My Own Sky Component...

 Recently, PC Dynamix released a 2d Dynamic Sky Component to be dropped into your 2d games.. The component simulates the sun and moon rising and setting, and from the post it should soon have weather effects. It looks awesome.. Don't get me wrong.. but I'm poor.. They are asking $50 for the version with the source, and a donation for just the component, no source.. Not a bad deal.. but with 3 kids, and christmas around the corner, even a donation at this point is out of the question. It's worth it, don't take me wrong, but I would feel guilty donating a buck or even 5.. right now, I think I have a dollar to spare (literally) until payday.. 

So, I set out to design my own.. and you know, there's a helluva lot that has to be taken into effect.. lol.. I have a very basic version running right now (images below)  with sky and land, sun and moon, the sky darkens, the stars come out, etc.. the sun and moon are too big, but I just threw it all together really quick for a project.. well, a couple projects could use this.. the problem is, I'm not happy with it.. So back to the drawing board.. It sucks when my brain tries to turn me into a perfectionist.. soooo... 

 In the next iteration, or should I say complete re-write of my sky component, I have a whole list to work on and I keep thinking of more things.. ugh.

Just a couple examples:

• Add HDR Lighting to sun
• Shrink Sun / Moon Size
• Adjustable sun / moon size
• New Sun Image, possibly using 3d sun shader on ziggyware.. (doubt it, but)
• Add clouds
• Adjustable cloud densities & speeds
• Twinkling stars?
• Adjustable screen size passed into constructor
• Make into drawable game component
• redesign using time based movements --> input factor in constructor - 10 minute day / night cycle, etc.

Also, I'm thinking of moving the blog over to wordpress.. not sure yet, admin is kinda slow in 2.7.. but I have a Cub Scout site that seems to work pretty good done with it, so.. we shall see.. its got its disadvantages.. but so does drupal.. Of course, I might move the cub scout site over to drupal.. I dont know.. It just seems to be better in some ways.. less limiting and easier to setup pages, custom menus, etc.. I guess the familiarity helps.. 

So anyways, I'll up to date with the progress of it, might release it, no idea.. if PC Dynamix's is going to have weather effects, it might be the better bet.. I just had to prove to myself I could do this.... myself... you know how it is.. I must reinvent the wheel.. heh