xi://stence.imaginations

No... another post!!!

2010-08-15T17:10:00.002+02:00

Yup, after such a long time, here is another post for the last reader, that might be out there.
During the last year al lot of things kept my attention on them, on of those was my Diu-project, and well: here it is...
It is in an alpha state, presented 'as it is'. Some more work must be done, but i think these pages can be shown already, so i invite you (my last reader) to visit this last page... or not... or whatever.
Finally i hope it might create some interests.

Go to Diu...

Update : xenesis-engine (III)

2009-07-01T23:31:00.006+02:00

As you can see, right now i'm fiddling around with a vegetation-concept to bring some content in the world. Ya, i know, the fps sux right now, but there isn't -any- optimization in it right now, and the amount of rendered stuff isn't really low. In this test i set up to show trees in a radius of 128 tiles around the player (1 tile = 2 meters), so we can see trees up to 250 meters away from us. Already looks very dense.

Diu-Database (fictional world concept)

2009-06-12T21:43:00.003+02:00

These days i keep my eyes open for a free and good solution about a wiki-system, because the plan is to build up a database of knowledge about the world 'Diu', this database will be defined as 'fictional world concept'.
The target is to define this world as detailed and plausible as possible.
Later on this knowledge might be expanded by community work (under the aspect of 'certificated' content, so content that is verified and agreedto be part of this world).
'Diu' is the first world falling under the concept-type 'fictional worlds', other worlds, which are already in progress, should follow (so like 'kenauer' or 'arkthal edliam').

Diu-sign

2009-06-12T21:37:00.003+02:00

During the work on 'the digital messiah', 'Diu' and other related projects, i spent a lot of time for defining rules and directives for the design. Design doesn't just mean the optical part, it is also related to the 'functional' parts. So these directives not just define 'how' something should look like, it furthermore explains 'why'.
So the Diu-sign is shoulder to shoulder to the definition of the world Diu.
Diu-sign will be the base for all designs and/or artworks related to 'Diu', 'the digital messiah' or comparable. Later on (as for an release of 'the digital messiash') the Diu-sign, bundled as a documentation, should be there to help those trying to create stuff in the direction of a 'digital world' (or for 'the digital messiah' itself if the want).

Ruul

2009-06-12T21:30:00.003+02:00

'The digital messiah' is a complex story in a complex world, so for that i decided to create a roleplaying-system (or also known as rulesystem) which i call by its codename 'Ruul'. 'Ruul' is perfectly fit to the needs of the digital world 'Diu', which is also the background for the storyline of the digital messiah. Hopefully during the next 1-2 month i can finish a pre-alpha-version of it.
As we're talking about a digital world, you can expect that this rulesystem won't be comparable to any known one these days. A reason why it is not derived from any standardsystem (like AD&D or similar).

Process blocked

2009-04-18T20:33:00.005+02:00

Geeee... so much time has past during the last post. You might wonder 'huhhhmmmm, maybe his 56K-connection just sux... com' on, welcome to the future, get some real internet!'. Well, the fact is, i moved to a new location, and it took much, much, very much, too much, sooooo much time, i can't believe it myself.
But finally i arrived, and hopefully things starting to get better now.
About the projects (you might guess it already), still on the run! If someone would pay me to make them in a team, fulltime, no question it would be easier. But as long life gets in the way, dangit...
I'll going to make some posts in the near future (you know what this could mean).

DEdit-Trick : Outlining

2009-01-29T12:16:00.010+01:00

Hi there,

here is a little, neat trick for DEdit (and for sure, for other 3D-render programs and -editors as well) how to create an 'outlining'-effect. This is an effect known from drawn things, especially comics, and it is describing the optic when things are drawn with a more intensive style at their outer edges. That way, they can be shown more separated from the background and other elements in the drawn scene.

Now the big question : why talking about it here?
Well, during the last 4-5 years, working with DEdit and other 3D-rendering stuff, i collected/created a set of techniques and/or tricks that helped me creating maps in a more efficient way. Also, Tron itself is orientated to a style of computergraphics from the early 80's, at that time 3D-CGI always looked very 'edgy', so this optic can fit well (if used correctly and wisely).

IMPORTANT : It should be told at this point, that this effect can (but don't have to) be a massive backshot, if you don't use it right or to massivly in your maps. That said, your performance of the map could drop. So better make yourself some good thoughts about your map before you use this effect! And work cleanly, otherwise you create too much extra polygons, that will reduce the performance!

IMPORTANT : In each step of this tutorial i added the corresponding keys you sometimes could use. These are mapped to my keyboardlayout (german) and might be different if you changed the settings in your DEdit (heck, even i don't know which of my settings are still default or not :)).

HOW TO
Lets assume we're talking about an object like this in the map, where we want to have that outlining:

And our target is to reach such an effect:

How to do that?

It is simple. First duplicate the original(A) so you get a copy(B), that copy will be used for the outlining.
[SHIFT & C > SHIFT & V]

Now set the position of the copy(b) to the same as of the original(A)
[SELECT (A) > SHIFT & X > SELECT (B) > SHIFT & Z(maybe Y if your keyboard has not a german layout)]

In the next step, you increase the dimension of the copy(B) about 1 or 2 DEdit-units in each of the six directions. So like this:

(TIP: the higher the increase the more intense the outlining will be shown!)

Now put a texture onto the copy(B), for a Tron-styled map surely something 'glowish' :) (for toon-style you should use something black):

Flip the faces of all sides of the copy(b), so the outside is now inside (i have hidden the original(A) so you can see it better!):
[PRESS F]

All steps are done, all you have to do now is to compile/process your map, and make a test. You can run around in your map as much as you want, you will realize that only the outer edges of the cube will be showing.
Combined with, for example a flat-shading, you can also create a toon-look. You just need to setup a texture like something black on the copy.

Here are two example how this would look like if you have a more complex shape/architecture in your map, using this effect.

Update : xenesis-engine (II)

2008-12-21T00:47:00.003+01:00

Some more work was put into this engine. So, for example, tests showed that it is possible to create a 'view' for the player where he can look about 32 up to 64 km in each direction, a massive view i would say. The terrainsystem still needs some work and optimization, but yay!
I also spent work into the skybox (or better skydome), not finished tho, but already some nice stuff to see. Here you go...

Update : xenesis-engine

2008-12-18T10:18:00.005+01:00

I had the chance to get my hands back on my 'xenesis'-project, the engine i working on and which should act as 'backbone' for several of my other game-projects as 'diu'.
The screenshot shows that i managed to create a buffer- and terrainsystem by myself so i can load and present 'nearly' infinite huge maps (surely there are limits as the memory of the client etc., but aside from that it can be massive) and to have a wide view (based on performance you can look about 4 to 8 km in each direction from your position!). The screenshots shows a raw kind of landmass, i'm still working on multilayered texturing and tiling.

Update : xMDK

2008-12-09T22:13:00.002+01:00

I know, i know. The last time i told i would try to release something for October, now it is December. Well, simple reason is i have to move very soon, so i was very busy the past months, and i will be for two more. A lot of things will change for me, and i have to find some patience to spend more time on it, but before that i have to bring order into the chaos that was created around me.
But progress about xMDK is great, anyway. Most things are done about the core-system for individual team-handling, self-controlled respawning and some more stuff. Right know i'm working on elements for an onslaught-like mode (which will be called 'hack' here), and some other game-modes are in concept-phase (some CTF-like, COOP-like, etc.)

Archives of Diu

2008-12-09T21:45:00.002+01:00

You might know those 'Chronicles of...'-films and stories. 'Archives of Diu' is something like that. It will put all things related to the world Diu together. Based on that i create a kind of roadmap for the things i plan to create.

Roadmap:

'ARCHIVES OF DIU : The digital messiah - programmed destiny' :
Singleplayer-game, total conversion based on the Tron2.0-Engine.
Planned beta-release : December, 2009
--------------------------------------------------
'ARCHIVES OF DIU : The digital messiah - VAR' :
Planned sequel for 'programmed destiny', but not fixed. Anyway, storyline is defined already
Planned beta-release : not set
--------------------------------------------------
'ARCHIVES OF DIU : Order into Chaos' :
Telling about the begining of Diu. Releasing type not defined.
Planned beta-release : not set
--------------------------------------------------
'ARCHIVES OF DIU : Constructor' :
Concept for an MMORPG/RPG-System. In concept/progress.
Planned beta-release : 2010-2011

Digital Art : Character

2008-12-04T11:53:00.004+01:00

Currently i'm working on the look of programs, or at least how they should look in Diu. Right for now here are two sneak previews of a programs head: one normal, the other using a subprogram creating a kind of visor (first level of this subprogram, has two more).

Programs are very complex in Diu, nearly every part of their look has a function or use, so a reason why it exists or for what it is used for.

The great zzzappp or 'i must have a bad karma'

2008-11-12T10:55:00.002+01:00

You know what is 'great'? If your computer decides not to work anymore. I mean, nothing, nada, not at all.
Yesterday my main system crashed, and i can just guess : computers might feel bad if they are near me, so they decide to suicide (i'm a living EMP-Weapon).
As a result i have a) a heatsource less during these colder days, b) i save money 'cuz i don't use so much energy (yay!) and c) some of my projects will be delayed for an unknown time (unless i got a new computer and guess : yes, no money for that right now).

Following projects are delayed :
- xMDK (as i need two systems for testing purposes and stuff and, damn, i was so close to an alpha version...)
- DIU/xenesis (as i was during a backup when the system crashed, don't know when i can transfer the data from my HD's to my laptop).

TDM goes on, as i work with it directly on my laptop.

Comment of the day about that : bleh!

Process idling...

2008-11-05T22:00:00.002+01:00

October was a tough month. Not only that i helped others with their move into a new city, i got the news i have to move as well ('cause of my work).
So very soon (in the next two or three months) i'll be able to put my digital bum on a chair somewhere else. Due to that fact some of my timeplans got corrupted (as usual) so i have to get myself back into my projects to get some things done (as the xMDK). So left a port open for some news in the near future.

Make your ears bleeding...

2008-10-03T23:10:00.002+02:00

If you think you can abandon your hearing : i uploaded a track i made years ago, crappy as usual. It is electronic style (no, not techno-boom-boom), so kinda ambient-experimental. You can find it here (>xMedia>Tracks) or follow the folder-icon on the left.

Update

2008-10-03T21:49:00.004+02:00

Look to the left... come on... look... yes... good program!

As you can see there are two new ugly crapcons (crappy icons): the folder-like will lead you to a place where you can find downloads (trojans, spam, etc... nah, just jokin'), and the desktop-like leads you to my gallery.

Parallel i found a place where i can store some of my stuff for downloading in the meanwhile. Right now you can find some wallpaper-packages of the latest screenies i made the last posts.

INFINITE

2008-09-29T23:22:00.005+02:00

Shortly in DIU there were rumors about a special program which is called 'Moebius'. Regarding to the rumors it must be a kind of transport, but a very special one as such a transport could normally not exists.
It works like a perpetuum mobile as this program uses its own energy again and again.

(I dedicate this little design in full respect to Jean 'Moebius' Giraud, a great Artist, Designer and my all time favourite, who also made many great designs for films like Tron, Fifth Element and even some stuff in Alien. I wish i would have just a little bit of his skills!)

xMDK

2008-09-14T15:52:00.002+02:00

Nah, don't worry, you don't have to call the police. Right now i'm working on an intresting concept which i call the 'xMDK' or 'xistence Map Development Kit' used for Tron2.0.
The main point of this package is that it is combined with a mod and this mod will change some things so new gameplaymodes should be possible.
I'm talking about stuff like 'Capture the flag' or 'Onslaught' (if you ever played Unreal Tournament 2003>).
It took a long time, but things look very promising as the MDK can already build teams of player, handling individual spawning, separating between player, filtering, handle object-to-object situation and more stuff.
In the end the MDK should be able to handle its own kind of game-mechanism. So if everything keeps running fine you just need to select 'Deathmatch' in Tron2.0 and then the map containing the gamemode you want to play.
And additionally this system can be extended, so more features might be possible or new sub-gamemodes could be created.

Technically i have to use an existing gamemode (i call it 'host-gamemode') which i completely twisted and bended to reach my target, while the maps, containing the new gameplay-modes, are 'sub-gamemodes' as they don't appear selectable in the menu, just as selectable maps.
This was ment for the release of TDM, but as the development for TDM will take more time, i decided to create the MDK now, so the community has some more stuff to work with.

Things are still in progress so the release should not be awaited for the next weeks.
I hope i can get something finished for the middle of october. More news here, stay tuned...

Digital Art : xBoard

2008-09-13T22:53:00.005+02:00

I had to knock down a program from that neat thingy to show it : a hoverboard which is a special-mode/-form of the id-disc. Definitly part of my digital world 'Diu', if it will be part of TDM is not verified.

Digital Art : xLightCycle

2008-09-11T15:37:00.006+02:00

I'm not such a big fan of lightcycle as others are (no! take that disc down again! bad program! i know that i suck), but anyway i was curious if i can design one, and here is the result:

(4000 polies died during the construction of this lightcycle, so lets have a minute of silence for them... . Also there were 100 buckets of polishing creme used to give this shiny effect).

So far it is not planned to have this LC in TDM (but might change, don't know), so look at it as kind of digital art for now.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmorpg

2008-09-08T14:29:00.002+02:00

Most know what is ment by 'mmorpg', the rest of you who have just recently noticed that there is more then just steampowered machines (so for example 'computers'):
a 'mmorpg' (try to put a sponge in your mouth and repeat it ten times), also known as 'massively multiplayer online roleplaying game' (praise the shortcuts!), is a game where you can meet lots of others geeks like you are (or i am), to play together in the same world and to waste your worthy time as your money. If you ever heard about 'World of Warcraft' you know what i mean.
Now, i was recently asked: 'hey, dude, you do that TDM-whatever-blah-crap, what about a mmorpg?'. I already dropped that info sometimes, but to be a bit more precisly: yeah, i have my hands on a concept for digital, flickering, byte filled and glowing mmorpg (shortcut : dfbfgmmorpg).

It is called 'Diu'. Why 'Diu'? Well. 'Cuz its the name.

So, as being a concept, locked somewhere in the darkest corner of my drawer, it is not finished. And not even tomorrow. No, either not next week. So to speak: it will take its time, that's for sure. But more information should follow here.
The current facts:
-mmorpg (sorry, dfbfgmmorpg!)
-yup, it's a digital world, the same which is used as background for TDM
-crafting possible
-economy possible
-community possible
-clans possible
-blah possible

Stay tuned...

That's my ride, dude...

2008-09-05T19:57:00.000+02:00

UPDATE : Dude, my ride got polished, now it is ready!

If you ever were curious about my ride i took everyday to my work, look:

(Just to compare: that was my old ride... ugly huh?)

(now the nu one... shaboing)

(when it was under construction...)

Seriously this is an impulsJumper out of TDM.
Texturing completed : 100%
Modeling completed : 100%

Blog finished... me too

2008-09-04T16:04:00.000+02:00

Ooookay, so my blog is now in shiny gold-status, so it is marked as being 'finished' about design, blah and etc. I checked it in different browsers so far and it seems to be cool. As final words (and as recommendation):
If you have an Internet Explorer and you don't want to throw your pc out of the window, or taking a big magnet and hold it near your harddrive or taking two forks from the kitchen to stick it in your eyes (which must hurt), then don't watch this site in IE. It works, but don't look so nice as in other browser. I have to less time and nerves to adapt nearly every pixel in IE so it looks even everywhere, tho i hate IE and i have also no real interest, really.

Anyway, have fun with whatever you can found here.

(If you have no fun, i send 50 naked dwarfs (you know those pesky little freaks from the fairy tales) to your house and they'll going to whip your ... until you laugh and have fun. Remember that!)

Loot4u (Beta) released

2008-09-04T11:04:00.000+02:00

A few will have the imagination that i live under a stone, deep in the forest. You aren't wrong, except the stone is a house and the forest is a small town. More surprisingly : i also have a job, and the uber-surprise is that i'm the lead-gamedesigner in my company (poor world).

So i make games...

One game i made in the last few months is called 'Loot4u' and what should i say : it is insane and weird as i am, made in a comic-style and played online with others (call it a mmorpg, will you?).
Right now in a beta-status and for now released in german only (i know... booooohhh!). You want a link? Here you go. But be warned : you won't understand much unless you can read german. And it is beta, errors could occur and finally it is hosted in Germany, so connections might not be so cool if you are located in USA, on the moon or the next galaxy.

The digital messiah, things you never wanted to know but i'm answering

2008-09-04T10:28:00.001+02:00

Maybe you want to know : 'Hmmm, digital messiah... what's that? Kind of a new religion? Do i have to pray for Jesus 2.0?'.
Although you will obey it after you played it because it will do some mindsweeping and reprogramming of your logic, it is not a religion. If you plan to create a sort of shrine for it, where you place printed screenshots, it is your thing.

'The digital messiah' started years ago, even before Tron2.0 was released (but which initially lead me to create a game-project like this). I had tons of ideas and a lot of imaginations. As i'm not drinking and not taking drugs (i'm boring, i know) there were just the options that i must be insane (could be) or having an intresting idea that i should follow. So i started the game-project 2 years ago with the target to create a complete game by myself (proof of my insanity).

Facts, facts, facts...
Now these things a pretty important for you to know:

--TDM is not Tron... huh?--
It doesn't smell like Tron, walk like Tron, it is not Tron, got it? But it plays in a digital universe and a few points were taking from the Tron-universe. Does that mean i have to less phantasy, that i need to steal? Well, the point is : Tron is cool! Was it, is and will be, for all times, 'nuff said.
I don't want to destroy the whole construction called 'Tron', i have massive respect about that idea and concept. But on the other side i had a lot of ideas and concept that won't fit into the concept of Tron. So - press reset - start again.
Another fact is i don't want to give away my ideas to Diznay, you know. They are not the same innovative company they were in the 80's where they created films like Tron. Today all is about making money, not to entertain people really anymore. And i didn't spend my time to create my stuff, just to see some lawyers stands in front of my door saying 'the nose of Tron was seen in your game, so we own it, period'.
If Diznay would be clever they would have worked together with pps in the Tron-Community as today communities are the future of everything, you cannot avoid it. But we know how Diznay acts these days.

--TDM is just the peak of the iceberg--
'TDM / programmed destiny' might be just one story out of a set of stories. Depending on the time i have (which i don't) i'll make some more stories. And TDM itself is created out of a whole world-concept called 'Diu'. So there might be other projects coming along related to this. We'll see.

--TDM should be a homage to Tron--
Although that TDM is not related to the story or characters of Tron, it is dedicated to it, that said it should praise the innovative, unique idea and style of the film. I'm just a worthless pile of mud trying to reach just a quarter of the style this film has. Ment seriously.

--TDM will cost sooo much, no one could pay, so in the end i take nothing for it--
Seriously, i believe in entertain pps and not to make so much money that i have to build myself a big swimming-pool so i can swim in that money. Does it mean i'll have to live under a bridge like a troll? For sure, but as i'm already look like a troll, no one would be surprised.
No, TDM is freeware, everyone should play it if possible. Another reason why i don't offer it related to Tron, 'cuz companies like Diznay only send the lawyers to grab your ideas so they can make money without spending time to develop it. And that way people have to pay again, that is against my believe.

Applications

2008-09-02T15:41:00.001+02:00

Some might wonder about the fact that i do programming. 'Doesn't someone need to be intelligent and being able to think logical?'. For sure, but anyway i do programming, and sometimes i really create something.
Right now i have some tools, but actually i'm looking for good places to store these apps for download. The problem is that among the 1000000000000 internet-pages (where 999999999992 are just pr0n-sites) there are not many good sites to store such data w/o giving the host all of your money, your account number, your first born baby and your soul.
But as soon i found a good place i'll will put up some download-links here so you can d/l and test these apps, and for sure, crap up your pc. Naah, they should work stabil and nice, but for sure you should prepare yourself for bad cases and you should give me feedback about any bug you can find (or put the bug into a briefcase and send it to me).

Art

2008-09-02T15:40:00.003+02:00

In my free time i like to make art/-work and/or design. Colouring by numbers was way to boring, so i decided to make different stuff.
So if you are intrested, bored or a spider-bot you might have a look to the upper-right of this page, where this flashy, fading thingy resists. There you can watch some of my artwork, click it to jump to my whoopy-yay-awesome-crap-gallery.
All artwork or designs or screen or blah will be in that gallery hosted by google/picasa. I'm not a fan of such things, really, but better then nothing. Don't expect to see glorious and fantastic artwork there. Not that i could show some (nice excuse, isn't it), but i won't put up things i worked on for a long time, just to see it crapped up somewhere else on a different page with a title to it from someone saying 'i made cool artwork (as i copy'n'pasted some fotos of my goldfish via photoshop on it, w00t!)'.
If you are intrested in any of my stuff (not only artwork), you'll need to get in contact with me. If not, get in contact to me as well, but then write nothing so i can reply nothing.
For the rest of the time, enjoy what you can see on my picasa-web-gallery.

The digital messiah

2008-09-02T15:40:00.001+02:00

Hmmm, yeah. Also i know that there are only a few readers out there, those few might be curious and ask : 'hey dude, where is your 'digital messiah'-crap, huh?'.
Well, to be honest: it is still in progress and working on it by myself paired with a full-time job, there isn't much time left to work on it. Traveling back in time doesn't work, and cloning myself was forbidden by the UNO in the name of human mankind.
Anyway, i'm still working on it, and compared to the current situation of having less (less*2, less^1036725) time, it makes good progress.
But for sure you might think : 'That is just blah-blah, weirdo. Where are the screens, demos, etc.?'. Definitly not here right now (*looking around* no, definitly not), and if you can find something, it is not really something related to this project, stolen or from a parallel-universe where i'm already done with the project (in the latter case, please contact me and name the portal where i can travel into that universe).
Seriously, there are (good) reasons not to spread too much information about it for now, in the end the project will go different ways as other games do, and it should come with a lot of extra stuff and info.
These things should stay cloaked and they need their time. Bammm! Not what you like to read, but that is the fact.

I'll try to keep you updated, as soon there is something new.

xistence imagi..what?

2008-09-02T15:39:00.000+02:00

Some might wonder about that name (not many i would guess, therefore i would need more then just 2 readers, myself and someone who accidentally arrived here after searching for a pr0n-site (which could also be me... hmmmm)).
If you are curious about it, here are some facts:
'xistence' is my alltime nickname, used in most cases of being/working online. Beside of that 'alter ego', i use 'xistence imaginations'. For one reason as it has more letters, for the other reason as it acts as a sort of artist-name/branding/logo/blah. That said, you'll find it on most stuff i created or worked on. I use 'xi' as shortcut to it, also there is a specific logo. There is much room to play with this name-construction and to create lots of variations.
So don't be afraid if you watch into the mirror the next morning and you have 'x'-eyes after reading my blog the night before. Take two aspirin, wait two days and it will go away. Then come back here.

So if you stumble over 'xistence' it could be me (but don't have to, seems some didn't got the memo that i own that nickname), and if you find something related to 'xistence imaginations' it should be me (otherwise someone stole my name, grrrr).

Updates...

2008-09-01T21:02:00.001+02:00

Some might have noticed that my blog wasn't available for quite a while, but if you didn't, nevermind (shame on you!).
The blog got some re-design, as you can see. Blogger can be a pain in the ...(yup) when it is about to push things around in this layout, but so far it seems to fit... yeah there... there... aaand even there. There are still some flaws, so these pages are in a kind of 'alpha'-state.
You should look at it as something new, so that is the reason why i didn't archived any previous posts or stuff (shame on me! but i'm the blog-owner, i have the last word ;) ).
Don't expect daily updates as i don't have much time for stuff like that (work and something ugly called 'life', you know...), but i'll post something new from time to time... maybe every year or decade.
Seriously i'll look to post something about my current stuff and projects in progress, or whatever i feel for. We'll see.

Feel free to hang around here, or to write any comments.