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if( simplicity + flexibility == true ) buy( unity );

Discussion in 'Formats & External Tools' started by cecarlsen, Feb 13, 2007.

  1. cecarlsen

    cecarlsen

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2006
    Posts:
    864
    Unity people.

    I'm very close to buying Unity now, but I still have some topics that I'm uncertain about – so I need you guy's to convince me once again.

    I will be using Unity mostly for prototyping ideas in interaction design.

    For instance, I'm considering using Unity for producing spatial visuals for music. In this particular project I have a flow of data coming from a live electronic musician via MIDI, OpenSound Control or UDP. Also, I need to generate and transform 3D objects 'in game', at best manipulate vertices separately. And I would probably need some kind of bridge to Java where I get sensor input from a tangible interface via the serial port.

    Would I be able to handle all this in Unity's JavaScript or would I have to get an understanding of C programming?

    Basically Im dead tired of 3D and openGl in Java, but I can't give up flexibility for simplicity. I need features that other programming environments provide me, so the question is if there is an easy way to make Unity talk to those environments.

    Re-inventing the wheel, everyday
    Carl Emil
     
    cecarlsen, Feb 13, 2007
    #1

  2. Joachim_Ante

    Joachim_Ante

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2005
    Posts:
    5,203
    At the bottom of this page there is an example plugin which shows how to integrate with existing C /C++ code. As part of that there is a fully functional MidiPlugin. The sample shows some jumping particle systems when pressing different keys on the keyboard,
    http://unity3d.com/Documentation/Manual/Plugins.html

    UDP you can do directly from JavaScript in Unity.

    No problem. This is dead easy.
    http://unity3d.com/Documentation/ScriptReference/Transform.html

    For modifying individual vertices:
    http://unity3d.com/Documentation/ScriptReference/Mesh.html

    Also check out the examples project page, especially the procedural project, which has a bunch of examples on procedurally generating meshes and textures. From heightmap -> mesh conversion, over extruding arbitrary meshes, to generating tron like trails.
    www.otee.dk/examples

    You can connect to Java in a C plugin.
    There probably is also some simpler way to do this in Mono but i have no experience with that right now.


    Anyway, welcome. You have come to the right place.
     
    Joachim_Ante, Feb 13, 2007
    #2

  3. cecarlsen

    cecarlsen

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2006
    Posts:
    864
    Thanks Joachim

    It seems like getting Unity will make my work both easier and more pretty. I'll join the club soon =)

    Keep up the exelent work
    Carl Emil
     
    cecarlsen, Feb 13, 2007
    #3

  4. antenna-tree

    antenna-tree

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2005
    Posts:
    5,324
    Grab the demo and check out what you can do for a couple of weeks. I'd be interested in what you think since I initially started using Unity with the same goals in mind (VJ control interface etc).
     
    antenna-tree, Feb 14, 2007
    #4