Gooooood evening, Ladies and Gentlemen!
Following the thread:
http://forum.simutrans.com/index.php?topic=6342.0I would like to present the first demo of
pak64.ho-scale
Concept
-----------
As there are many ways and styles to have fun with simutrans,
this pakset is dedicated to all friends which like to play
the "modell train" style. It is usable in the usual way as
well, but I suppose the fun for those who are longing for
millions on their account will be reduced.
In general, the scale is "1 px = 22,5 cm" (or 3/4 feet), but
not very consistent. Like modell trains, the trains are a
little bit bigger (some 2 px more width, track is some 4 px
more wide). A person is some 8 pixels high (like in pak64.
The 128 britain cars and horse carriages would fit as well).
The details of the buildings should fit the scale.
Disadvantages
- Long locomotives and waggons have to be cutted into 2 or 3
pieces.
- The far bigger size of the trains needs far more work
in designing them - especially when cutted. (Experienced
designers should feel free to pursuade me of the opposite.)
- Details like bridges and tunnels are somehow tricky to
realise.
Advantages
- Tracks lying side by side are connected. Complex details
like track systems at stations are looking far better.
- The bigger size of the trains allows more detailled design.
- The relation between the objects is looking better.
Weighing those points, I decided to go for the actual size.
Watching convoys changing their direction is always ugly,
so divided units are not making things worse.
Playing
-------
Don't care for money, timeline, city growth and automated
industrialisation. Switch it off, get the public player
and build everything for yourself.
Care for nice things, combine the objects how you (or your
father?) would do it on a modell train in your living room
or basement.
Do not let the trains turn around on the spot. 45 deg
should be the max. Combine the tracks and switches in the
half-realistic modell train style.
A bridge over a track needs 2 tiles height as minimum!
Allthough the Pakset is basing on pak64, almost all
graphics are new. Just some textures and internal
graphics will be replaced in the next days. Some texts
are waiting for editing.
Have a glance at default.sve. Enjoy the city list. : - )
This is a demo! Do not build complex games! The next
versions are not compatible!
Actual Status
-------------
Somehow a "Starter Pack" of a modell train:
- Adler with coaches
- few 1860 freight waggons
- some RES, few IND and COM
- road and train depot
- tracks and switches, semaphore
- rail tunnel and bridge
- simple road bridge
- few townhalls
- few stations, stops and extensions
- some trees
- invisible loco and station, just for decoration.
Use it to park waggons without loco and/or trains
somewhere outside a station.
- Prussian G3, 0-3-0 steam loco, 1877
- Prussian coaches, ~ 1850
Developement status
-------------------
Graphics in developement, but not finished yet
(sorry, I went ill last month, but I really
wanted to release that demo before Christmas.)
- citycars
- pedestrians
- DB BR261 German Diesel loco
- DB E10-12 German electr. loco
- DB E180 German electr. loco
- DB E103 German electr. loco
- 3 serials of DB coaches, 1965 to 1885
- more 2-axle freight waggons
- more townhalls
- more city buildings
- simple train station set
- train station set "Hof"
- extension and stop set "Factory"
- platform set
- [edit: finished: Prussian loco with coaches, ~ 1860]
- bulk truck
- $surprise (small factory chain, incl. vehicles and stops)
- more trees
Graphics requested from other sources, but undecided yet
- citycars from pak128.britain
- carriages from pak128.britain
Planning
--------
No work has been started yet on the following objects/systems.
They might come whenever graphics are available.
- rivers/ships: later.
- trams: sooner.
- narrowgauge: undecided.
- air: undecided, likely far later.
- climates/seasons effects: undecided, likely not (Exception: Snow
on ground, but not on players objects)
- monorail: most likely not.
- player colour: most likely not.
Allthough all objects are from Germany this is more
by chance than by intention. Objects from other
countries are welcome!
Todo
----
*
Misc.
-----
The name "pak64.ho-scale" is not carved in stone.
Whoever has a better idea, should shout.
Compatibility should be given to all more or less
actual versions of simutrans standard.
I have to apologise to the inconsistent quality
of the graphics. I started just 8 weeks ago and have
to learn _a lot_!
Contribution
------------
Everyone is welcome to help, critizise, praise or swear.
Bug messages are highly appreciated.
Every graphic which is fitting the style and size of this
pakset will be happily accepted, when the source is available
and the artist/author agrees in using GPLv3.
License
-------
The sources (.dat, .png, .xcf) will be published
under GPLv3 on Penny's SVN server whenever everything
is sorted in a manageable way.
Allthough I doubt heavily that any of the objects are usable
in other paksets, GPL allows that - as long as any redistribution
remains under GPL. There is no need to contact me (or other
authors in future) or to ask anyone for any permission to use,
change or whatever. Just do it and enjoy your freedom!
Download
--------
http://simutrans.bilkinfo.de/pak64.ho-scale-latest.tar.gz(1,3 MB)
[Edit: changed URL to latest version]
Thanks
------
I have to thank all the friends who brought Simutrans up to
the actual status. I am watching that project since 2004 and
am really happy to see its growth - as in users and as in
quality, stability, and assortment of paksets. It is an
honour for me to contribute.
Thanks to[1] Penny, Dwachs, Prissi, Frank, Vladimir Slavik
and all the others for their hints, infos and documentation
regarding the non-trivial system of handling objects.
[1] sorted by vogonian ramdom
