I'm curious what changed since the various seminars where it was said the current hardware generation wasn't strong enough to muscle both the color and the upscaling. New algorithm? Fewer frames per second? Great news, for sure, just surprising given what's been said previously.

The existence of the competing project doesn't make Randy's hardware setup magically stronger. Something drastic had to shift on the tech. Either Randy found some ways to re-write things to be more efficient, or some other corners had to be cut. That's what I was curious about.

I'm also wondering what the schedule looks like for back porting the updated features to the existing releases. Is the patch process simple and they'll roll out in short order? Or is there a hefty amount of work needed to update previous releases?

Your perception does a 'nicer' job of smoothing the dots yourself (in your head) though, VS a hard math equation. Your perception makes nicer diagonals and smoother curves.

I can't remember, does ColorDMD have an option for squared dots with a fine black 1 pixel grid between them? Instead of the simulated rounds? That would be brighter. But still un-smoothed.

Just as a means of a partial example, I made this mockup to show what I mean. I'm not sure what resolution ColorDMD uses per dot, so I used the 10 pixels per dot I use on CCC. This is 8 pixel color squares with a 1 pixel border (so 2 black pixels between squares)

simpstest.png

So for 1 comparison sake, here's what that would look like.

simpstest2.png

I actually think the grid helps with your brain interpolating it into 'better' art. Weird.

Yeah. Sorry. I should also make sure it's clear that I'm not involved with ColorDMD. I have no idea if they'd even consider other rendering methods for the display (like squares).

The new color + scaling looks pretty cool, I just don't like how some of the edges and shapes turn out when pushed through math -- but when it's moving you probably don't even notice.

Yes, they're going to do Metallica.

All the displays ship with the "Sigma" firmware. You have to use the USB update process to set it up for whichever game you're going to put it in.

I think they intend to have a booth with every colorDMD title released so far running in a game.

The downloads.

Yeah, that's a downer - it doesn't look best for everything -- but then again, dots don't look best for everything either, it's just what we're used to.

Amen. Having made/edited dots for CCC I have a much deeper appreciation for the people doing the art for DMD games.

Awesome!

For anybody that hasn't read the whole thread, tiles is basically this:

356023.png

And 8 bit is basically this:

356040.png

46 minutes ago.

Why not just order now? It's not as if they're NOT going to release the system update for JD.

Scan is high-res with a texture applied to emulate old CRT style scan lines.

Wondering this too. Just installed a Sigma in my Metallica and would like the new adjustments.
E

Anybody with a sigma in one of those games could shoot some video of the HD smoothing.

Other than being a bit on the dim side, that looks pretty good.

This is a clear demonstration of the "your perception" vs "pure math" thing. You know it's supposed to be a thin point in the number and you see it that way, the pure math just smooths out what it's got and doesn't know what it's actually supposed to look like, so it can't make assumptions like "even though this is thin here, this should still stay connected".

Don't wait. It looks amazing on a sigma now. With color it's going to be ridiculous.

Yep yep. The HD smoothing on Metallica by and large looks great now. The art on Met works great with the smoothing for the most part.

It's an anti burn in thing for plasma DMD's.. That's all.

Tile is squares, instead of dots, but with black space around each 'pixel' -- 8 bit is full fill squares with no space in between. All the colored releases support all these options now.

From your video, Twister looks pretty sharp in HighRes!

In the works.

Screen Shot 2015-03-30 at 12.41.19 PM.png