Release and plans update
Hi all-
I know it has been a while since I last posted. My apologies for that. I needed to take some unplanned personal time off after the last release to recuperate and reset. This project does not exactly have built-in holidays or downtime, and I often work 7 days a week, so I take time off as needed when I feel I am not being productive or over-stressed. The last release (1.20.0) was a lot of work, and I was beginning to stress a lot about spending too much time on VaM and not enough on VaM2. More on that later in this post.
So, what has been happening on this project since the last release (1.20.0.10)?
I took about 2 weeks of time off. The rest of the team continued to work on VaM and the Hub
1.20.1 work - this release is all about Hub integration and is nearing completion. This release will also include some bug fixes and tweaks based on feedback since 1.20.0.10. Please note the Trello board has not be actively kept up to date but will receive some updates over the next week to reflect the changes.
VaM2 work - rewriting of some of the core VaM functionality from VaM
VaM2 work - feature and roadmap planning
VaM2 work - technology research and development (DOTS, Unity versions, HDRP)
New 1.20.1 and Hub feature (already released): dependency tab on resources to make it much easier to get all the pieces needed for the resource to work as designed. A lot of the work behind this also applies to the Hub integration into VaM in 1.20.1.
New Hub feature (already released): Promotional link for Hub Hosted resources. This allows creators to share a link to an external site while still uploading a var package directly to Hub. This makes it easier to get the download, while still providing a way to promote the content. The upcoming 1.20.1 release of VaM will take advantage of this setup more fully than what is shown on the Hub.
Hub tweak (already released): The star-rounding for reviews was not quite fair. For example, a 4.99 average rating would show up as 4.5 stars. This has been tweaked to be fairer.
Hub tweak (already released): Externally linking to Hub was not allowing for proper preview. This was fixed so links made to Hub from Discord or other sites can now show a full preview with thumbnail.
Ramp up of an additional part-time developer for the team. This new member will help with both VaM and VaM2 coding going forward.
I have personally split my time since the last release between the Hub, VaM, and VaM2, making progress in each area slower. And this leads to the next important topic.
Change of plans for 1.20.2 (Scene Wizard) and VaM2
The time off gave me a chance to reflect on what is important for this project going forward. It is quite clear VaM2 needs to be the top priority. VaM2 is getting behind where I had envisioned due to ongoing VaM development and the Hub. VaM needs to stop interfering with VaM2 work to prevent further delay.
VaM has also reached the point of polishing something that will never be optimal due to being stuck on older technology that limits both performance and appearance.
VaM2 is the chance to fix some core issues in VaM and bring 3 years of new tech into VaM. VaM2 will be a complete rework or rewrite of VaM code, systems, and assets, some of which is already complete. The goal of VaM2 is to improve all aspects of VaM: performance, appearance, functionality, and usability. VaM2 will feature newer tech like Unity HDRP (for vastly improved appearance), Unity DOTS (for vastly improved physics performance), revamped GPU physics for cloth and hair, support for newer and different models (Daz3D Genesis 3 and Genesis 8 as an example), and possibly other recent technology advances like raytracing, if feasible.
Since VaM2 needs to be the top priority going forward, we have made the decision to shelve the development of the Scene Wizard for now and cancel the planned 1.20.2 release which was to mainly feature the Scene Wizard functionality. Instead, some of the team will continue to make improvements, tweaks, and bug fixes to VaM in the form of new VaM releases further out in time, and I will personally be moving full time to VaM2 starting immediately after 1.20.1 release is complete.
I hope everyone can see the value in this reset of plans and the decision to put priority on VaM2. These decisions are not easy to make, but we feel this is the right one at this time.
Thank you for your ongoing support to ensure the future of this project’s success!
Meshed and Team
Comments (43)
Take your time on the 2.X. VAM 1.20 is the best out there and will be for a long time. We'll pump the cash in the mean time :)
Can't thank you enough for the time and effort put into this outstanding work. Take all the time you need. Mental health should not be abused or taken for granted. Thanks for updating us on the process and paths intended. I'm with AWWalker on the VR based 3D Design Studio & surprised DAZ has not been more engaged on that fairly untapped market.
Sounds like there is no reason for me to maintain a membership until 2.x comes out...
Are there any plans to improve the UX and UI in 2.x? A UX designer would be a very good hire! 🙌🙂
Yeah the UI will be redone for 2.X. The VR and desktop interfaces will be different as well as it is near impossible to make something that works well for both. In addition we plan to put in hooks to allow UI extension and/or replacement.
Much deserved, you've already produced the greatest piece of software ever created. What continues is polish and improvement.
Keep up the good work, don't worry too much, and take a rest when you need it; You're doing a fantastic job! Thanks from all of us!
Are there any plans implementing DLSS in the Vam 2.X?
I would love to, but currently is not possible to get it in Unity: https://forum.unity.com/threads/will-dlss-2-0-soon-be-available.861958/ Hopefully this will change over time.
This is the best money I've spent in a long while! Thank you for your program and the team's work. Came for the sexual content, spent hours learning about 3d design and animation. Keep rocking it!
I take the liberty of asking the question because I suspect that it burns the lips of the majority of the community, the first available alpha version of 2.0 will be released in about how long?
Sorry I don't want to even make a guess at this because I'm frankly pretty poor at making accurate guesses at when releases will be completed, and for 2.X there are still a lot of unkowns and investigation work to be done. A lot of times in software development you simply don't know how difficult something will be until you look at it. And 95% of the time you hit a limitation of Unity or other technology that requires workarounds and more work. About all I can say is I'm about 6-8 months behind where I wanted to be with 2.X, and I originally planned to release at least 1 alpha this year.
Thank you for your amazing hard word! Do not stress! I have been enjoying VAM for well over a year straight now and I have learned allot of unexpected skills! Thank you so much for what you do.
Good work. Only one thing saddens me. I absolutely wish you had let us know you required the rest. So that we wouldn't worry. So glad you took a rest. Wish you had let us know about it before, at its start.
Yeah I don't want to let anyone down, so sometimes it is hard to stop and take a break when I need one. I usually take a day or two off after a big release, but this time I discovered I needed more time. Mostly because I was questioning additional 1.X work when 2.X needed to be the priority.
Thanks for the update. I came back about month ago and was amazed at how far vam has progressed. I honestly spent too much time playing around with this game within the past few weeks. I got it initially for "scientific research" but found myelf delving into a genuinely great sandbox game. Please keep up the good work and take breaks whenever you feel like it.
Will V2x of vAm be compatible with assets from V1x? VARs? Saves, poses, etc etc?
I'm sure someone will write a conversion mod for it if its not built in at least
Good decision. Thank you for that change (^^)/
vary impressed! thanks for the hard work cant wait for 2.x
do subscribers get 2.x as well or are you planning on releasing it separately as a purchaseable product? I've got no reason to stay subbed if it's the latter and every dollar counts these days.
Subscribers get 2.X as well. Keep in mind 2.X will take some time to develop, but we will release early alphas as we go.
Great news! I agree with the general consensus that focusing on 2.x is a better use of resources at this time! Proud to be a supporter and looking forward to great things to come!
no plans for fluid physics?
It wasn't mentioned here, but 2.X will have vastly improved skin collision which will enable fluid simulations to work much better with accurate collision. So it will definitely be something we will look at.
As long as you're maintaining this masterpiece I'll never quit supporting you. My respect. VAM is the one and only! I hope you get me right - English is not my native language.
sweet
1.x already awesome, just move on to 2.x
Hi, thats great news, gonna start subscribing again as I wanna support the 2.0 VAM, I don't see any more point working on 1.X because of the software limitations, I fully support you moving onto 2.X I was really hoping to see the 2.X early release this year but I don't think we have any luck on that.. If I were you I would stop everyone from working on 1.X and start working on 2.X with the entire team because as someone else said 1.X is as close to perfect as it can get with the software limitations.. Please do keep us informed for news on an early 2.X build. Also if you will need someone for testing purposes, I am willing to do it for free, I have a strong setuo with a 3080 and an i9 9900k, would love to help out by testing builds if you ever need someone
Not all of the team will be able to make a meaningful contribution to 1.X until I have more of the core framework completed. Once that is done, we will transition over fully.
Thanx for the update, but are there any rough date for 2.0.
I'm afraid there is no rough date for 2.X. We will release alphas as we go, and I will post updates here as progress is made or there is something to show. The 1st alpha would be more of a tech demo than a fully-featured application.
Its great you are shifting focus onto 2.X VAM needs these next gen technologies, and i hope the game can have better performance with Multicore focused CPU's like AMD Ryzen, and have Raytracing more of a optional feature, and what would be amazing is that we can have DLSS for both PC and VR since they have recently updated them!
Improved multicore performance is a major goal of 2.X. The Unity DOTS system mentioned maximizes this potential.
Thanks for the update and 2.0 full steam ahead!
I am totally on board with this. IMO the current build is as close to perfect as it can get. If we can get a performance increase alone from 2.0 I see that as the best possible outcome. The added future models and textures is just icing on the cake. We have hardware that is much more advance than what we had when vam released years ago but we are unable to use it to its full capacity due to the limitations of the software. Im looking forward to the performance increase alone. In VR fps and smoothness for me at least is the most important thing.
Go for 2.0 :-)
I totally support you moving to 2.x. However, why even focus on 1.x at all?
Some of the team won't be able to easily contribute to 2.X right away due to it being work on core systems and technology. The rest of team will transition as soon as they are able to contribute in a meaningful way.
I think your judgment is correct.
100% right desicion putting focus on 2.0. :)
Thanks! Excited to see 2.XX, good luck guys and stay safe
Makes sense to me. Great work so far.