Traffic Signals in SC4--A Discussion Thread

[Haljackey]

Wow, a lot of stuff is going on here!

So much for me... I still use the default lights and whatnot.  I don't think they're that bad, but whatever.  Lights are just not my thing...

Although it would be cool to see an advance left-turn for the 4-way avenue intersection, and even cooler if the game would actually stop all traffic for the said advance!

Oh and this too, even though it doesn't need to have a traffic light.


Best,
-Haljackey

[Ryan B.]

Looks like a great signal for the fabled single point urban interchange

A SPUI?  That's not what I designed that signal for.  It was more for an intersection of four one-way roads with an avenue, in the same general area.

[imperialmog]

This got me thinking that with the new NAM out, there should be a look at doing exemplar 21's for the networks to add some realistic eye candy. One thing I notice is not seeing any signals at intersections of RHW pieces as well as maybe having road signs pop up in certain situations. one way to scale it right and have the road sign is be able to see what the sign reads by using the query tool since it will do that on props.

[LE0]

Can there be a mod that changes the location of the stoplites to the far side of the street?

[Swamper77]

The game uses animated signal props and they must be located on the tiles that have the stop points. For avenues, this means the stoplights get placed on the near sides of all avenue x avenue intersections. To put the signals on the far sides, it can be done using non-animated props, which means they will be eye-candy only. However, the cars will still stop on the near sides of the intersections due to the locations of the stop points.

Road intersections are usually on one tile, so the animated signals can be placed on the far side of the tile without any problem.

For any of these changes to be done, someone will have to edit the T21 exemplars for the networks. I won't be doing it as I have enough stuff to do with my project list.

-Swamper

[Nique]

Are you guys absolutely sure about the RHW thing? No stop signal possible on RHW2 ? .. that would be really 

A RHW cross intersection should have traffic lights (and the need of such a feature).. or accidents will happen 

[Swamper77]

Nique,

The game views the RHW as a highway due to how Maxis coded the network. While stop points can be added and animated stoplight props can be placed on it, the cars just shoot through the intersections as if no stop points exist and the animated stoplight props stay green forever. To fix the functionality of the animated stoplights on the RHW, the EXE would have to be modified and EA won't let us do that.

-Swamper

[Nique]

Nique,

The game views the RHW as a highway due to how Maxis coded the network. While stop points can be added and animated stoplight props can be placed on it, the cars just shoot through the intersections as if no stop points exist and the animated stoplight props stay green forever. To fix the functionality of the animated stoplights on the RHW, the EXE would have to be modified and EA won't let us do that.

-Swamper

Maybe it is time to contact EA.. 


To let them add (or finish) these things. I bet SC4 is still being sold

[Dexist]

hey when i watch my traffic i see that all the cars ar dissapearing after a few meters... or after a corner...
how does this happen..

i have NAM RHW and some texture plungins

[Glazert]

Dexist: What you are seeing is the normal way the game uses automata to provide a visual representation of traffic. It is nothing to do with NAM or RHW. It does not mean that traffic is not getting through.

[CityMaster563]

Check out this interscection:

I posted this earlier on the RHW thread.
It's an AVE-6 intersection.

[darraghf]

Did you make that or is it photoshopped?? I really want to know.
-Darraghf

[WC_EEND]

Did you make that or is it photoshopped?? I really want to know.
-Darraghf

they are photoshopped as he pointed out in the RHW-topic

[KoV Liberty]

Yeah I know but that is ONE GREAT Photoshopper! I couldnt tell the difference for awhile!

[j-dub]

Now heres the weird thing in reality, in my state, even though the extra thru lane is there, unlike City Master's picture, 9/10 of the time they don't go 4 lights over this type of intersection, and still just use the three overhangin. Two signals for the three straight lanes, and one for the left lane. Other times this is the case. Whats ps-ed here I don't even know is finished, but it looks like for regular avenues alone with the NWM, that the plan is to eliminate the lane arrows except for the turn lane, and to use a double yellow line instead of the median curb in between.

So we go back to CityMaster563's New City, and take another look at the intersection with a possible American re-texture.

And yeah I know, but the real yellow color is not going to be that bright, again this is just a further idea of what textures could be like down the road, because NWM Avenue Turn Lanes look like this:

(again, the lights here may not make the final cut, and if you think your actually seeing them change color, your imagination may have taken over you)

[CityMaster563]

Here's some more pictures:

My first wide avenue Night image
Are The AVE-6 going to be able to go over the RHW?:
[/UR

[j-dub]

I don't see why not, but it will be a very, very, very, long time for that to happen. Thing is about the AVE6, I think it may be 3 tiles wide in order to fit the sidewalk, and median.
Very impressive PS-ing skills. As for the 6 lane avenue crossing the road intersections, I cannot make any guarentees, but we know NWM road x 4 lane avenue intersections will allow turning lanes on avenues to roads, and some roads will have turn lanes to avenues. It would make sense for that to be the case in this situation, but again, a very, very, very long time until all things possible are possible.

[Ryan B.]

CityMaster:  These pictures are great work and very well done!  However, it's my opinion that them being shown in "official" NAM threads implies that the various transportation features shown are "official" previews from an upcoming NAM release.

I would recommend posting them in a "Show Us Your SC4 Photoshops" thread of some sort, if one has not already been created.

[CityMaster563]

Hoe Do I start a new thread?

[Ryan B.]

How Do I start a new thread?

Find the place you wish to create the thread - there should be a link in a red box somewhere that says "New Thread".