Choosing the Right Plugin: NextGen vs Legacy vs Riverology

Choosing the right water simulation plugin can make or break your project. Let's find the perfect match for your needs.

🤔 The Big Question

We often get asked: "Which plugin should I buy?"

The answer depends on three factors:

1. Target hardware — What GPUs will your players have?
2. Water type — Ocean, river, or both?
3. Visual requirements — AAA quality or optimized performance?

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📊 Quick Decision Chart

START HERE
    │
    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│  Do you need RIVERS or STREAMS? │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
    │ YES              │ NO
    ▼                  ▼
┌─────────┐    ┌─────────────────────┐
│RIVEROLOGY│    │ Target HIGH-END GPU? │
└─────────┘    │   (RTX 3080+)        │
               └─────────────────────┘
                    │ YES      │ NO
                    ▼          ▼
              ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐
              │ NEXTGEN │ │ LEGACY  │
              └─────────┘ └─────────┘

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🌊 Oceanology NextGen

Best for: AAA projects, cinematics, high-end PC games

✅ Choose NextGen If:

• You're targeting RTX 3080 / RTX 4070+ or better GPUs
• You need FFT-based spectral waves (realistic ocean simulation)
• Your project requires advanced shore wave breaking
• You want the best visual quality possible
• You're building cinematic experiences
• Your audience has gaming PCs or next-gen consoles

❌ Don't Choose NextGen If:

• Targeting mobile or low-end hardware
• Performance is more important than visuals
• You have a tight GPU budget

Key Features:

Feature	NextGen
Wave System	FFT + Gerstner Hybrid
Shore Waves	✅ Breaking waves
GPU Requirement	RTX 3080 / RTX 4070+ recommended
Best Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Documentation: Oceanology NextGen Docs

FAB Store: Buy NextGen

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🌅 Oceanology Legacy

Best for: Wide hardware compatibility, indie games, mobile-adjacent

✅ Choose Legacy If:

• You need to support GTX 1080 / RTX 3060+ GPUs
• Performance is critical (VR, mobile, streaming)
• You want broad audience reach
• Your project is an indie game with hardware constraints
• You're making a stylized water look (not photorealism)
• You need console compatibility (Xbox One, PS4)

❌ Don't Choose Legacy If:

• You need the absolute best visual quality
• Shore wave breaking is essential
• You have high-end GPU requirements anyway

Key Features:

Feature	Legacy
Wave System	Pure Gerstner (4 layers)
Shore Waves	Basic foam
GPU Requirement	GTX 1080 / RTX 3060+
Performance	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Documentation: Oceanology Legacy Docs

FAB Store: Buy Legacy

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🏞️ Riverology

Best for: Rivers, streams, lakes, inland water

✅ Choose Riverology If:

• You need flowing rivers with current physics
• Your game has spline-based water paths
• You want objects to flow downstream
• You need terrain-integrated riverbeds
• You're building nature environments with streams
• You need waterfalls and rapids

❌ Don't Choose Riverology If:

• You only need open ocean
• You don't have terrain/landscape in your level

Key Features:

Feature	Riverology
Water Type	Rivers, streams, lakes
Flow Physics	✅ Directional current
Terrain Integration	✅ Auto riverbed carving
Spline-Based	✅ Flexible paths

Documentation: Riverology Docs

FAB Store: Buy Riverology

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🔄 Can I Use Multiple Plugins?

YES! Our plugins work together beautifully:

Common Combinations:

NextGen + Riverology

• Open ocean meets river delta
• Rivers flowing into the sea
• Coastal + inland water systems

Legacy + Riverology

• Performance-optimized ocean
• Rivers for exploration games
• Best for wider hardware support

How to Combine:

1. Install both plugins
2. Use NextGen/Legacy for ocean areas
3. Use Riverology for river systems
4. They share the same buoyancy and swimming systems

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📈 Performance Comparison

Metric	NextGen	Legacy	Riverology
GPU Load	High	Low	Medium
CPU Load	Medium	Low	Medium
Memory	~200MB	~50MB	~80MB
Min GPU	RTX 3080 / RTX 4070+	GTX 1080 / RTX 3060+	GTX 1080 / RTX 3060+
Target FPS	60	120+	90+

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🎮 Project Type Recommendations

Project Type	Recommended Plugin
AAA Open World	NextGen
Indie Adventure	Legacy
Survival Game	NextGen or Legacy + Riverology
Racing/Boat Game	NextGen
VR Experience	Legacy
Mobile Game	Legacy
Cinematic	NextGen
Exploration	Legacy + Riverology
Fantasy RPG	All three!

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💡 Still Not Sure?

Ask These Questions:

1. What's my minimum target GPU?

   • RTX 3080 / RTX 4070+ → NextGen
   • GTX 1080 / RTX 3060+ → Legacy

2. Do I need rivers?

   • Yes → Add Riverology

3. Is visual quality my priority?

   • Yes → NextGen
   • No, performance is → Legacy

4. What's my budget?

   • All three plugins are competitively priced
   • Bundle deals available

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🆘 Need Help Deciding?

We're here to help you make the right choice:

• 💬 Ask in Discord — Get community advice
• 📧 Contact Support — Direct help
• 🎥 Watch Demos — See each plugin in action on our YouTube

Remember: You can always start with one plugin and add others later. They're designed to work together!