World Creator 2 - A Procedural Terrain and Landscape Generator for Unreal Engine

[nanthrox]

For anybody who might be interested: https://www.youtube.com/c/GameTexturescom/live

A live-stream showing the latest BETA of Creator through GameTextures.com - some vouchers and discount codes will be available during the stream

[Rhynedahll]

@nanthrox;724667

Hi,

we wanted to do a full asset for Unreal (same as we did in Unity) but honestly, it never would have been such powerful than the current Standalone version for Windows (Mac and Linux). So we completely made another decision on this:

World Creator will have a Sync-Tool (for FREE) in the Asset Store (Unity and Unreal). With that tool you can quickly re-create a World Creator Standalone project inside Unreal. Of course, the Standalone version is required but the handling will be very very simple. Just select the Standalone project and hit SYNC (you will be able to install a folder watcher). Then, it will re-create the terrain inside Unreal and you will be able to quickly drag’n drop your own assets into the proper slots like trees, grass and whatever you have. Each time you change something inside World Creator and hit save, the Sync-Tool will get the changes and update itself.

The development will start in three weeks and should be finished very quickly since it is quite a simple tool. I guess something around 3 or 4 weeks until finished. And this time we will start with the Unreal plugin and fire the Unity plugin after we have finished the Unreal one - promised!

That SYNC-Tool will be included in the Standalone package as well.

Very disappointing decision.

What is the status of tiling in the Standalone?

[nanthrox]

Tiling export works

[nanthrox]

Early prototype of the Unreal SYNC TOOLS is wroking now - we will be able to release it in August 2017

[VFe]

@nanthrox;738238

Early prototype of the Unreal SYNC TOOLS is wroking now - we will be able to release it in August 2017

Awesome. Been eagerly awaiting something to smooth the UE4 workflow with WC2 standalone. Thought the engine plugin was coming, but if this works, just as well!

[nanthrox]

It works just like a charm - currently we are implementing code where you can even sync the objects locations and put your own objects instead. Terrain already works. Texturing requires of course your own terrain material where you can put in the generated splatmaps and textures.

[Racemate]

I used to play with GeoControl 2 and I liked the outcome, but transferring terrain into CryEngine was a pain and the engine itself could not manage it well.
From afar it looked more or less fine, but actually it got quite blocky:

Nobody knew how to fix it at the time. So I stopped experimenting with it.

I hope UE will do it much better.

[ambershee]

That blockiness is probably due to having a low resolution texture format (i.e 8bit greyscale); you’d have the same problems in Unreal.

[Racemate]

@ambershee;750570

That blockiness is probably due to having a low resolution texture format (i.e 8bit greyscale); you’d have the same problems in Unreal.

It’s a pity. Thanks for the response!

[ambershee]

Well, it’s a problem with texture format; it’s blocky because the heightmap you’ve given it has insufficient bit depth. Using raw formats when you generate your heightmaps will go a long way.

[nanthrox]

Yes, it should be at least 16 bit.

However, the SYNC Tool for Unreal is now in BETA and available for everybody who purchases World Creator. It will be listed this night on our servers for download

[anonymous_user_8b69a8db]

Just a heads up to anyone considering purchasing this; If you run into any problems, you may have to contend with the following:

I can’t tell which is better, their customer service, or their poker skills.

The EULA is displayed when you first run the program. I wasn’t aware that it was on their website prior to purchasing it. Following their response to my email, I let them know that I’d also “forward the email” to my social networking accounts and gamedev forums; hoping it will lose them more money than a simple refund, and to spare anyone else from being subject to the same treatment.

What a horrible outcome. No win/win, no compromise… just lose/lose.
Such principles only make the world a worse place for everyone.
Perhaps they should consider that slogan instead?

[Rhynedahll]

@anonymous_user_8b69a8db

Just a heads up to anyone considering purchasing this; If you run into any problems, you may have to contend with the following:

I can’t tell which is better, their customer service, or their poker skills.

https://forum.unity.com/styles/default/xenforo/clear.png

The EULA is displayed when you first run the program. I wasn’t aware that it was on their website prior to purchasing it. Following their response to my email, I let them know that I’d also “forward the email” to my social networking accounts and gamedev forums; hoping it will lose them more money than a simple refund, and to spare anyone else from being subject to the same treatment.

What a horrible outcome. No win/win, no compromise… just lose/lose.
Such principles only make the world a worse place for everyone.
Perhaps they should consider that slogan instead?

Just out of curiosity, which particular element of their EULA are you objecting to?

I skimmed through it just now and it seems to be the same sort of boilerplate that all EULAs contain – basically “It’s ours. We own it. And if you do anything that we don’t like, you can’t use it.”

[anonymous_user_8b69a8db]

@Rhynedahll

Just out of curiosity, which particular element of their EULA are you objecting to?

I skimmed through it just now and it seems to be the same sort of boilerplate that all EULAs contain – basically “It’s ours. We own it. And if you do anything that we don’t like, you can’t use it.”

I really don’t like the way some of it is worded. It’s probably fine, but I’d rather not take the risk in commercial ventures. Disputes fall under the jurisdiction of German courts too, which - as much as I like that country - may compound any potential issues. What really gets me though, is the business model, toxic personality, IP comments and lawyer threats - that’s something else entirely…

If anyone is interested, I replied to a response over on the unity forum (I only use UE4, but figured I’d let those guys know too) - https://forum.unity.com/threads/world-creator-terrain-and-landscape-generator.388993/page-3#post-3251680

Hopefully I don’t come across as sounding arrogant. I’m terrible at interacting on forums, and I had to keep myself entertained somehow.

[VFe]

Honestly, Well his response is unnecessarily aggressive, it’s the proper response to what you said. You’re not owed a refund, you jumped the gun, you made the mistake. You then presented him with a legal arguement(that you do not agree to the terms), and thus the proper response was also a legal one; you wanted to break the agreement. You escalated and he responded.

Now, generally it’s a good policy to just refund people and move on, because they’ll come to forums and do things like this when you run a business.

But TBH, you don’t come off looking well either; well the good customer service thing to do is issue a refund, you’re not owed one, and they’re not obligated to give one; they’re upholding their end of the agreement and you’re looking to break it. See it from other parties perspective.

[anonymous_user_8b69a8db]

@VFe

Honestly, Well his response is unnecessarily aggressive, it’s the proper response to what you said. You’re not owed a refund, you jumped the gun, you made the mistake. You then presented him with a legal arguement(that you do not agree to the terms), and thus the proper response was also a legal one; you wanted to break the agreement. You escalated and he responded.

Now, generally it’s a good policy to just refund people and move on, because they’ll come to forums and do things like this when you run a business.

But TBH, you don’t come off looking well either; well the good customer service thing to do is issue a refund, you’re not owed one, and they’re not obligated to give one; they’re upholding their end of the agreement and you’re looking to break it.

I don’t see how I could break the agreement if I never agreed to it to begin with? I’m being compliant with it however, by contacting them and not using the software. I launched the program, read through the EULA, declined and sent an email (having read the below section).

**

If you do not agree to be bound by this agreement, remove World Creator 2.0 - CURRENT from your computer now** **and, if applicable, promptly return **… by mail any copies of World Creator 2.0 - CURRENT and related documentation and packaging in your possession.

**BiteTheBytes **… entire liability … is limited to the customers’ reimbursement of the purchase price of the Software … in exchange for the return of the product.

So… What exactly are we to make of that? Only purchases of physical copies are to be reimbursed, or the maximum they’re legally required to refund (after an arduous, totally unnecessary legal battle) is the original purchase cost? If that’s the case, it’s incredibly deceptive, so I’d think carefully before supporting them.

Refund entitlements aside - I’d accepted the money as permanently lost before posting on the forums - he was very quick to suspend my license and account on his website, while keeping the money; I don’t think denying me access to what I’ve paid for is reasonable at all? Who is to say that the EULA won’t be revised at a later date, or that my stance on the agreement won’t change in a years time? Am I then required to drop another $300 on the product? Their materialistic, hostile behaviour is disgusting. Not something I’d personally want to have in a friendly, creative community.

@VFe

See it from other parties perspective.

Trust me, I always consider the perspectives of others; listening, observing, and trying to determine underlying motives.
In this case, the motives seem quite transparent.

I’d rather not spend any more time dwelling on this. I warned people, and hit back at a nasty company.
I don’t think there’s anything to be gained by my lingering, and there’s definitely more productive things I could be doing.

Take care

[VFe]

The fact that you didn’t agree to(rather than with it) it is not clear in either your statements here or in your email, and is probably the source of a lot of confusion. The story as presented comes off more like you agreed to it and then essentially had remorse; which the other party seems to be making this same conclusion based on your wording, and this is the first moment in which you clarified that.

Just sounds like a lot of confusion all around that escalated when it shouldn’t, because the concerns are ultimately pretty petty(both his and yours).

[junfanbl]

That does seem like a harsh comment on someone who asked for a refund. “Criminal Prosecution…”. All they had to do was say no. Maybe they were trying to be intimidating just in case you had any thoughts of taking legal action against them for not giving a refund. Good customer service builds business, they apparently suck at it.

[anonymous_user_8b69a8db]

@junfanbl

That does seem like a harsh comment on someone who asked for a refund. “Criminal Prosecution…”. All they had to do was say no. Maybe they were trying to be intimidating just in case you had any thoughts of taking legal action against them for not giving a refund. Good customer service builds business, they apparently suck at it.

“Hey, Blizzard Entertainment, I declined the EULA/ToU to this game, may I plz have a refund?”

NO! Strictly DENIED! Your account is now banned! Your IP has been sent to our lawyers… said no Game Master ever. XD

I actually find it quite funny. Oh well, **** happens.

[TimSkijwalker (Tim van Kan)]

When can we expect an official UE4 plugin? I’m really interested in buying but I don’t feel I’d get to use it with UE4 properly.
(all tutorial videos are for unity.)

Is the SYNC tool out of beta?