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Thoughts on the track system
I've been playing with the TORCS track editor recently trying to make a replica of Oulton Park. In a number of respects I think that TORCS has actually got this aspect of racing pretty much right. While the track editor doesn't expose all of the track possibilities yet (you have to put banking information in by hand) the track format does provide everything you need.<p>All track segments have start height and end height. Heights are interpolated (with splines I think), All track segments have a banking angle so you can have straights with banking (useful for ovals...).<p>All track segments have a left field surface (with width options), a left border surface (with width and height options for curbs), the track surface, a right border surface (width/height) and a right field surface (width). Barriers types and heights for the edges are also specified.<p>Curves appear to be elliptical arcs which gives plenty of scope for interesting corners. <p>TORCS takes all this info (in XML) and creates a terrain and track model using the trackgen utility. Terrain heights can be provided as well to allow extra control. The result is an AC3D file which can then be dressed up and tweaked. Objects can be applied from other models and shadows can be baked into the map using accc. <p>Now I know that the Vamos track format is spline-derived so it's not an instantaneous fit. However, it would be very cool if VDrift could at least use some of the TORCS track format for several reasons:<br> a) there are a reasonable number of TORCS tracks already available. <br> b) the TORCS track editor is fairly easy to use and a basic track can be raced on within 20 minutes of firing it up<br> c) if TORCS tracks and VDrift tracks share the same basic track data (even if the final result is a little different) both projects would benefit from the overlap.<p>While the VDrift approach of providing a height-map to control the track heights look really attractive at first, it's difficult to lay out a track with well cambered corners and good sight lines. This has made this game much harder to play. <p>Cheers,<br>Toby Haynes
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