Inside: SereneScreen Fan Forum - View Single Post - Should it maintain backwards compatibility?

feldon34 · 01-30-2001, 04:29 PM

Many people are just within the basic hardware requirements for Sachs Aquarium screen saver. This means they are getting an average of 20-30 frames per second with 7 fish turned on. Any processor-intensive features Jim would add would make the aquarium run choppy for these people unless they reduce the number of fish they have running at the same time.

But in order for the Aquarium to progress, the background is being rebuilt as a 3D real-time object, which will eat up 20-30% more of our computer's speed.

This 3D background will look nicer, and allow the use of 3D shutter glasses as well as introducing moving backgrounds (corals that sway in the water) and many other important features including shadows for fish that swim near the bottom plus shadows for invertebrates such as Octopus or Shrimp.

For users who are stuck with a slow PC/3D card and not interested in buying more hardware, they can stick with version .99G. However these users won't get new fish or features.

Should Jim proceed with completely redoing the background to 3D so he can add all of these things?

<table bgcolor=#FFFFFF border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width="75%">
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Yes, my 3D card can handle it easily&nbsp</td>
<td height>546 / 80.2%&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=240 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#0011BB><TD NOWRAP>
Yes, I plan to buy a new 3D card to handle it (as well as other 3D apps)&nbsp</td>
<td height>45 / 6.6%&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=19 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#0011BB><TD NOWRAP>
Yes, I'll turn off a few fish if necessary to make the Aquarium run smoothly&nbsp</td>
<td height>75 / 11.0%&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=33 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#0011BB><TD NOWRAP>
No, unless he maintains a backwards compatible 2D option.&nbsp</td>
<td height>12 / 1.8%&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=5 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#0011BB><TD NOWRAP>
No, I'm really attached to the current background!&nbsp</td>
<td height>3 / 0.4%&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=1 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr>
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01-30-2001, 04:29 PM	#1
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	Should it maintain backwards compatibility? Many people are just within the basic hardware requirements for Sachs Aquarium screen saver. This means they are getting an average of 20-30 frames per second with 7 fish turned on. Any processor-intensive features Jim would add would make the aquarium run choppy for these people unless they reduce the number of fish they have running at the same time. But in order for the Aquarium to progress, the background is being rebuilt as a 3D real-time object, which will eat up 20-30% more of our computer's speed. This 3D background will look nicer, and allow the use of 3D shutter glasses as well as introducing moving backgrounds (corals that sway in the water) and many other important features including shadows for fish that swim near the bottom plus shadows for invertebrates such as Octopus or Shrimp. For users who are stuck with a slow PC/3D card and not interested in buying more hardware, they can stick with version .99G. However these users won't get new fish or features. Should Jim proceed with completely redoing the background to 3D so he can add all of these things? <table bgcolor=#FFFFFF border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width="75%"> <tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#0011BB><TD NOWRAP> <FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Yes, my 3D card can handle it easily</FONT>&nbsp</td> <td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>546 / 80.2%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=240 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#0011BB><TD NOWRAP> <FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Yes, I plan to buy a new 3D card to handle it (as well as other 3D apps)</FONT>&nbsp</td> <td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>45 / 6.6%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=19 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#0011BB><TD NOWRAP> <FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Yes, I'll turn off a few fish if necessary to make the Aquarium run smoothly</FONT>&nbsp</td> <td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>75 / 11.0%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=33 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#0011BB><TD NOWRAP> <FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>No, unless he maintains a backwards compatible 2D option.</FONT>&nbsp</td> <td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>12 / 1.8%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=5 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#0011BB><TD NOWRAP> <FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>No, I'm really attached to the current background!</FONT>&nbsp</td> <td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>3 / 0.4%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/bar.gif width=1 height=10 hspace=3> </td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr> </table> "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman Last edited by feldon34; 11-01-2001 at 01:51 AM.