User talk:QQuix/On Dynamic Items and Savegame Bloating

Nice

This is awesome stuff, great to have this around. When you finish, definitely need to get it moved into the (Main) namespace! (well, assuming you don't mind the byline rule)
Dragoon Wraith TALK 21:32, 1 September 2008 (EDT)

The byline rule is exactly the problem ... but in a different sense: I just can’t write that way. I get all sorts of a mental blocks (lack of talent and confidence, I suppose). I’ve been trying to write this as an article for months. Always procrastinating. As soon as I decided to write it as a personal page, everything flowed in a couple of days. Maybe, someday, some kind soul will rewrite/rephrase it into an article. QQuix 17:47, 2 September 2008 (EDT)

Meant to ask this earlier - would you mind if we post comments directly on the page? I had several, but they were on random bits.

--Haama 19:13, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

No problem. Go ahead. I wont have any mass update anymore.QQuix 19:59, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

That is not a problem at all - we can help with that.

Dragoon Wraith TALK 20:39, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

Thanks, but I am OK. I mentioned mass update because I have a ‘master’ text that I edit during the tests and the initial idea was to replace the whole ‘article’ at once. From now on it will be easy to update by blocks. And comments on the page will be most appropriate. QQuix 21:50, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

This stuff is amazing. I'd love to see a video of the ruby cascade; that sounds awesome. This is easily among the best testing Oblivion has ever seen, you realize?
Dragoon Wraith TALK 00:16, 15 September 2008 (EDT)

I've just downloaded and installed FRAPS. I will try to make a video, just for fun.

The tests may be good, but I am only testing Misc Items. I know that Haama alone has done a lot of serious, varied tests. Anyway, thanks. It is nice to hear that. QQuix 01:24, 15 September 2008 (EDT)

OK. The video with several cascades is here (YouTube).

For each item, the first drop is one-per-frame (organized, takes time). The second, drops all in the first frame and let the engine handle it (chaotic, faster). The third, drops all and spread them in the air in the first frame (fastest). Finally, just move all up and let them fall.

Disclaimers: The video I uploaded was much better quality, but it seems YouTube ‘processes’ it and reduces the quality. Fraps allows only 30 secs of recording, so I had to do a lot of cut&paste (without much practice). And forgive the naked lady. RemoveAllItems did it, not me.

And we all must applaud the physics engine. You really can see it at work here. It looks most realistic and natural.

Have fun. QQuix 22:19, 15 September 2008 (EDT)

That's amazing! Yes, I agree, Havok has out-done itself here. Very, very nice work.

Dragoon Wraith TALK 10:06, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

General test comments

Hey QQuix, some quick, general test comments:

1. Remote cell vs. Loaded cell
   • I suspect that the PlaceAtMe/Activate trick does prevent bloat, but only if the item is in a remote cell. I used this trick extensively to prevent the item's script from running so maybe it has other effects. The trick has been tested (and of course those threads have long been dead/destroyed) so either the tests were wrong or there's another variable we're missing.
2. No ref vars
   • You can get around 1000s of ref vars by using OBSE's GetFirstRef
3. Public testing
   • I haven't gotten this much off the ground myself, but please post your test mods so other's can take a look. It doesn't need to be fancy - a link back to this page and comments if necessary.

Very cool and glad this is getting the testing it deserves.
--Haama 11:30, 17 September 2008 (EDT)