Vote: Beyond G-Force

[andy55]

Cast your vote.

[gpvillamil]

Well, the question you should be asking is whether G-Force will continue to be a way of enhancing music playback on computers for private use, or increasingly, for public performance.

If for private use, then developing plugins for the various computer audio players is the way to go. Mostly people will let the program run and let it sync to the music by itself. Pricing will stay at the $10 - $20 level.

If for performance use, then you need to think about integrating with the various VJ packages like Arkaos, Motion Dive, Visual Jockey, VJamm, etc. G-Force visuals are actually more impressive than the some of the stuff that's out there in the pro packages, but what is missing is the element of control, being able to trigger scenes from MIDI events, etc. I know that G-Force has quite sophisticated scripting - in order to make the most of it, think about making it work with the more "pro" level VJing packages out there. This will move you to a whole other level of pricing - $100 and beyond, even just for a plugin!

I am moving to using the pro packages more & more, but would really like to keep using G-Force as well. My likeliest solution is to keep a laptop dedicated to G-Force (and other standalone PC visuals), and run it through a video mixer controlled by the other programs.

[JayPro]

I don't know how close you actually are towards a truly finalized version of G-Force; but I would like to see it with the release of G-Force 3 (i.e. along with the significance of the name of the program comes the significance of the number of the *perfected*---pun intended---version).

In all honesty, I don't see WhiteCap developing much beyond what you already have, save the addition of the internal reworkings you've put into the GF 2.6.X engine. As of now, it is in my view a *very* nifty peripheral plaything in comparison to the completion of GF and the long-awaited public birthing of Project X.

[andy55]

I don't know how close you actually are towards a truly finalized version of G-Force; but I would like to see it with the release of G-Force 3 (i.e. along with the significance of the name of the program comes the significance of the number of the *perfected*---pun intended---version).

Heh. Nice. I will hint that there is most definitely a G-Force 3 planned for this fall at the lastest. The feature set is less visual enhancing and more UI enhancing if you catch my drift.

[Rovastar]

I have stated in the past that I find GForce looking a bit old now.

Sorry Andy that is way is see it. I look at the graphicial quailty of new computer games and demos out there and the visualizations out there don't match up. 3d technology has to really be embraced in this day and age.

Sorry if this sounds harsh but I honestly think you can do better.

Also again I would like to reiterate the current trend of turning visualizationa into VJ apps. Cool a plugin wil be nice for VJ apps but it is not all that important IMHo and I would rather devolpment time be spent on improving GF or actualy starting again with ProjectX. (How is this going BTW.) rather than adding MIDI/controls etc to a visualization that lets face is is designed to automatically react to much.

But a much needed GUI for the config for GF would be great.

[andy55]

I have stated in the past that I find GForce looking a bit old now.

Sorry Andy that is way is see it. I look at the graphicial quailty of new computer games and demos out there and the visualizations out there don't match up. 3d technology has to really be embraced in this day and age.

Sure, but keep in mind those are your visual tastes. A lot of people (including myself) don't like the computery-looking 3D "look" of so/so visualizers.

And, as far as doing better--I agree. I'm very excited about what will come down the pike--I can't wait.

Andy

[Rovastar]

I have stated in the past that I find GForce looking a bit old now.

Sorry Andy that is way is see it. I look at the graphicial quailty of new computer games and demos out there and the visualizations out there don't match up. 3d technology has to really be embraced in this day and age.

Sure, but keep in mind those are your visual tastes. A lot of people (including myself) don't like the computery-looking 3D "look" of so/so visualizers.

And, as far as doing better--I agree. I'm very excited about what will come down the pike--I can't wait.

Andy

Tre they are my visual tastes but harnessing the 3d engine doesn't mean you have to have a 3d look.

[JayPro]

After all, Open GL is used in both 2- and 3-D graphics...and G-Force uses it on the Windows side, n'est-ce pas?

[andy55]

After all, Open GL is used in both 2- and 3-D graphics...and G-Force uses it on the Windows side, n'est-ce pas?

True, but when something like OpenGL is used for "2D", it's typically used as a perfromance enhancer. The value/time/investment is in the algorithms (which is independent of hardware)... Using OpenGL to accelerate them is just that--just for performace ehancement.

Andy

[Rovastar]

Also you could combine the effects. Have the same 2d delta map ideas but with say 3d objects on the top for more variety.

3d deltamaps really have some depth to them also.

[pegasus]

I think you have done a fantastic job Andy. I have the iTunes, ArKaos, iGoom, Vortex, Kaleidoscope, LED Spectrum Analyzer visualizers and they all stink compared to even the basic G-Force, let alone G-Force Gold.

There is a song by Enigma called Shadows that is particularly mesmerizing on G-Force Gold. The same group did a lot of the music for Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Many of the other songs on their Love Spirituality and Desire album are fantastic on G-Force too. Some nights my wife and I sit with a glass of wine watching that music on G-Force and it is the most fantastic experience I have ever had. It's better than drugs I'm sure and lots of other things I have experienced.

Keep up the fantastic work Andy. Once the word and images get out you should be a very rich man.

BTW-I think you sell it to cheap.

[Jonh2o]

whats GUI stand for?

[JayPro]

Graphic User Interface. This basically refers to the look/feel of menus and options consoles you can access in order to change what you want. Making this feature available has been a big topic of discussion here.
I'm sure there are others who know the ins and outs of making a GUI more than I. No doubt they can answer whatever questions you may have.

[gpvillamil]

Well, I find the G-Force graphics quite stunning. If you (the user) put a little effort into configuring sprites, changing the color maps and defining new waveshapes/flowfields, it can look really different. (Rovastar - I know you've done far, far more in this direction than almost anyone!)

The hypnotic effect is really absorbing, more so than most of the stuff I see from many VJ programs (or VJs).

However, it might make sense to leave scripting, GUI, MIDI responsiveness etc to programs that focus on that, instead developing G-Force as a plug-in to other VJ programs. There is actually a standard, FreeFrame (www.freeframe.org) for visualization plugins.

This would lead to the best of both worlds - develop G-Force amazing graphics, and let other programs handle the GUI. It would also open possibilities of integrating other media types (live video, video clips) with G-Force's generated graphics.

[fling93]

The feature set is less visual enhancing and more UI enhancing if you catch my drift.

Cool. That's what I voted for. Personally, I'm perfectly comfortable messing with config files, but it's really the only thing that I would change to make it easier for the masses to use.

BTW, thanks for adding album cover art. That was the one thing that I thought was really missing. Awesome!