If this were an email conversation, I'd respect that wish. But seeing as though it's a public forum, I'll ignore that wish.Originally Posted by Jan
I like a good bicker. I'm not happy unless I've got something to moan about.
If this were an email conversation, I'd respect that wish. But seeing as though it's a public forum, I'll ignore that wish.
I like a good bicker. I'm not happy unless I've got something to moan about.
Everything happens because there is a need. If a supposedly cross-platform API dies, then oh well, apparently there wasn't enough need to have it.
One way or another, there will be a way to access the graphics hardware. Whether it is called OpenGL or anything else, and whether there is a single/similar way to access hardware on different OS/platforms - not so much of an issue (at least for me).
You say that, but it could be.
Consider that the OpenGL 3 API is very close to the D3D10 API in its method of working; what if MS had a patent related to that and decided to send the lawyers in?
Is it likely? Probably not... but in the absense of anything concreate wild speculation is the order of the day
Imo, there's no technical (or similar) reason which can explain why they haven't said anything at all about what's holding them back. At least they could have admitted that they've tossed any plans of an immediate release (back in november or whatever).
It is true that a great many powerful companies are heavily invested in console technology right now, and have a motivation to not want PC graphics to advance. Look at the shitty engine Epic sells compared to the superior Cry Engine 2. Obviously Epic wants to keep the consumers content with old lightmapped technology, and does not want people to expect graphics the console systems cannot run. Khronos' money comes from Sony, and Sony obviously has no interest in PC graphics being better.
It's not a matter of speculating who is conspiring against us, it is more just a matter of looking at where the money comes from and who has motivation to retard PC graphics. I don't think OpenGL 3 is going to run on the Playstation, so why would Sony want PCs to have a better graphics API?
So when I first heard that the Collada people were going to be running OpenGL, I was not happy. I also thought it was laughable that MS and Epic are members of the "PC Gaming Alliance". These are two companies that benefit from PC gaming being f*cked up!
It's obvious it's being held up by IP issues, but they could at least say "It's being held up by legal problems" rather than just give us the finger.
GL3 is a API cleanup and some small amount of performance and consistency. It won't make PC gaming better.
Also, GL3 can be made available for Playstation 3 and quicker since the driver design would be MUCH simpler.
------------------------------
Sig: http://glhlib.sourceforge.net
an open source GLU replacement library. Much more modern than GLU.
float matrix[16], inverse_matrix[16];
glhLoadIdentityf2(matrix);
glhTranslatef2(matrix, 0.0, 0.0, 5.0);
glhRotateAboutXf2(matrix, angleInRadians);
glhScalef2(matrix, 1.0, 1.0, -1.0);
glhQuickInvertMatrixf2(matrix, inverse_matrix);
glUniformMatrix4fv(uniformLocation1, 1, FALSE, matrix);
glUniformMatrix4fv(uniformLocation2, 1, FALSE, inverse_matrix);
I don't know about the PS3's 3D graphics API, but i would assume, that Sony might at least consider to implement GL3 on it, if it matches its hardware (ie. has no special features, that are not handled through GL3).
The point is, if the PS3 did allow to use GL3, it would attract more developers to port to the PS3 (or, it would make it EASIER), since people would then only need to support 2 APIs (D3D9 and GL3), whereas today they need 3, if they want to include MacOS (and Linux).
On the other hand, what i heard about Sony, they are still more of a hardware-company and their tools are supposed to be quite limited (more information from people who know what they are talking about is much appreciated!), so maybe they just don't care much and think it is the developers problem, not theirs.
Anyway, having more options is usually a good thing.
Jan.
GLIM - Immediate Mode Emulation for GL3
I don't know if this thought was already expressed by anyone, but is there really a point in a new graphics API? Look at the modern cards --- they evolve rapidly to general-purpose stream computing devices. If this continues, in 3-5 years we will have a need for a cross-platform stream computing API (like CUDA), which will make any graphics API obsolete. That is, even if hey bring GL3 out, it won't last for longer then maybe six years.
Yes, actually that thought was already expressed! I think it was somewhere in this thread, or in the "No newsletter out yet"-thread.
GLIM - Immediate Mode Emulation for GL3
Yes. Because no matter how general-purpose a GPU becomes, it's still a GPU. And the most effective way to set that GPU up is not something that a graphics programmer should have to know.is there really a point in a new graphics API?
GP-GPU APIs and the like are not good graphics APIs.
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