Whirligig News

[p]Hi Everyone[/p][p][/p][p]We're in the new year now. Lets see what 202 has in store. Hopefully good things but who knows.[/p][p][/p][p]So this is the first beta release of the year. It's got some updates based on feedback, bug fixers and I've made a tutorial over the Multi Monitor feature.[/p][p][/p][p]Updates[/p]

• [p]Sorting has been improved to match the order that Windows does for alphabetic ordering.[/p]
• [p]Movement improved to take advantage of the thumbsticks when mapped to them.[/p]
• [p]Added "Reset Position" to inputs to make it easier to get back to the middle.[/p]
• [p]Some translation issues fixed.[/p]
• [p]Update of Unity engine.[/p][p][/p]

[p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Monitor monitor was added to Whirligig to find a way to create a real world mapped environment for a severely disabled person who family wanted them to be able to see places they would never be able to visit.

The system is very difficult to demonstrate as I don't have 4 projectors and a video camera to film it. So I've filmed it in Unity where you can see the output to all the monitors and hopefully that'll make it easier to understand.[/p][p]
[/p][p]So I hope you like the video and find the updates usefully. As always, let me know if you have suggestions for features, bugs and positive reviews are always helpful :)

Until next time, happy watching and a happy new year.[/p][p][/p][p]Phil[/p]

[p]Hi all,

Here's the New Year’s update. I've continued to improve the Plex integration, which now allows for remote play with a Plex Pass / subscription, etc.

[/p][h3]Plex Improvements[/h3][p]So the Plex integration (I'm not affiliated with Plex in any way and I'm using their API for integration) is going well. Over the Christmas period I worked on remote play — I was away so it made sense 🙂 — and on some of the challenges involved.

[/p][h3]Remote Play[/h3][p]So remote play is working. This came with some challenges, and the biggest one is that the VLC plugin isn't very good at streaming playback. I've spent a while trying to come up with a solution, and the one I've landed on is this: if you're playing back with VLC then Whirligig will download the video to your device, place it in the Videos/VLC_Plex folder, and start playing it once 50 MB has been downloaded.

If the video completes its download, it stays there. If it doesn't, it gets deleted after Whirligig closes. This allows VLC to play back the video as if it's local, removing all the issues that come with streaming playback. Media Foundation, on the other hand, streams pretty well, so that stays the same.

What are your thoughts on this approach? Should all files be deleted when Whirligig closes? Let me know if this is working for you, and if not how you would like to see it improved.

[/p][h3]Video Tutorials[/h3][p]I've been making tutorials of all the functions for Whirligig. Here's the current list:[/p][p][/p][p]Whirligig - Input menu [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Whirligig - Subtitles [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Whirligig - Audio [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Whirligig - Themes [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Whirligig - Menus[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Whirligig - Colour, glow, crop, chroma key [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Whirligig - Presets and Saves menus [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Whirligig - Explorer menu [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Whirligig - Depth menu[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Whirligig - Projection menu [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h3]And finally[/h3][p]I hope you appreciate these updates and feedback is very welcome. Also a call out for POSITIVE REVIEWS, BUG REPORTS, and FEATURE REQUESTS. I'll continue to work on Whirligig as long as you continue to enjoy using it.

Actually I have one last question. I was thinking of putting up the price. For the people who already own Whirligig, do you think Whirligig is worth more?

Hope everyone has a great 2026. Happy watching 😄

Phil[/p]

[p]Hi Everyone

I've been working on a final release before Christmas working on updates, bug fixes and anything else that was half done and needed finishing.[/p][p][/p][p]Well one of those things is the alternative languages. I always intended to release Whirligig in different languages and created a system to easily include new languages. Well that was a long time ago and I was getting friends who spoke those languages to help, which gave me Chinese, Spanish and Polish. [/p][p][/p][p]Well a lots changed since then so I've gone back in and updated the system and found all the English entries that need replacing and I created a master file which I could then generate new versions using translation tools for other languages.
[/p][p][/p][p]So Whirligig supports these languages:

English[/p][p]Deutsch[/p][p]Espanol [/p][p]Français [/p][p]Italiano [/p][p]Polski[/p][p]Português [/p][p]Welsh[/p][p]Русский[/p][p]한국어[/p][p]中文（简体）[/p][p]日本語[/p][p]
Surely using online translation tools can't create reliable versions? You're completely right. I have no idea if these versions are anywhere near what they should be. This is the first pass and hopefully it provides most of the expected translations but it's mostly going to get it wrong in multiple places. The system is designed to be easily updateable and can be changed by users themselves.

How does it work
In the installation folder there is a language folder where the translation text files go. The name of the file is the name of the selection and in each of the files are all the entries that can be changed. Here is an example of the file.

C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\Whirligig\\production\\languages

Deutsch.ini
General[/p][p]-----------------------------[/p][p]Save=Speichern[/p][p]Reset=Zurücksetzen[/p][p]ResetAll=Alles Zurücksetzen[/p][p]Clear=Löschen[/p][p]LoadTxt=Laden[/p][p]SaveTxt=Speichern
English.ini[/p][p]General[/p][p]-----------------------------[/p][p]Save=Save[/p][p]Reset=Reset[/p][p]ResetAll=Reset All[/p][p]Clear=Clear[/p][p]LoadTxt=Load[/p][p]SaveTxt=Save[/p][p] [/p][h2]Can I help?[/h2][p]Yes you can. If you come across anything that isn't right let me know and I'll update it. I may put these files online so people can contribute if they want to.

I want to make Whirligig as accessible as I can but I'm aware I don't know how to without hiring people to create translations especially considering the amount I update things. So I've created this system to make it something people can change, add to and personalise. If there are languages you want added please let me know and I'll add them.

I hope you like the additions and hope I've not screwed up too much with the translations. I have to admit I wouldn't know if they were completely wrong but you've got to start somewhere :)

Hope everyone has a happy Christmas and I look forward to your feedback.[/p][p][/p][p]Happy watching

Phil[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]\[edit\[ I've just released this on the Meta store as well. It's been on there for a while but this is this version with the plex support and all the updates. If you own Whirligig on Steam I'm offering codes for the store. Just email me [email protected]. If you already own it on the Meta store please take the time to give it a review, Whirligig on Standalone doesn't do very well so any engagement to boost it's exposure would be very appreciated :)


Hi Everyone,[/p][p]It’s been a while since the last default update, and I’ve been working hard releasing several betas to get us to this point. This is a massive update that changes the core of how Whirligig runs, alongside some highly requested features.[/p][p]I’ve been holding off on pushing this to default to ensure stability, but after extensive testing in the beta branch, I’m finally releasing these changes to everyone. Because this update involves a major engine upgrade (Unity 6) and a complete rewrite of the input system, it represents a significant step forward for the player.[/p][p]Here is what you can expect in the new default version:[/p][p][/p][h3]Plex Support Added[/h3][p]I have been trying to get network support into Whirligig for a long time. After fighting with standard network protocols, I decided to try Plex, and it works brilliantly.[/p]

• [p]How it works: Whirligig doesn't act as a full Plex visual interface; instead, it allows you to stream your films directly as if they were on your hard drive.[/p]
• [p]Easy Setup: Click the Plex button, sign in via the web window to get a PIN, and link your account. Your Plex server will appear in the explorer like a local drive.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][h3]Engine Overhaul: Unity 6 & URP[/h3][p]I have upgraded the entire project to Unity 6 and implemented the Universal Render Pipeline (URP). This was a huge undertaking, but it was necessary for the future of the player.[/p]

• [p]Performance: You should notice significantly faster loading times and better resource management.[/p]
• [p]VR Rendering: URP enables single-pass rendering, which reduces the overhead on your GPU.[/p]
• [p]Smoother Playback: I’ve ironed out bottlenecks to make the experience feel much snappier.[/p]

[h3][/h3][h3]New Environments[/h3][p]I’ve added two new 3D environments for you to enjoy:[/p][p]A post-apocalyptic Desert scene.
An outdoor Camping area.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]Core System & Stability[/h3]

• [p]Video Path Switching: Fixed the issue where switching video render paths (e.g., Media Foundation to VLC) required a level reload. You can now switch paths instantly without delays or crashes.[/p]
• [p]Crash Reduction: Improved internal error checking to significantly reduce the risk of random crashes.[/p]
• [p]VLC Plugin: Applied "brute-force" fixes to the VLC implementation to resolve unpredictable playback behavior and improve stability.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Input & Controllers[/h3]

• [p]Missing Controllers: Fixed an issue where controllers would sometimes fail to appear on certain systems.[/p]
• [p]Slider Jitter: Fixed jerky slider movement; sliders now move much more smoothly.[/p]
• [p]Analog Response: Fixed analog inputs (like tilt) which previously acted like digital buttons. They now respond incrementally to pressure/direction.[/p]
• [p]Input Performance: Completely rewrote the input system to remove the performance cost ("overhead") of the old legacy system.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Explorer & Browser[/h3]

• [p]Slow Thumbnails: Fixed slow thumbnail generation; thumbnails now load significantly faster.[/p]
• [p]Large Folders: Fixed lag and slowdowns when browsing directories with large numbers of files.[/p]
• [p]Frame Capture: Fixed unreliable thumbnail frame capture where it would sometimes fail to grab an image.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]UI & Visuals[/h3]

• [p]Screen Alignment: Fixed and improved screen alignment in 360 Rooms.[/p]
• [p]Windows Title Bar: Fixed the Windows title bar style to correctly match the in-game UI.[/p]
• [p]Audio-Reactive Backgrounds: Refined the audio-reaction movement to fix stuttering, making the visuals much smoother.[/p][p][/p]

[hr][/hr][h3]
Troubleshooting & Feedback[/h3][p]Because this is such a major structural update, there is a chance that some bugs might pop up that I haven't caught.[/p][p]If you have issues:[/p]

1. [p]Reset Whirligig: Go to [c]C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Roaming[/c], find the 'Whirligig' folder, and rename or delete it. This clears out old settings that might conflict with the new engine.[/p]
2. [p]Let me know: Post on the Steam forums or email me. I am very responsive to bug reports.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]And Finally[/h3][p]I work on Whirligig as a solo developer and it's just me pushing out the updates and releases[/p][p]The community around Whirligig helps to suggest features and report issues, which continues to help make Whirligig better. If you enjoy using Whirligig, please consider taking 30 seconds to leave a positive review on Steam. Not only does it help people know what they will get when buying Whirligig and help to improve visibility of the player but it also helps my mental health as well :) [/p][p]If you have a bug, please report it so I can fix it. But if the player works for you and you like the new features, a thumbs-up would mean the world to me.[/p][p]Thank you for your continued support over the years.[/p][p]Happy watching,[/p][p]Phil[/p]

[p]Hi everyone[/p][p]If you've been keeping up with my posts I'm working towards a large default update. This update has been a process of fixing and optimising as much as I could. The one I thought I'd tackle that week was the NETWORK BUTTON.[/p][p][/p][p]I have been trying to get network support in Whirligig for a very long time. It's a consistently requested feature especially for standalone. My attempts have been fighting the process of networks and last week I thought I was getting somewhere but then for no reason my network stopped being discovered. Well I thought sod it I wonder if I could try and get plex working instead. And low and behold it turned out to be a lot easier (in comparison) than I thought and now we have the first beta including Plex support.[/p][p][/p][p]What is Plex
Plex is a media server system allowing you to easily store your videos and access them from anywhere in the world. The Plex brand and website is much more than just that including free shows and many many features. It helps you organise your films and series easily and is a great service if you have a large media library.[/p][p][/p][p]Whirligig and Plex
I'm not making Whirligig into a Plex system with all the artwork (you see the artwork in the thumbnail option in the explorer) info etc. Whirligig is a media player not a streaming service.

So what Whirligig is going to do is allow you to easily log into your plex server and stream your films directly into Whirligig as if it was a video on your hard drive. Once you've logged in using the very simple pin number your media server will be listed as if it was a drive and you can navigate it in exactly the same way you can your own local media.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Simply click the Plex button, a new window will open and you click sign in. You'll get a pin number and you can link it to your account.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Once linked it just shows you your plex server and you can browse as you like.[/p][p]
[/p][p]You'll be signed in indefinitely until you sign out by clicking here and clicking sign out.

Very Early Beta[/p][p]So this is very hot off the press. I need to do a load of testing and fixing but it seems to be working as I would expect at the moment so I felt it would be something people would like to get their hands on.
[/p][p]Because it's so new expect bugs. Please let me know of any bugs and any improvements you would like or expect in this setup.[/p][p][/p][p]Thank you
Thanks for supporting me over the years and I'll continue to make updates as long as people keep enjoying Whirligig. If you think I'm doing a good job give me a thumbs up and a positive review.

Keep an eye out for new updates and happy Watching[/p][p][/p][p]Phil :)[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]
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