BusyObjects   - Preview - 
Copyright  2002, Bernd R. Fix. All Rights Reserved.


"BusyObjects" is a technology that exploits a new way of animating objects in
static FS2k+ sceneries. It allows you to play animations at varying speeds,
begin (and end) animations at any time and have complex path definitions for
the animated object. Since the object is rendered at different positions for
(nearly) every frame, the object transformation appears very smooth.

Installing the demo: 

The preview assumes you are familiar with installing new sceneries in FS2k+,
so no fool-proof installation procedure is given. You are best off to extract
the ZIP-archive "DemoScenery.zip" into your FS2k+ installation directory.
Then modify your "Scenery.cfg" to include the new scenery folder:

	[AREA.xxx]
	Title=BusyObjects Demo
	Layer=xxx
	Active=TRUE
	Local=Scenedb\BusyObjectsDemo\Scenery
	Remote=
	Required=FALSE


Running the demo:

The demo scenery is located at the famous Meigs Airfield, Chicago (that is
were FS starts, when no default is given). To see the demo, you should start
on Runway 36.

You will see the demo scenery to the right, where two large wind power
stations are located. Switch to "slew" mode and go to the scenery:

The wind power stations always face the wind and their rotation speed
will depend on wind speed. You can see that by changing wind speed and
wind direction in the weather menu. See how slowly they can move with
"no wind" - you really have to wait to see them move!

The fueling station has a complex animated object - a RoboCleaner. The cleaner
is taking care of the area in front of the fueling station (in the demo he is
doing it all the time). He is spiraling inwards while he progresses, so he is
not simply circling (switch to "birdeye" view to see him move). When the whole
area is done, he is driving into his home position.

The cleaner has two more animated (sub-)objects: Two counter-wise rotating
brushes in front of him.

This is indeed a "simple" animation regarding the possibilities of the
"BusyObjects" framework (it's just a demo, isn't it?)

Any decision on how to distribute the framework has not been made. My favourite
solution would be to make the framework exclusively available to a single
scenery designer group for a negotiated period of time, before releasing it
into the freeware arena.

Any suggestions and comments welcome, although it make take some time
for me to answer

Regards,

Bernd R. Fix 
<brf@brainon.ch>
