Curves
by Taylor Wiebe · in Constructor · 12/02/2007 (2:20 pm) · 9 replies
I am working on a racing game and I am creating an oval race track but when I add the curves at the end I come across a few problems, 1 there not really that smooth and 2 it crashes torque when I put the track into it. Is there an easy way to make curves?
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#2
12/05/2007 (10:25 am)
I'm assuming you're banking the curves like a real race track? If so, you can't make it look "smooth" because the DIF format only supports flat shading (there are no normals). If anyone knows the DIF format better, please correct me. 
#3
12/05/2007 (11:04 am)
Constructor does allow you to smooth the normals as announced in Matt's Constructor Beta 2 blog. You can set this smoothing threshold in constructor via the export preferences.
#4
12/05/2007 (12:09 pm)
Hmmm, I've never seen smooth shading in Constructor, neither in shaded nor mapped mode (though, I do remember that blog now, thanks James). Even with the pref set to 1.0, nothing is smoothed...
#5
12/05/2007 (1:50 pm)
Well to make the curves I took the arch tool and then fliped the arch on its side and lined it up with the road and moved the it around to make the curve. I wll try that smoothing thing, see if it works. I will also post a screenshot in a bit.
#6
What if I was to import seprate peices of the curve road I have, when exporting will those imported dts's be just like the dif? With full lighting etc.
12/07/2007 (7:46 pm)
I'm trying to achieve curves for my road, but the arch tool just isn't working for it, it won't give me the sort of curve I need, how else can I make curves or bends in my road? I tried importing static meshes of an alread made curve/bend, but then I cannot re-texture it.What if I was to import seprate peices of the curve road I have, when exporting will those imported dts's be just like the dif? With full lighting etc.
#7
12/07/2007 (8:52 pm)
I'd be glad to help you, but it would really help if I knew exactly what you are doing. If you intend to make a banked curve like a common circular race track that could take some work using dif. For a quick start I would suggest making the race track surface out of terrain and framing it with diff's.
#8
as you can see right where the turn starts there are bumps in the mesh.
Also I hope this helps you visualize how I used the arch tool, I fliped the arch on its side and then made the whole thing curve.
What I may try doing next is making the curve in parts, just slightly angled slivers that, when put together will result in a curve.
12/09/2007 (7:42 pm)
Here is a screenshot of what I was working on with my curve, however it crashes the game engine when I import it. I believe that difs are probably going to be the best way to make curves, because with this the curves turn out rough.as you can see right where the turn starts there are bumps in the mesh.Also I hope this helps you visualize how I used the arch tool, I fliped the arch on its side and then made the whole thing curve.
What I may try doing next is making the curve in parts, just slightly angled slivers that, when put together will result in a curve.
#9
www.geocities.com/rmounts79/curve.zip
12/13/2007 (1:45 pm)
I'm not sure why that would crash the engine... but I made a curve like that in 3dsmax, where you have much more control over how the final curve looks. I've been using DeleD 3D to convert to a map file, then exporting to dif from Constructor. I chopped the curved part into triangles so I could get the curvature I wanted without DeleD or Constructor having to cut non-convex brushes, because they cut it in the wrong place and make it bumpy (see all your red lines... Constructor will have to cut those brushes to deal with those nonplanar polys). Mine worked fine in-game, collisions and all. Here's the obj file and map file, if you wanna look at them.www.geocities.com/rmounts79/curve.zip
Torque Owner James Dunlap