Development Blog Update - Unknown Worlds Videocast #8 - Tools

Max

Please post comments on the topic Development Blog Update - Unknown Worlds Videocast #8 - Tools here

fishyv

Looks cool, the tools you are using seem efficient. I hope that gives you extra time to nail the tiny details and game depth we NS players crave. Good luck

w0dk4

I think some other game devs may be jealous now <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

ratclaw

I notice you're using vista in the podcast. I'm happy because now I know my vista computer can run it. Unlike ns1 with black huds...

Wavesonics

Man, these are some AWESOME tools you guys are building, wish my company had built some tools like these :/

marks

Builder .... :o
so hot.

Mr. Epic

max, thats some hot sh!t. That dramatically cuts out the meaningless technical bits for artists... rapid prototyping... I must ask, with such a streamlined and slick development procedure how is the engine performance? With such a system, do you have a method for the auto generation of multiple quality levels? Does it scale well? That system looks like quite an accomplishment, congrats.

grepdashv

For the Viewer, you might want to add hotkeys for all of the menu options that you were toggling on and off in the video. It seems like a lot of wasted mouse movement to do that much menu surfing. Also, you could add very small indicators for each of those options so that the menu doesn't need to be pulled down in order to see which options are on/off.

For the Builder, you might consider renaming the file to "gorge.exe" (even if it's still called the Builder).

The true WYSIWYG viewing and hot-loading are pretty sweet features. Are these tools going to be available to the modding community?

moultano

When this is all over you should market this stuff. It looks great.

jamin

It's like a really awesome and way more advanced Half life model viewer. \o/

eoy

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Finish the f**ing game<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

sorry just had to.

botchiball

<!--quoteo(post=1699677:date=Feb 6 2009, 03:29 PM:name=jamin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamin @ Feb 6 2009, 03:29 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1699677"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It's like a really awesome and way more advanced Half life model viewer. \o/<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's exactly what I was thinking. Very awesome, its like everything I ever wanted HLMV to be, lol.

ChromeAngel

<!--quoteo(post=1699675:date=Feb 6 2009, 08:24 PM:name=grepdashv)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(grepdashv @ Feb 6 2009, 08:24 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1699675"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->For the Builder, you might consider renaming the file to "gorge.exe" (even if it's still called the Builder).

The true WYSIWYG viewing and hot-loading are pretty sweet features. Are these tools going to be available to the modding community?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I second that. gorge.exe... goes off builds what needs to be built on it's own <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

Interesting things spotted in Max's folder structure:
steamapps/<steam username> (I read somewhere it's not safe to publish these) (Then don't print it in text form silly - KFDM)
aliens/nymph (glowies working name?)
marine/minigun (this is me grinning like a maniac)

Keep up the good work.

KungFuDiscoMonkey

<!--quoteo(post=1699675:date=Feb 6 2009, 12:24 PM:name=grepdashv)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(grepdashv @ Feb 6 2009, 12:24 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1699675"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->For the Builder, you might consider renaming the file to "gorge.exe" (even if it's still called the Builder).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Or at least make it a shortcut <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Very neat to see the tools that are helping streamline your work flow.

<!--quoteo(post=1699680:date=Feb 6 2009, 12:40 PM:name=botchiball)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(botchiball @ Feb 6 2009, 12:40 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1699680"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=1699677:date=Feb 6 2009, 03:29 PM:name=jamin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamin @ Feb 6 2009, 03:29 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1699677"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It's like a really awesome and way more advanced Half life model viewer. \o/<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's exactly what I was thinking. Very awesome, its like everything I ever wanted HLMV to be, lol.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
HLMV (and whatever dialog box in hammer for picking models) is part of why I didn't enjoy working with Source very much. With all these tools to streamline your work flow, I look forward to seeing how the level tools work out. Maybe you'll have to get KFS to give the walk through video on it ^_^

slayer20

So uh, what's the Nymph?

locallyunscene

Awesome looking(and working) tools. I love how you spelled MXA instead of MAX. 1 take ftw!

tigersmith

holy crap is right, you guys are sick.

Price

looks good but why its so laggy?
i hope its because you record it.
But i saw "minigun" oh no...i hope its the hmg.
nymph are the tiny aliens, flying around the hive?
But at all it looks great <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
I am very excited, i hope you release a demo or a techdemo, so all users can give you feedback or something.

Max

<!--quoteo(post=1699690:date=Feb 6 2009, 01:54 PM:name=Price)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Price @ Feb 6 2009, 01:54 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1699690"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->looks good but why its so laggy?
i hope its because you record it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, that's from the screen capture utility.

mattoX

No wonder why you guys are so excited, soo much stuff is going on that the community doesn't see... The RT looks alot better as i expected when you get that 360 rotational view of it.

The marine run made me giggle a little bit lol.

Keep up the good work guys, very smooth, very smooth.

slayer20

This is coming along nicely...I'm surprised with how quick this seems to be going.

How close are you to the NS2TR?

Kassinger

Very neat. Best quote from vid:

<!--QuoteBegin-Max+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Max)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Here I loaded up everyone's favorite model, the resource tower.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

CoolCookieCooks

Haha.


On a brighter note I really look forward to working with these tools, its like nothing I have ever seen before in any game development!

Prefix

Those tools look pretty sweet tbh, it's good to see that the hot loading works so well.

How long did it take you to code up a tool such as your viewer, I assume you were working on it well before the last time it was shown?

<!--quoteo(post=1699669:date=Feb 6 2009, 08:03 PM:name=ratclaw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ratclaw @ Feb 6 2009, 08:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1699669"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I notice you're using vista in the podcast. I'm happy because now I know my vista computer can run it. Unlike ns1 with black huds...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The fix for that bug is well known, and I posted it as a reply in the last Dev Update topic, type this into console: cl_gammaramp 0

CHUAMPA

Bueno muy aburridoooooo queremos jugar

Zeno

Nice update, thanks for the vid <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
I was surprised when i heard Max mentioning motion capture. I didn't expect that a small company like UWE can afford it (although, tbh, i don't have a clue how much it costs). I wonder whether the alien animations will be motion captured, too.... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/fade.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::fade::" border="0" alt="fade.gif" />




<!--quoteo(post=0:date=:name=Max)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Max)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Here I loaded up everyone's favorite model, the resource tower.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
he doesn't sound very happy throughout the video <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

Nordom

I have always been impressed how you guys get so much stuff done. The tools you guys have custom made probably put your productivity way above larger staffed teams. Keep up the great work guys. =)

And Gorge.exe FTW =)

moultano

<!--quoteo(post=1699704:date=Feb 6 2009, 06:52 PM:name=Zeno)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zeno @ Feb 6 2009, 06:52 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1699704"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Nice update, thanks for the vid <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
I was surprised when i heard Max mentioning motion capture. I didn't expect that a small company like UWE can afford it (although, tbh, i don't have a clue how much it costs). I wonder whether the alien animations will be motion captured, too.... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/fade.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::fade::" border="0" alt="fade.gif" />
he doesn't sound very happy throughout the video <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've heard of small companies using motion capture before to cut down on art creation costs. Irrational however lists it as one of their missteps in the creation of System Shock 2 in the <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3406/postmortem_irrational_games_.php?page=3" target="_blank">Gamasutra Postmortem</a>.

spellman23

OK. Even if NS2 doesn't come out, I want to get my hands on those tools. They are sexy.

PseudoKnight

I know hand-crafted vs motion capture was a difficult decision back then, but with lots of motion blending I'm not sure it's such a big issue anymore.

juice

It was awesome to see the models in 3d. They look soo beautiful, to me.

However, I was disappointed to see that you have a limit to your animation blending; otherwise, you would have had the bouncing armor boobs animation that I know Max made as a "placeholder".