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The contest is still running: click here for more info

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You will need:

• Microsoft DirectX redistributables (August 2009)
• Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributables
• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1

And in case it does still produce an error on start you will also need an additional DLL in the system32-directory (C:\Windows\System32 by default): D3DX10_42.dll

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Version 1.0.0.0

• Initial release

Version 1.0.0.1

• The notification that the latest Version of DirectX was not installed or the GPU does not support Shader Model 4 was kind of cryptic. This has been clarified


• Installer and command line version added


• Removed a potential error source concerning a device reset.

Version 1.0.0.2

• Clarified the naming of the overridable procedures in the plugin interface


• Optimized the rendering process, the device loss-procedure, the stream buffers and the CPU-rendering mode


• When you release the mouse button after dragging a property slider in the GUI, the image is automatically updated even if LivePreview is off. However, if LivePreview is on, the image is constantly re-rendered.


• Added a settings dialog - you can change the active plugin, the viewport buffer size and the anti-aliasing level for rendering to file from there.


• Added a cache engine for the shader bytecode. The long "Preparing" process needs to be done only once from now on.


• The "EnableJulia" and "EnableRadiolaria" properties in the Mandelbulb plugin were changed to "JuliaFactor" and "RadiolariaPower" - their previous function remains but they are now floating point settings rather than boolean ones. (You will later be able to animate them too this way)

Version 1.0.0.3

• Overhauled the infrastructure which gives a speed bonus


• Added a sophisticated plugin engine based on reflection and inline assembling.


• Added a compiler for plugins which automatically generates CPU and GPU assemblies and store them in single plugin DLL - you can now compile cross-processor kernels with a single source code file


• Fixed countless bugs in the user interface including the parameter save- and the TimeSpan overflow bug.


• Enabled texture parameters for plugins - it is now possible to pass textures to the GPU program without needing the device to reset


• Enabled experimental GPU rendering (ATTENTION! This feature may not work properly with all display driver configurations which will cause the render to fail)


• Added a new rendering dialog


• Replaced the GUI toolbar with a menu


• Renamed mbulb.dll to mandelbulb.dll and updated it to run with this version. Older plugins won't work with this version


• Added copy, paste, undo and redo functionality for the GUI


• Added "fit to window" functionality for the GUI


• Added an x64 version of Tacitus (ATTENTION! Do not mix the files of these two versions)


• ...etc etc etc...

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The command line renderer is now present in the GUI packages!

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Please read the README file within the archive. It contains important information on how to install and use it. You will need a DirectX10 capable graphic card and at least Microsoft Windows Vista to run it!

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PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS BETA SOFTWARE. USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. I WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGED HARD- OR SOFTWARE, LOSS OR DAMAGE OF PROPERTY, LOSS OR ENDANGERING OF LIFES OR ANY OTHER EFFECT THIS SOFTWARE MAY CAUSE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

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This version of Tacitus features a Mandelbulb Plugin. This plugin is a ported version of the PixelBender kernel originally written by ~subblue. You can download it from his website

The PixelBender kernel and the Mandelbulb plugin for Tacitus which is part of this archive are licensed under the MIT License: opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php

The full source code of the Mandelbulb plugin is located in the folder "Mandelbulb" within this archive.

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Tacitus Beta V1.0.0.3
Copyright ©2009 Georg "Xyrus" K.