GPL Camera files

There are a few edited camera files out and about and most of them, if not all, I do like. However, I'd like to see a change.. The "Pit view" camera in all the tracks! The pit road is not used except for shift-r penalties in online league racing. Even then all the scrutineers have to do to make sure such a penalty is observed is to use the "in car" camera or any other camera with that driver in focus. So, That "pit view" camera is pretty much useless. What I would like to see this camera used for is the start of the race. I'd like to be able to see as much of the starting grid as possible as well as as much of the track leading up to turn one as possible. Or, maybe instead of showing the front of the cars, maybe something like showing the front 1/2 or 1/4 of the grid from the back of the cars with the camera facing towards turn one. I know there's an editor out there to fix this but I haven't been able to figure out how to use it. If someone knows how to edit these files, I can supply a screen shot from another camera to show what I'm trying to explain. -- ========================================= Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? ========================================= http://members.xoom.com/BarlowRacing/ Racing online with the help of...... Race Communications Association Holodyne Engineering Mystic Music (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

There is two camera type files for GPL to be edited. One is the car camera found in the GPL/cars67/* and the other one is inside each track.dat. The one inside the track.dat (let's call it track.cam) has the information for the TV1, TV2 and Pitlane camera positions. The header for the file starts like this (thanks to Phil Flack and some editing guys that passed the knowledge) : Byte: 0-3 Values: "MACT" Note: Section Type - TCAM Byte: 4-7 Values: 0x00000000 Note: 0 Byte: 8-11 Values: data size Note : Size of the following data After the header, the next 4bytes give the number of the camera in the first set of camera (TV1, TV2, pitlane). Then, 56bytes (14floats/ints) defining each camera. Next, the number of camera in the other set is given, then another 56bytes for each of those cameras. Finally, there is 52bytes for the pitlane camera. It's a fixed view like you said earlier. After that here is the information about 56bytes (well 52for your pitlane) in 14floats. Small numbers mean like 5.0, tiny means in the range of 0.1 while minuscule means in the 0.001. 1-float Distance from S/F line in metres (the distance here is taken from the lenght of the track not virtual distance) 2-float Diatance from the track centre in metres 3-float Elevation in metres 4-float Distance camera takes over (-ve means the direction the cars come from) 5-int Fixednedd of the camera (always =1 here) 6-float Tiny 7-float Tiny 8-float Tiny 9-float Focus orientation 10-float Tilt of the camera in radians for the pitch 11-float Tilt of the camera in radians for the yaw 12-float Relative zoom of the lens (eye-fish effect per example) 13-int 0 14-int 0 Good luck and try to contact Ed Solheim I know he created alot of different camera files for the tracks. -- -- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard> -- May the Downforce be with you... "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."

On Sun, 28 Nov 1999 10:21:07 -0500, Michael Barlow > There are a few edited camera files out and about and most of them, if >not all, I do like. However, I'd like to see a change.. Have you tried my camera settings? http://www.kolumbus.fi/ghuttu/ There are new cameras for all tracks except the Ring and Silverstone. I think I know what you mean but send me the screenshot and I will try to update my cameras this week. -- Greger Huttu

I agree, and I'd go even further (if I had the time and the knowledge to do it). I'd love to see someone do a set of completely stationary cameras that show as much of the track as possible. I wouldn't care about graphic bugs that occur because of the wide angle. The default cameras, and especially the edited cameras on the net focus too much on the cars for my taste, and they zoom in and out too much. I'd really like to see a set of cameras (one could start with the Glen or Monza for example) that are at a higher position than the default, that stay stationary and don't zoom in or out.

Greger, I just downloaded your updated camera files and I want to say a big "thank you"! Some of these are exactly what I've been looking for. So thanks for taking the time to figure out how to do this and for providing us with more views to view your awesome fast laps ;-) What I want to see is more views like your TV1 of the noveau monde at rouen for example. These kind of views are incredible to look at and very helpful when analyzing a race. Thanks again, your work is very much appreciated! Alex

On Mon, 29 Nov 1999 09:51:53 +0100, "Alexander Marx"

Quoted text (18 lines)

>> Have you tried my camera settings? >> http://www.kolumbus.fi/ghuttu/ >> There are new cameras for all tracks except the Ring and Silverstone. >Greger, >I just downloaded your updated camera files and I want to say a big "thank >you"! Some of these are exactly what I've been looking for. So thanks for >taking the time to figure out how to do this and for providing us with more >views to view your awesome fast laps ;-) >What I want to see is more views like your TV1 of the noveau monde at rouen >for example. These kind of views are incredible to look at and very helpful >when analyzing a race. >Thanks again, your work is very much appreciated!

Thanks Alex, great that you like them! I'm currently working on new Silverstone cameras but it's such a boring track that it's hard to find good view. <g> If you have any suggestions for camera views in a specific corner etc. I would like to hear them. -- Greger Huttu

Quoted text (31 lines)

> On Mon, 29 Nov 1999 09:51:53 +0100, "Alexander Marx" > >> Have you tried my camera settings? > >> http://www.kolumbus.fi/ghuttu/ > >> There are new cameras for all tracks except the Ring and Silverstone. > >Greger, > >I just downloaded your updated camera files and I want to say a big "thank > >you"! Some of these are exactly what I've been looking for. So thanks for > >taking the time to figure out how to do this and for providing us with more > >views to view your awesome fast laps ;-) > >What I want to see is more views like your TV1 of the noveau monde at rouen > >for example. These kind of views are incredible to look at and very helpful > >when analyzing a race. > >Thanks again, your work is very much appreciated! > Thanks Alex, great that you like them! I'm currently working on new > Silverstone cameras but it's such a boring track that it's hard to > find good view. <g> > If you have any suggestions for camera views in a specific corner etc. > I would like to hear them. > -- > Greger Huttu

Now that he has mentioned it.. It might be best for two camera files per track.. One to be used for training sessions so you can see where you are missing those extra few tenths. And One for the "realists" such as my self that likes to see cameras in realistic positions. Interesting concept, It would only require renaming the files every time you want to switch between the two. Just a thought, Mike -- ========================================= Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? ========================================= http://members.xoom.com/BarlowRacing/ Racing online with the help of...... Race Communications Association Holodyne Engineering Mystic Music (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

boring? I thought that myself too, long ago ;-) meanwhile I really like the track: it has a good and easy rhythm, no real tricky corners, just plain fun. Lio

Nice idea. If I find the time I might try one. -Thorsten Rueter