Entity Range of Activity

[PartSquirrel]

I have some general game-engine questions. Sorry if they are in the wrong spot.

 

Playing the game I have noticed that things are not "active" if they are not on screen (or in proximity to my character).

 

For example, I create some bee boxes, and if I'm not close to them they will not fill up with honey (how close I do not know). Similarly, beefalo will not drop manure unless I am close to them.

 

I figure this is done for performance reasons (it would be too CPU intensive to calculate some mermen and tentacles duking it out half way across the world (in addition to all other interactions)), and it would rarely be interesting to the player anyways.

 

My questions:

Is there a way to expand the "range of activity." For instance, instead of bees only gathering honey while they are on screen, could they do this while three or four screens away (as well as all other entity interactions)?

 

Also, is there a way to make certain entities "always active." For example, all beefalo (no matter their position in relation to my character) will generate manure at their normal rate?

 

Thanks for your answers

[Cynical Cynicist]

Probably not, this isn't like Minecraft where you can adjust your render distance. Just make sure all your important activities take place somewhere near those areas. Even if you spend time away from your bee boxes, the game will simulate them with a simpler model and they will produce 1 honey per day.

[PartSquirrel]

So I got a "probably not" which is probably the answer.

 

Does Klei have a "definite answer?"

[dancness]

I think you answered your own question. Too much data to handle at once. Not to mention if beefaloes pooped all the time you'd have thousands of poops all over the ground which would also negatively affect game performance.

[Cynical Cynicist]

So I got a "probably not" which is probably the answer.

 

Does Klei have a "definite answer?"

 

I read it on the wiki once. You can check it too.

[the truthseeker]

If some things didn't happen off-screen it wouldn't be harrvestable at all in the first pass. Beefalo for example do...ahh...poo when off screen not even nearby as do Tallbird egg laying and pig/hostile mob encounters. Other events only do happen when close or witnessed on screen. I honestly don't remember what Bee boxes fall under. 

[Craig_Perry]

If some things didn't happen off-screen it wouldn't be harrvestable at all in the first pass. Beefalo for example do...ahh...poo when off screen not even nearby as do Tallbird egg laying and pig/hostile mob encounters. Other events only do happen when close or witnessed on screen. I honestly don't remember what Bee boxes fall under. 

bee boxes are the exception to the rule, they seem to have their own

 

if nearby they run at full capacity (as long as flowers allow it)

 

if not nearby they produce 1 honey per day

[zacoya]

I doubt it's to limit CPU use--there's no need to continually update these kind of offscreen entities. They can be timestamped and updated lazily.

[Nebulous]

I think you answered your own question. Too much data to handle at once. Not to mention if beefaloes pooped all the time you'd have thousands of poops all over the ground which would also negatively affect game performance.

 

Think of the flies...

 

::shudder::

[Cynical Cynicist]

Think of the flies...

 

::shudder::

 

So what's the best way to harvest manure? Stand near the Beefalo for an extended period of time or just occasionally collect the 2-3 manure lying around them?

[TeoSS69]

So what's the best way to harvest manure? Stand near the Beefalo for an extended period of time or just occasionally collect the 2-3 manure lying around them?

Collect berries and drop them at some pigs' feet. 

[Cynical Cynicist]

Collect berries and drop them at some pigs' feet. 

That made me realize maintaining berry bushes is extremely easy, even without Beefalo.

[TeoSS69]

That made me realize maintaining berry bushes is extremely easy, even without Beefalo.

Theoretically you can refertilize them using berries left to rot. You'll get 3 more uses, and one of those uses will be used to refertilize them again. So you can use a berry to make 3 more. Profit.

[Cynical Cynicist]

Theoretically you can refertilize them using berries left to rot. You'll get 3 more uses, and one of those uses will be used to refertilize them again. So you can use a berry to make 3 more. Profit.

 

Noice, very noice.