PlaymoFriends
General => Brainstorming For Playmobil => Topic started by: Indianna on May 29, 2010, 16:47:33
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There has been so much wonderful creativity on display recently - we are seeing some wonderful ideas, sketches, suggestions, etc. about improving Steck and SystemX and even thoughts and ideas about a whole new system. It is really exciting! :love:
I think this is a good point to re-introduce the concept of a CAD system/Computer Game/Software for Playmobil. In my imagination, I see a system similar to LEGO Digital Designer (http://ldd.lego.com/). Such a system would allow anyone to build any Playmobil design in a virtual world. If we already had this type of software available, all of the work that people have been doing in the past few weeks could have been done in this virtual world and easily shared with others who have the same software.
- All of the existing Playmobil parts and sets would be pre-loaded in the software and updates for new stuff would be available by download.
- Individuals would be able to upload (into their own computer files) all of their actual sets and parts
- The software would assist in maintaining an inventory of those sets and parts
- Individuals would be able to design, within the virtual world, any building, any Klicky, anything at all using current or discontinued parts, whether or not they actually possess those parts
- If there is a point in the design process where a new part is needed (maybe a Steck/SystemX connector, for example, remember this is all virtual so anything goes!) the software would let you design whatever you need automatically.
- There would be an option to change colors and textures within the virtual world.
- Building plans would be automatically generated for new designs
- After a virtual design is created, a list of parts that the individual does not currently have would be generated. The list would show which parts are discontinued and which only exist in the virtual world as well as which ones could be ordered from Direct Service
- Parts that are virtually designed could be reported back to Playmobil as possible future DS parts
If there is just one thing that I could ask Playmobil to do right away, it would be to develop and sell this type of software (or give it away through the Collector's Club. 8-) ) Many, if not most of the virtual designs could not be built in the real world, but wouldn't it be awesome to be able to play around in that virtual world?
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I like this Indiana!!! I hope Playmobil takes up at that suggestion and makes it reality!
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I'd love to see this happen!
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I am lucky as i can do this with the Playmobil railway track using Win Rail.
It would be could if there was a programme for using the building pieces.
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It would really help with seeing which items you are still missing for a future design. Might be better for budgets...probably not though :-)
Great idea!
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Wow, that's a great idea I wonder could we do this?
I've never tried a cad program except for a free floor planner on the internet which I could build a 3d house in with furniture.
Is there a suitable program where we could create the parts in it. If several of us could use the same program we could share the created objects and walls etc, so we could all contribute a few bits each.
I'm a novice at this but I'd be more than willing to have a go at some parts and pass them on.
Is it possible? ???
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Sorry forgot to say the closet I've come to this is using excel to map out 2d palace floor plans and wireframe 3d victorian buildings.
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Sorry forgot to say the closet I've come to this is using excel to map out 2d palace floor plans and wireframe 3d victorian buildings.
Hi Emma! Obviously, your finished products are fabulous, so it would be very interesting to know more about how you have designed them. Can you possibly show us some examples of how you do this? How to "wireframe 3d victorian buildings" sounds esp. intriguing as I have no idea at all what that means! 8} :)
Wow, that's a great idea I wonder could we do this? . . .
I was hoping that Playmobil would invest some real money in software development to make this happen. It is certainly possible for folks like us to put together a CAD system for Playmobil, but it takes a lot of time and expertise. There is (was?) a LEGO sytem called LDraw which, I believe, was originally developed by fans who contributed to it over many years, but now the LEGO Designer system is available on the LEGO website. I am hoping we can skip that interim step altogether and get Playmobil to do it. ;) Besides, in order to really do it right, the software developers will need access to Playmobil's archives and facilities to obtain historical info as well as exact specifications for each and every Playmobil part (precise dimensions, exact colors, 3D image rendering of actual pieces, etc.) This would be a very big project, but they could start with Steck and SystemX and add other elements over time.
I believe that a software program like this would be worth doing from Playmobil's perspective because it could be sold for a profit (I know I would buy it!) Besides appealing to adult fans and collectors, it could also appeal to kids who think they are "out-growing" Playmobil by giving them an electronic way to play with Playmobil on their computers, game systems, etc.
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Hi Indianna,
ok here a couple of designs I've done on windows excel. I've used this mainly so I could work out palace designs without having to lay out or flooring everywhere. The pink one was the first type of image I used with the holes marked on then later on I used the blue set as it was easier to create and move around. As you can see it means I can work out all the floors from the ground up.
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/Emma-J1066/Forum%20Playmobil%20Victorian/palace1.jpg)
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/Emma-J1066/Forum%20Playmobil%20Victorian/palace2.jpg)
I used the same idea to work out which rooms I wanted in a Victorian house which I then discovered I could turn into 3d objects. Altering the transparency enabled a wireframe look to the design.
I hope every one can follow this.
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/Emma-J1066/Forum%20Playmobil%20Victorian/house1.jpg)
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/Emma-J1066/Forum%20Playmobil%20Victorian/house2.jpg)
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That is a really nice work Emma!! I suppose this can be developed as to design each room with its own parts, klickies and accessories...even tapestry!!! (probable, if definately, not on excel but if the CAD playmobil system develops....)
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:o I am stunned, Emma! I never knew that this type of thing could be done in Excel - I have only used it for boring old text and numbers.
Thank you for showing this to us! Would you be able to explain the methodology a little bit, please? Even though I am somewhat familiar with Excel I would not know how to begin to do something like this. :-[
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Hi Indianna,
sure I'll help out if I can. I just realised why I changed over from the pink to blue palace parts. The pink bits I drew with paint program and loaded these into excel - insert picture - but these couldn't be made into 3d objects. So all the other parts I've redone as objects.
(oh as an aside I use excel to print all my wallpapers, labels, signs, books etc that I use in my dioramas)
First create the 2d shape you wish to use. We'll work on the basic layout of the house walls. A 2 window wall is a square, the door wall is a rectangle and the roof is a "snip same side corner rectangle".
Click on the second tab at the top "insert". In the second box is a "shapes" button. Click on it and select rectangle. Then click anywhere on the page. This will produce a square on the page and the "format" tab at the top will appear.
This "format" tab has 3 main options - shape fill, shape outline, shape effects. You can colour in this square with the first 2 options, then copy and paste this object so you can have as many 2 window walls on your page as you really poses.
Make a door wall by just clicking on the square and dragging the side outwards.
I made the square 2cm on each side and the rectangle 2x3cm - the size can be altered using the size box on the "format" tab. If you want to label the image just right click on the object and type eg bed , kitchen etc.
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Ok part 2...
Hopefully you can now make a 2d vertical plan of a house. Using these objects it's easy to pick them up and drag them around to work out how many floors you want to build and what you want each room for.
Now the trickier part making it 3d.
Click on your square and on the "format" tab select "shape effects" go to the bottom and select 3-d rotation - parallel. Then "shape effects" - bevel - bevel (I click on the first bevel icon)
Then "shape effects" - bevel - 3d options. This opens up a new window called format shape. Altering the settings in this window is how I turned my square into a 3d outline.
For a 3d box with a square front eg 2 windows I used the following settings
bevel : top width 0pt, height 5pt
: bottom width 0pt, height 97pt
depth : 11pt
contour : size 0pt
Surface : material - wireframe for outline or translucent for coloured
lighting : neutral - soft
Once you've altered the settings for one box just copy and paste this object to have loads of room boxes. Use the same settings for to make one door wall into a box as well and then just drag them around the page till you've got them stacked up in any design you like!
Well I hope you managed to follow all this and that it helps ???
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:wave: Hello again,
about the cad program has anyone used google's sketch up? I've just found it and it might be interesting to use as people can design 3d objects and load them into a warehouse for everyone to share. Could be a way around the design program problem until PM comes up with a program like the lego one. :-\
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Thanks for all this wonderful info, Emma! I am going to try it out later today or tomorrow, when I have a little more time (I am supposed to be doing something important right now, but I am visiting PF instead :-[ ;D )
I have looked at Google Sketch-up (a while back - it may have changed since I last used it) and it is very cool! My sense is that with all of these basic programs, the hard part is accurately translating the actual real world parts into the virtual world - measurements have to be super precise if the part is being "built" that way. The ideal is to have a 3D image file to upload but one needs a 3D scanner to do that.
I like attempting this kind of thing, though, because it is always interesting and fun - so, if people are interested in experimenting, I say: "Go for it!" The worst that can happen is that we learn something new. :)
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I am lucky as i can do this with the Playmobil railway track using Win Rail.
It would be could if there was a programme for using the building pieces.
Walt - thanks for this tip! I have looked at the Win Rail website and it looks really interesting. I am thinking about buying it, though I will certainly download the free trial version first. Do you recommend the deluxe or standard version? Do you think we could "build" Playmobil buildings using Win Rail?