Argent Stonecutter

I'm running Windows 2000 at home.

No, I'm not going to rip Windows XP, if I upgrade I'll have to wait until I can afford it retail.

DanielRavenNest

All it took was for me to fill out a short form to get listed as a developer, and from what I see on my dev page, I should be able to upload content once they get the system running (its not yet).

For people who dont want to bother getting a developer account, the content files are just files created on outside programs. It will not be hard to email an item to a developer and have them upload it for you, if for some reason you dont want to do it yourself.

In SL, if you want to create stuff on your own, you have to pay to upload textures, sounds, and animations, or buy those plus scripts if you don't write your own. I would imagine a small fee for an upload service would be workable, in fact I am considering that myself.

DanielRavenNest

LOL Rock speaks the truth, I asked for a forums category for the Block Editor tool, and that was added within the hour.

Also note, that I have been writing a "how to" set of instructions on how to create an item and run it through the Blue Mars tools. It's specific to the graphics software I am using (3ds Max and Photoshop), but I imagine it won't be long before others will be written for other graphics tools. I have been learning as I go on the Blue Mars editors and taking notes, so the next person can get there faster.

By the way, here's my latest creation at the Block Editor level, which is as far as I can take it this minute. Notice the avatar? I can walk her around in the sandbox tool. I assume once I figure out scripts and animations I can test those too before uploading. Oh, I made the grass terrain too :-)

Argent is correct, that no amount of offline testing will find all the problems. Second Life demonstrates that, every time they roll out new server software to the main grid.

Attached Images

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Rock

That is so true, and Glenn (Community Director at AR) said this:

That sums up my experience thus far with AR.

I would love to know how you made the grass terrain. If you are willing to share please PM me in the BM forum.

I also agree that "that no amount of offline testing will find all the problems" but from what programmers who have been using the Sandbox 2 for a couple of years now tell me, is that testing inworld will not reveal any more problems than you would find doing all the same tests in the Sandbox. SL created the beta grid for testing purposes, but folk just prefer to do their testing in what they still refer to as the 'real' SL environment of the main grid, even though on the beta grid they can upload their textures, sounds, anims etc all free of charge. I think it is largely psychological rather than technical. I do all my SL development offline now, in my Opensim (as do many creators I know from SL), and it works fine for me. I can try many textures, without paying, until I get the look and feel I want. That is just my preference, I am sure others have different preferences.

Let me know if you have any specific scripting, flowgraph, or animation queries, we have some excellent scripters/programmers/animators on our team.

Rock

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Fickle fee

I just don't get it..... I'm sorry it's too confusing for someone who just draws....I signed up as a developer...I draw lol I can't work out how the hell your supposed to upload textures to go on your AV at all. I don't make clothes I make skin so all a bit over the top of my head which is a shame as I would have liked to have been part of it but as I am not a modeller really, I just don't understand how artists of textures for skin are supposed to be involved...am I missing something?

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Rock

Yes, you are missing the Avatar Editor, which should be in the next release.

What is available, so far, are a Cosmetics Editor (basically a face editor) and Avatar obj files. Various templates are being finalised and should also be out shortly.

These questions (and answers) are in the Blue Mars forum, so I would advise hanging out there, hooking up with others (and I have seen a few there) who wish to create skins, tats, clothes etc, and let your needs be known. AR will respond. I have also heard that attachments such as necklaces, bracelets etc will also be done in the Avatar Editor, as these will form an additional attachment layer.

Rock

Atashi Yue

I have UV maps for the Blue Mars avatars, but until we know how the skins will work (one piece? Three?) it's kind of futile to do much work with them.