Digital Domain hired one of the 2 guys (name of which one anyone - can't remember?) who created TG to help create the engine they used for the FX work they did on the movie "Stealth". Yes, all those landscapes they flew over at lightning speed were constructed with TG as well as plantlife added in other 3D apps and compositing. The guy has gone back to Planetside (obviously) but DD now uses this version of TG (that they further changed to add objects) as their terrain creation app.

DaleB - I think you're absolutely right when you say that it is most likely ILM and Sony Imageworks as the driving force behind the new architecture. And they might have had a hand in the XStream plug-ins if you think about it. What better way in a 3D matte (or environment for that matter) than to be able to create the terrain and ecosystem, then export it (while still being able to edit) into Maya or Max or LW or C4D? Ecosystems, rendered in the higher end finishing packages where the rest of their elements (and better more customizeable animation tools) can be added and tweaked in their normal production pipelines. If that's the clientelle you want to court, those are the people to listen to for feedback and suggestions!

TG is fun to use, but like Monsoon, I only use it for far away landscapes as they're all barren. When (IF!) they ever come out with v2 (which is funny to me, as they never had a v1 for actual sale other than the $99 registration) I'll definitely play with it, but I still don't think it'll tear me away from Vue.
-Lew ;-)