hacking, adding fish, changing background

monkpea · 08-05-2004, 09:09 AM

Is this possible or are we at the mercy of the developers?

OS X or Windows...

Many thanks,

pea

cjmaddy · 08-05-2004, 09:22 AM

Oh dear! - What a mistake to make!

Marsh Marigold · 08-05-2004, 09:24 AM

My thoughts exactly.

RUN, pea!

monkpea · 08-05-2004, 09:46 AM

I assume this is a taboo subject?

When I say developers I mean JS and the guys who ported it to OS X, which is the platform I have most experience fiddling with.

Anyway, it's soon to be my dads birthday. He's a marine biologist big on hydrothermal vents and deep sea fish. I thought it would he might like a deep sea screen saver with odd fish, oil pipelines ROV's and so on, rather than an aquarium...

After searching for hack and "change background" and looking through about half of the post titles, I assumed perhaps it was OK!

Sorry.

Surferminn · 08-05-2004, 10:05 AM

Ha-ha. Hi Pea. Some folks here are a bit sensitive to the same repeated questions which have been asked and answered many times over... And, some questions are a bit more sensitive than others. I'm sure someone with proper authority other than myself will be along to answer your question.

If you can't find anything better, who knows, your dad might just enjoy the aquarium. Welcome to the forum. Feel free to browse around the forum.

Minn

Jav400 · 08-05-2004, 11:06 AM

Hi monkpea,

First let me welcome you to the forum. As to your question, no we do not support any questions about changing the aquarium. There have been people who have tried, but the aquarium is a complex thing and the results left much to be desired. I personally have seen some hacks that were pitiful at best, and totally stupid looking at worst. Jim has worked for years to produce the result that we now have, and I haven't seen anyone produce anything better, from large companies to individuals who have tried ( MHO ). We hope that you enjoy the results, and there is more to come in the future. We are always open for suggestions from the members for future releases, but thats about as far as it goes. Enjoy your time here and keep reading.

feldon34 · 08-05-2004, 11:15 AM

I believe the philosophy is, take it as it is or delete it. Please don't deface the art.

Jim Sachs · 08-05-2004, 01:29 PM

If you are going to hack the program, add fish, and change the background, why not just go the extra 2% and write your own?

monkpea · 08-05-2004, 02:06 PM

Was thinking that!

When I downloaded it I assumed the models for the fish would be quite obviously visible... Writing it from scratch would be quite a leap from changing a few image and text files.

Having never written a program with a modern user interface, or one using graphics, can you give me any pointers? Did you base it on something else? Is the source available? : )

Now I need a book on opengl...

Many thanks,

Pea

feldon34 · 08-05-2004, 03:10 PM

"Did you base it on something else?"

It is written from scratch in C/C++ using the published specs for making DirectX screen savers.

"Now I need a book on opengl..."

The PC version is written for DirectX. The Mac version is ported to OpenGL.

"Is the source available?"

Wow, how can I answer that question without being condescending... I guess I can't.

Marian Nichols · 08-05-2004, 04:34 PM

captain_birdseye · 08-05-2004, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by feldon28
I believe the philosophy is, take it as it is or delete it. Please don't deface the art.

I know its a very nice fish screensaver. I own a copy myself. But, in the final analysis, it is just a fish screensaver.

*flame suit on*

Marian Nichols · 08-05-2004, 05:07 PM

Just a fish screen saver? Is that what you said? My dear friend, before Jim created his masterpiece there was NOTHING out there with any semblance of realism to it. I am astonish that such a remark has passed your lips and to post it here among Jim’s friends and supporters takes nerve of which I have never seen. In my opinion and I am sure many others here Jim Sachs was a pioneer in this type of graphics work.

Jim Sachs · 08-05-2004, 06:27 PM

Everything is "just" something, if you choose to look at it that way.

Jav400 · 08-05-2004, 07:05 PM

Just my opinion, but when someone puts years into accomplishing a task it goes past being "just" something. Remember that this screensaver was created by 1 man, not a group, not a corporation, 1 man. Who put countless hours of work, sweat, and thought into making it something that he wanted it to be. I think all here agree that it surpasses being "just" something.

Tiny Turtle · 08-06-2004, 02:01 AM

I'm steering clear of this one before I say something stupid...

/Tiny Konst(ig)

Sergiales · 08-06-2004, 02:14 AM

Hacks?. That word isn't welcomed here. I think that nobody likes seeing their work hacked by other people. As Morgan says, the product is AS IS, enjoy it or delete it, but please don't come here saying that you want to hack others work. Thanks.

Just a fish screensaver?. No, it's *THE* fish screensaver.
Don't imitate. Innovate!.

patscarr · 08-06-2004, 05:25 AM

There was a SereneScreen Marine Aquarium Editable Toolkit and Tutorial mentioned on this forum a long while back. I downloaded it using one of those P2P programs and did my fair share of fiddling but all my attempts to improve failed miserably. If you are not a professional computer graphics artist, I'm sure your attempts will be just as bad.

Tiny Turtle · 08-06-2004, 06:21 AM

I believe you vowed never to mention that one on the forum again...

patscarr · 08-06-2004, 07:56 AM

Woops! I believe you are right my friend. I am sorry. I will start my vow again from day one today!

08-05-2004, 09:09 AM	#1
monkpea Registered Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 3	hacking, adding fish, changing background Is this possible or are we at the mercy of the developers? OS X or Windows... Many thanks, pea

08-05-2004, 09:24 AM	#3
Marsh Marigold Still Folding Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Plymouth, Michigan Posts: 190	My thoughts exactly. RUN, pea! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

08-05-2004, 10:05 AM	#5
Surferminn Senior Puddle Jumper Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: California Posts: 6,017	Ha-ha. Hi Pea. Some folks here are a bit sensitive to the same repeated questions which have been asked and answered many times over... And, some questions are a bit more sensitive than others. I'm sure someone with proper authority other than myself will be along to answer your question. If you can't find anything better, who knows, your dad might just enjoy the aquarium. Welcome to the forum. Feel free to browse around the forum. Minn Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes.

08-05-2004, 11:06 AM	#6
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Hi monkpea, First let me welcome you to the forum. As to your question, no we do not support any questions about changing the aquarium. There have been people who have tried, but the aquarium is a complex thing and the results left much to be desired. I personally have seen some hacks that were pitiful at best, and totally stupid looking at worst. Jim has worked for years to produce the result that we now have, and I haven't seen anyone produce anything better, from large companies to individuals who have tried ( MHO ). We hope that you enjoy the results, and there is more to come in the future. We are always open for suggestions from the members for future releases, but thats about as far as it goes. Enjoy your time here and keep reading. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

08-05-2004, 11:15 AM	#7
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	I believe the philosophy is, take it as it is or delete it. Please don't deface the art. "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

08-05-2004, 09:22 AM	#2
cjmaddy Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 7,854	Oh dear! - What a mistake to make!

08-05-2004, 09:46 AM	#4
monkpea Registered Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 3	I assume this is a taboo subject? When I say developers I mean JS and the guys who ported it to OS X, which is the platform I have most experience fiddling with. Anyway, it's soon to be my dads birthday. He's a marine biologist big on hydrothermal vents and deep sea fish. I thought it would he might like a deep sea screen saver with odd fish, oil pipelines ROV's and so on, rather than an aquarium... After searching for hack and "change background" and looking through about half of the post titles, I assumed perhaps it was OK! Sorry.

08-05-2004, 01:29 PM	#8
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,774	If you are going to hack the program, add fish, and change the background, why not just go the extra 2% and write your own? Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

08-05-2004, 02:06 PM	#9
monkpea Registered Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 3	Was thinking that! When I downloaded it I assumed the models for the fish would be quite obviously visible... Writing it from scratch would be quite a leap from changing a few image and text files. Having never written a program with a modern user interface, or one using graphics, can you give me any pointers? Did you base it on something else? Is the source available? : ) Now I need a book on opengl... Many thanks, Pea

08-05-2004, 03:10 PM	#10
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	"Did you base it on something else?" It is written from scratch in C/C++ using the published specs for making DirectX screen savers. "Now I need a book on opengl..." The PC version is written for DirectX. The Mac version is ported to OpenGL. "Is the source available?" Wow, how can I answer that question without being condescending... I guess I can't. "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

08-05-2004, 04:34 PM	#11
Marian Nichols ~Author~ Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rocky Mount, NC Posts: 7,429

08-05-2004, 04:43 PM	#12
captain_birdseye Registered Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1	Originally posted by feldon28 I believe the philosophy is, take it as it is or delete it. Please don't deface the art. I know its a very nice fish screensaver. I own a copy myself. But, in the final analysis, it is just a fish screensaver. flame suit on

08-05-2004, 05:07 PM	#13
Marian Nichols ~Author~ Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rocky Mount, NC Posts: 7,429	Just a fish screen saver? Is that what you said? My dear friend, before Jim created his masterpiece there was NOTHING out there with any semblance of realism to it. I am astonish that such a remark has passed your lips and to post it here among Jim’s friends and supporters takes nerve of which I have never seen. In my opinion and I am sure many others here Jim Sachs was a pioneer in this type of graphics work.

08-05-2004, 06:27 PM	#14
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,774	Everything is "just" something, if you choose to look at it that way. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

08-05-2004, 07:05 PM	#15
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Just my opinion, but when someone puts years into accomplishing a task it goes past being "just" something. Remember that this screensaver was created by 1 man, not a group, not a corporation, 1 man. Who put countless hours of work, sweat, and thought into making it something that he wanted it to be. I think all here agree that it surpasses being "just" something. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

08-06-2004, 02:01 AM	#16
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	I'm steering clear of this one before I say something stupid... /Tiny Konst(ig) Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

08-06-2004, 02:14 AM	#17
Sergiales Software Engineer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Spain Posts: 266	Hacks?. That word isn't welcomed here. I think that nobody likes seeing their work hacked by other people. As Morgan says, the product is AS IS, enjoy it or delete it, but please don't come here saying that you want to hack others work. Thanks. Just a fish screensaver?. No, it's THE fish screensaver. Don't imitate. Innovate!. Sincerely, Sergio. Last edited by Sergiales; 08-06-2004 at 06:30 AM.

08-06-2004, 05:25 AM	#18
patscarr Pet Shark Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Back in Buffalo Posts: 5,455	There was a SereneScreen Marine Aquarium Editable Toolkit and Tutorial mentioned on this forum a long while back. I downloaded it using one of those P2P programs and did my fair share of fiddling but all my attempts to improve failed miserably. If you are not a professional computer graphics artist, I'm sure your attempts will be just as bad. Patrick

08-06-2004, 06:21 AM	#19
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	I believe you vowed never to mention that one on the forum again... Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

08-06-2004, 07:56 AM	#20
patscarr Pet Shark Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Back in Buffalo Posts: 5,455	Woops! I believe you are right my friend. I am sorry. I will start my vow again from day one today! Patrick