Virtual Paradise Forum

Okay while I do understand VP is still very much under construction I thought I should throw some idea's into the pit while some of these may seem far off and a while till they are possible they are some of the things that should or could be added at some point in the near to far future.

- Object Axis
Show the local axis of the object's selected.

- Object Selection
Right now multiple objects select without need for a Shift key or anything else please make it so to select multiple objects you have to hold shift or anouther key.

- Model Format Support
Okay basicly it may have this although I'm not sure... Support for: .x, .cob, .3ds, .max maybe some others.

- Object Scripting
Nobody likes AW's scripting language and SL has a great one , talking to Edwin could look like he is in favour of a better scripting language too so I won't go into details with this .

- Groups / Community Features
This would be nice, have it in a built in web browser for VP and load up a profile for citizen's, groups and various other things.

- Object Type
Okay basicly in the properties dialog we could have a drop down list for object type's:
At very basic we would have: Models and Primatives. However this could expand to include Particles, Movers, Zones and other types.

The Models type would mean basicly the system VP has now where it downloads a model from the OP.

The Primative type is a new one however pretty simple, select a shape: Cube, Sphere, Pane and then select the X Y Z sizes for each shape basicly we could develop some great builds with this AW lacks it as Syntax from AW had to create a huge set of primatives for Alphaworld.


- FPS Movement Mode
Basicly when enabling this VP moves like an FPS would, you would be able to use the mouse to look and WASD to move.

I'll add more as VP progress's don't want to bog you all down with idea's =) On last note stop following AW so much =P it's good I know but not great let alone perfect you have to look at the whole market of 3D programs and take the best features of each one and put into one I too came from AW like what it seems many of you have and you want thoese features AW has but AW first started over 10 years ago and has the most messy code ever.

I think there are already multiple object models suported.

Your ideas look very cool. Primitive shapes are great and the FPS part also opens a whole new world of possibilities. If this is to be added there should also be a World setting, zone option and bot command to force users into this mode.

Thanks for posting your list of wishes.

Josh wrote:- Object Axis
Show the local axis of the object's selected.

This would be a good thing to have. And not hard to do.

Josh wrote:- Object Selection
Right now multiple objects select without need for a Shift key or anything else please make it so to select multiple objects you have to hold shift or anouther key.

I agree, this is would be better. Multiple object selection kind of works but only works as you would expect it if all objects you select are exactly the same.

Josh wrote:- Model Format Support
Okay basicly it may have this although I'm not sure... Support for: .x, .cob, .3ds, .max maybe some others.

VP has .rwx working, other formats are disabled but VP some has support for .cob, .ms3d(Milkshape) and STL(a really simple model format with just vertex data, no materials or anything like that). The .max format isn't going to work because there is no documentation for it at all and from what i've read it even changes with every release of 3ds max. The .3ds format might be possible but it seems to be really complicated and it doesn't really have any special features except that a lot of programs seem to be able to export to 3ds. I'm not sure about .x files but it seems to be somewhat tied to DirectX, VP isn't using DirectX and can't use the D3DX APIs to load these files on non-windows platforms.

Josh wrote:- Object Scripting
Nobody likes AW's scripting language and SL has a great one , talking to Edwin could look like he is in favour of a better scripting language too so I won't go into details with this .

I have been looking into this earlier and I think something like Lua would be good for this. The AW system has the advantage that it's easy for non-programmers to get used to because it's simple.

Josh wrote:- Groups / Community Features
This would be nice, have it in a built in web browser for VP and load up a profile for citizen's, groups and various other things.

Great idea

Josh wrote:- Object Type
Okay basicly in the properties dialog we could have a drop down list for object type's:
At very basic we would have: Models and Primatives. However this could expand to include Particles, Movers, Zones and other types.

The Models type would mean basicly the system VP has now where it downloads a model from the OP.

The Primative type is a new one however pretty simple, select a shape: Cube, Sphere, Pane and then select the X Y Z sizes for each shape basicly we could develop some great builds with this AW lacks it as Syntax from AW had to create a huge set of primatives for Alphaworld.

I have already been working on some primitive objects some time ago. Had cylinders and cubes working with normals and textures . I planned for different object types so there already is a way to save them on the server.

Josh wrote:- FPS Movement Mode
Basicly when enabling this VP moves like an FPS would, you would be able to use the mouse to look and WASD to move.

A game mode? Would work as an option or forced in some game worlds, with a key to start typing a chat message. This would disable the rest of the UI because you have to keep the mouse cursor inside the window to look around with the mouse.

Shame about the .x was hoping it to work the most but no problem, it's awesome that your looking into Lua I don't know too much about it but I know it's widely used, pretty simple and easy to learn.
It's awesome that youv'e already looked into object types.

Yeah pretty much the whole UI would have to disable I understand that and you would have to press the Enter key to begin typing a line into Chat once pressing it again if the chat bar is empty it disables and goes back to the FPS Movement state else it sends the line and goes back to the FPS Movement state.

I have a few more wishes but obviously some like Custom Avatars is a bit stupid untill we have a basic avatar system. Unless you wanted to start with a Custom Avatar's system, I think some other 3D Universe's have before I'm not aware of SL ever having Avatars like AW?

Possible insights for this wishlist:

1. Scripting: LUA is a great idea. I would take the basic options for building normally handled via that AW Style scripting window and make them a visual interface with checkboxes, fields and sliders. Then make a script tab in that properties window which would allow LUA Script to be used on the object. Sort of like an advanced/basic toolbox for building. Would take care of the best of both worlds - users who want to get the most of basic options for building, and users who want to go all out in advanced mode with scripting.

2. Primitives are ok, although it might be better to simply include a basic modeler interface for much better detail and control. The problem with SecondLife is that everything is made of primitives, and as a result they each count as a separate object. So if you go with Primitives, keep in mind that sculpting of primitives as well as a way to merge them together as a single mesh would drastically reduce lag.

Other than that, I like both ideas, actually. Just wanted to toss in a bit of insight.