3D Rad Development History


	<< HOME			Development for the following features has been funded thanks to generous support from donors. Your help is vital to continue development! NOVEMBER 2009 RELEASE 3D Rad Editor Added filepath integrity checks to make sure crical I/O operations are executed on the intended target, even where hard crashes or memory management bugs mangle the filepath string memory. 3D Rad Compiler Fixed default Windows mouse pointer sometimes visible when a compiled project was in Maximized mode. Fixed compiled project's startup dialog listing display modes that aren't actually supported by 3D Rad, on some systems. Scanner A new object you can use to implement ray-casting based weapons, surroundings-scan-based AI systems and more! See the ScannerDemo.3dr project for an example of usage. Buoy Fixed crashes when water level parameter was changed too fast and collisions where involved. Optimized BoatDemo.3dr project (better framerate). CamChase Added 'Listener' option to prevent the camera from becoming the listener (reference point) for all 3d sounds in the scene. Fixed camera failing to keep its relative position when 'Ignore actor orientation' option was unchecked and translation speed was less than 1. Fixed camera failing to follow the parent when 'hidden' thus having to travel to reach its right position when shown again. SkinMesh Added 'Spline blending' option. Fixed crashes when the SkinMesh files were replaced with iObjectRefresh() script function and a _shadow.x file was missing. Fixed 0.01 setting ('Refresh rate' parameter) not working sometimes. Script Improved iObjectPicked() function to support any mouse button. Fixed iObjectScan() function returning a reversed contact normal for sphere-group based RigidBody objects. RigidBody Fixed position snapping to world origin after the RigidBody files were replaced with iObjectRefresh() script function. Car Fixed shadows being rendered when hide-geometry options were checked. PointLight Fixed run-time relocation (iObjectOrientationSet(), iObjectLocationSet() script functios) failing when the PointLight object was linked to a Group object. Joint Fixed joint still working when the Active box was unchecked and the Working At Start box was checked. Particles Fixed emitter not following the right parent object when linked to an EventOnLocation object. TextPrint Fixed font character image quirks, like clipped 'm' and other similar issues. Note that, as a result, the inter-character spacing in your existing projects may be slightly different after the update. OCTOBER 2009 RELEASE 3D Rad Editor Behind-the-scenes changes only, required to support updated objects. 3D Rad Compiler Behind-the-scenes changes only, required to support updated objects. Updated general 3D Rad EULA (readme.txt) to clarify terms of inclusion of artwork created by third party authors to your compiled projects. Buoy New object type you can use to create realistic boats! See BoatDemo.3dr project for a working example. Check out the Buoy object's help file for more. Counter New object type! Use it to keep track of game parameters like current score, player lives, health and so on, without using a script. Check out the Counter object's help file for more. EventOnInput Added detection of input key release and mouse-over/mouse-off conditons. Different conditions can be monitored at the same time by a single EventOnInput object, and independently used to start, stop etc mutiple objects independently. For an example of usage, please see the MouseOverButton.3dr project. Check out the EventOnInput object's help file for more. Projectile Projectiles are now reused immediately, if they are hidden by some other object (like EventOnContact), regardless of thair lifetime. Fixed bug causing certain projectiles to fail to launch. Script Added option to display line numbers (left margin of script editor window). Added error line number to script syntax error messages. Fixed iSimulationQualitySet() not resetting to default when project was stopped in the editor. ValuePrint Fixed bug causing certain other objects' parameters failing to appear in the relationship window. Particles Fixed emitter not properly following its parent when the parent was a projectile. See ProjctileParticles.3dr project for a demo related to this fix. Trail Fixed emitter not properly following its parent when the parent was a projectile. See ProjctileParticleTrail.3dr project for a demo related to this fix. SkinMesh Fixed dynamic reflections still being computed when the SkinMesh was hidden run-time, causing unnecessary overhead. SEPTEMBER 2009 RELEASE 3D Rad Editor Minor changes only, required to support updated objects. 3D Rad Compiler Minor changes only, required to support updated objects. Projectile New object type! Use it to implement weapons! It allows you to shoot a series of RigidBody objects linked to it, one after the other, towards the direction specified by the arrow, at a specified speed. For an example of usage, in 3D Rad press Ctrl+O, select 'ProjectileDemo' and then press SpaceBar to launch the simulation. Check out the Projectile object's help file for more. Script Updated imposter functions to support Particle object imposters. Added iSphereVisible() function. Added iScreenAreaPicked() function. Added iSimulationQualitySet() function. Particles Run-time cloning of particle emitters! For an example please see the 'PaticleImposters' demo project. See also iObjectImposter...() script functions. Added timer parameter, allowing you to specify particle emission duration (for explosions, sparkles etc). EventOnContact Added 'MONITOR (HIDE ON CONTACT)' option to relationships window and related internal parameter. Group Optimized editing to minimize slowdown when a large number of objects were grouped. Development for the following features has been funded thanks to users who purchased their license fee, when 3D Rad was a commercial product. AUGUST 2009 RELEASE 3D Rad is now completely free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes!! Future development will continue thanx to a simple donation scheme. Learn more... 3D Rad Editor Added Project -> Addons menu option. A folder called 'addons' was also added to the '3DRad_res' folder. This new functionality lets you 'merge' any .3dr project in the 'addons' folder to the current project in the editor, as long as a .jpg icon file for it is also present in the 'addons\index' folder. It is basically a more intuive way for expert users to provide the community their plug-ins. Added reminder message after the editor window is manually resized 3D Rad Compiler Fixed crash when a project in the list was right-clicked Script Added iPrint() function, allowing you to print additional text run-time, using font and character settings from a TextPrint object present in your project. Please see 'iPrint.3dr' project ('Script_Functions_Usage_Examples' sub-folder) for an example of usage. Added iObjectVelocitySet() function. Added iObjectScale() function. Fixed iObjectBone...Set() functions bug causing the bone index parameter to be processed as ID-1 instead of ID. RigidBody Fixed sphere-group detection algorithm failing on certain sphere geometries. Sprite Added base color internal parameters, allowing you to alter sprite color run-time, in a script. JULY 2009 RELEASE 3D Rad Editor The procedure to import your own 3d models has been simplified ('Install Custom SkinMesh/RigidBody' menu options, updated documentation available here.). Added multiple cross-linking. You can now link/unlink all objects between the red one and the clicked one by holding the [Left-Shift] key pressed (link all objects to all objects) or the [Left-Ctrl] key pressed (link all objects to the red one). Fixed file dialogs failing to remember their path if one of them was canceled. 3D Rad Compiler Added support for additional _mass.x model (used to implement dynamic polygonal RigidBody objects) SkinMesh Fixed imposters not inheriting scaling from the master SkinMesh. Fixed animation time setting being ignored unless it was set in a script. Fixed iObjectImposterHide() function. Script Script editor window is now fully resizable and window settings are persistent. Added iDLLLoad(), iDLLUnload(), iDLLCall(), iDLLArraySet(), iDLLArrayGet() functions. They allow you to call functions defined in your DLL modules. Please see 'iDLLCall.3dr' ('Script_Functions_Usage_Examples' sub-folder) for an example of usage. Added iObjectImposterShadowEnable() function allowing you to activate shadows for a specified SkinMesh imposter. See updated 'SkinMeshImposters.3dr' project for an example of usage Fixed iObjectImposterHide() function. RigidBody Improved sphere-group detection algorithm. Added 'Parent bone ID' internal parameter, allowing you to detach, run-time, RigidBody objects attached to specific SkinMesh bones. Please seek for 'Parent bone ID' in the RigidBody object's help file for details. Force Added property dialog's Timer parameter. If this parameter is greater than zero, the force will only work for the specified amount of time, in seconds. ValuePrint Fixed displayed value failing to reset to zero at project startup sometimes. CarAI Multiple Path objects linked to the same CarAI are now randomized whenever the CarAI object is reset. Car Added 'Steering angle' internal parameter (read-only). Terrain Added internal parameter allowing you to enable/disable 'Visible In Reflections' option run-time, from a script. Please seek for 'Internal flags' in the Terrain object help file for details. JUNE 2009 RELEASE 3D Rad Compiler Added option to force your compiled project to run in a borderless, maximized window. This allows you to deliver 3d applications and games that run in full-screen, still letting final users switch to other applications without exiting your 3D Rad project. Please see Windowed setting for details. 3D Rad Editor Minor changes only, required to support updated objects. Wind New object allowing you to simulate wind and other fluid effects on the Airfoil, Particles and Trail objects. For a demonstration, please see the sample projects called WindDemo.3dr and WindAircraftDemo.3dr (included to the new installation file for 3D Rad) Airfoil The algorithm has been completely rewritten to improve lift force simulation, to support wind effect and to add accurate drag (air/water friction!) simulation. Airfoils now properly simulate airfoil drag (you can now implement flaps, parachutes) and they can also work as generic bodies producing drag without lift (you can now simulate realistic air friction for RigidBody and Car objects without using damping parameters). The improved algorithm also gives better results when Airfoils are used to stabilize fast cars (like we do for real F1 cars for example) Particles Added wind effect support. Trail Added wind effect support. SkinMesh Added internal parameter allowing you to enable/disable 'Visible In Reflection' option run-time, from a script. Please seek for 'Internal flags' in the SkinMesh object help file for details. Fixed unsupported envmap message popping up at every skinmesh object change. Script Added ImposterLines.3dr sample project showing how to draw 3d lines by using ready to use script functions. Added iObjectImposterScaleSet(), iObjectImposterHide(), iObjectImposterShow() functions. Added iSpherePicked(), iSphereVectorIntersect() functions. These have endless uses, including making SkinMesh imposters pickable. Fixed internal messaging system synchronization problem causing random crashes on exit. EventOnLocation Fixed detection area failing to attach to SkinMesh objects. MAY 2009 RELEASE Groundbreaking! Your games can now play in a webpage at your website, by using the OSAKit plug-in! Learn more... 3D Rad Compiler Added functionality to export compiled projects as play-in-a-browser applets (.osa format). 3D Rad Editor Fixed random crashes when the installation path included special characters. Script Added iFileOpenDialog(), iFileSaveDialog() functions. SkinMesh Fixed startup environment mapping option. Car Fixed rear-wheel-drive cars not braking with front wheels. ValueLabelBar Fixed reading not working with Script's internal parameter VAL_2. EventOnLocation Fixed failed detection when the zone was moving and the monitored object was still. Script Plug-ins Added hand-brake simulation plugin. APRIL 2009 RELEASE For advanced 3D Rad users, it is now possible to create Script-based plug-ins that others can easily apply to their projects as ready-to-use objects. Please click here for more. 3D Rad Editor Added Face object Towards Cursor menu option, to orient an object towards the 3d cursor in the Virtual Editor. Fixed options menu being selectable while a project was loading at startup. Fixed error dialog box playing the wrong system sound sometimes. 3D Rad Compiler Added progress bar option, to display a progress indicator while your compiled projects are loaded. Fixed memory leaks causing frame-rate loss and potentially crashes after several level (project) switches. RigidBody Fixed 'Collision Map Resolution' parameter causing crashes when it was set bigger than certain RigidBody models' bounding box. IMPORTANT! The patch is only applied to RigidBody objects that use a new/updated rigidBody_.x file. To fix crashing RigidBody objects created before the April 2009 release, you must change the 'Collision Map Resolution' parameter in their RigidBody dialog at least once, at least in one project using them. SkinMesh Added special 'Refresh-rate' value (0.01) for environment mapping, which creates a static image of the actual environment surrounding the object. This feature can be used where you don't have a cubic image matching the environment and dynamic updating of the reflected image is too slow. Script Added iObjectBoneOrientationSet(), iObjectBoneLocationSet(), iObjectBoneScaleSet() functions. See SkinMeshBoneControlDemo.3dr and SkinMeshBoneControlRigidBodyDemo.3dr sample projects for examples of usage. The ability to control bone orientation/location/scaling allows you to interactively morph SkinMesh objects run-time. Possible uses include controlling a character like a puppet, bending bones or displace vertices based on RigidBody object's physics (skinned-ragdolls, soft-bodies!) and so on. Added iFileDownloadPB() function, showing a customizable progress bar during download. Added bility to abort downloading (Esc key) to the iFileDownload() function. Fixed iFileDownload() function crashing on some system configurations. Fixed missing IN_/OUT_ variable lists in merged Script object. Fixed iDeinitializing() function not being executed in compiled projects. MARCH 2009 RELEASE 3D Rad Editor Minor changes only, required to support updated objects. 3D Rad Compiler Fixed crash when switching back and forth between two projects that included active Cam1StPerson objects. Fixed compiled projects failing to work when their file name included dots placed at specific positions in the string. Script Added iObjectRefresh() function, allowing you to change the collision detection geometry of a RigidBody, the .x file of a SkinMesh or the images for a SkyBox or a Sprite. Please see demo project named WebDownloadDemo.3dr for an example of usage. Added iFileDownload() function, allowing you to download files from the internet to the local computer. Please see demo project named WebDownloadDemo.3dr for an example of usage. Added iFileSize() function, returning the size of the specified local file. Added iLocalFolder() function, returning the full path of the 3D Rad's installation folder (or your compiled project's folder). Added iFileCopy(), iFileDelete(), iFolderCreate(), iFolderDelete(), iFileExists() functions. Added iCommandContinue() function, to launch external applications in the background (eg an mp3 player). RigidBody Added support for run-time refreshing of the collision detection geometry associated with the RigidBody. Please see the new iObjectRefresh() script function for details. SkinMesh Added support for run-time refreshing of the artwork associated with the SkinMesh. Please see the new iObjectRefresh() script function for details. Sprite Added support for run-time refreshing of the image associated with the Sprite. Please see the new iObjectRefresh() script function for details. SkyBox Added support for run-time refreshing of the images associated with the SkyBox. Please see the new iObjectRefresh() script function for details. FEBRUARY 2009 RELEASE 3D Rad Editor Minor changes only, required to support updated objects. 3D Rad Compiler 'Allow minimal GFX' optional feature is now more balanced, automatically setting max texture size for all display formats below 1024x768. Fixed unused font .wid files being included to compiled project folders. SkinMesh Added rendered pixels run-time statistics, you can use to determine if an object is completely or partially covered by any other object in the scene. This is typically used to implement lens-flare effects. See sample project called LensFlareDemo.3dr for an example. Improved rendering quality for all 'glossy' shaders. Fixed imposters vanishing when master SkinMesh was out of the rendering window. Fixed run-time (script) animation speed setting failing to work sometimes. Script Added additional joystick functions: iJoyU(), iJoyV(), iJoyPOV1(), iJoyPOV2(), iJoyPOV3(), iJoyPOV4(). RigidBody The RigidBody can now be 'stopped' without 'hiding' it. Fixed maximum speed/spin parameters stopping velocities suddenly when threshold was passed. Sprite Added additional render modes (see 'Rendering mode' selector on Sprite object's property dialog). CarAI Multiple instances of this object can now be linked to one single Car, allowing you to switch, run-time, from one AI configuration to another. Particles Added run-time particle life-time setting (internal parameter you can access from a script). ValueLabelBar Fixed property dialog's color pickers. SkyBox Fixed non-default sky-boxes failing to compile. To fix this issue for projects created with a previous 3drad version, open them once again with this new version of the 3drad editor. EventOnInput Input state can now be set (forced) via script, regardless of the real state of the input device. JANUARY 2009 RELEASE 3D Rad Editor Fixed bug showing an empty recent-project-list at startup for a few seconds sometimes. New demo projects: SkinMeshImposters.3dr, BasicGameMenu.3dr, JointFixedDemo.3dr, CharacterJoystickDemo.3dr, CharacterVariableSpeedDemo.3dr, SkinMeshOneLoopDemo.3dr, Script_Functions_Usage_Examples\i3DLocationToScreen.3dr, Script_Functions_Usage_Examples\iScreenRay.3dr, Script_Functions_Usage_Examples\iObjectScan.3dr 3D Rad Compiler Minor changes only, required to support updated objects. SkinMesh Added support for an unlimited number of run-time 'imposters'. These are clones of the SkinMesh's visual that render very fast and can be used, for example, to populate your scene with thousands of trees with minimal performance loss. See sample project called SkinMeshImposters.3dr for an example. Fixed some states not going back to default when the object was reset by another object run-time. Fixed animation time setting not working from a script, for SkinMeshes with multiple animation sets. Script Added iFloatTrend() function. Added iObjectImpostersCreate(), iObjectImpostersDestroy(), iObjectImposterSet() functions. RigidBody Total Mass factor can now be set run-time in a script. Linear/angular damping factors can now be set run-time in a script. Added Max Speed, Max Spin' parameters to property dialog. Joint Added fixed, hinge and slider joint types. Fixed joint not resuming properly after a run-time reset. EventOnContact Contact location can now be retrieved run-time in a script by calling iObjectLocation() for the EventOnContact object. Monitoring is now performed faster for multiple objects. Fixed contact intensity parameter not resetting immediately when EventOnContact object was reset. SkyBox Added 'Change' button to property dialog. Updated help file with info on how to add customized sky-boxes. Added five new royalty-free sky boxes to the library. TextPrint Added 'Change Font' button to property dialog. Updated help file with info on how to add customized fonts. Fixed text not being visible in Virtual Editor when 'Visible at start' option was unchecked. ValuePrint Added 'Change Font' button to property dialog. Updated help file with info on how to add customized fonts. Fixed digits not being visible in Virtual Editor when 'Visible at start' option was unchecked. Car Fixed wheel friction parameters not changing when adjusted run-time in a script. Particles Improved prediction algorithm which keeps emitter source attached to a fast moving/spinning parent object. Fixed working/not-working state not resetting when Particles object was reset run-time. Trail Improved prediction algorithm which keeps emitter source attached to a fast moving/spinning parent object. Sprite Fixed missing warning when a source image was picked from a directory other than the Sprite object's data folder. Force Fixed object not restarting after a run-time reset, if previously 'stopped' by another object or script. SoundSource Fixed missing warning when a source sound file was picked from a directory other than the SoundSource object's data folder. SoundEffect Fixed missing warning when a source sound file was picked from a directory other than the SoundEffect object's data folder. Wheel Fixed missing warning when the wheel was attached to a static RigidBody. Development history (2008) >>