There is a a larger amount of postings on the forum indicating that many people were looking for solutions to make screenshots and/or video captures from their Virtools compositions/applications. Many of them started doing own developments to get this feature (that is requested frequently by clients). In spring 2005 I was one of them and this is how i came across an article about creating high-res screenshots on gamedev . In april 2005 I sent an E-Mail to the Virtools support, saying that it would be a great feature for Virtools (DEV) and I included links to the article and it’s sourcecode. This feature request has been forwared from the support team to the "production team".
The good news is: Virtools has developed these features. Some of you may now think: "Great, sounds like there are great features in 4.0 !!" ….
Sorry to disappoint you – it’s not in Virtools (DEV) 4.0. "Huh, where it is then? A new add-on Plug-In?". Nope … I mean nothing like that is officially announced as add-on for DEV. But on the webpage about the new "3D Office Player, you can read the following:
"Experiences can be exported to both pictures (at very high resolutions if necessary) and video to easily record and share experiences"
(Experiences = Virtools Composition played in a player)
So if you or your clients are into product VIZ and it fits into the "new" PCS paradigm, then you can buy the Office player and have hi-res screenshots. Those who buy a DEV seat to produce a game probally won’t be able to do so … out-of-the-box …
I wonder what effect virtools’ new course will have on its current user-base. Personally I think that they are mostly ignoring the gamedev users in search of new money. Ofcourse their focus is dictated by dassault, but its getting harder to see what virtools is doing for us, the seasoned power-users constantly that run into long-standing bugs and the limits of what the software can do. I was always eagerly looking forward to new releases of virtools, but this time I’m affraid of what we will find. The slacking attitude on the support front and i.m.h.o. greedy attitude on the sales front are disconcerting to say the least.