rec.autos.simulators

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

Andre Warring

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Andre Warring » Fri, 05 Jan 2001 06:08:44

On Wed, 3 Jan 2001 16:20:32 +0000, Graeme Nash


>>I think the news of the soon-to-be-released track editor is FANTASTIC
>>news, and I'm surprised that the reactions to this news are quite
>>tame...

>GPAL! :-)

Ok - Point taken :)

Andre

Dave Henri

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Dave Henri » Fri, 05 Jan 2001 07:13:07

  How will we know which tracks are ***and which are not?  We will see a
flood of copies, everyone will be racing to beat the rest in releasing a
paticular track.  Our track folders will be swamped with dozens of similar
efforts...We will be overwhelmed by mediocrity...PUT THE GENIE BACK IN THE
BOTTLE!!
dave henrie



> >As much as I would love to rejoice from the announcement, I
> >can't.

ymenar

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by ymenar » Fri, 05 Jan 2001 13:49:47


>   How will we know which tracks are ***and which are not?  We will see a
> flood of copies, everyone will be racing to beat the rest in releasing a
> paticular track.  Our track folders will be swamped with dozens of similar
> efforts...We will be overwhelmed by mediocrity...PUT THE GENIE BACK IN THE
> BOTTLE!!

<yawn>

...

--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard>
-- May the Downforce be with you...
-- http://www.racesimcentral.net/
-- People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise
how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world.

Kevin Clar

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Kevin Clar » Fri, 05 Jan 2001 19:56:30




> >  Yes, the floodgates will be open.  How can all the un-tutored think they
> >can
> >whip out a Monza with the banking, when the guys who have put out Solitude
> >and Imola can't or won't.

> Because they thought a banked Monza would be a boring circuit and they
> wanted to put their time in more challenging tracks like Solitude and
> Goodwood. I would like to have a banked Monza very much, to make the
> circuit complete and ofcourse because of the movie Grand Prix.
> If this would be possible with the track editor this would be
> fantastic.

Does anyone know if this is just going to be tutorials, a stand alone
track creator or an addon for something like autoCAD?

Kev

Andre Warrin

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Andre Warrin » Fri, 05 Jan 2001 20:43:46

On Thu, 04 Jan 2001 10:56:30 +0000, Kevin Clark


>Does anyone know if this is just going to be tutorials, a stand alone
>track creator or an addon for something like autoCAD?

Afaik it's a stand alone track editor..

Andre

Tony Whitle

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Tony Whitle » Fri, 05 Jan 2001 20:53:38



> >   How will we know which tracks are ***and which are not?  We will see
a
> > flood of copies, everyone will be racing to beat the rest in releasing a
> > paticular track.  Our track folders will be swamped with dozens of
similar
> > efforts...We will be overwhelmed by mediocrity...PUT THE GENIE BACK IN
THE
> > BOTTLE!!

> <yawn>

> ...

A little unkind, I thought. I think Dave was making a valid point - there's
no point arguing about it, a track editor will be released. Some of the
tracks will be as exciting as Avus, others as boring as Solitude.

Have I got that the right way round?

--
Tony Whitley
GPLRank +10.65

Andre Warrin

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Andre Warrin » Fri, 05 Jan 2001 22:09:06

On Thu, 4 Jan 2001 11:53:38 -0000, "Tony Whitley" <t o n y . w h i t l


>> <yawn>
>> ...
>A little unkind, I thought. I think Dave was making a valid point - there's
>no point arguing about it, a track editor will be released. Some of the
>tracks will be as exciting as Avus, others as boring as Solitude.

>Have I got that the right way round?

Dave is making a valid point, but I think he's a little bit too
pessimistic. First of all, some crappy tracks will be released, but
not hundreds, I don't expect the editor to be so userfriendly that
everyone can build tracks within a couple of minutes. And when you
bother to learn how editing tracks works, I think you're motivated
enough to actually make a good track.
But even if, so what? Hundreds of crappy tracks have been released
too. A couple of GP2 tracks were outstanding.
So what do you prefer:
Lots of crappy tracks and a couple of good tracks to choose from,
or no tracks at all?
Yes, some good tracks come out occasionally, but don't you think more
good tracks would be released when the editor becomes public
available?

About online racing: How often do you see the converted tracks being
used online, even though they're quite good? Laguna and Sears are
fantastic tracks to race, yet I see them hardly being used online.
Even Goodwood and Snetterton, two of my favorite tracks, are hardly
being used on VROC.. unfortunately.
The original tracks are far more populair than the rest, and I don't
expect this to change when other tracks are being released.

As I allready said, the Swappah proved that the GPL community is not a
NFS community, so I really can't see anything negative about the
public release of the editor, and I'm still having a hard time
understanding why most people don't seem very e***d about the
release of the editor. Everyday I see new request for tracks on the
GPLEA forum and on RAS, and now that we'll get the opportunity to
build the tracks of our dreams ourselves, I hardly hear anybody about
it.

I allready started studying all the info about track editing that's
publicly available on the net, so I can start as soon as the editor is
being released.

Andre

Ruud van Ga

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Ruud van Ga » Fri, 05 Jan 2001 23:01:15


...

I would not think so, given the existing information. Even more so,
the .trk vs .3do matching will probably even put a lot of people off
(if not automated somewhere in the editor?). I've seen GP2's style,
I've done a GPL track painter, and an SCGT track importer (it's
actually beginning to work), and GPL is by far the most complex, since
it detaches physical layout (the traces) from graphics.

Ruud van Gaal, GPL Rank +53.25
Pencil art    : http://www.marketgraph.nl/gallery/
Car simulation: http://www.marketgraph.nl/gallery/racer/

Mike Barlo

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Mike Barlo » Fri, 05 Jan 2001 23:19:11




> ...
> >Dave is making a valid point, but I think he's a little bit too
> >pessimistic. First of all, some crappy tracks will be released, but
> >not hundreds, I don't expect the editor to be so userfriendly that
> >everyone can build tracks within a couple of minutes.

> I would not think so, given the existing information. Even more so,
> the .trk vs .3do matching will probably even put a lot of people off
> (if not automated somewhere in the editor?). I've seen GP2's style,
> I've done a GPL track painter, and an SCGT track importer (it's
> actually beginning to work), and GPL is by far the most complex, since
> it detaches physical layout (the traces) from graphics.

        Out of all the tracks available there are only a few that I love.
among them is the N3 converted Glen. There are a couple of glitches in
it that I wish could have been fixed such as the bump entering the
ninety but over all it's a great track for online racing (not to mention
it's my home track ;-)

        I don't know anything about track editing/creating, the only thing I've
done so far is create some track camera files located on Greger Huttu's
site.  I probably will download an editor just to se what's involved and
possibly learn a thing or two but I doubt that I'll produce anything out
side of a test track or two depending on ease of use.  What I'd like to
see would be the Glen with the BOOT!  I have access to any and all
information needed including histories, drivers from past and present,
in car video, many many pictures, access to and on the track for even
more detailed information, information from the inside (know people high
up), a litle history driving on the track, and probably most
important... surveyors maps, notes, et.. et..

        If **anyone** is considering or would consider creating the Glen with
the boot... PLEASE let me know!!

Eldre

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Eldre » Sat, 06 Jan 2001 00:42:13


Do people actually JOIN races at those tracks?  I've served them before, but
nobody came - so I stopped...

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL F1 hcp. +28.80...F2 +151.26...F3 hcp. +373.73

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Kevin Clar

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Kevin Clar » Sat, 06 Jan 2001 01:07:37




> ...
> >Dave is making a valid point, but I think he's a little bit too
> >pessimistic. First of all, some crappy tracks will be released, but
> >not hundreds, I don't expect the editor to be so userfriendly that
> >everyone can build tracks within a couple of minutes.

> I would not think so, given the existing information. Even more so,
> the .trk vs .3do matching will probably even put a lot of people off
> (if not automated somewhere in the editor?). I've seen GP2's style,
> I've done a GPL track painter, and an SCGT track importer (it's
> actually beginning to work), and GPL is by far the most complex, since
> it detaches physical layout (the traces) from graphics.

It would be great if there was a site set up somewhere that had premade
buildings, walls, kerbs and textures so that track creation could be
quicker as the main part would be design and layout of the track, then
you could get most of the buildings and stuff from a database. This also
means guaranteed good looking graphics.

Kev
(who has absolutely no idea how to make a track but will probably have a
go anyway!)

Andre Warrin

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Andre Warrin » Sat, 06 Jan 2001 00:56:58



>Warringa) writes:

>>About online racing: How often do you see the converted tracks being
>>used online, even though they're quite good? Laguna and Sears are
>>fantastic tracks to race, yet I see them hardly being used online.
>>Even Goodwood and Snetterton, two of my favorite tracks, are hardly
>>being used on VROC.. unfortunately.

>Do people actually JOIN races at those tracks?  I've served them before, but
>nobody came - so I stopped...

I join them occasionally when they show up, but then the race starts
I'm often the only driver. Not much fun then really..

But in our IGPLC league we have our occasional funrace at one of the
converted circuits.
So how about it, next GP race at Sears Point? (The old version without
the Chute please)

Andre

Andre Warrin

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Andre Warrin » Sat, 06 Jan 2001 01:04:55

On Thu, 04 Jan 2001 16:07:37 +0000, Kevin Clark


>It would be great if there was a site set up somewhere that had premade
>buildings, walls, kerbs and textures so that track creation could be
>quicker as the main part would be design and layout of the track, then
>you could get most of the buildings and stuff from a database. This also
>means guaranteed good looking graphics.

Great idea.. see Dave, this public editing has some potentional :)

Andre

Dave Henri

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Dave Henri » Sat, 06 Jan 2001 10:40:22

  That sounds like the idea behind the 3d fps shooter PREY....Ever heard of
it....it was supposed to Out Quake Quake, make Unreal, look unreal, but it
NEVER got out of Alpha code...It was supposed to allow ANYONE to build a
church, then any user on the web could dload that Church and insert it into
their own game.   Never happened....
   I only have to repeat Kev's line from above.
He doesn't know a thing about track editing but will give it a go...
Good for him, he "might" make something special..but the Average Kev will
give up halfway through his first track, but kindlly offer it for dload
anyway and we'll be flooded with Average Kev's half-arsed effort..(no
offense there Kev.....)
dave henrie


> On Thu, 04 Jan 2001 16:07:37 +0000, Kevin Clark

> >It would be great if there was a site set up somewhere that had premade
> >buildings, walls, kerbs and textures so that track creation could be
> >quicker as the main part would be design and layout of the track, then
> >you could get most of the buildings and stuff from a database. This also
> >means guaranteed good looking graphics.

> Great idea.. see Dave, this public editing has some potentional :)

> Andre

> >Kev
> >(who has absolutely no idea how to make a track but will probably have a
> >go anyway!)

Ruud van Ga

Advance Notification: GPL Track Creator

by Ruud van Ga » Sat, 06 Jan 2001 22:13:49



Probably the major sites out there will only put up good tracks for
download, making this less of an issue. There's a price to pay for
openness, look at Linux, look at the internet, both a bit on the
chaotic side, but the pros outweight the cons for most people.
Me at least ;-) I'm creating just some super-open carsim, but I can
already see the 'I can modify my car to go superfast' problems. :)
I'll deal with that later I guess. CRC checks or something. Hm.

Good to see I implemented track culling yesterday, a simple form but
it's already running smoothly on my PII-400 TNT2U (and even the O2
doesn't do too bad anymore). Now for some detection how high the track
is.

Ruud van Gaal, GPL Rank +53.25
Pencil art    : http://www.marketgraph.nl/gallery/
Car simulation: http://www.marketgraph.nl/gallery/racer/


rec.autos.simulators is a usenet newsgroup formed in December, 1993. As this group was always unmoderated there may be some spam or off topic articles included. Some links do point back to racesimcentral.net as we could not validate the original address. Please report any pages that you believe warrant deletion from this archive (include the link in your email). RaceSimCentral.net is in no way responsible and does not endorse any of the content herein.