DRIVE: An Advanced Vehicles Kit

Over the last 3 years I have slowly been working on improving the realism of Torque3D vehicles.

Finaly a kit is ready that will transform all the vehicle classes into what is expected from them.

I am not a good blog writer, but here goes, a run down of what to expect:

//////////////// WHAT IS THIS KIT ALL ABOUT? ////////////////

This kit replaces all the stock Torque vehicles with more realistic and advanced vehicles.

It also adds some new vehicle classes and types (helicopters, boats, motorcycles, legged vehicles).

for each type of vehicle there are default stock physics and bullet physics options (PhysX versions will be released in the next version release. there will NEVER be a charge for updates).

both types can be used in the same level at the same time, and they interact with each other.


//////////////// OK, SO WHAT IS NEW WITH THE VEHICLES? ////////////////

wheeled Vehicles and motorcycles:
1; mouse freeLook and keyboard steering.
2; tire track decals.
3; levels of damage and destruction.
4; driver model and animations (steering, gear-shifting).
5; gearboxes, manual or automatic.
5; full working dashboards(speedometers, rev-counters, selected gear).
6; rear view mirrors.

flying Vehicles and helicopters:
1; full keyboard steering.
2; taxiing (landing and taking off).
3; pilot model and animations (canopy open/close, landing-gear up/down, ailerons, elevators, rudder, pilot joystick steering, propellors).
4; ejection seats.
5; full working heads up displays(hud's) on the models(pitch ladder, artificial horizon).

boats:
1; animated controls(steering, propellors).

legged Vehicles:
1; fully animated animals and characters (drivers).


//////////////// OK, SO WHAT IS THERE IN THE KIT? ////////////////

13 new vehicle models:

1; 6 wheeledVehicle models (monster truck, Chrysler 300, "Deuce" 6 wheeled military truck, Willy's Jeep, Opel Sportster, topFeul dragster).

2; 1 motorcycle model (Ducati 996).

3; 1 flying Vehicle model (F16).

4; 1 boat model (rubber duck inflatable).

5; 1 helicopter model (huey).

6; 3 legged vehicle models (ox cart, sedan chair, chariot).


//////////////// OK, SO WHAT ELSE IS THERE? ////////////////

1; AI for the wheeled vehicles (ideal for a racing game).

2; player AI that can mount and drive wheeled vehicles.

3; 3 new player models (sports car driver, military driver, pilot)

4; 2 new playable levels.

5; player ragdoll/puppet system, the player goes ragdoll and recovers, when injured, or thrown from an open vehicle. this is built into the player class.

6; a player selection menu in the mainMenu gui, you can select your player and weaponry, before you start your level, you can also select a team to belong to, if in a racing game.

7; a basic racing game start up, countDown timer, lap counter.

and the cost for this kit? $50.

to finish, here are a few videos of these new vehicles in action:


physics vehicles AI


motorcycle


dragster


leggedVehicle


functional dashboards


physics flyingVehicles


physics waterCraft