more then happy to put it on my site at www.dlsstudio.com if you like. As you know, I'd be more then willing to help you in any way. Your a good friend and I agree with your stance on the IRS issue. I won't charge you anything but if you do go big time please be sure to get my name out there that would be all I ask in return. I always had learned if you help someone in need, the good will always come back, sometimes more fold then what you expected. So good things will come for you from all this, just give it time. Everything happens for a reason in life.

Hit me up with a email anytime bro. dlstorminc@yahoo.com or will_zettler@dlsstudio.com. I usually get back faster on the yahoo one then then 2nd. Good luck man, let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Thanks man for a great GREAT product. DONT GIVE UP!

Will Zettler
dlsstudio.com
Dallas, Tx

PS Did i tell you I made the move to Dallas Tx USA? I moved this way last Thursday... still driving a big truck but now I'm home every night so I hope this move will help me get more into my games and web site stuff I want to do. :-)

#190 @eb: I didn't really worry much about the rate, it was acceptable for me in return for me being able to better present it all. I was also expecting better sales from the GG store, so.. it would have been nice for me. On the long run, the GG store wins, even if it's a 50%-50% share. But I went for an exclusive contract, so that would have left me with a better share.

@Carl: That's what I'll do! :) I'll create patches, but I still want the patches to be available for licensees only.

@Will: That's really nice of you to offer that Will, thanks a lot my friend. I'm almost done with my store - I used to be a full time web dev, so it was kinda entertaining anyway. But I am looking forward to work out some promotions together and such. I've read your blog about the move, and I think you're gonna like Texas. Congrats on that! If you can get used to the humidity and the insects' noise, it's gonna be awesome! And nothing beats being home, really.

Unfortunately I got into the hospital with some friggin huge kidney stone that's going to be busted on the 3rd.. We're also expecting our second baby any moment now, and he's triggering false alarms. So the website is coming along bit by bit, but if everything runs smooth, it should be functional in a matter of days.

I am far from giving up.

I have already started working on a spin-off of the kit, that uses the basic concept of the accumulation shader to be able to add accumulation to just about any object / material in Torque3D.

Also coming for Torque3D is something called the Object Painter, which is very much like a shape replicator with distribution layers, where you paint the objects just like you paint your terrain.

Finally, also for Torque3D, there's something else called the AutoPainter that paints your terrain based on preset rules. While you raise / lower your terrain, you see cliffs / waterbeds appear automatically depending on height, slope and heading.

There's no ETA for these, and they are likely to come out as one pack sometime. First, I need to get the webshop and the CCK up and running - so I'm doing that right now.

Thanks a lot for the comments guys.

#191 This is great news Konrad. I just happened to pop onto this thread to see what might be in the works for T3D. I'm glad to hear about what you have in the works. I'll definately be buying the pack when it comes out. I just hope you have time to get it all done with a new baby in the house!!! :)

#192 Any general ETA on the patch for 1.8.1? Sorry to ask. Trying to be patient :)

#193 About another week or so. We're very likely to have our baby this weekend, and I need some time to "be there". :)

If anyone needs the 1.8.1 version until then, please send me an email to the cck support address (in the guide) from the email via which you purchased the pack, and I'll point you to a download location.

#194 Also, bear with me, the response might be delayed, the time offset and my situation now doesn't allow me to be online all the time.

#195 best of luck with the baby!

#196 thank you eb! :)

#197 Thanks for the update, and congrats on the soon to be young un.

#198 Yeah, you better "be there" when that baby comes :) . Congrats.

Email sent

#199 Hi,

some short questions: Are there any screenshots or videos showing some caves made with the kit? I need caves and tunnels, so I'd like to see how the kit would perform here...

I'll need the kit for TGEA 1.8.0 - is this version available?

Btw.: Where can I buy the kit - in the GG shop or under www.bitgap.com? The bitgap page doesn't appear in my browser - is the page down?

Thanbks for help,

Tobias

#200 @Tobias: Hi! This Kit is probably not the best choice if you are looking for caves, however, you might find this video interesting: CCK Barrens. This is an old video that shows off what is possible with the Kit. Since then, material accumulation was added, which is not showcased in this video.

The pack runs under 1.8.1. 1.8.0 was not tested, but most likely it fits without problems.

As for T3D, there's a new Kit in the works that uses material accumulation on any shape or material. CCK owners will receive a great discount on this new Kit (ie. more than the CCK's price). There's no ETA for this yet.