Some content belittles TS2010's capability

[Approach_Medium]

Hi;
If you purchased TS2010, you know that the graphics capabilities are the best in Trainz. TS2009_SP2 was good, but 2010 has some nice improvements, and much better performance.

That said, I have been going through the built-in content, and "weeding out" what I don't like by placing the assets into the pick list, then disabling everything in the pick list from CM3.2. This method works quite well, because I am looking at the content, and it's easy to drag it into the pick list so I don't have to write anything down before going into CM.

So anyway; I'm looking at a lot of content that looks more like cartoon than anything else. Some completely lack features, and paint is way too bright and perfect.
A lot of the buildings are very poorly done, very low res.

While I can understand that some of this content works when viewed from a distance, I am building a route where I have mostly forest in the distance, so don't need the low-res content.

I am curious as to why Auran included so much of this low-res content with TS2010, since it can do so much better.
I do have some really detailed content that I like very much, and in 2010 it doesn't create much of a performance hit as did in TS2006-09.

I am sure that over time, more CC's will be creating content for TS2010 that will use all of its features.

What are your thoughts on this?

Have a happy holiday!

FW

 

[StorkNest]

Low-res content is probably older content that some routes need to work.
Not like everyone has the time and ability to update everything.

 

[Approach_Medium]

I would like to get into content development, but have other priorities, so have to wait for others to create it.
I'm not complaining; just wanted to find what other Trainzers' opinions are.
I have seen a lot of posts complaining about assets that don't work in TS2009 or TS2010.

Hopefully, Auran itself will develop more of the detailed sort of content.
I wouldn't really mind having to pay a small charge for this content, as long it is what I can use.

FW

 

[StorkNest]

Heh, other opinions have been listed in several topics since TS2009 became available, way too involved to explain as it involves a subtle fued going on. But there are people both Auran and non-Auran working on things, new standards require additional learning and extra time to create.
Just look at a groundtexture. Used to be a simple picture or artistically designed piece would do, maybe with some touch up. Now you also normal map it for lighting, learn how to control the lighting, add reflection and/or specularity if needed, maybe more.

 

[Approach_Medium]

Heh, other opinions have been listed in several topics since TS2009 became available, way too involved to explain as it involves a subtle fued going on. But there are people both Auran and non-Auran working on things, new standards require additional learning and extra time to create.
Just look at a groundtexture. Used to be a simple picture or artistically designed piece would do, maybe with some touch up. Now you also normal map it for lighting, learn how to control the lighting, add reflection and/or specularity if needed, maybe more.

Yes, I recall how easy it was to create ground textures in TS04. I used to take shots with my 3MP digital and get pretty much whatever I wanted.
But I'll take TS2010 over anything now that I have it

FW

 

[johnwhelan]

Hi;
If you purchased TS2010, you know that the graphics capabilities are the best in Trainz. TS2009_SP2 was good, but 2010 has some nice improvements, and much better performance.

That said, I have been going through the built-in content, and "weeding out" what I don't like by placing the assets into the pick list, then disabling everything in the pick list from CM3.2. This method works quite well, because I am looking at the content, and it's easy to drag it into the pick list so I don't have to write anything down before going into CM.

So anyway; I'm looking at a lot of content that looks more like cartoon than anything else. Some completely lack features, and paint is way too bright and perfect.
A lot of the buildings are very poorly done, very low res.

While I can understand that some of this content works when viewed from a distance, I am building a route where I have mostly forest in the distance, so don't need the low-res content.

I am curious as to why Auran included so much of this low-res content with TS2010, since it can do so much better.
I do have some really detailed content that I like very much, and in 2010 it doesn't create much of a performance hit as did in TS2006-09.

I am sure that over time, more CC's will be creating content for TS2010 that will use all of its features.

What are your thoughts on this?

Have a happy holiday!

FW

It was probably built ten years ago when every pixel counted so texture were small. We probably need a list of reasonable looking scenery to do a proper clean up.

Cheerio John

 

[EdrickV]

Some interesting statistics:
According to CMP, out of 5106 built in building objects in TS2010, only 60 were built by Auran. Most of those with a "build version" of 2.0. Of those same 5106 buildings, 2202 have build versions under 2.0. Of course, that doesn't mean all those buildings don't look good. (The preview pic of TheOneBell Pub doesn't look bad and it dates back to 2003.)

 

[Approach_Medium]

What's the tool of choice if I were to build some content myself?
I played around a bit with GMax, but I understand that Trainz no longer supports it? Is there another freeware app to do the job better than GMax?
I would want something easy to learn, as I've got a string of other stuff I am trying to learn, including C++ and TrainzScript.

FW

 

[johnwhelan]

What's the tool of choice if I were to build some content myself?
I played around a bit with GMax, but I understand that Trainz no longer supports it? Is there another freeware app to do the job better than GMax?
I would want something easy to learn, as I've got a string of other stuff I am trying to learn, including C++ and TrainzScript.

FW

GMAX still works but Blender is a little easier. Note the word little, many people start trying to build content and give up.

If you are just building scenery objects then have a look here:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_Blender#Newcomers_start_here

If you want to take advantage of Normal mapping for TS2009/10 then lender is much easier than GMAX.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_incorporating_normalmaps_using_Blender_(TRS2009)

I always think textures are the most difficult bit of modeling. Photographs work very well if you have them available. Because TS2009/10 use DXT compression you can use textures four times the size and still get reasonable performance.

Cheerio John

 

[Approach_Medium]

GMAX still works but Blender is a little easier. Note the word little, many people start trying to build content and give up.

If you are just building scenery objects then have a look here:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_Blender#Newcomers_start_here

If you want to take advantage of Normal mapping for TS2009/10 then lender is much easier than GMAX.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_incorporating_normalmaps_using_Blender_(TRS2009)

I always think textures are the most difficult bit of modeling. Photographs work very well if you have them available. Because TS2009/10 use DXT compression you can use textures four times the size and still get reasonable performance.

Cheerio John

Thanks John.
I'll check out the links, and maybe try to get a free (trial, I guess) copy of Blender.
I think I already have Gmax, although it's no longer installed on my machine since I re-formatted the partitions when I installed Windows 7.

FW

 

[johnwhelan]

Thanks John.
I'll check out the links, and maybe try to get a free (trial, I guess) copy of Blender.
I think I already have Gmax, although it's no longer installed on my machine since I re-formatted the partitions when I installed Windows 7.

FW

Blender is open source so nothing to pay. The links are all in the wiki or you can go to blender.org directly.

Cheerio John