Aug 25
Mesh Import or Improved In-World Tools?
4 Comments »

2k Suisei pointed us to a very interesting set of votes on the SL issue Tracker (JIRA). Would you prefer that LL concentrate on a mesh import feature, or improved in-world modelling tools?

It’s a difficult choice, since the details are very vague. My first thought was to vote for mesh import, but after thinking a bit I think I will vote for improved in-world tools. A few of my thoughts:

  • Sculpties. We can already import meshes, although in a limited manner.
  • Prims are a very important part of SL. Their parametric nature makes them very low bandwidth.
  • Modeling and collaborating in an interactive 3D environment is arguable one of the most interesting aspects of our virtual world.
  • The existing in-world building tools are actually very easy to use when compared to most external 3D modeling packages.


I guess if I had my preference I would vote for some in-world tools that allowed us to make sculpties or other mesh-based objects.

What do you think?

 
4 Responses to “Mesh Import or Improved In-World Tools?”
 

Bah, I’ve given up on inworld building. Only kids use the public sandboxes these days. It’s not much fun chatting with a 12 year old, so I usually end in a skybox at 2000 meters pondering the meaning of Second Life.

If I’m gonna build at 2000 meters then why not just log out of SL and build in ZBrush or something?.

Nope, I’ve no problem with LL focusing on mesh support.

and if you don’t vote for mesh support then I’m going make Sculpty Maker convert all your models into doughnuts.

So there!

2k Suisei wrote on August 26th, 2008 at 1:52 am

 

mmmm..sculpted doughnuts….

:D

Sandboxes are not the only way to collaborate – I actually think that interactive, cooperative building is something that is really not taken advantage of in SL. It really is remarkable to be able to work interactively with someone in a 3D space.

I really am torn on this decision. One of the things that makes SL so great is that there are tools built into the client that allow people to create their world.

Of course you can’t easily create textures without an external image editor, can’t create animations without an external program, no sounds either. So maybe my fears of losing the immediacy of the building process are unfounded.

I guess I am just nostalgic for the old days when the ratio of content creators to consumers was higher. Used to feel like everyone was involved and interested in creating content, nowadays it’s more lopsided towards folks who want to enjoy the content created by others.

Gotta do more thinking on this before I cast my vote.

Vlad Bjornson wrote on August 26th, 2008 at 2:48 am

 

Hmmm… Tough one… but How advanced can these inworld tools be? Not to mention all the potential bugs it could have over time…. I don’t think they can ever be near as good as the external 3D tools we use….

So I think i gotta go vote on better mesh import features even though i pull all my hair out trying to learn or be decent good on the 3D programs… xD

Valenttina Carfagno wrote on August 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pm

 

OK. I changed my mind. :) After reading this discussion on SL Universe – especially the additional info from Qarl Linden – I am officially excited about mesh import.

Qarl comments on page 5 and again on page 7 I think:

http://www.sluniverse.com/php/vb/content-creation/16130-qarls-survey-mesh-import-improve-5.html

Vlad Bjornson wrote on August 31st, 2008 at 11:42 pm

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