There is a screen shot at 3DCommune of the new Vue 5. Looks pretty much the same to me. Other than the preview panes.

I really don't like the vue 5 logo on eons site. So boring. If it's a quick intuitive landscape scene generator why put a font editor in the program and advertise in black.

The font editor was a feature asked by the Vue community... Even if it looks pretty same the 4 in its look, I think the features added will give a high value to the software. Global Illumination and Radiosity with EasyGI single slider quality setting, High Dynamic Range Image (HDRI) and Image Based Lighting (IBL), Procedural Terrains with sub-pixel detail whatever the viewing distance, Advanced atmospheric engine, Ultra-realistic 3D tree and plant technology, SmartGraph Function and Material Editor Metablobs from all primitives for improved organic modeling, Complete 3D Text editing capability for high quality video and titling effects, Integrated post-processing and camera switching, Pre-animated Mesh Support Advanced OpenGL Previewing Numerous productivity and feature enhancements. & don't forget that the update is really affordable for all thos kind of modification & features.

can upload the link ? or directly the image of the screen shot ??

well i dont see the harm in putting a font editor in a landscape/scenery app, its a neat addition if you ask me, and if you dont like it dont use it, it isnt a big feature so it doesnt take away from anything else. modern 3d apps needs to be quite diverse and as guigi said the features of vue5 esprit is a nice step up from vue4, sure they could have done even more, but i guess thats whats in store for vue5 pro, and the upgrade price from vue4 is such a bargain that i dont realy see any reason for anyone using vue4 esprit not to upgrade, just the render engine improvements is easily worth it. as for the ad, i dont think its boring, the video is realy good, granted i think the swf ad could have been better(its a little rough) and granted i think they should have offered a flv version of the quicktime video which would have started to play if you clicked the flash ad. Alittle backwards having to download a video to watch it when they are already using flash for the ad. just my opinion of course :)

A font editor is not merely for titling. It's a very, very handy modelling tool.

Imagine using text in Boolean objects: tombstone incriptions, brass shingles, street manholes, statue inscriptions, initials carved on trees, embossed in gold / steel / glass objects, jewellery, sides of buildings, etc.

Also fonts like wingdings and webdings can be used to produce objects like crosses, smileys, skull 'n' crossbones, scrolly border bits, etc., which in turn can be used in Booleans.

A simple, but IMO, very useful addition to Vue.

amen biggreen

yeah, but cheese. Its a scene generator program. Fonts? Whatever? you all agree like birds of a feather... And really look at the logo not the clip with fast editing. The logo is really bad. Don't be afraid to admit it. If I did that work for my boss I'd be fired. That logo is bad on many levels and its the first thing you see when you hit their site. Add it all together and what do you have?: Bryce with add-ons. I think they need to revamp the whole program so the renderer can catch up to the times and we can get my money worth. A lot of kiss butts in a company makes eveyone mouth sore... I never liked boolean. Its sloppy, wastes resources, rarely works well, makes odd shadows. I would use texture maps for what you are writing about but then again maps are hard to place on objects in vue but that won't be fixed. Its a lose lose. There is so much more if you look at what other 3d apps are doing. Why be frustratred with vue 5.

im not frustrated with it but you seems to be :) as for the logo ive already told e.on that its alittle on the rough side of things so i completely agree with you that the vue 5 flash ad is crap, it could have been tons better just as the quicktime vid should have been available as a streaming flv in the flash ad aswell, and ive told them that i would gladly do something better for them but hey its their app and their ad :) but to be honest, vue is a scenery app and it does excell there and adding a font editor doesnt take away from it + its damn easy for e.on to add, so no harm in increasing the value of the app. sure we all want even better plants, more plants and tons more control over them and a faster renderer, particles etc, and in due time we will, but even if e.on would have canned the font editor we woudnt have goten any of those features this time around.

Bonnyclump, thanks for being honest! Agreed, the text might not look as good as that created in a dedicated modelling app. And, yes, booleans are an inefficient way of object creation although I've never had any of the other problems you mentioned.

Any objective critique of software must evaluate the product against the intended market and purpose. In Vue's case, mainly enthusiasts and landscape scene generation respectively. Considering these, Vue is an excellent product, offering a creative outlet for many non-technical people with no formal artistic training. In the right circumstances, it can also deliver commercial quality artwork too. As can Bryce. However....

Vue's marketing sucks. Always has done. To promote a new release with no real details along with a mediocre video is, um, "unhelpful" to prospective purchasers and upgraders alike. Add in the confusion over the standard and Pro versions to the specualtion over Vue 5's capabilities and the only people who win are the competition.

Your most valid point is "see what other 3D apps are doing". A resurrected Bryce (thanks, Daz!) and several alternative scenery generators must be pushing E-On hard. Add in soon to be released Carrara Studio 4 with improved landscape and atmosphere editors plus modelling, UVMapper, etc., and E-On's market is reduced further.

In sharp contrast to past years, I've noticed a distinct lack of sycophancy towards E-On recently which is to be welcomed. Despite the past, many forum contributors, myself included, have always openly raised things or issues we believed "wrong" or in need of attention. Vue's appalling OpenGL support for one.

Give credit where it's due and constructive criticism where it's needed: Vue's a good, inexpensive, 3D scenery app. with room for improvement.