Universe Sandbox 2 - Screenshots of variable Earth ocean levels - February 2013

[Dan Dixon]

Here's an early look at a new feature Georg and Naomi have been working on over the last few weeks.

There's still lots to do to make this behave as one might expect, but this work merges the ability to use existing textures with Georg's earlier work on procedural planets with variable ocean levels.

There's still some problems to solve... and there's still much work to do on other aspects of the simulation, but I was anxious to share this with all of you.


Naomi has recently joined the team. She's consulting on atmosphere and climate simulations and is providing insight into these very complex systems and how they can be modeled in a real time, interactive way.

Georg is our graphics programmer and keeps making everything look amazing.


Universe Sandbox 3 is a full rewrite of the original Universe Sandbox with tons of new features and improvements. We expect to release Universe Sandbox 2 as a new game for both Windows and Mac in 2013 .

[Darvince]

Oh my sweet Jesus this is amazing.

Will this have a detrimental effect on performance?

[JayPix2012]

Holy crap! Dead Earth here I come. Dan you are the man. Unlimited coolness dude. 

[Hellpotatoe]

ZOMG MY GOD!
Hm, the water level will have influence in climate?

[tuto99]

Here's an early look at a new feature Georg and Naomi have been working on over the last few weeks.

There's still lots to do to make this behave as one might expect, but this work merges the ability to use existing textures with Georg's earlier work on procedural planets with variable ocean levels.

There's still some problems to solve... and there's still much work to do on other aspects of the simulation, but I was anxious to share this with all of you.


Naomi is a recent addition to the team. She's consulting on atmosphere and climate simulations and is providing insight into these very complex systems and how they can be modeled in a real time, interactive way.

Georg is our graphics programmer and keeps making everything look amazing.

Wow, this is great! 
Great job on the new feature Georg and Naomi. You guys rock.

[blotz]

:O WOW!    

will there be more water effects? it looks ... kind of bland right now, and with the moon and tides and etc.

There's still some problems to solve... and there's still much work to do on other aspects of the simulation, but I was anxious to share this with all of you.

applause for Georg and Naomi!! cool EPIC   keep it up!!
will there be settings you can change for the water levels and will it actually react to heat and will this happen to other planets and does it morph as it gets closer to black holes and and..

* bong rants on

[unl0cker]

Looks awesome indeed Dan. Give my congrats to Georg and Naomi. Georg has done an amazing job, and is good to have Naomi there to brainstorm with him.

About your anxiety... your anxiety to show us is minuscule compared to ours to put our hands on it.

[FiahOwl]

This message is only viewable with Universe Sandbox Galaxy Edition. Access it and much more with promo-code '99602'.

[Georg]

Glad you like it. The goal for planets is to be as dynamic as possible, with adjustable water, ice and vegetation that responds to changes in the simulation. Still lots of work to be done there, but it's progressing nicely, so stay tuned for more updates as we move along

[unl0cker]

A question, are you guys planing to simulate the pyroclastic clouds/shock waves that follows impacts/eruptions?

[Chaotic Cow]

I am loving it. Dan, you and your team is doing great work. Please keep being amazing.

[Georg]

A question, are you guys planing to simulate the pyroclastic clouds/shock waves that follows impacts/eruptions?

We pretty much want to simulate almost anything! Tech for shockwaves is already in, although it still needs tweaking.

That said, we're constantly making decisions about how to prioritize features based on how important they are for the application as a whole. Things that create lots of scientific and / or visual value tend to go first, features with less impact come after that. Development time is a factor too.

Usually creating one feature rapidly leads to follow-up tasks that come naturally as an extension of the latest development, and then there's you guys coming up with suggestions... the universe seems to be an "all you can eat" festival of things to simulate

[unl0cker]

hahaha Indeed Georg! You guys pick a hella of thing to simulate. "John simulates planes, Greg simulates boats, Carmack simulates bullets, Giant Army simulates EVERYTHING from EVERYWHERE!"

Oh by the way, I have this cool idea... hehe j/k!

Keep up the awesome work man! We are really really exited about this release, probably as much as you guys!

[tuto99]

A question to Giant Army.
Will we be able to export textures from planets, ecspecially on the way they look. (e.g. Exporting the texture of the flooded Earth.)

[unl0cker]

That tuto, would be PRICELESS!

[vh]

cute

[Georg]

A question to Giant Army.
Will we be able to export textures from planets, ecspecially on the way they look. (e.g. Exporting the texture of the flooded Earth.)

Hmmm, technically possible. What use for them do you have in mind?

[Kevin1994]

will there be lighting, volcano's,  Auroras, and weather etc...... and possibly ships  oh yes thanks for making shush a grate software !!?

[tuto99]

A question to Giant Army.
Will we be able to export textures from planets, ecspecially on the way they look. (e.g. Exporting the texture of the flooded Earth.)

Hmmm, technically possible. What use for them do you have in mind?

I could probably use the textures in Ubox 2, or share textures with another online community of people who might want this sort of thing.

[tuto99]

will there be lighting, volcano's,  Auroras, and weather etc...... !!?

What type of lighting, city lights? Probably, because I remember seeing city lights in the Doomsday video Dan posted.
Volcanoes? Maybe visual effects, not actual rendering of one.
Auroras? Maybe. Sounds like a definite feature for the new release.
Weather? I remember seeing this question some time ago. If Dan ever decides to add weather to Ubox 3, that would be awesome. But I'm not saying this is a guaranteed feature.

[TrueCoppa]

These look amazing!
Good to see development still going strong

[Kevin1994]

will there be lighting, volcano's,  Auroras, and weather etc...... !!?

What type of lighting, city lights? Probably, because I remember seeing city lights in the Doomsday video Dan posted.
Volcanoes? Maybe visual effects, not actual rendering of one.
Auroras? Maybe. Sounds like a definite feature for the new release.
Weather? I remember seeing this question some time ago. If Dan ever decides to add weather to Ubox 3, that would be awesome. But I'm not saying this is a guaranteed feature.

No I mean lighting and thunder lol xD. and sounds

[DarkGnom]

Wow, amazing 
Give us the thing 

[tuto99]

will there be lighting, volcano's,  Auroras, and weather etc...... !!?

What type of lighting, city lights? Probably, because I remember seeing city lights in the Doomsday video Dan posted.
Volcanoes? Maybe visual effects, not actual rendering of one.
Auroras? Maybe. Sounds like a definite feature for the new release.
Weather? I remember seeing this question some time ago. If Dan ever decides to add weather to Ubox 3, that would be awesome. But I'm not saying this is a guaranteed feature.

No I mean lighting and thunder lol xD. and sounds

Lightning* and thunder. Yes, there will probably be those effects in the final release.
And yes, there will be sound.

[Kevin1994]

Cool!

[Kevin1994]

how about planet formation?

[Steelcurtain994]

US3 will be Mac compatible correct? The screenshots look fantastic I can't wait for it to be released!

[blotz]

Yes it will be compatible with Mac.

See here:
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,6235.0.html

[tuto99]

how about planet formation?

Yes
I recommend you watch the Unite 2012 presentation video of Ubox 3. It will probably answer some of your questions.

[Kevin1994]

how about planet formation?

Yes
I recommend you watch the Unite 2012 presentation video of Ubox 3. It will probably answer some of your questions.

Ok then