Re: Pioneer Trains development thread

[mrknowitall]

Well thought i'd give this post a refresh with a few new things

Firstly some new rolling stock that will be released this month. these are;













Now the more complicated item, this has been on my to do list for sooo long its untrue! And i wanted to make sure my code was my own creation and not just taken from others work.

So i've finally cracked the speedo coding for the 3D cab. took me a while, but now im just popping all other forms of animation in now like the AWS ,TPWS & so on and then it will be packaged as a full download with the new 350 out.

I'll also add a few screenshots of the new external light configuration, the top light above the door connections are now animated, and then interior has has a spring clean.

Hope you all like

[Dexter]

Well, looks like a truckload of rolling stock...

[mrknowitall]

I told you i was busy behind the scenes I dare not even show the 180 just let I want peoples jaws to hurt when i finally show her off

You like the look of the 3D cab then mate?

[graymac]

The 3D cab is interesting and you have done well to make it with the textures available to you. So this is not a criticism of your work in any way. But for me, and this is only my opinion, it doesn't quite hit the spot. I think this is because the interior surfaces are too uniform. It's the mechanics of the object, You have a single colour surface on the sides and back. No gradation due to lighting, for which you would have to apply textures which would be very hard to come by. So it looks clean, almost sterile, like an architects model of a future concept. This is where the panel2 cab still scores, always provided the texture pics are well done.
All the same, top marks for making it as good as it could be, allowing for the materials you have to work with. Obtaining cab textures of any kind is very difficult and no fault of the developer if perfect ones can't be found.
Also, IF every surface had a texture applied it might lead to overheavy graphic requirements and poorer performance. Probably wouldn't be great for the users with average or below PCs either.

[mrknowitall]

The 3D cab is interesting and you have done well to make it with the textures available to you. So this is not a criticism of your work in any way. But for me, and this is only my opinion, it doesn't quite hit the spot. I think this is because the interior surfaces are too uniform. It's the mechanics of the object, You have a single colour surface on the sides and back. No gradation due to lighting, for which you would have to apply textures which would be very hard to come by. So it looks clean, almost sterile, like an architects model of a future concept. This is where the panel2 cab still scores, always provided the texture pics are well done.
All the same, top marks for making it as good as it could be, allowing for the materials you have to work with. Obtaining cab textures of any kind is very difficult and no fault of the developer if perfect ones can't be found.
Also, IF every surface had a texture applied it might lead to overheavy graphic requirements and poorer performance. Probably wouldn't be great for the users with average or below PCs either.

how dare you "goes off and strops!!"


Luckily im not one to take it in a bad way and i've taken you advise on board and added a few safety noticed, got to add loads more yet, but thought a bit of humour at this point would be fun

[graymac]

Yes, it breaks up those blank spaces a bit.
I like the modified drivers chair, must have had beans on the canteen menu, the back's blown off it better than the IRA could've done
Hope the windows open too!!

Good work Ben.

[kwijiboenator]

Those warnings signs a brilliant! XD

Although my machine will only give me the cab view - but that doesn't really matter because I only really have the opportunity to check out a train's textures once I've arrived at the terminating station.

[mrknowitall]

Yes, it breaks up those blank spaces a bit.
I like the modified drivers chair, must have had beans on the canteen menu, the back's blown off it better than the IRA could've done
Hope the windows open too!!

Good work Ben.

Cheers mate Im still needing to add things like the bar, the windows and also the countless number of buttons and switches, just added the second man section and also fixed a few external problems, the wipers are ready to go on and also the new headlight reflections are also added

Those warnings signs a brilliant! XD

Although my machine will only give me the cab view - but that doesn't really matter because I only really have the opportunity to check out a train's textures once I've arrived at the terminating station.

Ahha! I thought i a little bit of light humour wouldn't go a miss in this situation ahha!

[mrknowitall]

I'd suggest muting the music, i noticed after uploading the FRAPS had recorded my music too, and im sure it's not to your liking

[Dexter]

That smilie actually looks like licking the video...
It's a nice piece of work though!

[mrknowitall]

I never even knew i put the smile

there is loads of work left to do but im sure i will complete this cab then get it released

Then the 180 cabnow i have the coding for the animated speedometer

[busheyheath]

Hmmm.... looks much better than it sounds...

[mrknowitall]

my taste in music is some what questionable but the train bushy? what do you think about it ?

[busheyheath]

Great train, and the route looks OK to me, although it's only a tiny piece

[graymac]

Nice work Ben. I can see there has been a great attention paid to detailing and constructing what is, by object building standards, a fairly complex item.
Some of the previous comments criticising the shortcomings of the 3D cab concept are partly addressed by you clever use of added labels etc as visuals. So you deserve full credit for doing a fine job.

Now here comes the criticism. As before it's NOT Ben or his work in the firing line, it's the concept of the 3D cab itself.

Great train, and the route looks OK to me, although it's only a tiny piece

Bushey probably didn't mean the same as I do when he said this but, ironically, he has put his finger on it precisely.
Great train, of course it is. Even I would like it if it was Irish Looks magnificent in the exterior cam views. But what is the point of only seeing a tiny square of the route? THAT is where the 3D cab is all wrong, it's hogging the show and it's an irrelevance. The exterior and the route are being overshadowed by this jumped up little upstart who can't manage to look as realistic as his best 2D cousin unless that 2D cousin is having a VERY bad-hair day. And a viewing area of one-eighth of the route isn't good enough. Rather than being an improvement, this detracts from the experience.
Now, if a train drive sim is all about seeing a route through a driver's eye, how does spending the attention and concentration looking at the sides of a box rather than through the front window add up to a driving experience?
Now, if the movement was only restricted so that there was never less than a sufficient view through the window, similar to current 2D cabs, then the animated controls would be tenable. In that form I wouldn't object to it. As it is now, I honestly don't like it.
So, 3D cab gets the thumbs down from me, and Ben is not to blame.

[mrknowitall]

I totally see your point, but then again me and you both know i hate and can never stick to making the panel2 cabs, its really hard, but the best thing is if i was to have both a 2D cab and a 3D one i could, because i've built it to scale i could simply slide it into the exterior view

Or i could completely remove the 2d/3d cab and just have an exterior view thats totally animated but then again some people may not like that

At end of day people were and probably still drooling over anthonys 323, and awaiting it eagerly but im sure my 350 has everything the same to offer apart from the rain, although that could be done with no problem

At end of day i like to try compete with those who are at the top of the league, and without blowing my own trumpet i think im doing a good job

all im wanting is to create something the end user will be happy to drive, i dont charge for doing it, my enjoyment is listening to feedback and working on what people think need working on

[hurricanemk1c]

Well I suppose that could be something to do with the '350', being a gangway-through-cab jobbie. For example, the 22000 (or, for our UK friends, a '170') would have far more route visible because of the bigger windows etc. Now, I'm no train or route builder (although Graymac knows I do help!), so it could be an OpenBVE limitation.

The 3D cab of the whatever stock for the Hammersmith and City line shows that a lot of the route can be visible.

Anyways, back to the '350' looks - excellent! Love the tongue in cheek safety notices, really add a bit to it!

[graymac]

It's only my take on the 3D Ben. Some are gonna love it, some will hate it. Right now I have a lot of stuff on the go. Maybe at some point either me or another member might be able to help you produce a 2D cab so you could offer both choices. The 2D cab is not greatly difficult to put together. I'm not a trainbuilder and can still do one quicker than the time needed for a 3D. Not as good as Martin Corbett's though

[Quork]

Well, nothing is really realistic as long as it is on a screen

[mrknowitall]

Ah well each to their own really i'm sure if they dont like the 3D cab they'll go for the 2D version But im tired so im hitting the sack, will have more screenshots up tomorrow

[mrknowitall]

Sorry to everyone for my absence, but luckily she is home well and im back to work, only now ill be taking things very slowly, a lot of scheduled work is either on hold or off until I can get my relative back on her feet, so here's what I've done tonight


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_nlu5zeDYQ&feature=youtube_gdata

[Adelante107]

suppose this could go in here?
Bve4Trainz will be no more from tomorrow! We start a new reign of terror as Pioneer Trains!

[graymac]

That's a good idea! After all, Bve4trainz don't really work on bve4 do they? And it removes the possibility of being confused for any similarly named brand.

[Adelante107]

That was my excuse for wanting to change it! I've never liked it tbh but It's a big step changing a brand but hopefully this one will go smoothly!

[mrknowitall]

Adam you made this name change sound all your own idea, this was a joint effirt from the start, from bvegrandcentral team to bve4trainz to pioneer trains, and i thought Of the name but luckily i love working with you and the select few beta testers! I will lock this board tomorrow and create a new thread, with some lovely screenshots and videos!! (: the team.

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