CompuServe Messages

<< IK, will be done by 3rd party vendors, right? I mean how could Adesk or the Yost Group support code that they didn't write or control? >> I don't know anything (or have forgotten) about the Schriber IK IPAS or how it relates to R4. If these R4 features *are not* written by YG, then I see your point. At this point in time, I have no idea who wrote & owns the code. In fact, I don't know if the code actually exists in more than a show mock-up form. See my recent upload for an edited blurb taken from the library area if you haven't seen the NEW features upload. If R4 consists of changes in the executable, support files, and several IPAS plug-ins – and ADESK owns it – then it's really not too much different than things are now. That is – Dan, Tom, Rolf, & Darrel (& Hayes) essentially have written all of the code for the core releases & all the IPAS stuff, right ? But usually, they are not available to support the code here themselves. So if the various R4 plug-ins were written by someone else other than above, I guess it would be about the same as far as the user is concerned. If the plug-ins were written by one of the 4 above, then it would be exactly the same as now, right ? If I'm guessing right about what in the He** R4 is in the first place, then it's a novel and cost-effective way to develop an upgrade. (I can't think of another similar example in the industry). If it's all features mentioned for a $295 u/g, then it seems like a bargain. But honestly, I too would prefer a rewrite to the core code if implementing spline modeling/animation, IK, Dynamics, etc.. For instance, after reading over both R4 feature uploads, it *appears* that the Patch modeler consists of having to start with a planar or cylindrical patch matrix, rather than being able to construct patches from control curves using various patch-creation functions. If this is true, it's better than poly's (with appropriate deformation tools), but not what I hoped for. But it would allow a Patch Modeler to be implemented easier via IPAS, rather than dealing with the fact that the core code does not allow curve creation in the Editor. Know what I mean ? I guess we'll see with time. I'm really surprised how it's being conveyed, though. BILL