Simulating Hills
by redbarndan · in Torque Game Builder · 07/07/2011 (6:10 pm) · 5 replies
I'm trying to create a rear view/trailing camera downhill car racing game and was wondering if anyone had any ideas on the best way to go about simulating the downhill race course.
I'm hoping to be able to create different slopes along with flat areas for the racers to drive on. I've seen these types of effects used in games such as Lotus or Outrun and this is exactly what I'm looking for. I've also purchased the TGB Kart Kit but I don't think hills can be achieved using the mode 7 effect.
I've read about some of the old school techniques such as line scrolling but I'm hoping TGB already has some type of support for this functionality. I'd like to add that I'm new to 2D games and TGB in particular.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I'm hoping to be able to create different slopes along with flat areas for the racers to drive on. I've seen these types of effects used in games such as Lotus or Outrun and this is exactly what I'm looking for. I've also purchased the TGB Kart Kit but I don't think hills can be achieved using the mode 7 effect.
I've read about some of the old school techniques such as line scrolling but I'm hoping TGB already has some type of support for this functionality. I'd like to add that I'm new to 2D games and TGB in particular.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
About the author
Red Barn Games is a small independent studio looking to make a variety of great games using Torque engine technology.
#2
Thanks for your suggestions. Just to make sure I'm following you, here's what I took out of your post.
Create an imageMap (or linked imageMaps) using the images of my course from the camera's perspective (this is going to be a lot of images).
Use script to change which image frame is displayed to simulate the view of the player traveling down the course, using triggers to speed up or slow down the velocity which in turn speeds up or slows down how quickly the frames are changed.
Does this sound about right?
07/08/2011 (5:18 pm)
Hi Rennie,Thanks for your suggestions. Just to make sure I'm following you, here's what I took out of your post.
Create an imageMap (or linked imageMaps) using the images of my course from the camera's perspective (this is going to be a lot of images).
Use script to change which image frame is displayed to simulate the view of the player traveling down the course, using triggers to speed up or slow down the velocity which in turn speeds up or slows down how quickly the frames are changed.
Does this sound about right?
#3
What I was suggesting was, thinking your camera was mounted to you player, so if you player moves from 0 0 to 0 300, the camera holds in perspective to him (you player). placed along that path underneath the player are images (or image) of the course (or that section of).
Does that make sense?
07/08/2011 (9:19 pm)
well, you can really do whatever works. My suggestion again, without knowing the size of the course and the demands it could place on the engine, but seeing this is for a desktop and not a mobile platform I think there is a lot of room for grace. What I was suggesting was, thinking your camera was mounted to you player, so if you player moves from 0 0 to 0 300, the camera holds in perspective to him (you player). placed along that path underneath the player are images (or image) of the course (or that section of).
Does that make sense?
#4
07/09/2011 (5:17 pm)
Thanks Rennie, your comments have given me some inspiration and helped me see things in a new perspective. I've got a few different things I'll be trying out. 
Torque Owner rennie moffat
Renman3000
draw your course, continually from the camera perspective. import it (or it's broken up sections) into the editor. Place the imageMap(s) of the course into the editor, set up triggers that will speed your players velocity up at downhill parts, and slow it down at flat parts. Also, put in walls, objects that will send collisions on curves so that you get the desired effect when you player goes off course.