I remember when...

[jaleel]

I remember when I first got Trainz some years ago. How excited I was to get started building my own route. At one point I felt I got too consumed along with the fact that many of my favorite creators and friends were leaving or MIA. I took a break to get things back in order but I still lurked and was impressed with growth I saw coming from some other member who just started.

I recently got back and still getting my feet wet but somethings seems to still be a problem 7 or so years later! I don't know if I'm going to be creating content like I really wanted to. Wish there were video tutorials from member on creating using Google SketckUp.

My main issue is the lack of updates to DLS as CM seems lacking for some reason. Part of my issue is downloading just about anything and the dependencies NOT downloading with it. I've download a few route and locos only to find out the needed parts didn't come with it!? WTF?

There used to be a time when Trainz would tell you about this option and give you the ability to download the missing dependencies; not anymore it seems.

Sorry for the rant but man there has to be a better way. Sometimes I wish they would break everything to start over just to prevent this issue going forward.

Back to downloading the missing parts...

 

[AJ_Fox]

Hey Jaleel

It's really the same when it comes to jumping through hoops. Hang with it for a while and you'll get it sorted.

Nice to see you again.

Cheers

AJ

 

[RRSignal]

Hi Jaleel,

First, I don't know much about Sketchup but there is some info here, mainly on the exporter but I think there are at least some tricks and explanations of things in there.

Second, give Blender a look, especially if you're comfortable with keyboard shortcuts. While I don't know whether or not GMax, 3DS, and Sketchup have shortcuts, I found the Blender ones really easy to learn. There is a series of 5 videos on the Blender site that teach you the basics, and I got pretty good at mastering the interface after watching them maybe twice each. Something to keep in mind.

Third, as for route components, I know that CMP occasionally misses something, which is usually resolved by right-clicking the route or session, selecting View Depdendencies, and then selecting View in Main List. The problem is, a lot of routes have content stored off the DLS. I blame the creators for that and, as a result, I don't use non-DLS content on my routes (well, my freeware SEPTA route is using currently GrahamSea's prototypical signals, which are not on the DLS, but that's it, and I'm going to try to learn Trainzscript to create my own.) Locating stuff off the DLS really just creates headaches for everybody.

Most importantly, don't give up. Plug away for awhile and you'll get the hang of Trainz, Sketchup, Blender, or whatever. It really isn't rocket science and it really isn't that hard to master, and it's really satisfying once you do.

 

[jaleel]

The fragmentation is getting out of hand. I don't mind the content NOT being on DLS but at least let us know where you got it. It's bigger issue for content in other languages as searching for the content can be grueling to say the least. However, some of it is amazing! The Russian Metro content it well built, don't have the full route though as I don't where to get it.

The issue is that the game doesn't tell you something is missing until you actually try to use the map and things are missing or it crashes. Warn me before, like you use to!

I got most things, rollingstock, going still have routes I got from DLS that aren't working right. I'm working through it.

Blender was confusing to me vs Sketchup but there aren't any Trainz related tutorials which surprises me honestly. Start to finish on building a loco or something.

 

[RRSignal]

It does, in CMP, when you View Dependencies. Built-in = yellow, gray-checkmark = already installed (not built-in), red "DS" = item available on the DLS, gray ? mark = not installed, not available on the DLS.

The Russian Metro is available on metrorus.ru, though I understand it is down at the moment.

I believe Mick Berg has a Blender loco tutorial and it's quite good, with some documented "gotchas" that'll save you a lot of headache. Paul Hobbs also [url="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=trainz%20blender%20tutorial&source=web&cd=5&sqi=2&ved=0CEoQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.44090digitalmodels.co.uk%2FFiles%2FCC_Tutorials%2FBlender_tut.pdf&ei=NTVeT43XEajz0gGr4cm-Dw&usg=AFQjCNEGN0dOl17Mu0kBHID37q8j0X8itw&cad=rja]has one here[/url].

More info:
http://www.44090digitalmodels.co.uk/
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_Blender

Keep in mind that Sketchup may be easier, but I don't believe it allows you to create animations for locos and cars, which is why you'll need Blender or at least GMax.

 

[MountE]

"It does, in CMP, when you View Dependencies."

Seem to me that CMP misses a lot of items. On routes that have been started in older versions of Trainz many items do not show as missing but aren't listed either. Old ground covers that leave blank spots can only be found by loading the route in an older trainz version and going to the spot to find the item and downloading it from the back pages.

Rob

 

[VinnyBarb]

I remember too when one could log on to the DLS and d/load ANYTHING listed there without not getting it d/loaded, without stalling, without hiccups, without missing dependencies and without tearing your hair out. The sooner AURAN/N3V get their act together to fix this, the better it will be for Trainz. My own problem is, for the last 12 months in either CM or straight off the black pages via FTP to start a d/load and this stopping some 50 to 150 kb into the d/load and then most times NEVER bl**dy finishing that d/load or subsequent tries to d/load. Why?

I am NOT alone, just check through the DLS problem forum, including your own post, so why are AURAN/N3V dragging their feet with fixing the DLS? Is it that a server upgrade is needed? Is it that a better d/load system/software is needed? Just check how EASY it is (in comparison to AURAN/N3V) to d/load mods, upgrades, updates, extras, tools, ANYTHING, be it from Blizzard, Electronic Art or wherever from. Surely, by the amount of games these companies sell and by the SHEER number of registered members they have, why is it then so easy to d/load from them?

I think there is still this FURY hangover (google for it to find out) persisting here with the subsequent need to go public (AURAN then nearly or indeed going belly up, shares to the public etc.) that they do not want to spend money on the DLS. In the olden days the people running Trainz were railway enthusiasts, where a relative few of these owned and run TRAINZ and who made sure all was OK. Which have since all left or got pushed as now the bottom line with AURAN/N3V is, make money or else. AURAN/N3V conveniently forget, it is us, the members who build up the membership base they have had with/in conjunction of the easy use of the DLS and how this used to function in the GOOD OL' DAYS which NEVER EVER will return again. They have the nerve to still spruik and advertise the DLS as a "feature", which it is now but for all the wrong reasons.

I was told in the past, it is my PCs, Trainz is not configured right by/with me, my firewall, my AntiVirus program, my password is not right or not functioning sometimes, it is the influence of sunspots, the weather or something like that that prevents me from correctly d/loading. Despite of forking out some 100 dollars for a "livetime" FCT. Which is a contradiction in terms for me as I can not use its supposed advantage for the last 12 months. So many people complaining of the current sad state of the DLS can not be ALL wrong.

AURAN/NeV, you can fool some of the people ALL the time, you can fool ALL people some of the time but you can not fool ALL people ALL the time. The sooner you, AURAN/N3V, come clean and explain what the hell is REALLY wrong with the DLS, the sooner you tell us, the people who have supported you through thick and thin by buying your products, what you are going to do to fix the DLS problem and the sooner you tell us WHEN this is going to happen, the better for all of us. Or is it another case of you fixing this SOONTM. (the oldies here can tell you what this means)

Over to you.

VinnyBarb

 

[RRSignal]

I haven't had the problem of downloads sticking part of the way through since before I had an FCT. The occasional instance I've heard of that happening also involved people without FCTs. Therefore, it's likely on your end or in one of the interconnects. FYI, I have an awfully hard time visiting AU-hosted sites, with connection stalls/timeouts.

And, the only problems I've had with the DLS is when it flakes out (which is too often, but when it works, it's usually great.)

 

[JCitron]

Hey Jaleel. It's nice to see you around here again. I still use your old metro stations and track from the older Trainz versions in TS12.

You can still use Gmax or 3Ds if you want. The models will still load up fine in Trainz, so there's no need to relearn new programs just to make content. The textures are a bit different in the new version, but I think you can do that too in Gmax. I can't recall because I haven't used either 3DsMax or GMax in about 10 years.


John

 

[jaleel]

Thanks all!

JC, Sketckup seems to hand vertices better. Such as when I cut a window. I'll give Blender another look but UI was very confusing.

 

[shaneturner12]

I'd advise caution if you are using Sketchup for your models.

Poly counts are very high on Sketchup models - even to the point of affecting performance.

Shane

 

[JCitron]

I'd advise caution if you are using Sketchup for your models.

Poly counts are very high on Sketchup models - even to the point of affecting performance.

Shane

I've noticed that too. I asked my bro about this and he said it's the way the models are "constructed" in the program. They're not polygons but nerb surfaces or something like that. I might be wrong, but I think this is what he said. When models are exported and become polygon models, the surfaces get subdivided, but to keep the smoothing, the subdivided surfaces have way more than the number of polys needed to make a model playable.

Jaleel. Blender is confusing. I spent a long time trying to get my brain to accept it and couldn't no matter how much I tried.

John