Question : SpeedTree Modeler and Compiler for Trainz ?

[Mr.Jingles]

I have a question for Auran, but am not sure if this or TrainzDev is the right place, so I'll just give it a try here first.

The recently released Unreal Development Kit comes with SpeedTree Modeler and a special customized version of SpeedTree Compiler ("special" meaning that the compiled assets are locked and can only be used together with the UDK), allowing end-users to create Trees in SpeedTree Modeler and compile them for use with the UDK.
Here's the link to the PDF of the press release (LINK) and for completedness sake a link to the wiki of UDK regarding importing of SpeedTree assets (LINK).

I gave this a try already and it's working very well.
The Tree is created within SpeedTree Modeler with all the textures, LoD levels, Animations, collision dummys, etc., then sent through the SpeedTree Compiler and finally imported into the game, where it's been given the material and texture and can then be placed in the gameworld.

Now on to my question : Is Auran planning on making SpeedTree available in the same way to us Trainz users as well ?

The advantages of doing so are pretty clear, the community could then finally create Trees with SpeedTree for use within Trainz and not be dependant on a still undefined release cycle of further "tree packs" from Auran.
It is however up to Auran to clear up all the details with SpeedTree and to implement this into the Engine.

It would be great to get an answer on this from Auran, even if it's just a "we might look into this" or "we might take that into consideration".
If I don't get an answer here, I'll give this a try over at TrainzDev, maybe Chris can shed some light on this, even though I understand that no definitive answer can be given.

I'm also interested on hearing what other members here have to say about this.
We can't start polls here, but if enough interest is shown, maybe this will be carried on to the developers somehow.

Tata
Mr.Jingles

 

[Scitimar]

I gave this a try already and it's working very well.

Lucky you .. like several others I have no such luck on win7 64 . Compiler works , but modeler crashes , got much built in the last few days , but no trees >

I'm also interested on hearing what other members here have to say about this.

Nice idea but I'd not expect it happen .. I'd like to see some other ( less expensive ) option though.

.

 

[WindWalkr]

Now on to my question : Is Auran planning on making SpeedTree available in the same way to us Trainz users as well ?

We have no plans in this direction. IDV does not offer such a product at any reasonable pricing, so I assume this is something that Epic and IDV are trialing together.

chris

 

[RoysTrainz]

Very interesting remark Mr.Jingles

I gave this a try already and it's working very well.
The Tree is created within SpeedTree Modeler with all the textures, LoD levels, Animations, collision dummys, etc., then sent through the SpeedTree Compiler and finally imported into the game, where it's been given the material and texture and can then be placed in the game world.

Mr.Jingles

What your suggesting here is very interesting for all of us content builders but I doubt Auran has this in their wishlist.

I see windwalkr just crossed my reply so already answered

Roy

 

[Mr.Jingles]

We have no plans in this direction. IDV does not offer such a product at any reasonable pricing, so I assume this is something that Epic and IDV are trialing together.

chris

Thanks for the info !

Perhaps this thread can be re-used when someday more info becomes available.

Tata
Mr.Jingles

 

[mjolnir]

Nice idea but I'd not expect it happen .. I'd like to see some other ( less expensive ) option though.

Is "free" less expensive enough? I've recently discovered the open source package ngplant, (cf. <http://ngplant.sourceforge.net/>), which seems to provide as much of the capability of Speedtree that I'm likely to use. I've downloaded it, but not yet tried the package. It won't export directly to Trainz, but it will export to Blender, from which one might be able to export to Trainz by virtue of the XML import utility.

Another drawback for some is that at present there is no native export to 3D Max.

But....


ns

 

[Scitimar]

Is "free" less expensive enough?

ns

Hi

Yeh , free is less expensive but I was thinking specifically of billboarding .. free for me , however Auran would have to pay for development , and this is something where they would have to evaluate the costs vs any benefits to the game .

Your link is interesting and output does not look bad for a freeby , I'm almost tempted to install Blender to have a look see .. I can get them from there into Max. As for Max specific items , there's already free stuff available ( scripts and plugins that can be modified ) that covers most of the requirements for Trainz , particularly when combined with the above mentioned billboarding , output can be good if you're prepared to put in the time and effort .. not the bells and whistles you get with SpeedTree , but still more than passable peformance and looks.

Cheers