Any 3d world editor as good as Surveyor?

[AnalogOldguy]

Well, I had this thought just today.. Has anyone seen a 3D world editor as good as the Surveyor in Trainz? Now, believe me, I am not a total Trainz fanboy (after all the headaches Trainz has given me).

I was thinking of editors I have seen and used, and the only ones I came up with were the editor for Operation Flashpoint and for Arma. Though these only let you place soldiers and tanks etc. (and a very,very,limited number of scenery items) into a 3D world, from basically a 2D editor.

The artificial intelligence of the soldiers, tanks etc. was very bad, with Operation Flashpoint being a bit better. Except that if you were "shot" once or twice, you most likely became dead!

Has anyone ever seen a 3D editor for a game that is even close or as good as Surveyor?

Bob P.

 

[Euphod]

To the best of my knowledge and gaming experience, no. I think Surveyor is the perfect combination of ease of use coupled with endless possibilities.

I fully expect to see that quote on the back of the next box!

 

[AnalogOldguy]

They can use your quote, but make sure they send the royalties to me!:udrool:

I just went back to the Operation Flashpoint world editor, and remembered that you can set the time of day and weather in it. It gives a fairly good representation of lightning.

It was pretty good for its day, but absolutely not in the same league as Surveyor.
(I fully expect to see that quote on the back of the next box!)

One good idea was that they made the whole very large land area of a whole island, and you picked wherever you wanted to be. You could also make very convincing "intros" and "outros" (almost like movies) with a fairly simple picking of actions from a menu). (but I only managed to do it once, then my mind melted and couldn't do it again)...

 

[RRSignal]

It is. I did a lot of development work for a naval warfare simulator called Harpoon. It has a phenomenal GUI. About as perfect as one could expect. Now, it's a 2D game, and the GUI dates from 1989. But, I'm bringing it up because it's just plain brilliantly done! As a result, the older versions of that sim are far, far more desirable than the newer, windowed versions.

Auran has concocted a similarly-brilliant interface in Surveyor. I can think of a few tools and whatnot I'd like to see added, but, on the whole, I love it.

Maybe that's why I'm always building instead of driving trains. lol

 

[AnalogOldguy]

I go to flea markets and thrift stores a lot, and have seen all the versions of Harpoon for just a few dollars, but never pulled the trigger on buying it. I knew that it was one of those true classic computer games.

But I have learned over time that those war management games are not for me. They get me all up tight, mostly losing the battles!:'(

But the Trainz Surveyor (Trainz 2006), when I first saw it, I said.. this is a truly amazing thing. I have never seen an Editor like that where you can do so many things to create a 3D world.

I swear that it could be used as a creativity program in schools. Leave out the trains!! Don't put much focus on the trains. Right now in Trainz we have the invisible tracks, and you could have people walking, milk trucks driving, farmers taking care of animals. Cities, people, forests, animals, mountains, pretty flowers and trees! Buildings from all over the world.

And just lately I have discovered the "Weather Changer" Rule which even permits changing the time and weather dynamically in the "playback mode", (formally the Driver Mode). There must be other specialty rules that could be used..

Ah well, they say if you have a good thought, get it out!!!:hehe: And so, that's what I have done!! Robert P.

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Great product!

I too thoroughly enjoy all of the creative aspects of Surveyor. It seems to get better every day as new skills are mastered and techniques discovered.

Some new ideas/changes could be added, as RRSignal says. I throw any I’ve had into the Suggestion Boxcar, but I’m very happy with what it can already do.

I’ve often thought that the product should be marketed for artists. They could then achieve something which they could never do on a 2- dimensional canvas, i.e. climb into their created image and walk around!