SC4 Devotion Forum Archives

The NAM Team is interested to get an idea of how many NAM users use the RHW (Rural Highway Mod) plugin.  You can help us out by voting in this poll.  As in the other recent poll threads, you are also free to add an explanatory post if you wish, though it is by no means mandatory.

Thanks!

-Alex

I use the RHW more and more. The Maxis Highways are slowly, but surely replaced by RHW.

I started used the RHW (for the second time I think, before I used the maxis highway more easy to place) like Maarten said, all the maxis higways I've done are started to be replaced.

I ditched the maxis hwy for avenues or owr in the beginning. then switched to rhw for obvious reasons :P

hi guys! i kinda tried using the RHW mod because it is very useful for big cities. but i had this problem with  creating 10 lane RHW because u can't create curves with 10 lane RHW. that's why i use the original highway from simcity4. i hope there would be a way for RHW to be more flexible so that it would be easy to use, plop and drag.

or maybe im just a noob with this RHW thing. but thats what i think. and i'm having a hard time trying to  make RHW work in my cities..

but overall RHW is very useful.. :)

I would love, but love to use the RHW but don't, for three reasons--

*interchanges are virtually impossible to build properly/realistically in most situations I've tried, because of the difficulty/impossibility of creating all the necessary flyover connections using independent game pieces for opposing traffic/independent routes. Creating a few standard interchanges (parclo, Y, etc) for the double-lane RHW would go a long way toward usability. Of course all this is compounded because it is after all a rural system, and thus you'd like to use it in hilly terrain, redoubling the difficulties in making interchanges.

*no dual-lane bridges. It would be great to see a lane-merge and a series of tandem-lane bridges developed

*no smooth transitions into avenues or the std highway (i.e., how do you start/end it when it approaches downtown?)

Just my experience so far. The look of it is stunning and it makes lovely winding highways once you get the hang of terraforming for it. But interchanges and bridges make it too problematic for me to use. terribly frustrating. Just my 2 cents; hope this helps you.

I like the RHW. In my current region, I haven't started with it yet, since I'm developing rural and suburban areas and I want to wait for the new one.

For quite a while I stuck with the old Maxis crapway errr highway, because its easyness to place and the prefab-interchanges. However, as noted elsewhere, it is horribly out of scale and the RHW just looks so much better. In my new city project, I solely use RHW!

Surely there are still limitations of RHW (some mentioned in this thread), but it is fun building with it!

I've had a new computer for a few months now and it gave me the opportunity to clean and organize both my plugins and regions.  An added benefit of this was being able to completely do away with the Maxis highways.  I'll echo the complaints of a few people above me that building complex interchanges can be kinda clunky, and making curves with anything besides a RHW-4 is next to impossible, but it works and I've made due.  Hopefully one of these days I'll get my developed and running and be able to showcase my efforts and give the you guys (the RHW team) the satisfaction of seeing your work in use.   :)

Of course do I use the RHW. My current region is 100% Maxis highway-free. I have sworn to myself to never ever use it again.  ()stsfd()

I have been a loyal RHW user ever since the v1.3 days.  When v2.0 was released, I was glad to be able to use MIS ramps, and 3.0 has added even more functionality.  I tend to think of the MHW as more of an "urban highway" (in contrast to rural highway or RHW), as its concrete construction and narrow lanes closely resemble the older highways I have seen in some urban areas.  I use both types of highways, but I use the RHW when I want to build in a rural area or when I want a newer installation in a city.

The RHW mod is definitely one of my favorite parts of the NAM, and I use it frequently.

Also, Gottago, the RHW-4 does have pretty smooth transitions into avenues and Maxis highways that I actually use pretty often (well, at least the RHW to avenue transition), and I have used it several times in the case you are describing - ending a highway approaching downtown.  The RHW-2 also transitions nicely into a regular road.

Brian

Quote from: gottago on August 20, 2009, 02:06:37 AM
I would love, but love to use the RHW but don't, for three reasons--

*interchanges are virtually impossible to build properly/realistically in most situations I've tried, because of the difficulty/impossibility of creating all the necessary flyover connections using independent game pieces for opposing traffic/independent routes. Creating a few standard interchanges (parclo, Y, etc) for the double-lane RHW would go a long way toward usability. Of course all this is compounded because it is after all a rural system, and thus you'd like to use it in hilly terrain, redoubling the difficulties in making interchanges.

*no dual-lane bridges. It would be great to see a lane-merge and a series of tandem-lane bridges developed

*no smooth transitions into avenues or the std highway (i.e., how do you start/end it when it approaches downtown?)

Just my experience so far. The look of it is stunning and it makes lovely winding highways once you get the hang of terraforming for it. But interchanges and bridges make it too problematic for me to use. terribly frustrating. Just my 2 cents; hope this helps you.

From what you just described it sounds like you've never even tried to use the RHW! :P

*In regards to flyovers, more and more possible overpass capabilities are being added with each version, but you must remember that this takes time to do, and I'm pretty sure most of us on the NAM Team have real lives too. But even with what we have right now, there aren't very many interchanges you cannot make. I've seen plenty of cloverleafs, volleyballs, turbines, cloverstacks, etc. And pieces to make a SPUI and a stack are both in the works. Those standard interchanges you mentioned (parclo, Y) are both extremely simple to do with the RHW. I've posted examples of both on the Show Us Your Interchanges! thread. Lastly, the R in RHW doesn't simply stand for rural anymore. It stands for any adjective you can think of that fits. I like to think of it as "Realistic HighWay," as I use it in urban areas as well. And hills only add to the fun of making interchanges. ;)

*What do you mean by "dual-lane bridges"? There are already bridges for the RHW-4 and -2, and ones for all the other widths will be included in an upcoming release of the RHW.

*To smoothly transition a RHW into an Avenue or Maxis Highway, simply drag the end of the RHW into the end of the Avenue or MHW. Though the RHW-MHW tile isn't that great, so I transition to avenue and then MHW back-to-back.

The RHW is actually very simple to use once you get the hang of it and explore all the options.
Oh, and to avoid having to terraform for it, get a slope mod that works with the RHW. ;)

I agree completely. I had a little trouble with interchanges, but after a read some of the online tutorials I can make a Parclo-A2 like a pro ;)

I would say the RHW is the biggest NAM component I use. I love having the highways wind through rural areas, and creating ,large interchanges through cities

moin,

QuoteI would say the RHW is the biggest NAM component I use. I love having the highways wind through rural areas [...]

thanx bob, that's what i whould like to say, too!

b_schlurf

   I like to use it in it's purest forms.    I can't say I ever use anything bigger than RHW4.    Perhaps there are alot of 6,8,or more lane RURAL highways out there,   But I cannot say I have ever spent any time driving on them.   When originally discussed the RHW was gonna be multi lane (2 or 4 lane) semi limited access highway.    Similar to hundreds of "highways" here in the states.   I say "highways" as apposed to the "Interstate" system.     I think of anything with more lanes than 4 as either urban or "interstate".    To me "interstate" = GHW, Which was existing already in the game.    When we started expanding RHW beyond 4 lanes; IMHO, we should have been playing around with the GHW instead.
   
   Sorry guess I went off on a tangent there.

   As far as MIS, I think it is right on track and very useful.


---Gaston

Absolutely.

It's much easier to make signs for the RHW than the Maxis highways.

I do not use the RHW, because I prefer the Maxis highway that takes less space. Yes, I agree that the RHW is more realistic, because it takes more space, like real life motorways. However, the game is an approximation in terms of scales, and the shorter Maxis highways fit better in Sim City 4 cities in my opinion.
Nevertheless, I think the RHW is a great addition to the game. It is fun to test it ... but then it is a different game

I use RHW because it looks sooooo damn awesome :)

Joe

I haven't tried it yet, but plan to.

yes i do and i love it  &apls NAM TEAM FTW  ;D

I spend more time messing around with the RHW than I actually do playing the game. Each new release rekindles my love of SC4.

I'm a firm believer in there being no silly questions.  "Do you use the RHW?" strikes me as pushing that envelope pretty hard.


David

In past weeks I have spent more time creating rhw networks than actually playing the game! looks awesome but and the rewards for spending so much time building it seem worth it when you see little cars zooming along using it...well...not that i know as i haven't played it  ;D

I have the RHW plugin installed.  But, I almost haven't used it at all in my region because the Maxis highway fits better most certain circumstances (especially through town) and is much more flexible atm.  The RHW doesn't really do well (visually and sometimes functionally) past twin RHW-2 for neighbor connections.

Yes I use RHW but RHW2 RHW4 and RHW6C.

Infact, I reinstalled the game just to check out the new version :D

I mostly use RHW in my cities, that is for both rural and urban settings. In urban settings I like using El-RHW more often but it's still very limiting. It's one thing that I think could use a lot more flexibility.

I've been using the RHW on-and-off in some cities. It kind of depends on my mood upon planning the city. In rural area's, RHW is always used tho.

I use it, but sometimes prefer to use OWRs

I use it almost exclusively.  RHW and NAM are by far my favorite improvements to the game.  I can't wait for RHW 4.0.  &apls &apls &apls

RHW-2 is prime in my rural areas. RHW-4 thru 6 are indispensable tools for my Regional roads. I don't use RHW-8 thru 10 much.  I would use more if they were easier to use (interchangebly?) with the Maxis Highways.

I couldn't live without it!

   Even though I said yes... I truly haven't gone all out with the mod. I've used a few pieces here and there mainly checking things out. However I do plan on actually using it a bit more often with certain cities, as I really like what has been developed in it of recent since the last time it was updated. I be more liable to use the smaller width lanes up to the 4 lane one. Those are the ones that peek my interest most in the way I build plus the versitility to transitions to the standard network... :)

I first grabbed the RHW because at the time, it was just a gray four lane highway, unlike the Maxis one, and was something else, because the RHW networks had no signals. This allowed more realism with both a 2 lane and 4 lane rural style roads out in the country.

Times have changed it. To this day, it has grown up into something completely different, and it no longer is something that only goes out in the country in my cities, since it has what you would consider to be in dense cities with its interchange options.

Eventually with the later RHW's, I actually made one into a closed circuit race track with stands, and the MIS ramps for the pit stop. Turns out, it actually can serve that purpose. While some totally have a swing vote, I actually use both the Maxis and RHW for different means.

Quote from: Chrisim on August 20, 2009, 11:20:50 AM
I do not use the RHW, because I prefer the Maxis highway that takes less space. Yes, I agree that the RHW is more realistic, because it takes more space, like real life motorways. However, the game is an approximation in terms of scales, and the shorter Maxis highways fit better in Sim City 4 cities in my opinion.
Nevertheless, I think the RHW is a great addition to the game. It is fun to test it ... but then it is a different game

This is why I use both. RHW where it fits - which is most of a region, actually, but then I switch to Maxis (or even a different network e.g. avenues) when it doesn't for whatever reason. Interestingly, I've found that in most such cases, it actually makes sense to switch to the more-compact Maxis highways, anyway:

1. Short, tight ramps - usually this is only necessary in very dense areas where I don't have even a single grid tile of space to spare around the highway for true exit lanes. It's not uncommon to see such tight ramps, either - but again, usually only in very, very dense places e.g. where you could probably high-five people in buildings alongside the highway (at the cost of a hand, of course).

2. Bridges - the RHW bridges are definitely "R" - rural-looking. Nothing awe-inspiring about them at all. But that's just fine by me - you don't often see a big, "WOW" bridge on rural highways, just flat, cheap, functional things. When you do see a photo-worthy bridge, usually the highway is "squeezed" together anyway, so a single bridge can be built, rather than two. Good time to switch to a Maxis highway in much the same way, and make my bridge, if I really want a nice one.

3. Neighbor connections - ok, this is the only major problem I have with RHW, and it's not terribly major... I just really hate having to make those unsightly "loop connectors." Not much I can do about this, I suppose. Switching to Maxis in this case is the one time it does not look sensible, just looks like it was done because of non-real-world limitations... which it is.

This does bring up two "does such a thing exist" questions though. Is there any texture mod to make Maxis highways "blend in" better with RHW? And about those loop connectors... I could imagine an overhanging 1x3 lot (1x1 base) that could be plopped in the median to "hide" the connectors. Unfortunately I'm just not mod-smart enough to do either myself... but have either already been done by someone else, by any chance?

Number 2 is slowly being nullified... we have some bridges that are like any other... including some "compact" RHW bridges (meaning no one tile median needed, you can have the RHW-4 (for instance) side by side)

Also, might I remind people, the "Rural" Highway isn't just for rural enviroments, its now a multipurpose network.

Quote
4.  Why is it called "rural"?

The project was named that back in 2005, when it started, and before many of the later innovations in the current mod have even been conceived.  Yes, it can be used in rural areas, but really, it's become a multi-purpose network that is designed for building realistically-scaled highways and interchanges in urban and suburban settings as well.  There's been proposals to change the name from "Rural Highway" to something else at various points, but the acronym "RHW" is so recognizable that it would create a bit of a mess if it were changed.

As for number 3, thats also being fixed with the loop connector pieces that look like normal RHW but allow proper neighbor connection.

Quote from: dedgren on August 20, 2009, 08:17:54 PM
I'm a firm believer in there being no silly questions.  "Do you use the RHW?" strikes me as pushing that envelope pretty hard.

Im kinda wondering why this is even being asked.  Of course its being used.  Do you guys look at any of the MD/CJ's????  Im not trying to be rude,  but this is kind of a dumb question.  I use maxis in urban areas(only really big cities) and everything after that is RHW. 

There has to be a reason behind this POLL.  Can you give us a hint??

Thats just my 3 cents. lol

BTW!!!!  I use everything in the NAM.

Well, 16% of people said they didn't use it, so I wouldn't say it is a silly question.

Perhaps the NAM team wanted to gauge interest in each of its projects, and decide from there on which ones they want to place more emphasis.

Quote from: dedgren on August 20, 2009, 08:17:54 PM
I'm a firm believer in there being no silly questions.  "Do you use the RHW?" strikes me as pushing that envelope pretty hard.


David

Second that.......

Quote from: JoeST on August 20, 2009, 01:14:03 PM
I use RHW because it looks sooooo damn awesome :)

Joe

Amen!!!

I use it .. but i"ll use it more when you have more overpasses completed... Since there is rail flyover puzzle pieces... couldn't there be rural highway flyover puzzle pieces..???!!!!   

Sneeky, do you mean flyovers as in curved ramps overpass pieces? They were being made. The first ones were the MIS curved flyover overpass pieces, but yeah, that will really have to wait for a later time when those are completed.

of course I do.
although I wish some more curvey stuff and some more compatibility with inner city placings (e.g. hov lanes) because the only way to get an american feeling to city highways is using the rhw

     Okay maybe I missed something.   Is the "RURAL" part of RHW no longer valid?     RHW seems to be heading for a complete 180 since it's creation.    Alot of what I see posted lately, I think, should be used in conjunction with the origional Maxis highway systems.   They were (and still are) very urban looking.    Don't get me wrong, I love everything that has been created for RHW.   The work that has been done is unbelievable.    Everyone involved has done an incredible job.     I just remember back when it was still just a thought and the idea was to create a truely rural highway system.    Because the maxis highways were to urban to look correct out in the country.   
     A lot of recent posts have asked for, what I think of as, urban additions to the RHW.    Can the origional maxis highways be modified (widened, extra lanes, etc)?    They already have the "urban" feel about them.   At least they look like urban highways here in the US.    I am sure it is different in other parts of the world.   I am not the most well travelled person.   lol   
     Sorry if I overstepped my boundries with this post.    I don't want to make anyone mad.   These are just my concerns and rambling thoughts on the subject.     


---Gaston

Gaston, thanks for asking some pointed questions.  I'll do my best to answer them below.

Quote from: Gaston on November 04, 2009, 07:43:28 AM
Is the "RURAL" part of RHW no longer valid?    

It's still valid, but as you may have noticed in the RHW thread's "banner image", the rural has been crossed out--something which would have been a valid assumption since at least 2006.  We're still adding on to the "rural" end of things, and you'll find a number of features in the next release that will enhance that part of it, including more at-grade intersections.  However, the "rural" name had a lot of baggage with it and created some misconceptions, and made those not entirely familiar with the mod's capabilities automatically assume it's not suitable for non-rural settings, which couldn't be further from the truth.

When I encountered the RHW for the first time when lurking at ST in late 2005, before I ever registered there, I saw a great deal of potential.  Even in the initial Alpha, it struck me as having more flexibility than the Maxis Highways, in addition to a better appearance.  When I saw qurlix's initial RHW-8 prototype in 2006, I finally saw something in SC4 that could accurately portray a wide variety of highway types, and I realized I might finally be able to accurately represent something like US-26 in the western reaches of the Portland Metro area (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=US-26&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl).  Between the junction with Oregon Highway 6 up to the interchange at I-405 in downtown Portland, US-26 basically "utilizes every network" in the RHW mod, starting from a 2-lane highway just west of the Highway 6 junction, transforming into a 4-lane expressway and then a full-on freeway as it heads east into the Portland suburbs.

And actually, the original idea with the RHW was to be an improvement on the "Multi-Highway" trick that long-time community member lakeyboy popularized in the early years of the community.  If you look at the initial prototypes, the RHW was using Maxis Highway textures.  The "rural" part of it was simply a brief snapshot in qurlix's original development plans, and he often felt the name was inappropriate and wanted to change it himself, even in the earliest days of the project, but it had "stuck" already.

There's also technical issues involved.  I think the crux of the matter lies in this inquiry:

Quote from: Gaston on November 04, 2009, 07:43:28 AM
Can the origional maxis highways be modified (widened, extra lanes, etc)?

The issue is that the game's 2-tile networks are really awkward and beastly contraptions, and as such, are very limited in what they are capable of doing.  When the RHW got going in late 2005, there were no modding techniques capable of reliably doing that.  Plus, you would have needed a bunch of modelers familiar with transit-modeling techniques, which are relatively scarce now, and were even more scarce then.  The "puzzle drag" technology we take for granted today was just being discovered, and didn't make its public debut until two years later with Draggable GLR in the June 2007 NAM. 

And even beyond that, once we had the puzzle-drag technique, we had no idea how to do a puzzle-drag on a 2-tile network.  There was a little development on that earlier this year from Vince (Blue Lightning), but it's still a very restrictive area, and the structure of the Maxis Highway network restricts it even more.  Using a single-tile network, like the game's unused "DirtRoad" network, which is already treated like a Highway by the game, allows for much greater flexibility.  That's also the reason why the Avenue network hasn't been used as part of the long-awaited NWM project.

I hope that sheds some light on why things went the way they did.

-Alex

Thanks so much for your frank and very informative answers.    You have answered my questions and relieved my worries.   Thanks again.


---Gaston

for now, I'm still using RHW only for is "rural" component (essentially 2w and 4w in the middle of nowhere^^). I don't use it for city centres because of its lack of flexibility when using large parts (it is still very very hard to do a real good downtown 8/10w freeway network with it). But I always look (and install^^) each new update with excitement and respect, because this is really a masterpiece very few people could have guessed possible only 3 or 4 years ago. Peoples beyond this mod are doing a threatening job and I am very confident that sooner or later, they will give us a mean to compete with real world urban ingeneers^^

The points I would be very happy to see some change on are:

- textures coherence between all type of road network (i.e. or make RHW texture compliant with Maxis' HW texture, or change Maxis' to fit RHW's)
- improve the "directional capabilities" of the large RHW pieces (so that we could really "design" a freeway network)

These are just my "secret hope" guys, not a way to influence your work in any mode or complain it does not go fast enough... We have several very talentuous teams of modders here at SC4D and you are clearly part of them! keep it alive!  &apls

Quote from: Pharaon-Kheops on November 07, 2009, 02:04:40 AM
for now, I'm still using RHW only for is "rural" component (essentially 2w and 4w in the middle of nowhere^^). I don't use it for city centres because of its lack of flexibility when using large parts (it is still very very hard to do a real good downtown 8/10w freeway network with it). But I always look (and install^^) each new update with excitement and respect, because this is really a masterpiece very few people could have guessed possible only 3 or 4 years ago. Peoples beyond this mod are doing a threatening job and I am very confident that sooner or later, they will give us a mean to compete with real world urban ingeneers^^

The points I would be very happy to see some change on are:

- textures coherence between all type of road network (i.e. or make RHW texture compliant with Maxis' HW texture, or change Maxis' to fit RHW's)
- improve the "directional capabilities" of the large RHW pieces (so that we could really "design" a freeway network)

These are just my "secret hope" guys, not a way to influence your work in any mode or complain it does not go fast enough... We have several very talentuous teams of modders here at SC4D and you are clearly part of them! keep it alive!  &apls

   I believe there is already a mod for Maxis HWs to at least be close in color to the RHW...
Highway ReStyling Mod V03 (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=20529)

Highway ReStyling Mod Asphalt Texture Set Complete (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=20509)
:)

I use RHW sometimes.
But instead lot of junctions and puzzles, I need better textures. So I still use RHW 2.0 with SA textures, waiting in meanwhile for new Shadow Assasin's great textures  ;)

I remember Highway Restyling Mod V03 was close to the first MIS edition RHW. Then times changed, if you wanted the Maxis one to look close to today's RHW, you had to go with asphalt, although lately, more highways seem to be going with asphalt now, instead of cement. I still have the cement Maxis HW, the very least that version that looks like the old RHW MIS, has a shoulder, and despite the Maxis tightness, the shoulders made it seem wider almost like the RHW.

As for directional capabilities, the RHW is limited to the 45, 90 and FARR piece directions, because EA is not into allowing us exe modifications, if thats what your secret hope was. Bigger stuff like that will just have to be for a later time. Speaking of secrets, Tarkus is busy sacrificing his real life with other stuff that I think people will find quite useful, surprising and satisfying.

actually, the RHW texture color is the perfect one tmo... sadly, all the asphalt textures I have found around are far too "blacky" confronted to this one, and there is no "cement" texture for RHW.

Concerning flexibility, I meant that it is very hard to use RHW to make a realist city center HW, because most should be done with puzzle pieces and also because 8 and 10 lanes RHW don't have diagonnal pieces for now.

I've talked about hope, because if you remember what the first versions of NAM where and if you see it now, you will agree that there are a lot of reasons to be fully confident about RHW future... ^^

I use it in actual rural areas, but that's about it.  I would really like to use it in my urban areas, but find it impractical due to the scale it uses (being RL scale, and not Maxis scale...or however one might word that).  Things like elevated transitions take up MORE tiles than their Maxis counterparts, making the RHW difficult to implement.  Maxis highways are, simply put, easier to fit in tight spots than the RHW.  Once that obstacle is overcome, then I see no use for the Maxis highways anymore.

Also, as others have pointed out, RHW isn't all that aesthetically pleasing ATM with the shading issues and lack of smooth transition pieces to other networks.

I am experimenting with the RHW. I really hate using highways, and generally don't need them, as my bus/subway double roadtop stations are so good at keeping congestion down. But it can be annoying, when you can't cycle through to the next puzzle piece, or you can't get a piece at all unless you demolish a piece of highway...

My 2c, cheers!

I don't use them, and this is basically because of their looks. They contain just the textures. Real RHWs may (but may also not) have streetlights, drainage infrastructures, barriers, fencing, dividers etc etc. In some cases they may even have plants or panels between the two directions (to protect drivers from the lights of cars coming from the opposite direction). OK, we definitely don't need all these, but RHWs as they are now are just too plain. Even the most "rural" highways do have something of the ones mentioned above. Also the textures do not really look just right, I think, they are jsut too plain and "clean", I would say "sterilised". I don't know if they are in HD, but if so this has definitely not helped, if not made things worse actually. For example, the markings are too clean, too "perfect" and very "well defined". Also their colour is in general way too dark and the contrast between the asphalt and the markings (lanes) way too high. All these have actually turned me away. I would reconsider this if the above issues were re-addressed.

Quote from: cogeo on November 11, 2009, 10:43:14 AM
They contain just the textures. Real RHWs may (but may also not) have streetlights, drainage infrastructures, barriers, fencing, dividers etc etc.

In that case, look into Xyloxadoria's RHW Lights and Barriers download here (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=21189).

Quote from: cogeo on November 11, 2009, 10:43:14 AM
Also the textures do not really look just right, I think, they are jsut too plain and "clean", I would say "sterilised". I don't know if they are in HD, but if so this has definitely not helped, if not made things worse actually. For example, the markings are too clean, too "perfect" and very "well defined". Also their colour is in general way too dark and the contrast between the asphalt and the markings (lanes) way too high.

Which version of the textures are you referring to?  The ones in the last public release (Version 3)?  The default set is being changed for the next release.  Also, Shadow Assassin's Euro textures will also be getting an update coinciding with the next release of the mod. 

I had looked into HD, but the filesize is a bit steep.  Depending on how they are processed, a Zoom 5 texture can range from about 17KB to in excess of 100KB, compared to about 6-10KB for Standard Definition, so HD is likely not happening.

-Alex

Alex, I have only checked the official releases, and these are the ones my comments were about. I just looked at the development thread, and yes, these look better, but I still think they are too dark. As for HD, as I said above I think it won't really be an improvement worth making. The standard resolution (for textures) is adequate imo, as it's quite close to the screen's actual resolution (models is a different story, these suffer from the distortions, the blurring and the pixelation caused by the BAT renderer, so HD here really helps); some members have tried HD for network, lot and terrain textures, but the improvement was indeed very little.

As for Xylo's mods, I think it's obvious (and you rather have to agree) how much this has really improved the appearence of RHWs, and I think they should be included in the standard pack, or maybe make them optional. It is actually possible to have RHWs both with and without lights (or other props), without making two networks. I have utilised such techniques in quite a few of my lots (take a look in RTMT or Fenced GLR); they work, but they are a bit hard to use (requires exiting the game and installing/uninstalling plugins).

The RHWs are a great addition to the game, and i'd agree with the couple people before who said it was their favorite part of SC4. Of course they're more cumbersome than MHW but I don't think it really makes since for a stack interchange to take up less than 200m x 200m, to have interchanges every city block (i think it's pretty rare to see them more than every km in RL), or to have 50m long on- and off-ramps. MHWs are grossly out of scale, both in lane-width and interchange footprint. The amazing progress made by the RHW team even since v3.0 makes its use even more exciting.

The only time I every use MHWs is in tunnels where no other highway speed and capacity network can go (and they are out of site) and in long suspension bridges where parallel rhw-4 (or even the anticipated rhw-8 bridges) wouldn't be realistic but I hope to dump those in favor of parallel rhw-4 bridges with overhangs to look like a single bridge.

One question I've had for a long time: is it possible to change the paths and textures on mhw to they are identical to adjacent rhw-4s? or change the paths and textures of a mhw bridge to match rhw?

I can't thank everyone on the RHW and NAM teams for their contributions to this game.

For me it's a very realistic mod. But for the interchanges ther're some problems: it's very difficult build a T or Y connections  more realistic. And there' re problem with the diagonal pieces... but it's baeter then maxis highways in realism!! :thumbsup:

I stopped using SC4 years ago because I got fustrated with the MHW system, among other things.  With addons like the NAM, and ESP the RHW 3.x, it's like a new game! 

Many Thanks!  &apls

P.S. - Any possibility of adding multi-level RHW overpasses in a future release?  Most of the HW intersections near me are 3 (and up to 5) levels deep!

^^ I'll second that. It was mainly the NAM/RHW that reinvigorated an intense interest in the game for me after a 5+ year break. While I'm far deeper into custom content now, I wouldn't be here at all if not for the NAM and a couple other cool things that sparked my interest.

Of course I m using RHW. Although I wish I could see it in the region transportation map.
And sometimes I think the interchanges claims too much space... specially for Urban use....

I use RHW.

Quote from: awake_78 on February 01, 2010, 03:49:45 AM
Of course I m using RHW. Although I wish I could see it in the region transportation map.
And sometimes I think the interchanges claims too much space... specially for Urban use....

Well unfortunately having it show up on the transport map is simply not possible without modding the EXE.

You may think the RHW interchanges take up too much space, but actually its a lot more realistic.  The ultra-compact ground/elevated highway interchanges Maxis made can fool you into thinking that RHW junctions are mammoth in size.

Yes, I use the RHW.  Am doing so more and more.  Sometimes spend more game time figuring out routes and getting interchanges/connections done near bridges and rails than actually building cities in region but getting better with time. Am looking forward to further development from a talented team.
;) :thumbsup:

I have two definite issues with RHW.

1) It doesn't show up on the regional transportation map.
2) Interchanges just don't look clean enough for me. The manner in which they currently are constructed is cludgy at best. I'll be far more likely to use them if/when an actually cloverleaf and T-intersection puzzle piece are available.

Both of these issues are keeping me from using the RHW in my current project since I'm tired of constantly trying to construct cloverleafs or trumpets while the standard maxis highways already have them. I'm trying to integrate an extensive set of transport systems and the regional transport map would simply look awkward without the highways showing up.

Quote from: SeanSC4 on February 01, 2010, 07:26:10 PM
1) It doesn't show up on the regional transportation map.

I've heard this many times before in the forums, but for some reason all my RHW networks have always shown up in all my region maps.  Am I referring to the wrong view???  I'm talking about the view you see before you select which city you wish to work with.  If that's not what you're talking about, then I'm going to feel like a complete idiot after all these years, but so be it: I'ts always better to learn from your mistakes than be right!

Lemme know!

Quote from: SeanSC4 on February 01, 2010, 07:26:10 PM
2) Interchanges just don't look clean enough for me. The manner in which they currently are constructed is cludgy at best.

No, they aren't clean.  But, given enough mod pieces, I'll bet they could be more than cool looking, and they aren't currently any more "cludgy" than the original Maxis street or avenue models. I hate the Maxis HW and it's interchanges mostly because they're simply not realistic enough to model anything remotely close to real cities (at least those near where where I live).  RHW offers the possibility to at least logistically replicate reality quite a bit more, and with the level of enthusiasm the NAM team has towards quality mods, I'll be much more realism will be available in the near future.

Best Regards!

To bypass RHW not showing up on my Region View, I edit it in using the Gimp. If you know Photoshop or another program like it, it's pretty easy. As for the difficult interchanges, they are rewarding in the end, after you add everything.

Quote from: SeanSC4 on February 01, 2010, 07:26:10 PM
1) It doesn't show up on the regional transportation map.
v

Quote from: cwhtly on February 01, 2010, 11:46:59 PM
I've heard this many times before in the forums, but for some reason all my RHW networks have always shown up in all my region maps.  Am I referring to the wrong view???  I'm talking about the view you see before you select which city you wish to work with.  If that's not what you're talking about, then I'm going to feel like a complete idiot after all these years, but so be it: I'ts always better to learn from your mistakes than be right!

Lemme know!

OK- Yes - I am in fact an idiot  ;D

Quote from: Haljackey on February 01, 2010, 01:14:04 PM
I use RHW.

Well unfortunately having it show up on the transport map is simply not possible without modding the EXE.

You may think the RHW interchanges take up too much space, but actually its a lot more realistic.  The ultra-compact ground/elevated highway interchanges Maxis made can fool you into thinking that RHW junctions are mammoth in size.

Yes I know that you have to mod the EXE (forbiden) but it's still annoying.
Definetelly the RHW projects is more realistic then Maxis Highways. (At least in Europe) But there are some occasions when you need less space for an intersection and you don't have it, even though in real life there are intersections with much less space....
Any way another point is even though Cities XL is on the market a lot of people ( specially because of RHW and NAM) still getting envolved with SC4...
This is beautiful isn't it???

Well, the whole "You gotta pay MMO fees if you want full features" kinda helps push people back towards SC4 too  ::)

Quote from: emgmod on February 02, 2010, 12:12:22 AM
To bypass RHW not showing up on my Region View, I edit it in using the Gimp. If you know Photoshop or another program like it, it's pretty easy. As for the difficult interchanges, they are rewarding in the end, after you add everything.

I know enough Phtoshop to easily do this if I really wanted to. I suppose I'm on the fence about the regional transport map already since the ferry routes are both 1) too hard to see and 2) show far too many connections as it is.

Designing an interchange using the RHW can be rewarding to be sure. It's just not where I'm finding myself spending my game time. This should in no way detract from the great work that everyone has done on the RHW project. I earnestly await the next release of it.

Quote from: SeanSC4 on February 01, 2010, 07:26:10 PM
2) Interchanges just don't look clean enough for me. The manner in which they currently are constructed is cludgy at best. I'll be far more likely to use them if/when an actually cloverleaf and T-intersection puzzle piece are available.

Check the RHW interchange Guide (link in my signature) for help and examples of how to construct the simplest, cleanest looking interchanges for the RHW network.

With each and every release of the RHW, the mod becomes cleaner and more complete.  This motto goes with just about every NAM component and even the NAM itself.

Quote from: awake_78 on February 02, 2010, 12:54:58 AM
Definetelly the RHW projects is more realistic then Maxis Highways. (At least in Europe) But there are some occasions when you need less space for an intersection and you don't have it, even though in real life there are intersections with much less space....

My biggest grumble here is not being able to place angled underpasses or overpasses, not having elevated 6+ RHW, and having only one option for elevated transitions: the RHW4/MIS elevated piece.  I understand some of these are in the works for the next version thoug  :D.  Can't wait!

I did go and make a nice trumpet intersection yesterday so maybe there is hope for me yet!  :D

I love the RHW. As most people have already pointed out it looks great and using the MHW in the mountains for example always made me feel "dirty" because of the often times necessary (often times can't be helped) flattening and clear cutting of the mountain side just to get the MHW in. I like how you can neatly tuck the RHW-2 into the natural gaps and curves of the mountain side.
I think the wish for better/smaller/more convenient interchanges/intersections comes from the lack there of even when you switch to the MHW. I like to use the RHW in urban settings as well. In California (where I'm from), if a RHW goes into the city it becomes an avenue with a high speed limit. I also use the RHW like this and I will use avenue pieces for intersections.
What I really wish for is for the RHW to be able to interact with HSRP. The fact that the two can't cross each other has really  :angrymore:ed up some critical areas of my cities. same goes for HSRP+GLR, but that's for another thread. The other thing is diagonal cross over capability both with MIS and RHW-4, which would make interchange construction much easier. But all said really it's so perfect now that I'm excited to see what's coming next! Compatibility with MIS<->TLUPS (if it's released) is the only other thing I could really want.

Thank you everyone for your hard work.

Yes.  I do use the RHW.  Currently am using more mixed with Maxis highways and avenues in region already under construction when downloaded. Next region will be have more pre-planned transportation systems especially including the RHW.

:)