Atomic Systems

Having had yet another 3DC model rescued from failure by the help of Decapod, it focused my attention on the difficulties of producing content for RS. I believe, rightly or wrongly, that these difficulties are slowing the production of new content for RS.

To me the strength of UKTS has always been the support given to the less gifted by the more knowledgeable members, so I was wondering, therefore, if there was any way of easing the learning curve, so encouraging more people to become modellers.

My proposal is that UKTS organise a seminar in a suitable central location, where would-be modellers can see the skills of the more adept members demonstrated. In turn, the seminars would be filmed so they could be distributed via CD ordering, to those who are unable to attend.

I appreciate it would involve some expense, but it may be a long term investment of UKTS Live funds in the future of the community, and I, personally, would rather pay £10 for this than a CD with one loco and a few re-skins on it. If RSDL accept my arguement that their own economic future depends on a healthy community, perhaps they may also wish to participate/contribute to such a venture.(on the joy of blueprint editing or shaders, perhaps)

I hope the popularity of the tutorial threads demonstrates the need for the skill training I propose and wonder if others agree? If so, is the demand high enough to justify the expense and organisation required. What do you think?

Hi Phil
Yes I think this is a good idea
There are plenty of talented modellers out there who have alot to offer the community
I hope this idea is taken forward
Kind regards Stephen

It is definitely a good idea.

I remember such a proposal a while ago, and wild discussions on who would tape/film it with which technology. I cannot remember whether this event actually took place then.

Anyway, as one who cannot attend in person, I certainly welcome any form of media that stems from it, if it takes place.

Why just stop at modelling.

Why not a full blown conference catering for all aspects of Rail Simulator/RailWorks?
Seminars on - Route Building, Scenery Creation, Sounds, Loco Building, Rolling Stock, etc.
Group route creation, planned content creation, etc.
Pub crawls - no forget that one.

Hi Guys

I have thought about doing an on-line workshop once a month.

Windows MSG , fraps to capture screenshots , a decent connection to send the screens back and forth... unless yahoo msg still works with its picture viewer ?... don't mention windows live my rig just does not like it at all..

Other possabilities are teamspeak

Have done some similar type of things for flight sim missions.. it is very good fun.. but a strict method of operating must be adhered too , else all descends into chaos.

Works something like this

there is a request / suggestion channel whereby anyone can write out a question / ask for advice.
The chairman /host or panel takes an interesting question and invites whoever submits it to a workshop channel, where it is worked through.. this channel is strictly watch only for all others.
After each question is answered, some questions will be accepted from "The Floor" (via the request channel)

The entire transcript together with screenshots is then posted up as a permanent record.

Thing to remember is that there a a multitude of ways of acheiving whatever standard of work you require, anyone involved in creation is being an artist not an engineer so you will get many differing solutions.... each to their own

Ideally a panel of 3D canvas, 3d max, Photoshop and RS "experts" (word used in loosest sense) would be ideal.

Post If any interest and I will see what we can put together.. I know Derek was keen to do something like this at one time , so maybe when RW is out of the way he may be interested ( sorry for volunteering you mate )

Just thunkin out loud

Sly

I try and throw together short tutorials from time to time when I can find such time, but a seminar would ease the process much more and would bring a lot of knowledge from a lot of people together.

I hope to be back in the UK at about this time next year (after the big steam do in Germany) - dont suppose you could hang off till then

Would love to model, but dont have the a) ability, b) software needed, c) ability, d) time involved. Did I mention ability?? (it is considered an achievement when I flick the switch and the light comes on )

Seriously I think it is a great idea, particularly if the info could be later shared via download etc (unfortunately no viable net access at home, that is what the offic eis for )

Cheers

Acorncomputer wrote:Why just stop at modelling.

Why not a full blown conference catering for all aspects of Rail Simulator/RailWorks?
Seminars on - Route Building, Scenery Creation, Sounds, Loco Building, Rolling Stock, etc.
Group route creation, planned content creation, etc.
Pub crawls - no forget that one.

I understand your point, but where do you stop? What about Physics, signal scripting etc, we all have our special interest?

The reasoning behind my post, is that the models are the bricks and mortar from which all other things derive. Therefore, I believed that how to produce a model and get it into the game, should be the focus of the seminar. But that's only my opinion.

By the way, if there's no pub crawl, I'm not coming.

For I remote solution, I like Sly's suggestion very much. However, I would do with a low-tech implementation.
This means that a stream of screenshots with comments typed below or otherwise alongside would to it for me.
The important thing is the bit about audience asks chairmen, chairmen introduces presentation, floor asks questions, presenter answers by complementary (small) presentation.

When you sit down to write a traditional tutorial, the unknown knowledge level of the audience can give you the writer's cramp. When you give an introduction and the floor asks then for details, you can be sure to meet someone's interest. Also, people reading/viewing this later have an easy introduction and then dive deeper depending on their interest and prior knowledge.

My low-tech vision of this is a website showing the presentations and at the bottom of each presentation you see the questions asked, and clicking on one takes you to the presenter's response to this question.

I use IrfanView with success. It has a mode where it just saves the screenshot your directory of choice, using date and time for the filename. So you are not interrupted in what you present. You only need to remember to press the hotkey (Ctrl-F11 by default) often enough. Better press it too often. Still, the load of images is better for an old-fashioned guy than moving images (video screen captures). I just enjoy too much thinking and looking at my own speed.

Then you use something to make circles and arrows in the screenshot, and to crop it. Then you concatenate them all and add your comments as you do so. I used MS Word, but there are certainly better tools for that.

If you don't rant as much as I do, you could do it like a PowerPoint presentation, overlaying what you "say" as text boxes on the screenshot. Of course, distribution format would then be PDF, not PP. I am not thinking about animations, just a stream of screenshots with circles, arrows, and text boxes overlaid.

Showing really many screenshots relieves you of half of the typing, if you make a circle or arrow to show what you did. Still such a host of images will consume less bandwidth as a download than a video.


Regarding physics and signalling, these should be thought during the pub crawl. The audience will then have a better feeling about the topic, and passers-by might buy you a drink because they think this is some scientist underground meeting preparing the next great break-through.


P.S.: I like using PowerPoint to structure my thoughts and make lists of what to say (write) on a certain topic, exclusively using the hierarchical list. But any old editor is just as good. The thing is to make a plan for yourself how to proceed first. Working through what you intend to present first using such a hierarchy of items takes a fraction of the time of actually preparing any form of presentation, and it gives you the trust into what you are doing that you need.

I can think of being pretty productive in a video-taping or screenshot series recording session with such a to-do list at hand. The greatest frustration for me is if I cleverly and nicely argue some point in detail only to find out later that it was rubbish, and I need to cut it out altogether.

Maybe to broaden the appeal, but not to spread the interest too much, it could be more of a route building seminar. This could focus on all aspects of route building. Starting with setting up a route blueprint, to track laying from basic to more complicated layouts, scenery placement including use of the offset tool, right through to building your own custom models for the route. This way I think it would attract RS users with the same interest in this aspect of the sim. A similar seminar could be arranged, if popular enough, for rolling stock builders.

Just my thoughts

My apologies to Phil for my lateness in posting here. We were discussing this the other evening on Skype and I suggested he start the thread and I then follow it up. But I was so tired last night, I went to bed three hours earlier than my normal bedtime!!

The concept of a seminar is, as some posters have already eluded to, is an extremely good idea...and I support the idea, and would offer my services as one of the speakers.

This is not the first time such a thing has been tried. Jon Potter made a superb effort at arranging a Train Simulation Convention a few years ago. The event was combined with a small trainsim and model railway layout style show. During the day, there were a few talks given on texturing and modelling. The day was very successful - for the few who went along. If I remember right, Jon just about broke even, the entrance fee just about paying for the hire of the hall.

Finance is likely to be the major obstacle to be overcome if a seminar event as suggested by Phil is to be a viable proposition. The second biggest obstacle would be someone raising their head far enough above the parapet to be pursuaded to take on the task of arranging things. And a lesser obstacle...but a real one...would be the desire for RailSim users to actually come along and hand over their dosh to attend.

So....a few things to think about:
1) Venue. Where in the country? What size? What facilities? What cost?
2) Would users attend? Travelling distance/cost? Seminar fees?
3) Subjects? 3D Modelling? Blueprints? Texturing? Route building? Scenario creation? Sounds?
4) Sponsorship? Would RSDL sponsor in any way?

If we can get positive answers to most of these (that is the important ones) then we may be able to put together a team to realise the dream.....

Please add your thought....

I also think this is a good idea

A few thoughts though.

First, would RSDL want to sponser an event which gave them no direct benefit? I'm not accusing them of not wanting to support the community or anything, I just think the reason people ususally sponser something is as a form of advertising. Everyone at the event would already know full well who they were.

Secondly, I think the event should cover as wide a subject range as possible, I agree with the more general "RS Workshop" type event. This will

a) Bring more people in.
b) Make the event more useful for those who do come.

If you give people an introduction to many different aspects of RS creation, they are more likely to find an area which suits the amount of time they can put in, and which interests them.

Thirdly, no-one has mentioned scenarios yet! Everyone knows that scenarios are the most important part

Not that I make em or anything...

Cheers
Adam

Hi Everyone
In terms of venues I would suggest different parts of the country like is the case with UK Trainsim Live
Preferably a venue well served by public transport for those members who don't have cars
Good luck with this project kind regards Stephen

Hi,

We discussed this idea over a year ago, RSDL have always been keen on getting users up to speed with RS, not only the core functions but with modelling and texturing suggestions and ideas.

While it is not our focus right now (I can just about fit sleep in) it will be once the work load has eased and we have more time to plan and think about how the best results can be achieved for as many as possible.

regards

Derek

Hi,

why don't you think about 'WebCasts'.

The biggest advantage would be that you reach the whole community and you need only a little peace of Software and your enthusiasm.

sorry for bad english. not my natural language

Michael