Fantasy Grounds Unity KS Announced

[LordEntrails]

SmiteWorks has made a new announcement today. No words, only a few images. No explanation so we are left to wonder and speculate.

Is it just an April's Fool, or a marketing ploy to build hype and buzz before they actually announce Fantasy Grounds Unity?



If it's not a joke, does this mean that FG will now have a cloud/SaaS service and a public/private game listings? What might this mean for the competition?

 

[LordEntrails]

So it's official, SmiteWorks has confirmed that Fantasy Ground Unity that has been in development for years is now a confirmed reality.

What We Know:
- Kickstarter launch on May 1st
- More information will be released as the time grows closer. 'Fantasy Grounds Fridays' stream on Twitch will be one source.
- This will be the new version and is built on the Unity platform and all existing DLC (adventures, books, etc) will be compatible (one-direction only)
- Dynamic Line of Sight
- New image and map features including layers
- New networking architecture;
- - increased performance with upload and download
- - no more need for port forwarding in those rare cases UPnP doesn't work
- 64 bit architecture for increased performance and to allow larger image assets to be used.
- better font and text formatting options
- FG 3 (current version) will still be available and supported, but for a limited time.
- license upgrades will be required for one-time license holders, cost will be based upon how long you have owned the license
- subscription licenses will have no upgrade cost

What We Think:
- dynamic maps and weather effect capabilities built in (this has been demo'd)
- Cloud hosting, so you can host and run your games off of an FG server rather than your own (the teaser images have a toggle for this)
- Private and Public game listing built into the client (again, from the teaser image)
- The KS is not for funding development, but rather for discounted license upgrades and stretch goals (only speculation at this time; game statistics, vanity/custom game aliases)

 

[DMZ2112]

But will it cost less than the GDP of a small nation?

 

[Morrus]

Could somebody explain what Unity is to the uninitiated?

 

[LordEntrails]

But will it cost less than the GDP of a small nation?

For most use cases it costs less than Roll20.

Could somebody explain what Unity is to the uninitiated?

Unity is a software development platform, or engine. Typically it is used for games and works on multiple platforms (like console, PC, phone, etc). It has a bunch of "libraries" or functions that can be used (or bought for use) that helps a developer not have to reinvent the wheel.

Basically it is a set of customize able building blocks of functions. A lot like a vBulletin or PHPBB is for forum software, but Unity is not narrowed to a single functionality, though it is tailored for things that games (solo, online, MMO, etc) typically want.

The Unity website; https://unity.com/

 

[DMZ2112]

For most use cases it costs less than Roll20.

Yes, in the sense that every RPG table has four to eight of the free use cases and one of the $10/month use case.

 

[Morrus]

For most use cases it costs less than Roll20.


Unity is a software development platform, or engine. Typically it is used for games and works on multiple platforms (like console, PC, phone, etc). It has a bunch of "libraries" or functions that can be used (or bought for use) that helps a developer not have to reinvent the wheel.

Basically it is a set of customize able building blocks of functions. A lot like a vBulletin or PHPBB is for forum software, but Unity is not narrowed to a single functionality, though it is tailored for things that games (solo, online, MMO, etc) typically want.

The Unity website; https://unity.com/

So how does that affect Fantasy Grounds?

 

[Immortal Sun]

Hey guys, did you like paying those one-time fees to access the books you already own?

Well now you can pay them again!

We're calling it a "One More Time" fee.
*PS: this is funnier if you say it like Uncle from Jackie Chan Adventures.

 

[LordEntrails]

So how does that affect Fantasy Grounds?

The move to Unity?

So right now, FG is a whole custom app written in XML, LUA and maybe C++. The networking code, map handling, physics engine for the dice, et al is written and maintained by SmiteWorks. So if they want to do something like support 64-bit architecture, they have to re-write the whole things. If they want to change to using a different network protocol, they have to write the whole sub-routine.

It gives them absolute control, but also absolute responsibility for everything. With Unity, their are multiple libraries or packages of code for things like displaying images, or networking, or physics engines etc.

So, SW just has to decide on which packages they want to integrate, write the code so that the packages can talk to each other (i.e. the network package passes this data set to the image display package, and variables x, y, and z, in the network package equal variables m, n, o in the display package).

Think of it like an airplane. You could design and build one from the ground up, design and build your own jet engine, radios, seats, make your own carpet etc. Or, you could buy an existing engine, radio, etc ad just have to make them all work together right? Unity is a set of software packages that are designed to work together, you just have to build the frame for them all to fit in and make the "cables" to connect them and talk to each other.

That make sense?

 

[LordEntrails]

Hey guys, did you like paying those one-time fees to access the books you already own?

Well now you can pay them again!

We're calling it a "One More Time" fee.
*PS: this is funnier if you say it like Uncle from Jackie Chan Adventures.

I don't think you know what you are talking about...
1) if you own the hard covers, you never had to buy them in FG. You can use it without, or you could enter the info yourself. If you wanted to buy them either because it makes reference easy and character building simple, then you could. This is no different than the discussions around DDB.
2) With FGU you do not have to re-buy any content. Their is expected to be a license upgrade cost if you ahve the one-time license. But that is no different than if you buy a new version of Microsoft Office or Quick Books, or Turbo Tax. If you have a subscription license, then their is no (known/expected) change in cost.

So, no, never was a need to re-buy anything, and no their is no option to re-buy them with FGU.

Just because you have an emotional dislike of something, doesn't mean you should be be spreading misinformation or "alternative facts".