Worldwide Weather System

Hi,

I have the technology to make a Worldwide Synchronised Weather System. It would be possible to make it so that for a certian period of time, it is raining everywhere in the world, then maybe drizzling a bit, then it stops for a while. THe next day, maybe some snow.

There was a post in the forums recently about a desire for an SL weather system, so I'm wondering who would be interested in seeing this system put into operation?

Does anyone have any preferences for ratios of nothing/rain/snow/light drizzle/heavy rain? Are there any sims that should be excluded (I'm thinking: Cardova, so as not to add to the smog thats already there...)

What do you think?

Azelda

Edit: this would be a free service, but I reserve the right to halt the service at any time with no prior notice. This post is not contractual. Service may vary.

The vehicle sims and Oak Grove should also be excluded from any weather system, to keep framerates there as high as possible.

This is a good idea, maybe to get past having rain go through objects and such have the clouds stay a certain feet above any object underneath detected so the particle can drop down almost touching the object? I know that was a big worry about weather systems. I wouldn't want rain and stuff going through objects either.

I'm willing to donate my snow script if you'd like it, just let me know

Personally, i'd find particle rain and snow HIGHLY annoying. Even if I could have it not go on my land, it would still be in my POV.

sounds like unnecessary lag. might be fun to have in 1 sim, but everywhere sounds like a bit much.

That'd be my worry too, if I own land, I'll decide what kind of environment it'll have. ...unless support for this is built into SL (with a preference to turn it off). But that's FAR from my first choice of new features.

Since many of us log on to SL to "escape" from the real world, I don't think that Worldwide rain or snow would be a good idea. I don't want to log on only to have to stay inside all day. I want to go for a ride on my boat, ride my motorcycle, and more importantly talk to friends and random people. I tend to meet more random people outside in the middle of nowhere. If someone made a "creepy-like" horror sim or something, then sim-wide rain would be pretty freakin sweet! But worldwide.... Um no. (please!)

On top of that, those of us who are at the low end of the System reqs would be screwed with the extra power that weather might need. (I'm high on the processor, but low on the RAM... and broke, so I can't buy any anytime soon...)

I think it would be really neat but I can imagine not everyone wants to see particles on their land when they are trying to build in peace and quiet. Rain (or snow in the northern sims) 1ce a week would be cool. Even cooler if the rain moved from sim to sim depending on wind direction.

> Rain (or snow in the northern sims) 1ce a week would be cool.

Yeah, I was thinking it would certainly have to be subtle.

It would be fairly easy to build-in a "go away it's not the right time!" functionality.

Azelda

Anyone who wants weather should put a weather object on their land. These weather objects would communicate with their neighbors to sync the weather.

> Anyone who wants weather should put a weather object on their land. These weather objects would communicate with their neighbors to sync the weather.

Well, I just thought a weather system would be a cool idea. People were asking for one, I have one that works. Didn't seem unreasonable to offer to put it in place!

Azelda

Well, yes, SOME people did, not the entire world. I don't think having to have a weather object is exactly UNREASONABLE, Aze.

Thanks for the offer, but I'd be rather upset if I had rainclouds floating over my land....

Well, consider weather to be cancelled in SL. I'm quite disappionted. I'd like it to rain and snow sometimes. Not just over my land, and not just over the land of a few people, but globally over the whole system.

Azelda

I'm sorry to hear that you're dissapointed, but you must let the people be heard. I, for one, would love this to happen if I could control it over my land. How about globally EXCEPT over the land of people with boxes that turn it off?

Personally, I would enjoy a global weather system - it would add to the immersiveness and realism. But I'm one of those weirdos who actually likes when it rains, snows and storms in RL. Rainfall is one of the most soothing sounds I can think of...

Plus, in SL we wouldn't have to actually worry about getting wet or needing to shovel snow or any other hassles.

I guess the problem with this is that you can never please everyone. Some want to live in eternal sunshine and that's understandable. So I suppose those of us who want weather have to confine it to our own land.

Perhaps this couldn't be enacted across the whole world of SL but you might be able to get particular sims interested in it. Especially in themed areas and sims that are consolidated with like-minded people.

I hope you don't scrap this idea just yet Azelda... though i understand your disappointment at the response so far. Perhaps those in favor of weather haven't been vocal enough or even saw this post. And i think if you scale down the scope of it a bit... by not making it worldwide (which might make people feel forced into it), then the response might be better.

I've seen a snow script that's rather nice, not intrusive, and doesn't lag me at all.

(Most of the REST of the game lags me to 'ell and back though. And it's getting worse.)

I don't see why it has to be worldwide anyway, that's alot of work, and you could just install it in themed sims that request it.

No. Leave it up to the Lindens.

Azelda...I am interested in seeing your project in action! Where do you have it working at? Thanks!!

Azelda...

Love the idea. However I have to agree with others that, at a global level, this is best left to the Lindens. That said, I have proposed framework for 'atmospherics' that goes way beyond just weather. Check it out...

Land-Owner Defined Atmospherics


Meek