Mega prim uses and problems
In response to request made for resident input on the subject on Mega Prims by Michael Linden here These are my thoughts I posted in responce to the issue:
– Good Things: Non Cubical mega prims can be quite useful. one bane of many of builders out there is no conventional way to make a curving or circular structure with a radius larger then 10m without having to put up with a blocky sometimes imprecise curve made from multiple cubes at different angles. This process not only makes texturing it very hard it also can use a large number of prims depending on how rounded the builder wants it to look. also if a dome is wanted with a radius larger then 10m again that is nearly impossible with current conventional methods. Mega Prims solve those problems along with others.
– Bad Things: As mentioned Mega prims can be used for greefing just like any other object, Can't be seen by someone if their draw distance is below where the center of the object is and can cause “parcel encroachment” situations on the mainland when used on plots too small to contain them. however most of these problems are also caused by conventionally sized prims as well.
– Ideas:
Should Linden Lab remove all megaprims? Certainly not! The fact that they are in common use by many people proves that there is a need for them.
Or at some particular size level? This would be a more sensible action.. sometimes they can be too big. As Michael stated the maximum size to consider would be 256m a side since the graphics system doesn't work well with bigger then that, however that is still a sim sized prim which a reason for would be rare indeed. perhaps something smaller like 60m a side could work. that way even residents with the lowest of draw distances could see at least one of the mega prims when standing next to it.
Or take some other, more creative action? Yes, preferably what I'd like to see is increasing the maximum size prims can be built at to at least double the current size or better. While creating buildings over the last three years there have been so many times where I wished I could have simply made a 20m object Circular or otherwise. the 10m limit is stifling to the creation of less cubical large buildings and larger buildings in general. to prevent abuse on the mainland perhaps this could be a premium account only feature so that only land owners could create such useful prims for creating structures.
In Summation, Please don't eliminate mega prims unless the conventional Limits are increased. a 10m prim limit may have made sense when most residents only had small parcels of land on the mainland, but now in an age of Estates and land owners owning vast amounts of land 10m is just too small to create the wonderful looking Structures SL needs.
– Good Things: Non Cubical mega prims can be quite useful. one bane of many of builders out there is no conventional way to make a curving or circular structure with a radius larger then 10m without having to put up with a blocky sometimes imprecise curve made from multiple cubes at different angles. This process not only makes texturing it very hard it also can use a large number of prims depending on how rounded the builder wants it to look. also if a dome is wanted with a radius larger then 10m again that is nearly impossible with current conventional methods. Mega Prims solve those problems along with others.
– Bad Things: As mentioned Mega prims can be used for greefing just like any other object, Can't be seen by someone if their draw distance is below where the center of the object is and can cause “parcel encroachment” situations on the mainland when used on plots too small to contain them. however most of these problems are also caused by conventionally sized prims as well.
– Ideas:
Should Linden Lab remove all megaprims? Certainly not! The fact that they are in common use by many people proves that there is a need for them.
Or at some particular size level? This would be a more sensible action.. sometimes they can be too big. As Michael stated the maximum size to consider would be 256m a side since the graphics system doesn't work well with bigger then that, however that is still a sim sized prim which a reason for would be rare indeed. perhaps something smaller like 60m a side could work. that way even residents with the lowest of draw distances could see at least one of the mega prims when standing next to it.
Or take some other, more creative action? Yes, preferably what I'd like to see is increasing the maximum size prims can be built at to at least double the current size or better. While creating buildings over the last three years there have been so many times where I wished I could have simply made a 20m object Circular or otherwise. the 10m limit is stifling to the creation of less cubical large buildings and larger buildings in general. to prevent abuse on the mainland perhaps this could be a premium account only feature so that only land owners could create such useful prims for creating structures.
In Summation, Please don't eliminate mega prims unless the conventional Limits are increased. a 10m prim limit may have made sense when most residents only had small parcels of land on the mainland, but now in an age of Estates and land owners owning vast amounts of land 10m is just too small to create the wonderful looking Structures SL needs.
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