Atomic Systems

Un Natural Lighting

I have been working on An Activity Called Evening Express to Newry for making tracks superb Irish Enterprise route
It starts from Belfast GVS & is based on Current NIR Time tables departure time is 17:18 I get to Lurgan at 17:50 Approx It is set on clear summer but despite this it is almost dusk by the time I get to Lurgan & practically Pitch Black when I arrive at Newry @18:20 Even at the end of summer this type of lighting would not be seen before 20:30

I would be interested to hear if anyone else has noticed this I have seen it before on other routes Evening & night Lighting in Summer in Reality is same or Very Similar to Day time But not in MSTS is this just a fault with route in question or is this just another of MSTS little oddities ??
Similar to Runaway Speeds in reverse & being showing as Over Speed even when it is only the projected speed that is on or over the Limit.

Even With all these We Love It Don't We?????

Hi Pete
Its controlled by the enviroment files.
Look in 'editor.env'

world_sky_satellites
(
2
world_sky_satellite
(
world_sky_satellite_low_scale ( 200 )
world_sky_satellite_high_scale ( 150 )
world_sky_satellite_rise_position ( 95 )
world_sky_satellite_rise_time ( 06:00:00 )
world_sky_satellite_set_time ( 19:00:00 )
world_sky_satellite_dir_rise_colour ( ffffee8b )
world_sky_satellite_dir_high_colour ( ffffffff )
world_sky_satellite_dir_set_colour ( ffffb573 )
world_sky_satellite_amb_rise_colour ( ff202020 )
world_sky_satellite_amb_high_colour ( ff808080 )
world_sky_satellite_amb_set_colour ( ff202020 )
world_sky_satellite_light ( 1 )

world_anim_shader
(
world_anim_shader_frames
(
1
world_anim_shader_frame ( )
)
world_shader ( AddATexDiff
terrain_texslots ( 1
terrain_texslot ( sun.ace 1 0 )
)
terrain_uvcalcs ( 1
terrain_uvcalc ( 1 0 0 0 )
)
)
)
)
world_sky_satellite
(
world_sky_satellite_low_scale ( 200 )
world_sky_satellite_high_scale ( 150 )
world_sky_satellite_rise_position ( 0 )
world_sky_satellite_rise_time ( 18:30:00 )
world_sky_satellite_set_time ( 08:00:00 )
world_sky_satellite_dir_rise_colour ( ff000020 )
world_sky_satellite_dir_high_colour ( ff000020 )
world_sky_satellite_dir_set_colour ( ff000020 )
world_sky_satellite_amb_rise_colour ( ff000010 )
world_sky_satellite_amb_high_colour ( ff000010 )
world_sky_satellite_amb_set_colour ( ff000010 )
world_sky_satellite_light ( 0 )
world_sky_satellite_fog ( 96 )


Or there's a button in RR, which moves the route co-ordinates.

Cheers
Jon

Can this really be set up for each season? I use mostly payware or freeware packs like UKTrainsim CDs as what little time I have I like to spend driving, and I'm surprised that if that's the case because sometimes this hasn't been set up correctly?

I've used the button in Route Riter (with the Lat & Long from Multimap.com) - I can't recall if it backs up the originals so check to be sure.

I assume it changes all (12??) .env files as I was tootling around Ballyshannon last night in explore mode, and sunrise varies according to the season - ie at 0600 in summer it's daylight, autumn it's dawn and winter it's night.

PS a former user - keep up the good work!!

Pete,

Environmental files seem to be one of the Cinderella areas of MSTS. Most route builders don't seem that interested in them. Unfortunately if you change an envirionment it only works on your computer. Another MSTS bug! It should have been made part of the AE editor tools- setting sunrise sunset etc.

Mick Clarke

Does Each season Have its own set?

Pete,

The default routes have only 3 environments! Sun, Rain and Snow. So whatever seasonal weather you set in AE you will get the same daylight for all clear weather, rain or snow- whatever time of year! Its possible to set 12 different environmental conditions for a route however-summer clear, summer rain, summer snow etc. Some routes have these others just the default. I would suggest if your interested you do some searches on UKTS and Steam4me forums etc to get more detailed info. But its really down to the route builder what you get on a particular route.

Mick

Mick

That is Really Naff A major design Fault We try to make Routes ,Rolling stock & activities as true to Life as possible & the Environment then run in Can not even render correct summer Lighting If reality was like that It should be pitch black outside , Its a pity Microsoft's Interest in the Product wained or maybe these nags & niggles may have been addressed at later date.

Pete,

Its not a total disaster. Its possible to set various daylight hours with 12 environments. I find another problem far worse, That is, it always seems darker than it should in MSTS even at High noon!

Mick

systema wrote:Pete,

Its not a total disaster. Its possible to set various daylight hours with 12 environments. I find another problem far worse, That is, it always seems darker than it should in MSTS even at High noon!

Mick

Hi Mick
You can make it brighter by altering the ambient high colour.

world_sky_satellite_amb_high_colour ( ff000010 )

However I agree, msts is a dark game.
What I've done for myself is gather enviros from different routes that I like, and then use them in other routes.
My favourite is the moonlight ( I have posted screenies) you can actually drive by the moon. I hate that default pitch un-natural darkness, or using very bright headlights.
Cheers
Jon

jbilton - thanks for the tips on the .env files;

a former user - I see what you mean about the daylight in Enterprise. Here are the values from SummerClear.env:

For starsky.ace
world_sky_layer_fadein ( 18:56:19 20:56:19 )
world_sky_layer_fadeout ( 02:01:03 04:01:03 )

For sun.ace
world_sky_satellite_rise_position ( 95 )
world_sky_satellite_rise_time ( 03:01:03 )
world_sky_satellite_set_time ( 19:56:19 )

For moon.ace
world_sky_satellite_rise_position ( 0 )
world_sky_satellite_rise_time ( 18:56:19 )
world_sky_satellite_set_time ( 04:01:03 )

If you run the fix in Route Riter it adds an hour (ie Daylight Saving Time), but to re-create a long mid-summer's evening you have to edit it further. If it's of any use, here's what I'm currently using...

For starsky.ace
world_sky_layer_fadein ( 22:36:20 23:36:20 )
world_sky_layer_fadeout ( 03:01:04 04:31:04 )

For sun.ace
world_sky_satellite_rise_position ( 55 )
world_sky_satellite_rise_time ( 04:01:04 )
world_sky_satellite_set_time ( 21:56:20 )

For moon.ace
world_sky_satellite_rise_position ( 90 )
world_sky_satellite_rise_time ( 21:56:20 )
world_sky_satellite_set_time ( 04:31:04 )

...though I must take a look at the "world_sky_satellite" colours.

Does all this mean that I can change a "night time" route, which I find difficult, to a day time route?

Tonysmedley wrote:Does all this mean that I can change a "night time" route, which I find difficult, to a day time route?

Surely you can do that on the front MSTS selection screen?....there's a drop down box which allows you to start your journey in hourly increments.
Cheers
Jon

Tried to change the setting on the Highland Route but it crashed.

Probably did it wrong

Seen the size of the moon on that route?

Thought I was going to hit it

Cheers

John

jbilton wrote:

Tonysmedley wrote:Does all this mean that I can change a "night time" route, which I find difficult, to a day time route?

Surely you can do that on the front MSTS selection screen?....there's a drop down box which allows you to start your journey in hourly increments.
Cheers
Jon

I think he meant activity Jon?

BTW this is useful info thanks for that.

Geoff