Havok4 in beta

Whats peoples thoughts on it. will they add some importent missing building features such as "snap to object" and a "CSG carve" option wich is possable as i've seen scripts that do it

what features would you like to see/not see with this so amazing upgrade...

better sim crossings
better vehicles
maybe the puppeteering for avatars *crossing fingers*
I want joints baaack!

I'd love to see MUCH improved avatar collision, havok1 collision is REALLY bad, and when you walk into a wall sometimes you sort of move up it, even tho its perfectly verticle, that is annoying

amen on better av collision, yes.

From the blog post:
"Vertical simulation extent has been increased to 1024 meters"

YAY to being able to put skyboxes higher!

It also mentioned more reliable prim linking... I'm hoping in the future that might lead to larger link distances so larger builds can be all one linkset.

Every since I've joined, there was talk of upgrading the Havok engine I'm glad to see that they not only managed to finally deliver, but to go ahead to Havok 4 instead!

I can only think of one problem with the 1024m height limit increase... and that's Windlight. Other than that, having the greater height means that people can actually better stagger their skyboxes for more privacy. Also, an increase chance for those space stations!

I'd love to see a major improvement in both object linking and avatar collision. Maybe they'll reintroduce joints with this?

something else i would love to see is swimming

No features in this test, but they say they'll add them.

I want rope simulation. ROPE. Garrysmod shows us the way.

Not sure if this is good or bad.
Could be an early announcement on a major SL component, as a reaction to GE's [Google Earth's] news earlier this week, to make corporates think they [LL] are keeping ahead of the curve. (Speculation, of course.)

I think, naturally, this will cause more problems when it hits town because 'we' know what updates do to the grid from years of past experience.

All I want: If the update removes the little rotation bug it will be a 'good' thing.

After the beta test, that Windlight integration is looking really good now that it is in the main build.

Oh, what? It never made it out of beta? Nevermind.

Well, they did sort of fix the Windlight problem for skyboxes, so once again, you can't go into space. It was weird, though... sort of like skyboxes (not houses, but the image of the sky seen in the distance) stacked up on top of eachother. It's been a while obviously since I've seen it, but I remember being able to tell exactly where I flew up through a "ceiling" into the next box.

As for higher skyboxes (houses), I think the contorting of the sky image and oceans won't look much worse from 1024 than they do from 768.

I definitely agree about staggering for privacy (or unobstructed views) though... that's my main interest in it, as my home sim has skyboxes everywhere!

This is wonderfulnews! going to live inthe beta grid heheheh

bah, the release notes say no improvements to region crossing or number of prims in a vehicle. I cared for a pleasant 30 seconds.

Slightly more - technical - information than the blog post mentions: http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2007/09/28/andrew-linden-talks-about-havok4/

If they ever get around to:
I'd think that would make many mainland owners very happy .

Only thing I made sense out of it was something about better sitting. I don't get it.

Sorry for being completely gormless..I know "what planet have I been on"..but what is Havoc..and how do I get my hands on it ?



Perre

Been a little busy shouting at Concierge Support re VAT issues lately

http://www.havok.com/

Havoc is a physic engine; it does things like calculate whether avatars are running into objects.

The Second Life Wiki Havoc 4 Beta page is at https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Havok_4_Beta_Home .

You can download the Second Life Havov 4 Beta at http://secondlife.com/community/preview.php .

I downloaded the Mac OS version and gave it a try. I didn't really see any improvement to be honest with one major exception. In the existing system when I rez a 40x40x40 mega prim sphere..hollow it out..put a dimple in it..I can't walk into it, in the Havoc system I can.

Also in Havoc when I fly to real height (700m say) I can't descend..can go up easily enough but not come down..unless I hit 'stop flying'..with the obvious spectacular result.

Transition between sims was certainly not smoother.

Thanks for the info Suezanne, think I'll maybe stick with what I've got.

Perre

Hmm, they may break some things that depend on the megaprims quirks, but maybe with Havoc 4 we could get to use some bigger prims. Problems with Havoc 1's limitations I believe are cited as a reason for the ten meter prim size limit.

I also saw that there might be an increase in linkable distance.

Perhaps it might mean more prims can be linked physical, hence primmier vehicles.

one thing i noticed

putting a spinning script into a physical object would cause it to 'fly away' and 'break out' of links (like chain links for example not linked prims)

on the beta grid they do not break links, and they do not spin wildly off into the sunset anymore


also the beta responds alot better to rez'in 50 cubes at once on top of each other all phsyical and spinning, on the main grid it makes a huge mess

I look forward to hearing of data compiled by the masses who experiment in this BETA ZONE. Load the thing up, get in there and mess around. The words 'HAVOC 2' have been whispered around the grid for a long time, to finally have some tangible evidence that it really has been in the works, is a good thing.

It's an awful mess right now. Get your av moving fast enough and you can pass right through objects unhindered. llApplyImpulse is unpredictable. llSetForce has changed, breaking a gob of things. Mouslook vehicles don't work at all. In fact, most vehicle code is screwed up so bad it makes me cry.

I hope this is all straightened out before it's even considered for the main grid.

I could bring a vehicle's primcount up to 64 - 1 per passenger and it works now. o.O

Nice, but, not the 255 prims I was hoping for.

Actually, it's nice anyway. If they kept it at 64 at the least, I can make use of it.

Then you're in luck. Swimming is already possible. I've got some SCUBA gear that includes a swimming anim, and you thoiught you could get swimming animations separately.