Steel_Wind
Legend
(Hi Jupp! ltns...)
I bought Dundjinni Platinum and the overland map expansion a lil over a month ago.
On reflection, I don't think it's worth the money. Here's why:
1 - Too long in use to get quality results and artistic talent IS required: There are some nice Dundjinni maps out there. But that said, the time it takes to do those with this program is NOT small. There are still 3-5 hours involved in getting a decent map and this program will not suddenly turn you into a better artist. Do not go into this thinking it will - it will not.
There are alternatives and possible methods of developing a mapping program which DO allow you to be a better artist than you are. This program does not take advantage of those methods. Do not kid yourself.
2 - Limited Textures samples: This is a major knock on the program. I am used to working with a HORDE of textures in NWN modding and there is a really limited number of textures here - even with all the extra add-ons (which I have). The upshot is, all your maps will start to look the same VERY quickly unless you start to custom texture download like a fiend. There are some ok community textures, but the method of downloading and saving all these community textures and objects is a PITA.
This needs improvement in a major way.
3 - Speed is brutal: In a complex map, as Jupp said the screen redraws are NASTY. I think this is due to Java in part - and also because I expect these textures are not running in compressed mode. The whys may be up for debate, but the result is not: NASTY speed hits on complex maps which really slows down creation. I run a leading edge (though not bleeding edge) system. So I am experiencing unacceptable screen redraw speeds on a AMD 3000 with 2 gigs of 400 RAM and a GeF5800 card. I am not complaining over speed due to my rig - I am complaining over their code.
As a result of my experiences with Dundjinni, while I don't feel RIPPED OFF, if I had it to do over gain - at that price - I would not have purchased the product. At half the price - maybe. But there is simply not enough meat there to justify that sticker shock.
It's not a poor product, but it has a lot of limitations which, in the end, do not justify the price tag. That's my opinion - YMMV.
I bought Dundjinni Platinum and the overland map expansion a lil over a month ago.
On reflection, I don't think it's worth the money. Here's why:
1 - Too long in use to get quality results and artistic talent IS required: There are some nice Dundjinni maps out there. But that said, the time it takes to do those with this program is NOT small. There are still 3-5 hours involved in getting a decent map and this program will not suddenly turn you into a better artist. Do not go into this thinking it will - it will not.
There are alternatives and possible methods of developing a mapping program which DO allow you to be a better artist than you are. This program does not take advantage of those methods. Do not kid yourself.
2 - Limited Textures samples: This is a major knock on the program. I am used to working with a HORDE of textures in NWN modding and there is a really limited number of textures here - even with all the extra add-ons (which I have). The upshot is, all your maps will start to look the same VERY quickly unless you start to custom texture download like a fiend. There are some ok community textures, but the method of downloading and saving all these community textures and objects is a PITA.
This needs improvement in a major way.
3 - Speed is brutal: In a complex map, as Jupp said the screen redraws are NASTY. I think this is due to Java in part - and also because I expect these textures are not running in compressed mode. The whys may be up for debate, but the result is not: NASTY speed hits on complex maps which really slows down creation. I run a leading edge (though not bleeding edge) system. So I am experiencing unacceptable screen redraw speeds on a AMD 3000 with 2 gigs of 400 RAM and a GeF5800 card. I am not complaining over speed due to my rig - I am complaining over their code.
As a result of my experiences with Dundjinni, while I don't feel RIPPED OFF, if I had it to do over gain - at that price - I would not have purchased the product. At half the price - maybe. But there is simply not enough meat there to justify that sticker shock.
It's not a poor product, but it has a lot of limitations which, in the end, do not justify the price tag. That's my opinion - YMMV.
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