trueSpace7's "little sibling" truePlay is, like many good ideas, simple and small, but can transform the way you solve problems! If you want to know more about this newcomer to the Caligari line up, you can find that info here!

So What Is truePlay?

truePlay is a free player application that lets anyone open scenes created in trueSpace7. Like the familiar Flash on web pages, truePlay can do everything from show pre-created animations through to running games and mini-applications, and all in real-time 3D. If it was trueView, then you could only look at the 3D scene - it's named truePlay for a good reason, as it lets you take part in and interact with the scene.

Do I Need trueSpace7 To Get truePlay?

No, truePlay is free to everyone, you don't need to own any Caligari product.

So What Can It Be Used For?

There are limitless ways that truePlay can be used! To fire your imagination, here are a few examples so you can see just what truePlay can achieve!

 

static render by Emmanuel Asset

Problem 1:

You are an architect wanting to show your current design to your clients at a meeting.

Notes:
This is the simplest use of truePlay, and just treats it like a viewer. There is no on-line required, and there is little interactivity with the scene.

Traditional Solutions (and traditional drawbacks!):
A set of still images (but can that properly show all the angles the clients might be interested in?).

A pre-rendered movie (but may still not show it from a particular view they require).

Take your laptop with your 3D program installed and walk them through it in that (but clutter from the modeling tools; need to take your laptop as they won't have your software installed; you have to control the walkthrough as the full 3D program is complex to control for your clients).

truePlay:
Load truePlay and your scene onto a USB memory stick or drive. Take it with you. Run truePlay from the memory stick on their machine and show them a pre-calculated fly through from an animated camera. Then move around the scene at will so you can respond to any requests to see particular areas from particular angles, or even let them walk through the scene themselves with the uncluttered interface. Real-time lighting and shadows makes the result close to a pre-rendered still or video.

 

 

Problem 2:

Same as problem 1, but you or others can't attend the meeting in person due to being too far apart.

Notes:
Uses truePlay as a viewer again, but this time with on-line collaboration to bring together remote parties.

Traditional Solutions (and traditional drawbacks!):
Web conference tools (all the limitations that apply to 2D images and animations - plus will you be able to stream your wonderfully rendered animations across the web in real-time?)

truePlay:
All those who need to "attend" the conference simply download and install truePlay. Your pre-rendered animation can be run, and then each of them can take control to look around the scene as they choose.

 

Problem 3:

You want to learn from an expert in 3D, whether that be about modeling, texturing, lighting, etc.

Notes:
Uses truePlay as a shared collaborative on-line environment.

Traditional Solutions (and traditional drawbacks!):
Use text only, or pre-written tutorials, or videos (all are 2D, not as good as seeing it in 3D; no way to ask questions or tailor it to your specific needs since it is created in advance)

Use web conferencing tools (you can see their screen and watch what they do, but you are stuck in 2D, and watching from their angle - you are a viewer and not a participant)

truePlay:
Join the expert in shared space - they will use trueSpace7, and you will se truePlay (though you can use trueSpace7 also). As they demonstrate tools, or point out areas in the model, you can move around the scene independently to get a better look at what they are doing. Ask them to repeat things so you can see it happen again. Point to things yourself and ask specific questions. This is actually better than looking over their shoulder, as you are right there in the 3D space too, not just confined to watching their work on their screen.

If you don't want to meet with someone in real-time, then simply download a 3D recording of a lesson, which lets you watch events happen in 3D - move around the recording as it plays back, stop it when you choose, and even pick up editing the model from wherever you paused!

 

trueSpace7 real-time view

Problem 4:

You need a simulation, and you need to be able to adjust parameters and see how that affects the outcome, and you need your visitors to be able to do the same, to try out different combinations of ideas to find the one that works.

Notes:
Uses truePlay as a shared, collaborative on-line and interactive environment.

Traditional Solutions (and traditional drawbacks!):
Not very many traditional solutions for this, at least not without significant investment of time and money!

Use pre-rendered images and animations (but no collaborative adjusting of parameters).

Use a game engine (but need to learn the engine, learn how to set up a server , and your client will also need to buy and install the game).

Write your own 3D engine from scratch, including physics, interface for the users, etc (time consuming and complex! Also not flexible, may need re-writing for future projects).

Write scripting and events in your 3D application (but clients would need same 3D application, and even then there is no way to all be in the same space at the same time).

Click for a short animation (AVI)

truePlay:
Create the scene and the interface via trueSpace7 (only one person requires this), and everyone can then be in the same scene via the free truePlay. The interface exposes the necessary parameters to the visitors, so that everyone can then adjust the simulation, and all watch the same results play out in real-time.

The scene on the left has breakable egg objects undergoing various events, with the result that the eggs either break or survive their ordeal!

You can adjust wind speed and direction, the angle of the slide, the position of the water tank, and control the force with which the ball hits the balloon, and it's a lot of fun!

You can view a screen capture movie by clicking on the image - better yet, download truePlay and you can enter the scene and try adjusting it for yourself.

Of course this only scratches the surface of what is possible, but these examples should fire your imagination and get you thinking on how you can use truePlay to help you make your work easier and faster, whether you use it as a simple viewer, or take advantage of the optional on-line capabilities!