4th of July gear

With the 4th of July rapidly approaching, we thought we'd take some time to create some gear for this week that has some patriotic spirit! Hope you like the colors red, white and blue. We don't have to hope you like dynamic lighting, however. We already know you do. Check it out! 

Patriotic Sparkler: Show some American spirit with this sparkler, which shoots out red, white, and blue flares that are as festive as they are bright. The lights themselves have dynamic lighting enabled as well.
American Rockets 1776: While the sparkler lets you show your patriotism at ground level, why not show it at a higher level (literally)? Use this Fireworks gun to launch America-themed, dynamically lit fireworks into the sky that will explode in red, white, and blue flares.
Bald Eagle: Now we're talking. Unleash this massive bird and for sixty seconds it will fly around attacking your enemies with red, white and blue lasers it emits from it's eyes. Let me repeat that. This eagle will shoot red, white and blue lasers from it's eyes.
ChiefJustus Gavel: Bring the pain! This massive gavel has three attacks. First, click once for an over head strike. Click and hold the left mouse button, and your character will jump several feet in the air and do a super smash attack. And if you really want to do some ground damage, hold "Q" and you will spin the gavel in a circular motion, damaging anyone in your path. 

Dynamic Lighting on the go

You’ve probably noticed by now that the lights are on in ROBLOX Mobile. As with many significant rendering updates, getting dynamic lighting to illuminate iPhone and iPad screens was a tricky endeavor that brought our engineers face to face with some very specific technical hurdles. We got the chance to sit down with Graphics and Rendering Specialist Arseny Kapoulkine to get the scoop on porting dynamic lighting to mobile devices.

Shaders

To understand how we pulled this off, let’s start simple. Computers that can support dynamic lighting (about 97% of the computers running ROBLOX) are able to do so by utilizing shaders built into their graphics card. So our first question was, “will we be able to utilize the graphics technology bundled into iPhones and iPads to utilize shaders?” Lucky for us, iPads and iPhones 4 and higher have shader support baked in.

A shader is a program that tells your computer how to essentially “draw” things in 3D space. On PC, we are able to control whether an individual object is drawn using a shader (for example, we do not use a shader to draw UI elements and skyboxes). The opposite is the case for iOS. It’s all or nothing. You can either add shading to every single thing you create, or have none at all. In order for us to get our dynamic lighting system to play nice with iOS, we had to make sure that everything you can possibly draw or create on ROBLOX has a version with shaders enabled. This took a while.

Performance

The iPad and iPhone hardware is significantly slower than your average personal computer, which was another development challenge. We worked around this by quickening the pace of our code (more on this later), and by carefully reducing the frequency of lighting updates for areas that are outside of your immediate point of view. This is a tradeoff between lighting lag (i.e. outdated lighting information) and gameplay lag (i.e. the inability to move the camera). If a place with a lot of moving lights begins slowing or lagging, we slow the frequency of lighting communication to speed the game up.  

 

 

Leveraging CPU Architecture

Rendering lighting is resource intensive–we have to compute complex lighting interactions with a high number of voxels at an interactive framerate. To do this, we use many tricks that help keep our lighting system fast, and some of these tricks rely on the specific CPU architecture.
A very powerful and commonly used tool for developers is SIMD. On a basic level, this tool allows you to do several arithmetic operations in parallel without utilizing multiple cores. Instead of having your processor add two numbers together, this tool allows it to add up to 16 pairs of numbers together, at roughly the same cost!
However, nothing comes free–not every algorithm out there can utilize SIMD effectively. In addition, writing SIMD code is hacky and time consuming. This is why we’re careful about only optimizing code with SIMD instructions that executes often enough to make a huge difference performance-wise. Prior to the mobile update, we had optimized most of the lighting code using the SSE2 instruction set.
SSE2 can only be used on Intel architecture–processors in iPads and iPhones are different than the ones found in your average PC. iOS tech runs on ARM architecture, which has an entirely different–and incompatible–instruction set for SIMD called NEON. In order to fully leverage the processing power available in the portable devices, we had to re-write the lighting code to utilize and understand NEON instructions where appropriate.
It takes quite a bit of time to optimize code using SIMD–not every algorithm fits the restrictions that these powerful instructions have, but the gains make it worth the extra work. In the case of lighting, we were able to get our system moving 4x faster as a whole, with some specific areas experiencing as much as a 10x speed up. We were able to achieve this because we carefully optimized the code to use the available enhanced instructions that ARM can understand.

Going From Here

With the mobile release, dynamic lighting is fully deployed across every piece of hardware ROBLOX supports. That means phase one of dynamic lighting is finally complete, and we can move on to some exciting new features that we’re not quite ready to mention. We’ll throw you this bone: we’re working on something that many of you have requested since the first day dynamic lighting hit ROBLOX. Keep an eye out.

 

Starface, Starface, thou art shine

Hello everyone! From 9 P.M last night to 12 P.M today, a sale was going on, where an item came out every hour! Some items good, some rare, some bad, some good, some great! Over the next few days I am going to be reviewing many of the items, and talking about them as well! So here it goes!

We got three new faces, each one different, in price, color, and quantity.



Let's look at the three new faces that came out, their price, quantity and selling price!

Green Starface
Was - 50 Robux
Quantity - 14999
Current Price - 160 Robux
Number of sellers - 992
 
Blue Starface
Was - 100 Robux
Quantity - 7500
Current Price - 348 Robux
Number of sellers - 477

Purple Starface
Was - 150 Robux
Quantity - 1000
Current Price - 2400 Robux
Number of sellers - 111

These are all great faces, and I was lucky to get all 3! If you don't have them, do get them!

Check back later for a new review!

Thanks for reading!
 

The Sparkle Treatment

Everyone knows about the Sparkle Time Fedoras, right? Well, what makes them so.. rare? Let's find out!

First, lets look at all the Sparkle Time Fedoras, also known as STF's.


As you see we have, Green, Gold, Red, Purple, and Blue.

But how are they rare? Here's why.

1. Quantity
Quantity is the number of items that exist, all STF's have 100 Quantity, meaning only 100 People have them. As so little people have them, that raises a value a lot. [100 may seem like a big number, but there are over 5 million players on ROBLOX.]

2. Simply Fedora
Ever since the first Fedora came out on ROBLOX, people have loved them ever since. Even the first ever Fedora sells for a lot, the Classic Fedora, selling for 19,000 Robux. But that's not all, as you know many other Fedora type hats do not sell very high, like the Shady Business Hat. Why is this? It's because it's not Classic.

3. Looking Good
People also sell the STF's very high because they are the only hats that actually shine, they are shiny, mirror-like you could say. People love this because it is simply cool, and rare.

Well, how do I get a Sparkle Time Fedora?

1. Timing
As there are not a lot of quantity for the STF's, timing is everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. They can sell out anytime between 20 - 40 seconds. If you want to know how to get notified when a new hat comes out, click the link at the bottom of the page.

2. Money
This is simple, and yet very hard, every STF costs 10,000 Robux. How much is that you ask? About, 150,000 Tickets, or $100.00 Dollars in real life. $100 Bucks.. Wow. An easy way to get good Robux is just sell and trade. Including, trading your currency.

Well, how can I get my hands on one now?

1. Trade
Trading for items is a great way to stock up, trade a good item for the STF, people may even accept the Classic Fedora for it.

And that is why they sell for so much, how you can get a brand new one, and how you can get a used one. Hope this helped, remember if you can have questions, leave them int he comments below.

Google Chrome Hat Notifier

Thanks for reading.

Check back Sunday for reviews of the sale items!

Yes, check back Sunday for reviews of the brand new sale items, I would have them up on Saturday, but I will be away sadly. I will still be on ROBLOX some of the time, and I hope to get these good items.

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down!

Just now ROBLOX made a very nice update of Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down. Similar to liking a video on Youtube, this will help players figure out if a game is good, or bad to play.

What do you think of this update?

Leave a comment below!

Sorry for the inactivity!

I have been very busy the last couple of days, but posts will start up again tomorrow!

~NOTICE~ Prices, what happened?!

Yesterday ALL prices glitched so everything was 1 ticket, so people went and spent every ticket they had on unavailable items like the Dominus, etc.

ROBLOX has fixed this glitch, and anyone who bought an item yesterday will get it removed with NO REFUND.

But soon, they will be removed, for now, enjoy your glitched items.



ROBLOX STAHP MAKIN' GLITCHES

Hat Review: Azure Pinstripe Fedora

Azure Pinstripe Fedora
"For the stylish mobster in us all. I know you've got one!"

Mesh: The mesh is a copy of the other fedoras, even though they use it often, I think it's getting a little worn out. The mesh has a unique shape though. All the different textures of the fedora give it a different shape. As for this one, it makes it seem more, 3D than some of the others. 5/10

Texture: The texture is a very nice sky blue and white. As you can see on the image, when it heads towards the back of the hat it turns blackish. The band has a black outline which makes it stand out more than anything else on the rest of the hat. 10/10

Public Comments: Time to see some comments left by players on the site. 

sdarr: "Why so high just for a regular fedora. Almost projected."

cwislar33: "This is the coolest fedora, accept for the Sparkle Time series."

RaserRicherAlt: "This Fedora ROCKZ. I mean, all Fedoras do... but this one and Perfectly Legit are probably the best ones c:"

Overall: Overall, this is a very nice hat, as most of you know, my favorite hat to wear. So overall.. 10/10

Thanks for reading.

~Voiaman2 - Founder of RNN~ 

Hat Review: Crimsonpunk

 

Crimsonpunk

Mesh: The mesh is very nice and one of a kind. Even though similar to other goggles, this one looks the best indeed. The way those.. things stick up off the glass, and everything, I'm so glad this isn't copied at all!

 

Rating: 10/10

Texture: The texture is very nice. Gold, Black and Red. The black on it, it's not like any other black I've seen.. It's.. It's.. Plain.. Not dark, not light, just.. the right color, and I love that! I love the way that the dark red and black mix in to the goggles to make the perfect eye glass. Very nice, and very awesome! 

Rating: 10/10

Pricing: Now we get to the worst part of this hat. With 2987 sales, this hat is 100 Robux. Personally, I think it should be 500+. Just the way it looks, the mesh, and texture, I have no clue why the price is so low, but who knows... But, even though it's not high, at least it's easy to get for some who want a good hat.

Rating: 5/10

Overall: Overall, this hat is awesome! One of a kind mesh, very amazing texture, and a very low price! If you can get this, do get it!

Overall Rating: 25/30

Thanks for reading!

An Ocean of new gear!

In honor of Ocean Day this weekend, here's some nautical gear to get you in tune with the spirit of the ocean (and the many strange animals that inhabit it).
Land Shark Shooter: Shooting this weapon causes a shark to inhabit the brick that you shoot, where it lays in wait. If someone steps on that brick, a shark will strike out with a vicious attack, doing 100 hit points of damage.


Squid Ink Bomb: Equip this squid, and click to squeeze it--it'll launch ink at every click. If the ink hits another player, their screen will be fill with ink splats. Also, special move: hit the "W" key twice, then click to start spinning rapidly, spraying ink in all directions.
Seahorse: Hop on board the bizarre-mobile. Activate this giant sea horse and you'll mount it--making you more sturdy, and a lot faster (like, 25 studs a second fast). If you run into other players you'll knock them flat.
Harpoon: Use this dangerous weapon to make kabobs out of your foes. This gun shoots harpoons into the distance and drags whatever (or whoever) it hits towards you. Each harpoon does 25 hit points of damage.

Hat Review: Impossible to Obtain Red Wedding Cake Hat

Impossible to Obtain Red Wedding Cake Hat

Mesh: The mesh is awesome, and one of a kind. I love this mesh, it looks so basic, yet so 3D, more than many other hats have, even though it has no texture, only color, it's still very nice, very 3D, and it stands out more than any other hat I've seen in my years on ROBLOX. Just, amazing, and rare.

Rating: 10/10

Texture: Red, Red, Red, and guess what.. Red! This is the worst texture I have ever seen, 1 color, boring, terrible yawn, yuck, ew! If it were White and Blue, we would have a different story, but just red, it's so disgusting, I can't even look at it anymore, it blinds me with it's redness!

Rating: 1/10

Why did it go off-sale: Now we get to the big question, why did it go off-sale? Like many, many ROBLOX hats in the past, they have been taken down from complaints. Having 2866 sales, the price is unknown. The reason this hat went off-sale is because, the original name was 'Devo'. Which is an old band, and they wore hats like this. ROBLOX was sued from 'stealing' it. I guess people don't like others to know about them.

Overall: Overall, this hat is amazing, and looks very 3D. Boring red texture, and it's even off-sale. If you have this, you have a hat that will never be on sale again, and you are lucky good sir! Who knew Devo would be such a downfall?!

Overall Rating: 11/20

Thanks for reading!

You must now be verified to comment

You know how when you go to item comments in the Catalog, or comments on places, and they’re filled with spam and scamming links and nonsense? Don’t you hate that? Yeah, we do too. A lot.



That’s why starting today, a verified e-mail will berequired to post comments on items and places. We are doing this to increase the quality of participation, and reduce the level of unproductive content.



This is the first area where a verified e-mail will berequired to do something – but it’s not going to be the last. In the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out a verified e-mail requirement for various activities across ROBLOX .



And besides, a verified e-mail is a great thing to have –not just to comment (or do the other things where verification will be required); it helps protect your account if you forget your password or have other account issues.



So what are you waiting for? If you haven’t already verifiedyour e-mail, now is a good time to do it. While you’re logged in to your account, go to the “Account” link from any page and add your e-mail address in the “Account Settings” section. You’ll receive an e-mail with a link to click and verify. That’s it!



Thanks for being part of ROBLOX.



-- Brad [chiefjustus]

Gear Review: Rubyhorde the Rapacious' Treasure

Rubyhorde the Rapacious' Treasure

Mesh: This mesh is very nice! It actually looks lie a treasure chest with a chain around it! From it looking like this it has led people to believe it will open as if it were a gift, but there have been duds before, and I bet this is jut another one of those duds. But even if it is a dud, it still is a very nice mesh.

Rating: 10/10

Texture: The texture is nice as well. It all has texture, by that I mean it doesn't just have color, it actually have a texture to it! I love the way it looks, it looks like no other gear or texture I have seen on any hat or gear or anything, it just stands out to me for some reason as the best texture to ever be created.

Rating: 10/10

Action In-Game: It's action is very nice! As you have to pay $40 for it, it's worth it. When you use it, anyone around you loses ALL their gear. This is the ultimate gear weapon, and a very great one indeed.  If you can't afford this one, I suggest you get the Gear Suppressor, it makes it so people around you can't use their gear for 10 seconds. That is the big thin for this gear, it's not 10 seconds, it's until they reset. Just amazing.

Rating: 10/10

Overall: Overall, this is a really nice gear! An amazing mesh, outstanding texture, and it even takes away all the foes gear! If you have $40 dollars, I suggest you get this from your Local Gamestop store. If you don't, just get the Gear Supressor. 

Overall Rating: 30/30

Thanks for reading!

Monthly Card Items - June 2013

Neon Green Future Shades
How to get - 7-Eleven Canada


Athletic Sunglasses
How to get - CVS


Retro Pattern Shades
How to get - Gamestop / EB Games


Wild Shades
How to get - Best Buy


Darkest Aviators
How to get - Sainsbury's


Ruby Shades
How to get - Shopper's Drug Mart


Firestarter Sunshades
How to get - Toys R Us


Hip Comic Shades
How to get - Target


Lightning RayGoods
How to get - F.Y.E / London Drugs


Gold Rim Shades
How to get - $10 - Walmart


Lemon Lime Sunglasses
How to get - Game


Blue Skies Shades
How to get - $25 - Walmart


Rubyhorde the Rapacious
How to get - $40 - Gamestop

Robotic Limiteds!

Last month ROBLOX had Robot themed gift cards from stores, for the first time, three of them went limited!

 
Radioactive Robot
Price: 2,500 Robux



Redspybot
Price: 25,000 Robux

 
Dr. Crazybot
Price: 1,428

To see all the robot hats, click here.