SummersGone
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Chapter 4 - Dev log #2 - Workstation
🕑 Added 2021-10-11 14:26:44 +0000 UTCHello,
First of all... I'm so sorry, I fucked up my calendar. I actually thought I had to do the Bi-weekly Log on Thursday.
I made a mistake when I modified my Dev-Log appointments and I didn't realize it until someone mentioned it to me.
Sorry for that!
Current status Chapter 4 short:
- 520 renders
- One cinematic done.
Long version:
We're currently still in the Tabletop session and we will probably stay there for the next 2-3 Dev logs.
Normally, I work with environments that are pre-built. I then customize them in order to give them my own touch.
The Sci-Fi setting is not making it easy for me. Many of the assets are straight up not useable.
Which only leaves me one option. I've got to build many of them myself.
Here's an example. Sadly, Daz is really annoying when it comes to this. There are no array modifiers like in Blender and it's a lot of very mundane work.
Here's the scene after I finished the groundwork and started adding some details. (Still a WIP.)
Here's a different environment:
The Tabletop session is around 35% of the update. In case you're wondering if we also get some actual RL stuff. As mentioned before, Chapter 4 is quite a bit bigger than the last one.
I enjoy working in this setting but I know it's going to push me to a limit. The things I've planned are beyond anything I've done before.
And I'm looking forward to getting my ass handed to me until I succeed.
As I keep changing and rewriting stuff over and over again for this session, I've come to a point where I can say, that people who like Sonya, will most likely enjoy a few scenes.
But I don't want to spoiler anything, you'll see for yourself.
2. Workstation and the A6000.
I wanted it to be a surprise but... Well, I actually did try to order the Workstation for 14.000€ but for some reason they didn't want to let me finance it. (I have a perfect credit score (Schufa) and no debt and a little bit of money for safety.)
Sucks. I then ordered the A6000 alone for 5200€ ( 6000$)... but had to cancel it because I learned that you can't have a 3090 (GTX) and an A6000 (Quadro) in the same system.
They use different drivers.
And I certainly don't want to render a 3090 useless by replacing it (WiAB PC is too weak to handle both 3090s.)
I would also have lost some rendering speed. SG currently renders with a 3090 + 2080Ti. More than often just with the 3090 because the Vram exceeds the 11GB of the 2080Ti.
So, it's not worth getting a single A6000 right now. Besides the Vram, I would not benefit from it and even lose speed.
By now it's clear that the new Threadrippers won't come out until 2022.
With the A6000 out of the picture, for now, I did still order a Workstation to increase my work speed.
I now ordered the following things:
- Gigabyte TRX40 Designare Mainboard
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
- 128GB DDR4-3600 RAM
- 1500W Power supply (So I can hook up more and more GPU's)
- 2TB SSD
- 6TB drive
- Fractal Design Meshify 2 XL Big Tower
- Noctua NH Cooling
- ASUS 3090 TUF
Comes in at around 7200€ or 8500$.
I didn't finance the workstation and just bought it cash. As I don't like wasting money, I had enough saved up to comfortably pay it.
Just joking, these big investments still scare the shit out of me and comfortable was out the window.
At the moment, I still have two 2080Ti's just laying around as back-ups. When the Workstation is here, I will move SG to the Workstation and WiAB to the current SG PC.
The old WiAB PC will then be used to render animations.
This increases the number of PCs to 3.
SG PC = 2x 3090s + 1x 2080Ti (Might give the single 2080Ti to WiAB.)
WiAB PC = 1x 3090
Animation PC (Old WiAB) = 2x 2080Ti.
A big chunk of time did always go into test rendering animations for hours and hours. Rendering the PCs useless for hours. (Lots of trial and error.)
The dedicated Animation PC now frees the main PCs from this tedious process and lets me continue working.
Oh, and I have to build the PC myself. So wish me luck. It's my first time.
The next Dev log will be on the 21st (Continuing the old Bi-Weekly.)
Summer tier and above can find three more images in this POST
Images from above attached at the bottom in HIGH RES
- Ocean
Comments
Crowangel Gaming
i'm just getting started in avn creation.. is there a good starting point pc wise that i'll be able to work comfortably from till i'm able to afford better (currently on a MSI gaming laptop) but i want to set up a pc just for the work aspects of this as my laptop is full of avn's i'm testing/playing
bgray9054
I wonder if Mario Holgerson's girlfriend is like Sonya's sister or something judging by the similar headpiece she's wearing in the picture Bella takes with her...incoming drama if so. :D
Oceanlab
The Physical change of the MC is definitely going to be noticed by the others. It's quite an essential part of the game. (Especially if you consider the sport aspects.)
bgray9054
Just a quick general comment and question, Ocean, if I may - first, very glad you're beefing the MC up as the game progresses in terms of his physical / muscular build, I'm a big fan of that - will all the other characters notice these physical changes as the game progresses, or is it more just for the player to feel the progression visually? Thanks - looking forward to Ch4!
Aiken Drum
Ocean, your PC upgrade sounds really nice, even if it's not quite what you want. I've really been blown away at how engrossing this game was right from the start and am looking forward to what comes next!
Pax
You've done great things with Summers Gone so far and I'm sure that this will continue. The hardware you are describing sounds amazing and I hope it clears up some of the time and capabilities bottlenecks you are concerned about! I'm looking forward to the character building and evolution, and while I think that the Bella/MC journey is the biggest one (for me at least), I think that tabletop can help give a voice to someone like Sonya who comes from a repressive culture/family where women are not allowed a voice for much of what we take for granted in the West. SO - I Am looking forward to seeing her evolution and growth within the story and think that she could be another diamond in the rough. Thanks for the update and the details showing some of the challenges you are facing, and overcoming, as you craft the next rev of Summers Gone.
Jill Valentine
Thanks for the update Ocean 🖤
Oceanlab
I'm already paying around 280€ a month for it. So I expect it to reach 320€ by the end of the year. :s
Alexander Hochbaum
I hope the next electricty bill doesn't make you homeless.^^ But seriously watch out for that, as a fellow German the prices for power are high and with the next goverment I fear they will get higher still.
bgray9054
Appreciate the update, glad you're okay - some of us were beginning to worry something had happened to you. On your PCs, glad to hear you're getting some upgrades. Don't sweat building your own - you sound pretty comfortable discussing the hardware, and I assume you've at least installed your own video cards in the rigs on your own so you'll be fine, I assume the cards and CPUs are air cooled which will make things significantly easier for your first build - some people get a little nervous the first time they install the CPU cooler as it can require 'uncomfortable' amounts of pressure be put on the CPU during the installation, but if you find anything challenging, go to youtube for the specific cpu and cooler, or anything else you're trying to do and you'll find instructional videos that will help immensely. Once you get this first one put together, you'll be totally fine moving forward and will likely never order a machine again, you'll always want to build it. :)
Thank you for the update Ocean! The renders are as beautiful as always, keep up the fantastic work!
An Q.
Thanks for the status update! Good luck with your hardware upgrades!
Messè
Awesome news! Glad you sorted it out by the end. I wish you all the best and keep up the awesome work! I am sure the next update of SG is going to be truly epic.
Gene Anthony Lukban
Thanks for the update. Sucks that you weren’t able to finance it though. I’m loving this project and will gladly support it because this probably my favorite game.
