A Change of Plans - Panda3D's Performance Just Not Cutting It

Akake on 2010/08/19 13:56 of Gloryhound Rising

After spending a few days trying to wring decent performance out of a game, I've decided once and for all that Panda3D just isn't going to work out on my netbook. Since I lack a Real Computer, that sinks it for me.

I'm really irritated with myself. I wanted to do something big and cool, but now I don't know.

I'll... Post again when I've got a clear idea.

Hate it when I get really braggy about something without fully testing it. ._.

        --- Akake

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Comments

adrwen on 2010/08/19 15:33:

Do you also want a "No Pandas Allowed" award?

I'm just curious, how did you end up with only a netbook? The only pro I can really see is that the fanless ones don't make any noise at night, and so can be up and running 24/7 (they also have a built in "UPS" and very low power consumpion)

Akake on 2010/08/19 15:39:

I had a really nice Toshiba, but I spilled coffee all over it and killed it. I can't afford a new laptop right now, so I'm stuck with just the netbook. :/

Akake on 2010/08/19 15:42:

And for the record, while I can't read the tone of the "No Pandas Allowed Award" quip, I don't like being poked fun at about my being indecisive. I feel stupid enough changing my mind yet again, and I'd really appreciate it if folks wouldn't rub salt in it. It's an issue I've been struggling with that I can't seem to help, and as annoying as it may be for all of you it's really crappy for me.

Please understand that.

tartley on 2010/08/19 16:16:

Hey. For what it's worth, I'm glad you are ditching it It's such a big install that (to my shame) I have, in pyweeks past, given up on it and skipped games that use it. I'm not proud of that, but be aware that it happens. You should totally nor aim so high! Make something hilarious and simple, so you be sure you'll finish. There is still plenty of damanding tasks to take pride in, even in a small game.

adrwen on 2010/08/19 16:18:

Yes, I am terribly sorry if it made you upset, that was not the intention.

That thing with the laptop... That's just really sad.

Akake on 2010/08/19 16:18:

Thanks :)

I guess I'm just pissy because I can't seem to make up my mind but keep thinking that I have.

I really need to relax. I'd like to have a PyWeek go by without me having an emotional breakdown. That's not fun for anyone. :/

richard on 2010/08/20 00:34:

I wrote most of Threads of Fate (uses pyglet) on my old EEE 701 :-)

richard on 2010/08/20 00:35:

Er, I just realised, that might be taken the wrong way. The point of that post, BTW, was not to rub it in your face - more to point out that netbooks are quite capable when not overburdened by bloated frameworks.

I think I'm helping. I'm not sure :-)

Akake on 2010/08/20 00:41:

Had you not made the second post, I would have assumed you were trying to lighten me up. :P

But I'm leaning toward Pygame. I'm going to be learning (Not just using, but learning) OGRE3D for Ludum Dare, so I'd like to stick with something I like for PyWeek.

(And OGRE3D is apparently netbook-capable, which is nice)

skaro on 2010/08/20 02:07:

Personally, I still really like straight-up pygame. pyglet/cocos/panda all seem great (i've only really used pyglet), but for quick things like pyweek I almost feel more comfortable building simple scene engine/collision detection/etc from the ground up, if only because I know exactly what it does and how to use it. It's like finding the intersection point between the learning curve/capabilities of a batteries-included framework and the amount of work a person/group can do and needs to do to get the needed features in a hurry.
It's like.. Ogre has a scene graph and frustum culling and all that included.. But sometimes all that you really need is to iterate of a python array of opengl display lists and blast em out each frame, culling be damned.

In any case, have fun with whatever you do. Pyweek is a nice microcosm of the human experience of making what's in your head meet the real-world half way. 

 

Cosmologicon on 2010/08/20 03:18:

I made my Pyweek 9 entry (using pygame) entirely on a Eee 900A as well. I even made a warmup game that time around using pygame+pyopengl on it. It's kind of fun, and if you develop on a netbook, you can be pretty sure that most people won't have performance issues when running your game. :)

Akake on 2010/08/20 18:53:

skaro:

OGRE3D is for Ludum Dare, for the record. I'm having trouble enough getting the base C++ lib to install, I'm not going to frak around with the Python bindings.

And I like having a powerful engine. Panda3D showed me that. The performance issues are a shame, though...

Pygame for PyWeek, though. Learning OGRE3D for Ludum Dare. (Entering the 72h jam they're holding this time, but that's still only 72h to learn to use OGRE3D, not counting what I can do today. Today I hope to just get this beast installed and working)