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Program Announcements / zParticle 1.1 Advanced Particle System with Editor for DBP released!

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Zerk
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Posted: 1st Aug 2007 06:34 Edited at: 8th Aug 2007 04:01
*** UPDATED FOR HOTFIX 1.11 ***
* Hotfix addresses the problem with particles facing in wierd directions when using camera pitch command.

The latest version of my Advanced Particle system plug-in for DarkBASIC Pro, zParticle, has been released!

The zEditor is finished and is ready for use! It has been included in the download! Let me know how it works for you.

As always, I'm open to bug reports and suggestions! Have fun and be sure to read the readme.txt!

Download it here. (Full download HOTFIX)
Download zParticle 1.11 Now!





Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!

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Balid
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Posted: 1st Aug 2007 08:34
WOW. This is fantastic.

FERSIS
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Posted: 1st Aug 2007 19:15
Hi zerk , great news !
I will test it a lot
FERSIS
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Posted: 1st Aug 2007 20:02
Just a couple of things ive noticed
You forgot to put the ZP INITIALIZE at the begining of the examples


And.. it would be nice that the editor can show the FPS
PowerSoft
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Posted: 1st Aug 2007 21:59
Looking SWEET.

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http://theinnuendos.tk:::http://myspace.com/theinnuendosrock
Xolatron
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Posted: 2nd Aug 2007 00:50
That looks awesome - thanks!

-Xol

Silvester
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Posted: 2nd Aug 2007 13:14
Cool,and how did you get the Exit button of of the editor?


Zerk
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Posted: 2nd Aug 2007 22:49 Edited at: 2nd Aug 2007 22:52
Thanks for the comments guys!

Quote: "You forgot to put the ZP INITIALIZE at the begining of the examples"

No I didnt forget actually... the resolution is not being changed so it was just not needed. However, it would not hurt a single bit to add that command to the demos anyway.

Quote: "And.. it would be nice that the editor can show the FPS"

My video card shows FPS so it never dawned on me to add it to the editor. I'll add it.

Quote: "Cool,and how did you get the Exit button of of the editor?"

Calling "set window layout" command. In the editor I used "set window layout 7,1,1"

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
flashing snall
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 01:32
hey, looks sweet, downloading...


"these shoes are 300 hundred dollars"-Shoes by Kelly http://smallgroupproductions.com/
Windsept
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 02:23
This plugin is great but I have one question about it. How do you rotate the particles in your program to always face the camera? I looked through the command list but could not find an exact command for it. But otherwise a great plugin keep up the good work!!
Zerk
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 02:57
Quote: "How do you rotate the particles in your program to always face the camera?"


The particles should always be facing camera 0. Are they not facing your camera?

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Windsept
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 03:30 Edited at: 4th Aug 2007 03:59
No they don't face the camera in a couple of spots when I rotate the camera around the effect. Other than that it works fine except at those two places when I can't see anything. In my code I am using Sparky's Collision plugin could that be interfering with zParticle?

Thanks

Edit

I just took the same .ZPI file that caused me problems from above and made a new file that just has a matrix and the effect with camera controls and it worked fine. So I guess I now know that my computer is fine and the .ZPI file is fine so it must be the project from above. Only problem is that project is about 1000 lines of code right now and narrowing down the problem isn't that easy. Like I said I use Sparky's DLL for the collision and physics in my program which may be interfering with zParticles. Hope this helps you diagnose the problem.
Zerk
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 05:21 Edited at: 4th Aug 2007 05:23
The only thing I can think of that might affect it like that is the camera. Are you using a camera other than the default camera? What kind of special camera code do you have going on?

I'll do some tests on sparkys and DarkPhysx and see what I come up with.

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Alquerian
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 05:32
This is looking very nice. I am at my other, other job right now but I will check it out when I get home. Lookin good Zerk

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Windsept
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 05:56
@Zerk

Well I don't really have any special camera code it is pretty simple.


I put this right after the sparky's collision code which is very similar to the collision code from the example "Sliding Demo" which comes with the Dll. I'll post my entire sparky's/camera code.

Thats my collision code and everything else in my project is loading objects and printing variables to the screen. Well I hope this helps. I saw on your website that you were trying to fix this problem and I am eager to help out.

Thanks
Zerk
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 06:07
Ah! I put those 4 lines of camera code in the editor and sure enough, the particles will disappear at certain angles.

Now I can reproduce it. I'll work it out and release a hotfix.

Thanks for the help!

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Zerk
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 06:11
Quote: "This is looking very nice. I am at my other, other job right now but I will check it out when I get home. Lookin good Zerk "


Thanks Alquerian! Your editor is looking amazing as well. Very much like the editor I did for BF1942 and BFV. Ah such good memories... brings a tear to my eyes.

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Windsept
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 06:35 Edited at: 4th Aug 2007 06:36
Quote: "Now I can reproduce it. I'll work it out and release a hotfix.

Thanks for the help!"


No Problem, glad I could help out.

Quote: "Very much like the editor I did for BF1942 and BFV."

How long did you work for "DICE" and do you have any advice for a person now looking at collages for game development?

Windsept
Zerk
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 06:54
Quote: "How long did you work for "DICE" and do you have any advice for a person now looking at collages for game development?"


I first started out contracting with DICE/EA on the BF1942 and BFV editor for about a year or so. Then went to work for DICE full time for about another 2 1/2 years... so about 3 1/2 years.

Honestly, I don't know much about game programming colleges. So I can't give my blessing on game colleges unfortunately. Although it will help you get into the industry.

If you have the drive and ambition and it shows, you can get there with some effort.

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Hoozer
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Posted: 4th Aug 2007 15:11 Edited at: 4th Aug 2007 15:13
@ Zerk: Should we call you "HAL 9000" (, cause of your pic and "orbiting Jupiter")?
I have one question: Would it be possible to implement somekind of "surrounding-interaction" like the particles in DarkPhysics can do? (I know this is really hard to do, but it's just a question!) It would be cool to have a particle effect and when you or some object move through it, the particles collide/interact with the object (changing their direction etc.)! Maybe by adding the possibility/option to create a DP-object (box/shpere) to every particle, so it acts like a (dynamic?/kinematic?) rigid-body? (Just a fast thought from me!)
(I ask this, cause the DP-Update seems to take forever and the actual DP-Particle-Functions/-Features have lots of things which prevent a usefull implementation! This would be the ultimate alternative to DP-Particles!)


Hoozer

AMD64X24800+(939);2GB;GF6800LE (@12PS, 6VS; 380 MHz, RAM: 434 MHz)
DP-Sw-Mode-Comp-Entry (updated to V. 1.4):
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=109846&b=5&p=0
Zerk
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Posted: 5th Aug 2007 04:35 Edited at: 5th Aug 2007 04:36
@Hoozer

I was thinking of adding some physic interaction in zParticle. But as it stands, I wanted to concentrate mainly on a system that is easy to use and can do some great effects for things like magic and weapons and such.

DP particles are designed into a very robust and powerful physics engine so it would be hard to top that in those regards. Physics checks per particle, especially when you have alot of them, can be a rather costly operation.

But still not a dismissed idea for the future though.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Hoozer
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Posted: 5th Aug 2007 21:18
@ Zerk: I know that it most possibly would bring up a massive extra load, if you would create "physic-objects" to "simulate" the physics-interaction (as I described it before by useing the DP-primitives), cause in my game I also have many DP-simple-objects (boxes) and they can drop the performance a lot, if they are used in high numbers! Who knows, mybe you find a more "professional"-way to "simulate" physics-interaction!
I keep an eye on your physics-system, cause it has much potential!


Hoozer

AMD64X24800+(939);2GB;GF6800LE (@12PS, 6VS; 380 MHz, RAM: 434 MHz)
DP-Sw-Mode-Comp-Entry (updated to V. 1.4):
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=109846&b=5&p=0
Deagle
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Posted: 6th Aug 2007 16:04
The plugin still has the problem, that i got on video.
I found out that
pitch camera down -command causes it.
i have this code:
pitch camera down 30, and with it i get the dissapearing particles.
Works fine without it. Hope you can fix it
Great plugin, by the way

Deagle aka D-Eagle
Zerk
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Posted: 6th Aug 2007 18:03
Quote: "pitch camera down -command causes it."


Yea I found that one out too. Im working on a fix. I do have it fixed I just have to recode my rotation and rotate to right functionality to work with the new code.

Thanks!

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Zerk
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Posted: 8th Aug 2007 04:01
Posted a hotfix 1.11. See above.

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
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Windsept
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Posted: 8th Aug 2007 04:16
Yay! It works now. Great fix Zerk!!
Zerk
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Posted: 8th Aug 2007 04:39
Awesome! Glad to hear it!

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
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Dared1111
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Posted: 10th Aug 2007 12:25
can I use snow?

Zerk
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Posted: 10th Aug 2007 18:22
Not sure of the question.

Are you asking if you can use the snow demo in your own game? The answer is yes.

Are you asking if you can make snow with zParticle? The answer is yes.

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
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empty
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Posted: 10th Aug 2007 18:53
That's really a great plug-in (and editor). Although I have to agree with Hoozer, a way to use particles in a collision system would be useful (and since snow has just been mentioned, for example to prevent particles going through solid bodies, like roofs). So a way to retrieve the positions of particles would help.

Zerk
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Posted: 15th Aug 2007 18:33
I'll give it more thought.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
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Zerk
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Posted: 30th Aug 2007 18:09
bump

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
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FERSIS
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Posted: 3rd Sep 2007 04:16
If you put collision and physics , it would slowdown too much isnt ?
Reece
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Posted: 10th Sep 2007 13:19
Zerk, this is really quite impressive!

How on earth you've got it to run so smooth I've no idea.
And the editor is very useful too! I've been having a play about with all the settings and you can really quickly get what you're after.

One idea occurred to me, since I use 3DSMax particles a lot, the option of Drag would be really useful! You have the Wind option which is great, and I guess something like ZP Set Wind -1,-1,-1 would achieve something like drag, but then you couldn't have wind at the same time. Also, maybe Drag would be something specific to each particle system rather than a generic setting like Wind.

A much needed contribution to DBpro!! Well done sir!
Reece
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Posted: 10th Sep 2007 17:59
Actually ZP Set Wind -1,-1,-1 would do nothing of the sort, but I'm sure you know what I meant, air friction.

I've managed to bring in your particle system into my project successfully, although there appears to be a serious problem with multiple cameras, and my project requires two cameras unfortunately.

If you make another camera in any of your examples, the particles are seen from this new camera, regardless of whether you set the current camera back to 0. If I switch cameras it almost solves the problem, except that zdepth appears to then be ignored and particles are seen through objects.

Any ideas how I can force particles to stay working in camera 0, or would this require a fix?
Zerk
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Posted: 10th Sep 2007 18:45 Edited at: 10th Sep 2007 18:48
Hey thanks! Glad your liking it. I am currently working on getting the particles to work in multiple rendering contexts (multiple cameras) and will hopefully have a fix soon.

Also, I will add a global drag rate as well.

FYI, I've also added a emitter scale value that will scale the particle system to a desired size.

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Reece
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Posted: 10th Sep 2007 20:04
Brilliant! The scale thing too will be really useful! I was just dreading the fact that I would have to scale down every value for my project.

I wonder where you find the time to do all this while you're working on bigger projects.
Zerk
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Posted: 10th Sep 2007 21:50
Quote: "I wonder where you find the time to do all this while you're working on bigger projects."


Because my bigger projects needed a good particle emitter. And besides, I've always thought that when you become part of a community, it's important to try to contribute... and zParticle is my contribution.

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
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Deagle
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2007 10:25
Can you add to the editor so you can watch 2 and more systems working at the same time? Because i need 2 different emitters for my effect, and its hard to think what it will look like when u cant see both in the editor same time

Deagle aka D-Eagle
Zerk
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2007 07:37
Quote: "Can you add to the editor so you can watch 2 and more systems working at the same time? Because i need 2 different emitters for my effect, and its hard to think what it will look like when u cant see both in the editor same time"


I was thinking of doing that. But then I decided to implement effect groups instead where you can create an effect consisting of multiple emitters as a group and control them all at once. I hope to implement them in the next release.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Chily Dog
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Posted: 24th Sep 2007 01:21
Wow, very nice, I have never used a particle system before and I'm looking forward to learning this one.
Radek Inkom
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Posted: 26th Sep 2007 00:11
Zerk, can I use Your plugin in commercial game?
I try to email You but don't recive an ansver
Zerk
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Posted: 26th Sep 2007 03:42
Quote: "Zerk, can I use Your plugin in commercial game?
I try to email You but don't recive an ansver "


Strange I haven't received an email regarding this.

email me at ericsm@battlecraft42.com

EMAIL me the details of your game distribution plans and we can work out a license and perhaps a support agreement if need be.

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
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aXeon
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Posted: 9th Oct 2007 12:35
Uhm Zerk,

Is there a reason why the emitters dont detect ZBuffers?
I mean, the particles are constantly rendered on foreground.

No matter where I place my emitters in the worldspace, they're always rendered 'before' the objects, even if they are placed behind them

I suppose this is a bug?

Here are 2 screenshots:





As you can see in the screenie, it also renders in front of sprites/pasted images.

Can this be fixed?

Thanks.

- : aXeon Essentials : -
aXeon
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Posted: 11th Oct 2007 23:18
Zerk, I found a bug...
Or actually, I dont know if its a bug, but...

Could you add Multiple camera support?
I'm using Camera 1 as main cam, but it only renders at camera 0.

What I need is 2 commands:
- ZP Set Camera [camera ID]
- ZP Exclude From Camera [camera id],[boolean on/off]

- : aXeon Essentials : -
Zerk
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Posted: 11th Oct 2007 23:43
Quote: "Is there a reason why the emitters don't detect ZBuffers?"


Yes, I always knew there was going to be a zbuffer problem because I chose the fastest rendering route. I've been working on a solution but unfortunately, it take the performance down to the normal particle system.

Quote: "Could you add Multiple camera support?"

I have been working on multipl camera support as well. I just havent had much time as of late to get with it.

Thanks for the comments and I'll let you know when I have a new build ready for release!

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!
Mr Zius
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Posted: 12th Oct 2007 21:21
Thanks man!
That looks awesome! I will test it now.
Alquerian
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Posted: 13th Oct 2007 01:44
Hey Zerk, first off this is a great utility. I have had quite a bit of fun with it today, and was playing around with all the different settings, and it is just fantastic! I really like it.

I noticed a few things that I thought might be very useful (aside from particle collision).

ZP Scale Emitter - Scale an existing emitter (I know you can scale the manually in the .zpi file or within the editor, but in order to have more than one emitter of the same style with different sizes would require you to have more than one .zpi file, kind of cumbersome). I may have missed something on the scaling issue, but I figured it should be something simple to add.

This is very cool Zerk, keep it up!

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aXeon
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Posted: 13th Oct 2007 01:45
Alright, thanks for the heads-up.
The reason why it gets rendered on foreground is because of the HDR/Bloom shader. It uses more than one camera, thus rendering particles wrong.

Multi camera support should fix the problem.

- : aXeon Essentials : -
Zerk
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Posted: 13th Oct 2007 04:11
Quote: "ZP Scale Emitter - Scale an existing emitter "


Thanks for the comments Alquerian! I have actually added that option since the last release. I found that some of the projects I've been working on have different world scales so I needed it to scale the emitters to fit into the scene. When I get some time to work out the camera and sorting, I'll put out a new build.

Get zParticle! An advanced particle system plugin for DBP!
Website and Download link!

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