envX: Cloud and Fog Resource

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envX is an overhaul of the cloud and fog layers built into the Torque Game Engine . The goal is to add new functionality and flexibility for game developers. Formerly known as the "TGE Cloud Resource " , this project has been on the back burner for some time. I’m excited to announce it’s back under active-development and we should see a public release very soon!

envX in it’s final form will be comprised of two parts. The first deals with ‘cloud-layers’, and the second deals with ‘volumetric-fog’. In both cases these code blocks are being moved to their own class-files for code-clairity, redesigned for greater flexibility, and optimized for improved performance.

The cloud-layers portion is in fact done, and I’ve hit all my original goals. These included:

• Arbitrary number of cloud layers
• Ability to fade cloud layers independently
• Ability to fade each independent layer to a specific opacity between 0 and 1
• Ability to select different source-types for each cloud-layer

The fog-layers portion is in a much earlier stage and may or may not be included in the original release at this point. If that’s not possible, it will likely be added in a point-release later this summer.

My goals for improving the volumetric-fog in Torque are very similar to my accomplishments with the cloud-layers. Notably: clean up the code, make ‘fog-layers’ independent from each other, and enhance the visual effects. I’m also investigating the possibility of ‘fog-blocks’, and spherical fog masses.

More details to come soon!

[edit Sept, 15th 2008] The fog updates mentioned here turned out to be unrealistically ambitious. After a considerable research and development investment I had to shelve that portion of the project. The final product will only include the updates to the cloud layers. [/edit]

[edit Oct, 31st 2008] As we go to market, the ‘envX: Sky’ module has been formally re-named ‘Cirrus Skies’ by Dragonfly Software. [/edit]

Website Updated

I’ve been working on major updates to this site all spring, and now it’s official! New color-scheme, navigation redesign, WordPress integration, and slick photo-gallery integration. Most content has been moved, revised, updated or replaced. With the help of WordPress, regular updates can now be expected!

I’m working for myself now and have some really cool projects going on behind the scenes. I can’t reveal all the exciting details yet, but be on the look out for more big news as we move into mid-summer. For now, check the ‘Project’ pages to learn more about ‘envX’ and ‘EnviroTorque 2.0′!