New features and paksets

[jamespetts]

I have noticed that the latest nightlies contain two interseting new features:

(1) ambient sounds; and

(2) railway junction graphics differentiation.

I should be  most grateful for some documentation on how to incorporate these features into a pakset - I daresay that they would greatly enhance Pak128.Britain, for instance.

[Fabio]

yes! yes! yes!

specially railway junctions are in my TODO list, so i welcome this change and i look forwart to some documentation.

[sojo]

Prissi work at the sounds, yet. I think he will explain it, if he have it done.

[Frank]

...
(2) railway junction graphics differentiation.
....

this required new makeobj

[z9999]

Removed attachment file because you can download it from nightly site now.

[The Hood]

Interesting... Do the old tracks with less directional junctions still work with the latest nightlies, or are they broken?

[Frank]

Interesting... Do the old tracks with less directional junctions still work with the latest nightlies, or are they broken?

works

[Fabio]

i cannot test now: do the switch use the alternative version according to the railways structure or only when the junction is reserved by a train? the png looks more for the former solution, although the latter was the one in development IIRC.

[mobo]

it changes when the train reserves the junction, also sometimes when the previous train isn't off the junction yet (little flaw). After that they stay in that state until next train arrives.

It's a real cool feature, looks nice and makes the tracks appear more like real tracks.

But we still need documentation on this the zip only contains paks.

[z9999]

You can see dat and png from sf svn.
http://simutrans.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/simutrans/pak64/way/

[mobo]

Ok, I'll try that, thanks.

OMG New South Wales has tripled ([NSW],[NSW1],[NSW2]) 

I composed a little screenie to give an impression of the feature:

[Fabio]

wow, so cool!!! thank you guys for adding it!

[Frank]

Code Select Expand

Image[NSE1][0]=
Image[NSW1][0]=
Image[NEW1][0]=
Image[SEW1][0]=
Image[NSEW1][0]=
Image[NSE2][0]=
Image[NSW2][0]=
Image[NEW2][0]=
Image[SEW2][0]=
Image[NSEW2][0]=


for winter

Code Select Expand

Image[NSE1][1]=
Image[NSW1][1]=
Image[NEW1][1]=
Image[SEW1][1]=
Image[NSEW1][1]=
Image[NSE2][1]=
Image[NSW2][1]=
Image[NEW2][1]=
Image[SEW2][1]=
Image[NSEW2][1]=


[jamespetts]

it changes when the train reserves the junction, also sometimes when the previous train isn't off the junction yet (little flaw). After that they stay in that state until next train arrives.

It's a real cool feature, looks nice and makes the tracks appear more like real tracks.

But we still need documentation on this the zip only contains paks.

If that's true, then the appearance is not correct at all - it looks as though the tracks have been dug up and replaced by tracks going in a completely different direction whenever the points are changed. In reality, the change is extremely subtle and would not be noticeable on this graphics scale. This feature as described would likely appear bizarre and confusing to users.

[The Hood]

James, it is purely graphical as you say.  It does look a little strange when the points change and the effect is so drastic!  However, for junctions where the directions used are quite limited (e.g. station entrances), it would look more realistic with the new implementation. 

It's an interesting new feature, but I still think a more meaningful restriction on which track configurations are possible (i.e. only change of direction of 45 degrees per square) would be better - this is one (of the very few and minor!) area where OpenTTD looks better than Simutrans IMO.

[z9999]

One thing that I don't like is there is no streight image.
So, if someone draw realistic switch images, it will look strange.

[prissi]

Straight is both direction thus simutrans needs to read the mind; I could set the threeway for straight going trains.

[sanna]

Straight is both direction thus simutrans needs to read the mind; I could set the threeway for straight going trains.

I think threeway would be an elegant way to indicate this case.

[colonyan]

This will be more of a graphical suggestion but
wouldn't it look more natural to keep the road bed for rail always apearing as when it is three way(conventional way).

In other words, keep the road bed always same as of form of when it is 3 way and change the rail only.
Keeping roadbed unchanged will reduce "odd" feel when player sees point being changed.

[jamespetts]

I agree with Colonyan - anything else would likely confuse players and appear unrealistic.

[prissi]

The tracks are not very well matched to the normal switches even in color. Doing those had taken me nearly six hours, since I am not very good at drawing. I would appreaciate better switches with more matching graphics, so please download the files from the svn and correct them.

[colonyan]

I will give it a try tonight.

Edit:by baad engrishu. I wrote "I would"
Edit2: Oh by the way, this is really nice feature.
         We can virtually enjoy more realistic track layout.

[Ashley]

It's nice to see this idea being looked at, it's a shame it's only graphical though, the amount of work it'd take to do anything more probably doesn't justify it though I suppose...

[colonyan]

Only one page done so far. I will report next time every thing is done.


View image to see in detail


I think the same as Timothy, it will be too much work unless someone obsessed with it work on it.

[merry]

Well, it's nice to see the graphic update...
...BUT I would agree with others, that the allowance of very acute turns on non-tramway track is a significant unrealistic aspect of Simutrans.
At the moment, a lot of effort seems to be going into 'realism' in the debates in ST... so restricting rail tracks to 45 deg bends may be a worthwhile consideration.
It's always been something that's bugged me about ST, although the original signalling block system was more serious. Interestingly, we were told for a long time that the signalling couldn't be improved, but then along came PBS control, which is simply lovely. So maybe the revised curves/switches isn't an unrealistic request...
...I'll add my voice to the extension requests.
As you say, it will depend on someone with coding knowledge wanting to do it - anyone?  
Whether or not the code gets modified, it's a nice piece of work, although I do think the changing layout might be confusing.

[colonyan]

Roadbeds were added to new 8 configuration for all 8 way png files(pak64)
http://simutrans-germany.com/files/upload/pak64_way_pngs.rar

Edit1: I did not uploaded to SVN.
         I wish not create new account there carelessly.
         Can someone who has account at sourceforge there upload this file for me. Thanks in advance.

[prissi]

Very beautyful, thank you.