I am an iPhone game developer and was pretty impressed by the warehouse demo that I tested in my trial of unity/iPhone.
Actually I was so impressed that I decided to take advantage of the ENDOFYEAR rebate and buy the pro version of the software.
To get a good performance on the iPhone I think you have to use all the tricks that is available in the software. One of these tricks is Occlusion Culling.
The thing is that I have a Mac Mini. And since Occlusion Culling is generated by the hardware in the mac’s graphics card (a hardware that the mac mini is missing), I won’t be able to use this feature in my games.
I really hope the Unity team plan to support this using software in the future.
I’m pretty sure occlusion culling is independent of the GFX card used in the IDE, but if this is the case we need to look into it. Can you elaborate a bit on what went wrong?
Occlusion is GPU generated, hence it requires a graphics card that can do occlusion culling. That’s just the way of the world; implementing it in software is going to be hard, and not really an option for us.
I was sure we mentioned this somewhere, but searching around on our site I was unable to find this requirement; hence, IF it is there it is certainly too hard to find (which I will fix).
I’m sorry you had this bad experience; if you’re still unhappy with your purchase, please contact sales@unity3d.com who can process a refund.
An option for me is to try and get my hands on a mac with the supported hardware.
Do you what mac models that have the needed hardware?
Another thing I was wondering is if the windows version will support the Unity iPhone software (or at least scene occlusion generation in some way). My guess is not, but it can’t hurt to ask (and hope)?!
Most modern macs do (semi-recent iMac, Alu MacBook, MacbookPros).
The windows version will not support iPhone publishing (Apple is gonna freak if we do that :)) - and not occlusion generation at first. Occlusion is something we want to get into the core product, but that won’t happen for 2.5
Apple have got the Development of the iphone locked down and tied to there Apple Computers shrewd strategic move leaves Newbie developers who wish to move over to Iphone Development having no option but to buy into the Apple Brand No bad thing Really I love the Mac but not all do!! Plus its Expensive not for the feint hearted me thinks. …I wonder if in the future Apple will relax there stance on the issue personally I reckon they will but my fortune telling skills are kinder lacking so who knows.
what we’re looking for is ARB_occlusion_query - so looking at the table, it seems that all cards release in the past 4-5 years - EXCEPT the GMA950 support it (DOH!)
What you need to do is this, use Unity iPhone Pro to develop a really cool little game, like those on your website but in 3D and don’t use the Occlusion Culling this time around.
Get your game into the App Store and let it earn you the money to upgrade to the better iMac. This way you will feel your investment is worth much much more than you ever dreamed of.
Check out the Crazy Snowboard 2.0 figures for Christmas, these guys made over £22,000 in a two week period - more than enough to pay for the iMac you want to invest in. By the way their price is $4.99 per unit, so be brave and ensure your price matches your obvious design and programming skills.
Make your current investment PAY for your next investment. Good Luck !
