Delta Rower gameplay footage up

[RoidbotPR]

We have created a Windows application that works with the Concept 2 rower, and have a video link to share:

http://youtu.be/TQBSy-hZpyU

Thank you,
ROIDBOT

[tijmenvangulik]

Nice 3d model of the rower. It took me for ages to make a decent 3 model for my Website (http://www.vangulik.org/Ergometer/). Combining your 3d graphics, webGL and my javascript ergometer app would make an great app which is ready for the future.

Tijmen

[RoidbotPR]

We now have an early access beta for Delta Rower available at:

http://deltarower.com/index.php?page=downloads

We tested it on several high end desktops, low end desktops, and middle of the road laptops; how well it runs depends on how well your machine runs Windows 7 or 8 with the latest version of DirectX http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download ... aspx?id=35

A decent graphics card helps, quality of the game can be turned down if it runs too slow.

We ask that any feedback be directed to our email : tech@deltarower.com . Of course feedback can be shared here, positive or negative (but we will only respond to email .

We are currently working on multiplayer, we have what is called a "skeleton" app. Our main goal is to have multiplayer (with Lagoa) ready by year's end.

Thanks in advance for your interest. We won't be posting again here, but we will definitely answer any questions/comments/issues directed to our email.

Thank you!
ROIDBOT

[RoidbotPR]

We just uploaded a new version of the beta for Delta Rower here: http://deltarower.com/index.php?page=downloads

This update allows you to create custom training programs, log your data, and review the results after. We've also added a "programmable" coxswain. As you're creating your training regime, just plug in words of motivation, positive, negative, or steady state, give a margin of error by seconds, and try to keep yourself in the green.

Currently, you can only measure yourself with this tool by 500 meter pace and strokes per minute, and can currently use only your split time. We still need to add the ability to set up a training program that will allow you to configure distance against SPM, or pace against HR, for example. But as it is, you can create whatever you want.

Once again, we ask that any feedback be directed to our email : tech@deltarower.com . Of course feedback can be shared here, positive or negative (but we will only respond to email .

[RoidbotPR]

We updated our software yet again, fixed some bugs, and added an 11k row down the Connetquot, NY river:

http://deltarower.com/index.php?page=downloads

Here is a link to the zip file itself:

http://deltarower.com/index.php?mact=Do ... 60&page=60

Our first priority is to fix any bugs that are reported to us, and that list right now is at zero. Unless a bug is reported, in the meantime we are integrating multiplayer. Our next update will have that. If you look at the post history for this thread, March, May, July, now August...we're close to finishing. Once Beta testing is done, both for single and multiplayer, we will be charging for our software (around $30 US dollars).

Anyone who is on our beta test list will get the software for free. So please drop us a line at tech@deltarower.com . As usual, feedback is welcome here, but we only respond via email.

[RoidbotPR]

No gameplay footage...just a screenshot. http://deltarower.com/

We will put up video of multiplayer within the next few days. Racing is nearly complete.

[RoidbotPR]

We stopped development on Delta Rower for the following reasons:

1. No free time.

2. Too small of a market to try to develop software for.

What it comes down to is this: developing software is a very time consuming affair. There are many disciplines that come into play in bringing a software package to market. One of the biggest, however, is being able to commit time to the endeavor. What we made can be dusted off and continued to work on, but the market is probably going to be fully smart phone in the future, and Delta Rower is PC based. So not only is the software out of date when it comes to technology, but the platform on which it was built is losing market share each day.

On top of that, we have found that very few people actually use their rower with software. The market is probably in the thousands, if that. Unfortunately, the demand for software isn't there.

Anyhow, we came close, and rather than throw it away, we're releasing what we have with the following known issues:

Stats will not work with every resolution.

Speech allows only for telling you 500m pace.

Multiplayer doesn't work.

That said, we did model the 2016 Olympic Venue being held Rio de Janeiro. We are not affiliated with the Olympics, they will have their own "rowing software" being developed by ATT and Samsung. Our guess is it will be a generic tap your phone rowing app totally devoid of any training ability and surely not able to connect to C2.

Delta Rower does allow for more real world scenery than is out there today, but to really bring it up to date it would need to use a third party engine like Unity, or Unreal. The time to get up to speed with that would take 6 months to a year, and we don't have the time. That simple. For those interested in modding Delta Rower to suite their own needs, please contact us at roidbotpr@gmail.

Bottom line, here is a link to the application. It has a 30 day "trial period" that we can tell you how to disable if you are interested in using the software. For me, personally, I like the ability to watch the shoreline recede away as I row. It gives a sense of movement as you are stationary that no other software out there currently gives. It would be nice to finish the product, but there is hardly any interest in it out there, so the lesson learned is to bring something to the market fast, regardless how polished it is, gauge interest, and refine (or abandon) as necessary.

Thanks to all that helped with testing, and again, if interest is shown (by interest, we mean more than one hundred people hounding us to finish it), we'll work on it. Otherwise, here is a link to download the software:

http://deltarower.com/download.html

PLEASE NOTE:

Delta Rower runs on Windows 7 or 8. It supports PM3, 4 and 5. It needs for your PC to have the latest drivers installed.

It also needs:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downloa ... x?id=34429

Good luck!

[mg6682]

"2. Too small of a market to try to develop software for."

This is going to kill any decent online/app stuff for rowing (especially here in the states). I think if somebody can morph it into more of a crossfit/row type app it might do okay as they're pretty much the masses that row here in the states. Unfortunately, rowing actually requires effort and the majority of people who want to exercise simply do not want to do it. Other good machines, like the versa climber, have fallen to the same fate.

[kdahlhaus]

I wanted to give this a try, but on Windows 10 the program comes up but nothing happens when I start rowing on the erg (with a PM5).

[RoidbotPR]

Yeah, sorry Kevin. I just spent the better part of the day trying to get this to compile on Windows 10, and can't get it to work with my latest dev studio. It's been too long to recall if the software explicitly works with PM5...I think I had Scott at C2 confirm that it did a while back...but don't hold either of us to that statement

As of a year ago, I stopped support of it. Again, sorry. If I were to take another stab at it, it would probably be all web based now, low, simple graphics and oriented to more of a trophy/achievement based system.

[kdahlhaus]

Thanks for trying to get it going on win 10. Each release changes things. That is what took out the ErgMate distribution.

If you are shelving it, would you consider open sourcing there code and making it available?

[RoidbotPR]

Sure, I'll consider open sourcing it. I have to overcome the internal struggle of having worked on it in my spare time for well over a year first particle shaders, pixel shaders, all the stuff that in makes it look dated...I've gotten better with web, and after rowing for so long now I've come to the conclusion that a few people on here warned me about when I first started the endeavor: it's all about numbers at the end of the day.

[kdahlhaus]

I can certainly appreciate that. I've a little android app for graphing from the online logbook. Years later, would not have recovered even a small portion of the development time if it were strictly a business venture.

Delta Rower still looks a whole lot better than some other professional rowing software. Here was my take on the first-person rower. It required a custom build of the Torque game engine and I have lost the ability to get the water to look like that. We had some fun ideas - such as a level of rowing on the River Styx with lava or rowing on the moon with a parabolic motion in the air on the drive.