Tag: DMP

Desuade Partigen 2.5 and DMP 1.5 AS3 Libraries Released

Yes it’s true, Desuade Partigen 2.5 and Desuade Motion Package 1.5 ActionScript 3 libraries have been officially released!

Whew, it’s been a long time coming.

This is huge update that brings some incredible updates to Partigen, and some of those innovations trickled down into the DMP v1.5 (like object pooling). This is the biggest update to Partigen since the original 2.0 release, and am stoked about all the improvements.

Let’s take a look at what’s new since the original 2.0 release:

  • pixel renderer and pixel-based effects
  • tremendously improved performance and memory management with new object pooling for particles, particle sources, and tweens
  • support for particle filters and XML filter support
  • renderers start/stop automagically without needing to do it manually anymore
  • caching particles as bitmaps
  • more rendering options such as predraw, removeAllParticles(), and clear()
  • improved custom Random class
  • prefetching allows you to start emitters as if the effect has already been running for a while
  • XML support for renderers
  • BitmapCanvas class allows for super easy use and duplication of Bitmap/PixelRenderers
  • blendmode support for particles
  • groupBitmaping to improve performance on particles with a high groupAmount
  • particles can now be any class, without having to extend Particle
  • all the improvements in the Desuade Motion Package
  • plus over 50 bug fixes, tweaks, changes, and minor enhancements

By now, you can tell this is huge – big enough to be a full new version release. If you’re interested, you can checkout the full changelog here: http://github.com/andrewfitz/desuade/blob/master/changelog.txt

Now the bad news.

Unfortunately, the developer helping with the backport to AS2 totally failed to come through… so no AS2 version. It’s actually an incredible amount of extra work, and I still decide to place my energy on the future instead of the past. So we’re still AS3 only, unless somebody else wants to give it a go.

Regardless, this release is has been incredible amount of work, and I really hope you try it out and share it with your friends because the more feedback I get, the more work I put into it for you.

The commercial Flash extension and plugin is almost done being upgraded to 2.5 as well, and will be released sometime in July. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.

So stop – and download the latest Partigen 2.5 library and examples now here:

http://desuade.com/partigen/download

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

(PS. The docs have been updated with all the new additions to 2.5 – http://api.desuade.com/)

Desuade Motion Package 1.1 & Partigen 2.1 AS3 Engines Released

3 Months after the original release of the Desuade libraries (Desuade Motion Package 1.0 and Partigen 2.0), I’m pleased to announce the first major update to the package with DMP 1.1 and Partigen 2.1.

This release comes with lots of goodies, so let’s get straight to it and see the major changes in this release:

Motion:

  • MotionController.start(keyframe, startTime) – Allows you to start a controller at the given time as if it’s already been running
  • ClassSequence – duration, startAtTime(), getPositionInTime() for Tween-based classes only
  • Tween and BasicTween now have run() method to statically perform a tween instead of creating an object
  • BasicTween.position

Partigen:

  • Emitter prefetching – allows you to start an emitter as if it’s already been running
  • XML support for Renderers in Emitters – allowing bitmap effect presets
  • BitmapCanvas class for BitmapRenderer for easy management of BitmapRenderers
  • emitter.particleBlendMode – blendmode for particles
  • emitter.groupBitmap – lets particle groups be created as bitmaps
  • emitters now automatically start their renderers on start()
  • emitter.particle can now be any class, and does not have to inherit from BasicParticle
  • BitmapRenderer no longer asks for BitmapData (not backwards-compatible)
  • BasicParticle and Particle classes inherently use groups (removed BasicGroupParticle, GroupParticle)

As you can see, there’s some pretty awesome additions brought into the package, mostly refining and enhancing Partigen 2. These changes will soon be reflected in the upcoming Partigen 2.1 plugin as well, most importantly with XML support for BitmapRenderers and a BitmapCanvas component.

Download your copy now: http://desuade.com/partigen/download or http://desuade.com/dmp/download

Partigen 2.1 & DMP 1.1 In Progress – Plus AS2 Backport

It’s been a busy time the last few months after the launch; demos, tutorials, partnerships, and site redesigns. Now that the metaphorical dust has settled, it’s time for a little polish on the actual product.

So a few changes and updates that are expected to be tackled in Partigen 2.1 include:

  • Use any DisplayObject as particle without inheriting from Particle
  • XML-based renderers
  • BitmapCanvas class greatly simplifies BitmapRenderers
  • Improved particle grouping
  • Emitter.groupBitmap provides huge performance boost
  • Particle blendmodes
  • Misc performance improvements

These should provide some really nice improvements for the engine, and bubble up into the actual plugin. Those improvements are under the hood, and a few more interface improvements will also be expected.

Oh, and ActionScript 2… well it seems a large majority of users still use or are required to code in AS2. Desuade is all about focusing on the future, but leaving behind half a user-base is unacceptable. So, after the 2.1 codebase is complete, it will be ported back to AS2. There will be performance issues of course, but it will be better than no AS2 at all.

Expect some roll outs on the GIT server for you early adopters, and sometime next week for 2.1 release for the AS3 library!

Partigen 2 and DMP RC2 – Almost There…

Desuade Partigen 2 and the Desuade Motion Package are almost done! This is the last release before the final “dot-oh” releases, and the commercial component for Partigen 2. There’s less than a month before Flash on the Beach, and things should be up just in time!

This is mostly a bug fix/tweak release for the DMP, but Partigen sees a shiny new toy… the BitmapRenderer.

The BitmapRenderer was originally going to be put on hold until 2.1, but it was just too easy to build and too powerful to leave out. Example fla for Partigen has an example of using the BR, so be sure to check it out now to see a lot of particles… and motion trails.

DMP and Partigen RC2 – download now here: http://desuade.com/developer

DMP and Partigen 2 Beta 3 Now Available

The Desuade Motion Package and Partigen 2 libraries have undergone some big changes from the first beta release to the current near-final releases. If you haven’t gotten a copy yet, now’s the time to get curious as the API is reaching a very stable point.

This release offers a 200% speed improvement for tweens, due to a small syntax change and internal rendering. The ‘target’ property is now outside of the tweenobject and physicsobjects that are passed in the constructor.

I know that causes some backwards compatibility issues, but I figured the speed was worth it – and again these are beta releases so nothing is final yet.

It’s nearing the end of the beta, so now is your chance to get your input heard. You should download the betas now: http://desuade.com/developer and let me know what you think!

Partigen 2 & Desuade Motion Package Beta Soon

I’ll cut to the chase this post, so I can get back to working.

Big news: the engine for Partigen 2 and the new Motion Package that powers it, are done. The documentation is being made now, and will follow with examples.

As previously announced, it will be open source. Free. As in beer.

Once the documentation is done, all current customers will have the opportunity to beta test the package before it’s released, as a special thank you and appreciation of your support.

Note: this is for just the source code and classes aimed at AS3 developers, no presets or interface.