RHW (RealHighway) - Development and Support

[jondor]

What height is the elevated 8S?

Here's a slide from the recent RHW seminar over at ST with the planned heights of all the various RHW networks:
http://www.majhost.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=3307934

The 8S in particular will eventually have L1 (7.5m), L2 (15m) and DD (15m and 22.5m) variations.

[Tarkus]

The one in the image specifically is an L1 ERHW-8S. 

I am also happy to report that as of last night, I fixed the code on that setup and it seems to be stable in the basic configuration--all three "possibilities" (L1-over-L0, L2-over-L0, and L2-over-L1) are working.  It should be a simple matter to port it to the ERHW-10S (and an ever-so-slightly more complex matter to port it to the ERHW-6C and 8C), and I can begin in earnest on ultra-stabilizing the wider networks now.  The RUL2 file is going to go through another big "growth spurt".

The P57-era RHW has also officially entered an "Alpha Build" phase, so we're coming along, slowly but surely.

-Alex

[apeguy]

This is great news to hear, the ultra-stability, multiple-height networks, monolithic NAM all starting to come together. Keep up the excellent work.

[Haljackey]

That's some significant progress. Glad to see you guys are cracking the SC4 code to create these wonders. My how far we've come.

[Reece202]

How will transitions between height levels be handled? Are they going to be puzzle-pieces, or can you do draggable transitions like for NWM?

[jdenm8]

Puzzle Pieces until we can get the Disruptor tech working the way we need it to.

[epicblunder]

I've just been browsing the last couple months of work in this thread (I have to stay out of it or the drool levels will short out my keyboard) and I just want to say: OH. MY. GOD!

This is looking phenomenally great folks, keep up the good work and I can't wait for release!

[gn_leugim]

Puzzle Pieces until we can get the Disruptor tech working the way we need it to.

Disruptor tech?? never read of it, and I quick search I made found nothing :\ What is it?

[GDO29Anagram]

Disruptor tech?? never read of it, and I quick search I made found nothing :\ What is it?

If you've ever tried the DragTrans method used for the NWM transitions and tried it for the RHW or Street network, you'll find that they'll automatically connect.

A so-called "Disruptor" is a way to get around that.

EDIT: It was discussed in last week's RHW seminar, the log for which can be found here: http://pastebin.com/YwwAgvF2

[Tarkus]

EDIT: It was discussed in last week's RHW seminar, the log for which can be found here: http://pastebin.com/YwwAgvF2

And this slide from the seminar vaguely shows how a Disruptor operates.  I almost ended up sticking that into RHW 5.0, but there were still some kinks to work out, so I'm planning to revisit it once the really hardcore RUL2 stuff on the RHW is completed.

Oh, and this happened last night:



-Alex

[mike3775]

EDIT: It was discussed in last week's RHW seminar, the log for which can be found here: http://pastebin.com/YwwAgvF2

And this slide from the seminar vaguely shows how a Disruptor operates.  I almost ended up sticking that into RHW 5.0, but there were still some kinks to work out, so I'm planning to revisit it once the really hardcore RUL2 stuff on the RHW is completed.

Oh, and this happened last night:



-Alex

Oh that is freiking sweet.  I cannot wait 

[Paul 999]

I am impressed of the slide presentation, really good feathers!   But i read nothing about the RHW tunnels from Dexter. Is this really not included in the new version of NAM? The addition of the tunnels, will completed the network and make it perfect for my.

[Tarkus]

I am impressed of the slide presentation, really good feathers!   But i read nothing about the RHW tunnels from Dexter. Is this really not included in the new version of NAM? The addition of the tunnels, will completed the network and make it perfect for my.

We're still a fair ways off from release.  Right now the focus is on getting the P57 RUL2 revamp of the draggable content (and the multi-height expansion groundwork) in place.  We'll likely be revisiting Dexter's stuff once that's well in hand--we haven't forgotten about it, but with some interesting implementation stuff in the works, it's more feasible for us to wait until a few other things are in place to work on it.

-Alex

[gn_leugim]

I see I see

now, I was long expecting the new NAM monolith, but after seeing these seminars, I am dieing for it 

[MandelSoft]

Well, expect that it will take a few months before all developments for the NAM 31 are complete. Before it's done, patience...

[ivo_su]

Everything seems to go quite well with great pace, but I'm curious when it will start work on the splitter between elevated networks? Eventoalno will they be something like a secret weapon (dragable), and would require so many entrance / exit ramps (250) in order to support this multi-level system. It is hard to imagine how much work ahead for you guys.

[Tarkus]

Well, the one thing that helps: once the models for something are done for one elevated level, they're effectively done for all elevated levels.  All we have to do at that point is run it through cogeo's SC4 Model Tweaker.  That's the great thing about having a uniform specification in which modularity is a core concept.

Splitters between elevated networks won't happen until someone makes models for them, however.  The paths and all the rest of the modding usually transfers over very easily between ground and elevated . . . but as the ground level versions are just textures or flat plane models, that side doesn't transfer over to the elevated networks.  Pretty much as soon as we have models for an elevated version of a ground-level piece that matches the ground-level specs, we can get it in place.

Of course, we could immediately port them over . . . but there'd be no barriers or understory on the model, which I think most of the folks who are wanting these new elevated pieces would have a problem with.   That's part of the reason the ERHW-4 took until Version 3.0 to come out--we had an ortho prototype . . . but the curves and ramp interfaces, etc. had no barriers for some time, until someone who could model them (Swamper77) came in and made them. 

Edit: Oh, and this was the product of last night.  Took a lot of tweaking to get this just right.  The RHW-8S kept wanting to turn into a 10S and vice-versa.  I've now begun getting similar base setups on the C-type networks in place, and then, it's time for adding adjacency stability on these bad boys.



-Alex

[gn_leugim]

Well, expect that it will take a few months before all developments for the NAM 31 are complete. Before it's done, patience...

I am aware of that. meanwhile I'll keep drooling with the teasers   

About the models, if it helps to do the raw models on gmax/3dmax, I can lend an hand provided I am of the specifications and textures.

if it has to be done on Reader, well, there I don't know how to model   

[Tarkus]

About the models, if it helps to do the raw models on gmax/3dmax, I can lend an hand provided I am of the specifications and textures.

if it has to be done on Reader, well, there I don't know how to model   

Typically, the "modern" procedure we're using involves both 3ds Max and the Reader.  The Reader part is generally just standard modding stuff that we do all the time, so it's not too much of a problem on our end to handle that as long as the model is to spec.  The Reader is capable of importing/exporting .3ds meshes, so that's how we're typically getting stuff in/out now (rather than the BuildingMill mess in Gmax), and then 3ds Max (or similar) is used for the actual modeling.

Basically what we're looking for:

• Is true-3D and in .3ds format.
• Under 500-600 polygons
• Matches with existing ERHW content

I'm happy to supply the base ERHW ortho models in .3ds format and requisite textures for ground-level counterparts, too.

-Alex

[noahclem]

That's great if you're willing to contribute gn_leugim! Elevated models have long been a problem and I'd love to see your contribution!

And Alex, awesome work with the wide elevated RHWs