New Release Orbiter Galaxy Generator Demo

[jedidia]

This is a demonstration of the procedural galaxy generator, that will one day enable Orbinauts to travel a complete, moderately believable galaxy (despite all the efforts I made to make the generator accurate, this shouldn't be mistaken for an astronomical program. It belongs into the realm of hard science fiction). This day is still a long way off, however. The current package consists only of the generator, without any linkng or even export abilities that would connect it to orbiter. Please be patient, the day will come!

download the demo here:

*****version 0.5.1*****

http://www.orbiterradio.com/orbitermods/jed...iterGalaxy.rar

****patch 0.5.3****
(overwrite your old exe with the new one):

http://www.orbiterradio.com/orbitermods/jed...y-Patch053.rar


This Demo is intended to give people the possibility to look at the galaxy generator, report bugs and make suggestions for improvements. However, these reports won't be addressed immidiately. My highest priority is to link this to orbiter, which will take some time. After a first playable version has been released, I will revisit the Generator and implement your suggestions.

please post your bug reports and suggestions in the developement thread here:

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=9428&page=15

For now, there is one fault I know for sure: The Sol-system doesn't look like the Sol-system. The ability to integrate custom star systems into the generator is not yet provided, but rest assured, it will be when The whole thing is linked to Orbiter. There wouldn't be much point in this project otherwise.

p.s: there is a readme.txt file in the package I forgot to delete. It is almost the same as Manual.doc, just a lot less readable.

 

[Linguofreak]

One question: Could you upload it to Orbit-Hangar rather than that awful download site?

Other than that: Here's to seeing if it will run under Wine...

*crosses fingers

 

[jedidia]

Uploaded a new version, built with the newest Irrlicht version (link above updated). Major point of interest is to see if this resolves the mouse problems reported in Vista and Wine.

This version also fixes the repetative systems and adds keys for zoom-control in the Starmap (Q/E), as requested.

One question: Could you upload it to Orbit-Hangar rather than that awful download site?

I decided against it for two reasons: a) this has not yet any real connection to Orbiter, so Orbithangar doesn't seem the apropriate place. b) I'd have to wait 24 hours every time I upload a new version at the start. However, the second really was only a minor issue. Once this has any real orbiter connection, I will put in on OrbitHangar, of course.

 

[Linguofreak]

Uploaded a new version, built with the newest Irrlicht version (link above updated). Major point of interest is to see if this resolves the mouse problems reported in Vista and Wine.

This version also fixes the repetative systems and adds keys for zoom-control in the Starmap (Q/E), as requested.



I decided against it for two reasons: a) this has not yet any real connection to Orbiter, so Orbithangar doesn't seem the apropriate place. b) I'd have to wait 24 hours every time I upload a new version at the start. However, the second really was only a minor issue. Once this has any real orbiter connection, I will put in on OrbitHangar, of course.

OK, but between the capcha to download, the ads, and the 45 second wait time before the download begins for those who don't have an account, that site irritates the blankity-blank-blank out of me...

 

[Lucy]

Since the file is so small, I could ask the owner of my server if he'd be OK with me mirroring it, if that would help.

 

[jedidia]

OK, but between the capcha to download, the ads, and the 45 second wait time before the download begins for those who don't have an account, that site irritates the blankity-blank-blank out of me...

oh... I didn't even know that there was a 45 seconds wait, using it only to put stuff up... sorry bout that, I understand how that can be annoying!

Since the file is so small, I could ask the owner of my server if he'd be OK with me mirroring it, if that would help.

That would be very nice, thanks!

 

[Lucy]

No worries;

http://xcc.rpgee.com/orbitermods/jedida/OrbiterGalaxy.rar

As long as the load stays "reasonable", we'll be fine. I'll be happy to replace it with newer versions, just PM me and give me a headsup.

 

[jedidia]

Thanks a lot! load shouldn't get significantly bigger, really, until I have to include a sample system to show how to add custom systems to the generator, but when I reach that stage I will switch to OrbitHangar anyways.

 

[Linguofreak]

Thanks Xyon!

In any case: Mouse works now. There are problems both with the window being too big for my screen, and not resizeable, and stuff in the program running off the edge of the window and thus not being visible (I can't get to the toolbar that's supposed to be on the right edge, and a maximum of 11 planets in any given system show up in the graphical display at the top, the rest being beyond the edge of the Window. That may have something to do with me running it under Wine, though). I've come across several factual errors with the single/multiple status and spectral types of stars (Alpha Centauri A, the brightest component of the system seems to be missing, or at least so close to B that I can only see and choose B. Also, Barnard's Star and Van Maanen's star are *very* misclassified. Barnard's is an M-something-V and Van Maanen's is a white dwarf). I also found a few generated stars that are *way* to close to Earth for how bright they are (one brighter and closer than Tau Ceti. If it existed, it would be visible to the naked eye, and a staple of sci-fi novels).

 

[dumbo2007]

Awesome !!...have been waiting for this a long time...looks very detailed with lots of research having been put into it.

 

[jedidia]

added another patch to fix the key combinations. just copy it over your old exe.

EDIT: just noticed that the patch had the wrong version number, that should have been 0.5.2. sorry 'bout that, I hope there won't be any confusion!

 

[tgep]

SWEET !

We're getting closer all the time.

 

[jedidia]

Patch for version 0.5.3 up. Only minor fixes to make the life of those who explore the galaxy to discover strange new astronomical bugs a bit easier. Fixes the planet mass display in kg, adds core radius, gass mass and rock mass to the planet table.

 

[MisterBurkes]

Really nice
*Downloading it*

Is it ran like a normal Orbiter scene or is it a program itself?.
OR does it randomly create a scene with a randomly created Galaxy?
Thanks

 

[Frogisis]

This is frankly amazing, and works flawlessly on my Win7 machine. Can't wait to visit these stars.

I skipped around the galaxy imagining all the worlds to explore, and it really drives home a sense of how absolutely immense the Milky Way is. I'll have to go look at the development thread to see how this is going to interact with Orbiter.

 

[IgnoreThisBarrel]

This is awesome. I wish there were more O type stars (with planets?) though :/

still, excellent work

 

[donatelo200]

O stars are the only type of normal star that shouldn't have planets. M stars up to B stars will have planets. Wolf Rayets are normally dying O stars. If you wan't O stars make the galaxy really young and go to the center. (Y-L excluded they arn't true stars) Some exotic stars like neutron stars and white dwarfs will have planets but for some reason the don't in Orbiter Galaxy yet.

 

[IgnoreThisBarrel]

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

 

[Iacomus Maximus]

This is an amazing project...
I have a couple of questions because I have been thinking about something like this for quite some time.
1 - Will there be an effort to preserve known stars within 10 or 20 light years of Sol?
2 - Is this being designed to work with any 'Warp Drive' addons or will a Warp Drive be included?
2a- The classic formula for Star Treks Warp Factor is WF = x^3. WF 7 = (approx) 1ly/day. What are your thoughts on how a person will navigate through your galaxy.
2b- My thought on this would be to use the traditional formula and allow each vessel to have a maximum WF (9.9 for example), 'Time Warp' can be used and for the less patient of us also allow an option to 'Jump' to a star system.

These are just my thoughts on this fantastic project of yours - I sincerely hope that you are able to accomplish what you've set out to do because I can't wait to use it.

 

[T.Neo]

I don't think there will be any inbuilt use of Warp Drives or suchlike in Orbiter Galaxy, but you can always try Artlav's [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=2297"]Warp Drive MFD[/ame]. It even tells you your "velocity" in "warp factors".