Escher's Relativity is doable

[tachzusamm]

(Or should we call it "Karkadann's Relativity"?)

Well, you might have followed the various threads regarding The Relativity Project, originally brought up by Karkadann. I hope you don't mind, Karkadann, that I start a new thread for this.
Since you came out with the idea, it began to fascinate me; so I made lots of experiments with the Plasma engine, the Camera issues, and Python scripts to make this possible.

There were lots of problems, but finally I'm sure it can be done.
In the first place, I was thinking about just putting my hands on the scripting, but because setting up regions and SubWorlds properly is so much work, I decided to try it directly with the Relativity Age. So I took your 3DSMax model you posted in the hope to get some help; I managed to get it imported into Blender. The meshes needed some cleanup (because I felt UV-unwrapping is easier with quads than triangles), and I changed the mesh structure a bit (making the Arcs more rounded, tweaking the banisters, and such).
And I scaled it slightly up, because in the end some doors were just a bit to narrow to let the Avatar get through.

Most of the work of course was getting the Python scripts working (about 1000 lines), and about 1200 lines of AlcScript currently.
My main intention was to get it work nice in multiplayer mode (essential for such an Age), and to get the transitions between the SubWorlds very SMOOTH. I did not like the idea that I would just "switch" to another SubWorld - I absolutely wanted it to look like a journey. And it worked.
The main trick I used is to introduce Transporters, which will carry you from one Sub to the next, in a smooth transition.

Currently it's not really textured, I used red, green and blue to mark the 3 SubWorld planes, and just white banisters, but this can be done later.
Here's a video to show you how it behaves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTZUVSm7Vgo


Now, what would be the next steps?
It's still your project, Karkadann - please don't understand this as a takeover. And I saw you already continued with modeling (doors and other stuff).
But I couldn't stop myself when I was working on it, so yeah, um sorry. I would love to still see this as a community project, continuously developed, and really nice textured. It's worth it.
Here's how I can imagine to be best textured (at least how I would prefer it to look like):
http://www.freakingnews.com/Escher-s-Re ... -66811.asp

What do you think?

Cheers,
tach


P.S. I think I should ask Diafero now for some help to find any remaining multiplayer issues...


[Version tracker}
First release (game files + source: viewtopic.php?p=55240#p55240

Small updates:
viewtopic.php?p=55246#p55246
viewtopic.php?p=55253#p55253
viewtopic.php?p=55288#p55288

Second release (game files): viewtopic.php?p=65814#p65814

[Karkadann]

OMG my dream come true, cheesy as it may sound. That would be great, a community project, Relativity was actually my first attempt at building an age but all I had to work with was Autocad, Currenly im working in Max however im still a beginner, I can do 3d structures easily but the its the programing that I can not get the hang of. This is wonderful news please pass it around and see what others can contribute, who knows we may even be able to get it on Open Source, I often wondered if Randi Miller was a fan of Eschers work and would be willing to host something like this on MOULa

Some of the Best Ages I have found on Drizzle are a community effort usually a bunch of people who specialize in one aspect of age creation.

Wow

[Aloys]

Oh my.. Wow, that is very impressive! And very cool.
I'm sorry for asking the obvious but, could you tell us a little more about how that works? That's the first time I hear about 'Transporters'. I looked it up in the wiki but didn't get any results. :/ What are some examples where those are used in Uru? [edit]: wait; is that a system you just created for this Age? And not a standard Plasma component.
Also when the avatar goes through the transporter is it still under control of the player or not? As in: can I turn around mid-way if I finally decide I want to stay on the plane? (wouldn't that interrupt the camera animation?)
However you actually do this, it opens up wild new possibilities of design for Ages... And it would be great to push this particular project further.

I had noticed that in Escher's drawing it is not shown how the characters move from one plane to another. And this is an interesting question: in Escher's vision are those planes actually indepent; or do people move from one to the other? And if they do move from one to another, how do they do it, and where? And how could this be translated to this Age? You solve this in your test by placing those transporters outside of the main area; and that works. I first thought it could be more interesting to allow 'transportation' on any wall, but that would be a lot of work to do, and it would be a gameplay mess.. It might probably be safer to have designated areas, as you did..

Would you be okay to publish your test Age? I'd love to try it.

[Deledrius]

Wow! Very impressive work.

[diafero]

This is great. I love Esher, I love Uru... so, really, a perfect combination

[Sirius]

Awesome !
I guess "Transporters" are animated subworlds you use before entering the main subworld ?
Is there still the problem with camera not avoiding colliders ? It looks fine on you video though.

The texturing is quite nice as well.

[ametist]

Awesome!! This would be a great age for use in school too

[Karkadann]

OK whats the next step in turning this in to a community project like Tech suggested?

[Chuckles58]

That is fantastic. I look forward to the continued development of this, as it has already gone from concept to reality (pun intended). Excellent work by Karkadann and tachzusamm. It would be interesting to see it in its final form, but I actually prefer the primary colors of red, green, blue and yellow to show how amazing it is. The rotation mechanics and graphics are wonderful, tach! If this works with multi-player, it will absolutely the most amazing fan made age yet.

Cheers!!!

[Chacal]

*head asplodes*

Add to the list of things that leave me speechless.

All we need now is a David Bowie avatar.