Edited.
« on: September 19, 2009, 08:46:03 AM »
This forum is now archived!
- Welcome to the archive!
News:
The 3DRad community can be found at classdev.net.
- 3D Rad - Free 3D game maker - Forum >
- General Category >
- 3D Rad - Technical Discussion >
- Support For Specular Maps
Author
Topic: Support For Specular Maps (Read 1700 times)
SUNCHIRP
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2009, 12:13:48 PM »
This would be nice yes, but I suspect Fernando will say this needs rewriting of shaders and will be expensive.
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2009, 05:59:24 AM »
This would be nice yes, but I suspect Fernando will say this needs rewriting of shaders and will be expensive.
I think that at some point, irrespective of the cost, it should be added to the donations section otherwise it will never happen!! I realise that it would take a long time to reach the target budget, but at least it's there for people to make their donations, especially if it's something that is in high demand.
Currently there seems to be a reluctance to add expensive developments to the donations section, but i can't see how else we will get such features!
Perhaps a poll should be started for various new graphics features to find out what most of the user base really wants.
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2009, 06:38:55 AM »
I think Fernando should do the very big changes himself, without donations (things like dynamic shadows, lightmapping). We can donate for the small things (<500 dollars), but for changes >500 dollars I think it is not quite fair. Look at the number of donators. The list is quite small. Meaning that just few people will need to donate huge sums of mony to start the project running. If they don't donate, months will pass without anything happening.
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2009, 06:43:56 AM »
I think Fernando should do the very big changes himself, without donations (things like dynamic shadows, lightmapping). We can donate for the small things (<500 dollars), but for changes >500 dollars I think it is not quite fair. Look at the number of donators. The list is quite small. Meaning that just few people will need to donate huge sums of mony to start the project running. If they don't donate, months will pass without anything happening.
I see your point. Sharing the development costs with the dev team seems like a good idea. The flip side is that Fernando won't do anything unless he knows there is a demand for it and that it will attract a larger user base.
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2009, 08:15:35 AM »
Funding developement without sponsors' support would not be possible, especially for expensive features unfortunately 
However, where the task is big, development can be split to smaller parts, which makes it easier to fund because people understands their purpose and see immediate benefits of donating money.
Please keep in mind that 3D Rad development is now pratically 100% funded by donations. I can cover some extra expenses but these are minor and only meant to keep the 'machine' in order.
Consider it's a bit like you want to build a new home. You call a builder (me) to discuss the project, then he estimates the cost. You give him money, he does all the rest. You don't ask him to help fund the construction
---
As for shader (rendering) based improvments like this post's subject, the solution will be a system that allows users to create their own shaders. After the October 2009 release, I will convert this thread to a donation board entry.
However, where the task is big, development can be split to smaller parts, which makes it easier to fund because people understands their purpose and see immediate benefits of donating money.
Please keep in mind that 3D Rad development is now pratically 100% funded by donations. I can cover some extra expenses but these are minor and only meant to keep the 'machine' in order.
Consider it's a bit like you want to build a new home. You call a builder (me) to discuss the project, then he estimates the cost. You give him money, he does all the rest. You don't ask him to help fund the construction
---
As for shader (rendering) based improvments like this post's subject, the solution will be a system that allows users to create their own shaders. After the October 2009 release, I will convert this thread to a donation board entry.
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2009, 12:06:31 PM »
Quote
Consider it's a bit like you want to build a new home. You call a builder (me) to discuss the project, then he estimates the cost. You give him money, he does all the rest. You don't ask him to help fund the construction
This is not a good comparison. We (donators) give money to you (builder) for building the software. Yet it remains your software. So using this comparison: we are funding your house.
3drad is not open source, and can be reverted from free to commercial at all times. I don't mind that. But I think eveny developer needs to put in something in his project to make it more interesting. 3drad needs to stay competing to other engines. Some steps need to be made to push the engine closer to the other commercial engines.
If it is competing and free, more people will use it and they will ask for more features that they will donate for.
I think it is just not fair to ask thousands of dollars for things that 3drad should have at the start.
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2009, 02:28:45 PM »
I agree, it's not a good comparison. But please note that the cost of development is much bigger than the thousands of dollars I ask to advance development. You can have an idea of cost in general if you have chance to look into any serious software development project out there.
I pay for the remaining cost by spending an H*U*G*E amount of time on this project (coordinating user requests, feasibility research, debugging etc), besides directly paying the bills involved. My contribution comes into the form of time spent doing my managing job. In a development project this position is usually a six-figures job. What donations pay for is pure development (the coders).
I think this is a very generous deal
I don't get rich this way, but I'm happy to do this as long as I can see 3D Rad continuing to improve. 3D Rad is already a great, unique piece of software, but more can be achieved. I really see it as a fantastic 3d creation tool which has the potential to become the only true no-coding 3d game creator for everyone. All I want is to see it getting better and better every month.
I pay for the remaining cost by spending an H*U*G*E amount of time on this project (coordinating user requests, feasibility research, debugging etc), besides directly paying the bills involved. My contribution comes into the form of time spent doing my managing job. In a development project this position is usually a six-figures job. What donations pay for is pure development (the coders).
I think this is a very generous deal
I don't get rich this way, but I'm happy to do this as long as I can see 3D Rad continuing to improve. 3D Rad is already a great, unique piece of software, but more can be achieved. I really see it as a fantastic 3d creation tool which has the potential to become the only true no-coding 3d game creator for everyone. All I want is to see it getting better and better every month.
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2009, 02:35:06 PM »
Hi,
Ok, sounds good Fernando, but will this method also include an ability to mix / pump textures ( bitmaps ) into the shader, rather than just a programmatically added .fx 'effect' ?
Yes, ideally it will. but I still have to complete a development plan. It's a very complex matter
Pages: [1]