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#1
Music, TV, Movies / VUE and related software (for ...
Last post by JasonPratt - Today at 08:44:51 PMWasn't totally sure where to put this, but since the software is/was primarily used for creating digital landscapes for the film industry (their first big hits being the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise!) I took a guess for this subforum.
Bought VUE 6 Infinite for my Falcon NW supercomputer eons ago (if you'll pardon the pun), along with some related software (not from the same studio), with vague plans of learning to do graphical design work, and it was nifty, but I had too many other thing to work on for the time to learn it, alas. This is why I got the notification. (E-on has sent updates to VUE and its plant-work subpackages over the years.)
The link to downloading these tools is here: https://www.bentley.com/software/e-on-software-free-downloads/
I checked it out with the latest version of Avast and everything looks kosher.
The programs are totally free, and can be used for commercial projects. VUE 2023 and its plant things are the last stable releases; 2024 will be in perpetual beta, although open-source code fans may polish them up perhaps indefinitely. Both are available from Bentley in perpetuity.
The E-on Software tutorials on Youtube will remain operational, although I suspect fan channels will have better ones over time if better ones don't already exist!
So, if you ever wanted to see how Disney and other studios do (or used to do) CGI landscapes, here's your chance at no charge for however long Bentley (or whoever buys them perhaps) cares to keep them up!
My guess is that the design team, for whatever reasons, couldn't keep up with the new cutting edge competitors in performance and/or pricing, and so the film industry phased out use of the system. But I have great sentimental fondness for something I barely ever paid attention to (as any true grog might
) -- right this moment I can see those boxes on my shelf about two arm lengths away. 
Also I wanted to archive access to the downloads in case I lose the email link by accident.
QuoteVUE, PlantFactory and PlantCatalog are now free to use
Dear e-on customers, partners, and resellers:
For over 27 years, e-on software products have served the media and entertainment industry, and we couldn't be prouder of what we've have achieved with your ongoing support and passion for our tools. Since Bentley Systems acquired e-on in 2015, these products have been used in other Bentley solutions and by valued partners all over the world.
As Bentley continues to grow, however, we realized the need to reevaluate our product portfolio to strengthen our business. For over 39 years, Bentley's main focus has been to serve engineers and other professionals responsible for designing, constructing, and operating sustainable infrastructure, essential to the quality of life for everyone, everywhere.
To ensure we can continue driving towards that mission, Bentley has made the difficult decision to end sales for and the further development of VUE, PlantFactory, and PlantCatalog products. In addition, support for these products will be limited to critical security patches only going forward.
Though we will no longer be allowing the purchase of new licenses, we want to ensure that you can continue using all the e-on products and technologies you've come to rely on over the years. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that VUE, PlantFactory, and PlantCatalog are now free to download and use. By downloading these perpetual builds, you will acknowledge the new end-user license agreement (EULA) and agree to use the software without support.
To learn more about this decision and how to continue using these products, we have created an FAQ section you can review.
Go to FAQ and Downloads
We apologize for any inconvenience this announcement may cause but hope you will continue finding joy and creativity using our free e-on technology. Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you again in the future.
Sincerely,
Bentley Systems & the e-on software team
Bought VUE 6 Infinite for my Falcon NW supercomputer eons ago (if you'll pardon the pun), along with some related software (not from the same studio), with vague plans of learning to do graphical design work, and it was nifty, but I had too many other thing to work on for the time to learn it, alas. This is why I got the notification. (E-on has sent updates to VUE and its plant-work subpackages over the years.)
The link to downloading these tools is here: https://www.bentley.com/software/e-on-software-free-downloads/
I checked it out with the latest version of Avast and everything looks kosher.
The programs are totally free, and can be used for commercial projects. VUE 2023 and its plant things are the last stable releases; 2024 will be in perpetual beta, although open-source code fans may polish them up perhaps indefinitely. Both are available from Bentley in perpetuity.
The E-on Software tutorials on Youtube will remain operational, although I suspect fan channels will have better ones over time if better ones don't already exist!
So, if you ever wanted to see how Disney and other studios do (or used to do) CGI landscapes, here's your chance at no charge for however long Bentley (or whoever buys them perhaps) cares to keep them up!
My guess is that the design team, for whatever reasons, couldn't keep up with the new cutting edge competitors in performance and/or pricing, and so the film industry phased out use of the system. But I have great sentimental fondness for something I barely ever paid attention to (as any true grog might
) -- right this moment I can see those boxes on my shelf about two arm lengths away. Also I wanted to archive access to the downloads in case I lose the email link by accident.
#2
Computer Gaming / Re: Total war pharaoh - coming...
Last post by Jarhead0331 - Today at 08:42:58 PMLooks fantastic. Although I do wish there were more than the two playable factions.
#3
Computer Gaming / Re: Total war pharaoh - coming...
Last post by Destraex - Today at 08:37:49 PMIt seems it's almost suicide for a game dev to allow mods if all it is going to do is regurgitate the same mechanics with a skinjob. Kind of sad that professional devs with full control of their engine are outdone by part time enthusiasts from small modding teams.
#4
Computer Gaming / Re: Total war pharaoh - coming...
Last post by JasonPratt - Today at 07:08:53 PMI'm not gonna say that CA needs to just give up and go home...
...but Rome 2 modders already are giving us a great Bronze Age game.
...but Rome 2 modders already are giving us a great Bronze Age game.
#5
Tabletop AARs / Re: Sail and Steam: 1870
Last post by MengJiao - Today at 06:18:00 PMQuote from: MengJiao on Today at 06:09:39 PMHistorically, the French armored corvette Thetis did some reconnaissance of the German coast during the Franco-Prussian war. In this Scenario, a fast German Ironclad tries to run down the somewhat sluggish Thetis. The French Ironclad Ocean (of End of the Samurai fame) intervenes.
In ten minutes of steaming and firing, a few things happen: mostly at ranges of around seven or eight hundred yards, most shots miss. One French 10-inch rifled breach-loader blows up but one French 10.8-inch shot penetrates the German Ironclad in the main battery amidships. A big explosion and fire results: a gun battery of 8.2-inch Krupps is wrecked and the armor blown away with significant hull damage and crew suppression.
Which is a surprise, though I guess the 8.2 Krupps was always an ill-fated caliber:
#6
Tabletop AARs / Sail and Steam: 1870
Last post by MengJiao - Today at 06:09:39 PMHistorically, the French armored corvette Thetis did some reconnaissance of the German coast during the Franco-Prussian war. In this Scenario, a fast German Ironclad tries to run down Thetis. The French Ironclad Ocean (of End of the Samurai fame) intervenes. Here are the ship specs ( from the Sail and Steam game):
#7
Tech Talk / Re: Strange new PC problem
Last post by bobarossa - Today at 04:52:22 PMDid you get a puppy recently? Look for needle-like holes in the cables.
#8
Computer Gaming / Re: Men of war II
Last post by Skoop - Today at 04:15:40 PMI said that exact same thing to my son who has 300hours on steam playing gates of hell. His response was, I love rts, and if it's similar to gates of hell, I'm in.
#9
Wargaming / Re: Next War...whats next
Last post by ArizonaTank - Today at 03:45:21 PMHere is the link for NW Iran.
https://www.gmtgames.com/p-1011-next-war-iran.aspx
a short blurb from the description;
Now, with the old regime teetering and losing its grip, Iran makes a bid for forcing the West to recognize its complete sovereignty and control over its own affairs by striking at the one thing they care about: the flow of oil. Mining the Straits of Hormuz and declaring it closed to all traffic, Iran defies the world. The US, and perhaps some of its allies, takes action to re-open the straits and get the black gold flowing to the world again.
Next War: Iran is the sixth game in the Next War series. It is unique in the series in that the Allied player has to do the attacking while the non-Allied player attempts to defend its territory against neo-imperial oppression. With a long logistical tail, few true allies in the region, and the menace of Iran's A2AD capabilities, re-opening the Straits is a tall order.
https://www.gmtgames.com/p-1011-next-war-iran.aspx
a short blurb from the description;
Now, with the old regime teetering and losing its grip, Iran makes a bid for forcing the West to recognize its complete sovereignty and control over its own affairs by striking at the one thing they care about: the flow of oil. Mining the Straits of Hormuz and declaring it closed to all traffic, Iran defies the world. The US, and perhaps some of its allies, takes action to re-open the straits and get the black gold flowing to the world again.
Next War: Iran is the sixth game in the Next War series. It is unique in the series in that the Allied player has to do the attacking while the non-Allied player attempts to defend its territory against neo-imperial oppression. With a long logistical tail, few true allies in the region, and the menace of Iran's A2AD capabilities, re-opening the Straits is a tall order.
