Author Topic: Second Screenshot of Universe Sandbox 3 (Read 28822 times)

Dan Dixon · « **on:** February 13, 2012, 04:48:43 PM »

Another look at the graphical improvements in the the major update due out later this year for both Windows and Mac. This is a full rewrite of Universe Sandbox in a new 3D engine.

The screenshot features the new atmosphere rendering for planets.

This will be a free update to everyone who has ever purchased Universe Sandbox through this website or on Steam.

And like the first screenshot, the controls and icons are all temporary and will change before release.

Thanks again to Chris & Georg at IonStar in Germany. They're helping make all this possible.

Yannos · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2012, 05:01:28 PM »

Spreading the news like wildfire on all Steam buddies and real life friends and colleagues. Thank you.

Naru523 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2012, 05:28:39 PM »

I'm officially speechless.

smjjames · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2012, 05:35:57 PM »

WOW!

Its no longer the polyhedral spheres which haave angles to them and you even have the Earth At Night bit for Earth.

The atmospheric effect is awesome too.

How come the moon is blank though? Its not a problem as I could see you using a blank or smooth skin or texture to show the phases a little better.

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2012, 06:09:08 PM »

Quote from: smjjames on February 13, 2012, 05:35:57 PM

How come the moon is blank though?

Good question and not to worry, that how it was setup when I took the screenshot, but is not representative of how Earth's moon will eventually look.

Spaceguy888 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2012, 07:23:46 PM »

Judging by the lights im guessing it has something to do with life and civilization? that be cool if it were. Even if my guess is wrong I will be looking foward to its release. Thanks for keeping everyone updated on this dan.

smjjames · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2012, 07:32:50 PM »

Quote from: Spaceguy888 on February 13, 2012, 07:23:46 PM

Judging by the lights im guessing it has something to do with life and civilization? that be cool if it were. Even if my guess is wrong I will be looking foward to its release. Thanks for keeping everyone updated on this dan.

I don't think it's anything special, just the Earth at Night overlay.

FiahOwl · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2012, 09:14:33 PM »

So we're getting nightmaps and heightmaps?

A textureers, Fiction writers, Scenery Takers, and normal persons wet dream.

Yay.

atomic7732 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2012, 09:18:17 PM »

Oh god. That's awesome.

And the UI is much, much better.

Darvince · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2012, 09:32:05 PM »

Wow, nicely improved Earth texture.

smjjames · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2012, 09:50:48 PM »

Quote from: FiahOwl on February 13, 2012, 09:14:33 PM

So we're getting nightmaps and heightmaps?

A textureers, Fiction writers, Scenery Takers, and normal persons wet dream.

Yay.

I don't actually know whether it requires some special coding or if it really is a nightmap, but if we can make such 'nightmaps', that would be awesome.

Also lol at unintentionally revealling the hidden text.

Bla · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:55:09 AM »

Amazing! The lights, atmosphere and non-polygonized spheres make it look much better!

It looks like there is also a heightmap? At least the landscape looks a bit 3D.

clockworks · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2012, 03:04:51 PM »

awesome!

mrt127 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:03:35 PM »

As much as it is awesome, it interesting to see how much light pollution we make.

vh · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2012, 05:03:50 PM »

Do i spot....a nebula?

APODman · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2012, 05:13:41 PM »

It's simply amazing, fabulous, fantastic !

Dan donÂ´t torture us !

[ ]Â´s

Kevin1994 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2012, 05:21:25 PM »

Holy butf***

Bla · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2012, 05:43:32 PM »

Quote from: mudkipz on February 14, 2012, 05:03:50 PM

Do i spot....a nebula?

I think it's a part of the background.

But it would be awesome if it were.

smjjames · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2012, 08:42:17 PM »

Quote from: Bla on February 14, 2012, 05:43:32 PM

Quote from: mudkipz on February 14, 2012, 05:03:50 PM
Do i spot....a nebula?
I think it's a part of the background.

But it would be awesome if it were.

Check the background in US, I've seen nebulas in the default background which look alot like or almost exactly like that one. Looks a little like the pelaedies cluster. However, the fact that the background is blank otherwise throws the question of whether it really is a background thing.

It'll probably remain a mystery until we get the beta or the full version, or Dan says what it is.

Bla · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2012, 03:42:06 AM »

It looks like this area in the current Milky Way background. I think it's the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Still looks like the background has been tweaked as well when comparing it to this.

APODman · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2012, 07:23:33 AM »

Dan these atmospheres may play a "physical" role like the drag over satellites (we could determine their density according to altitude) or it will be passive ?

[ ]Â´s

Steroidkloud · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2012, 07:32:43 AM »

Universe Sandbox 3 should get it's own forum.

smjjames · « **Reply #22 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:31:18 AM »

Quote from: Steroidkloud on February 15, 2012, 07:32:43 AM

Universe Sandbox 3 should get it's own forum.

It will when it or the beta comes out. Right now the discussion that is specifically about US3 is limited to the screenshots and a thread that has a wish list, not enough to warrant a new section just yet.

Kevin1994 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 17, 2012, 12:00:53 PM »

MORA! sreenshots!

FiahOwl · « **Reply #24 on:** February 17, 2012, 12:01:13 PM »

Quote from: Kevin1994 on February 17, 2012, 12:00:53 PM

MORA! sreenshots!

FiahOwl · « **Reply #25 on:** February 27, 2012, 05:54:54 AM »

Quote from: FiahOwl on February 17, 2012, 12:01:13 PM

Quote from: Kevin1994 on February 17, 2012, 12:00:53 PM
MORA! sreenshots!

Darvince · « **Reply #26 on:** February 27, 2012, 08:14:47 AM »

Why do you keep quoting him? You could just request more screenshots nicely.

FiahOwl · « **Reply #27 on:** February 27, 2012, 08:46:03 AM »

TO: Dan A. Dixon
FROM: Posh F. Owl
SUBJECT: Universe Sandbox 3

Dear Dan,

It seems that the inquisitive part of my brain would like to inquire more about Universe Sandbox 3 via a photograph from the program that will be put onto the website called universesandbox.com, or by a montage of photographs put together to form a short movie which will be uploaded to your YouTube.com account, and be put in one of these messages via taking the link and putting it in.

Your best regards, Posh F. Owl

Arnstein · « **Reply #28 on:** March 08, 2012, 10:08:16 AM »

Now THAT...is pretty sexy!

smjjames · « **Reply #29 on:** March 08, 2012, 10:24:48 AM »

Is there going to be a new pic soon? Seeing how the new collision system works would be cool.