Wear Valley Railway

[RSderek]

Hi,
I put the 08 so I could have a gentle trundle and take in the views, looking up and down the valley is impressive, just trying to get a feel for how much work is involved.
I did put the class 66 down and power my way around the world.
Having a hub is so much more satisfying than having an A to B route.

The scary thing is I want the standard to better the IOW, and I want the variation in the track layout so that interesting scenarios can be made.

regards

Derek

[charlie99]

Having a hub is so much more satisfying than having an A to B route.

Yes. I think I'll go towards that kind of route structure in my route. It will be fun to run down the main line to a central station and then go off up a branchline. Also you can have completely different types of activities in the same route.

[AndiS]

The scary thing is I want the standard to better the IOW, and I want the variation in the track layout so that interesting scenarios can be made.

Now that is what I call really good news. The second part, of course. Not sure I could pin point further increase in scenery quality. But if the project lead is seriously interested interesting scenarios on this type of layout, then people better fix the AI right the first time. Or they'll have a hard time afterwards. Cheers!

Just give me a release date for this route, so I know when the AI will be fixed.
Oh, and I see you are done with the tracklaying, so "you only need to add some scenery and presto".

(N.B.: I know that there is nothing like a release date for that route. Just making stupid comments.)

[Acorncomputer]

Hi AndiS

The AI will get fixed but it will take a little time.

Derek and Adam have clearly demonstrated that at least some aspects of the simulation are clearly working very well, such as super quick track laying. Scenery placement also works very well but by its nature is very time consuming. Derek is also bulding much of it.

I can wait for the problems to be fixed and this route will then enable me to explore a part of the country that I am not familiar with.

[CaptScarlet]

The scary thing is I want the standard to better the IOW, and I want the variation in the track layout so that interesting scenarios can be made.

regards

Derek

How can this be so.... I thought I read recently that the game is unplayable and needs a total rewrite.

John

[AndiS]

The AI will get fixed but it will take a little time.

I should have set the last sentence of my post in bold.

I am pretty certain that the fix for the AI will be out before this route.
And the comment about the scenery was a joke about all these (early MSTS) people who believed once they laid down the track, nearly nothing was missing from the complete success.

[RSderek]

Managed to grab a couple of hours this afternoon on Newton cap viaduct.



As I will be making all the assets as well as laying them it may take a few months.
I guess it will be done when it's done, however I will keep those interested posted.

regards

Derek

[pauls]

Hi Derek,

That looks fantastic !! - are you using bump mapping on it - or is it the texture alone giving the impression ??

Cheers
Paul

[RSderek]

Hi Paul, no there is no bump maps.
All done in a 512/512 texture and a 128/128 shadow map. (That could go down to 64/64)


I textured one middle T section and cloned the other arches. The bridge is however 1 model and not done as a loft. (250M long)

The bricks in the arch are much bigger than in real life, the reason for this is it would be just noise or a blur, I don’t want to use all my texture on bricks on the underside of the arch (if the train went under the bridge it might have been different)

I need to tidy up the texture and do a shadow model and railing, will get that out the way this evening.

Why did I start with the viaduct? (I was meant to be making platform edges) Not sure really but I have been fascinated with it for a long time and walked across it many times too, here is a view painted from a similar view 20 years ago. (I'll see if I can recreate it once all the scenery is in)

http://www.dereksiddle.com/images/Paint ... iaduct.jpg

regards

Derek

[nikos1]

Your a very talented artist Derek, lovely model and painting of the bridge.
Is this line still in use or abandoned?

[pauls]

Hi Derek,

I've not used a shadow map so far - is there an advantage over baking ambient occlusion onto the diffuse texture ? - or even baking shaded areas onto the diffuse without being too directional with the shadow ? - I know there must be an advantage otherwise you wouldn't waste effort on an additional texture.

Have you ever used bump mapping on buildings ??

Cheers
Paul

[Retro]

Excellent work on that Viaduct. One could be forgiven for thinking it was the real thing. I think you are already on target for improving on the IOW Route however scary that may seem.
Regards James.

[RSderek]

Hi,
That section of track has last used in 1968 I think (the line to Durham through Crook), and the viaduct got transformed into a road bridge in 95, they (whoever 'they' are, but they are the ones with all the 'good' ideas) were going to knock it down but the whole town got involved so it was kept and renovated. Nice too see it still standing but shame a favourite walk has gone.

Paul, I use the shadow map so that I can reuse sections of the texture without being constrained by shadows. For example the section of red brick is mapped to a quad that size, but that quad is then cloned around the arch. If I baked the shadows I would have had to do the whole arch, or at least half of it. With the shadow bake on top it means I get a better resolution on the diffuse texture.
We use that set up for almost all our buildings.

You can use the bump mapping or normal maps on buildings and characters. It really does depend on where you want the detail and effects.

regards

Derek

[pauls]

Hi Derek,

Thanks for the Shadowmap explanation - I think I know what you're trying to say - I'll have to check out a few examples to see how it works in practice.

What shader would you recommend for buildings if I want to use a bumpmap ?? - Is the TrainBumpEnv.fx OK ??

Cheers
Paul

[RSderek]

Try TrainBumpSpec.fx

cheers

Derek