TrackTale - This tool does not exist

[dreadnaut]

While Bliss has made working with tracks much easier, I still find mouse-driven editors slow when I'm designing a track a want to experiment rapidly.

I thought it'd be nice to have a simple language and a program that can convert it to a track on the fly, taking car of the boring bits such as adding the opening and closing bits of an highway or a banked road. The right next tile can often be inferred from context: a tunnel after a banked corner needs a ramp down first.

The syntax would look something like this:

Code Select Expand

start [ asphalt | dirt | ice ] < north | west | south | east >

[ n ] [ asphalt | dirt | ice ] [ straight | wide ( right | left ) ]

[ n ] banked [ corner ] < left | right >

[ n ] chicane < left | right >

[ n ] loop | cork [up] | slalom | tunnel | highway

And a snippet of track would look like this:

Code Select Expand

start west
3 straight
corner right
banked corner left
straight
jump
wide jump
cork up
tunnel

banked corner left would generate a banked ramp to the left, and a banked corner. Then comes straight, which means the program adds a banked ramp down, and a straight piece of asphalt. jump creates a ramp up and one down, wide jump does the same with an empty tile in the middle. cork up add a spiral ramp, and the following tunnel brings us back at ground level with a ramp down, and adds a tunnel. Etc, etc.

Make a change in the middle (e.g. add a stright) and the program would regenerate the track moving the necessary tiles.

I imagine a two pane editor, with the text area on the left, and the generated track on the right. When you are happy you can save the track, move to Bliss or another editor, and fill in the rest of the details.

Leaving it here for posterity, 'cause I'll never find the time to write it 🤷

[Matei]

This is actually what I did here:

https://matei.one/idxscr.html#download - see file simcar-6.1.2.tar.gz:

Look in the file "README" from directory "other/newtrax" for details about making new tracks. It's easier than with any track editor of any other game.

A track will be generated, based on an input file. For instance, "trk", which is the output of "./sktrk", can be used as the input file for "./gentr2", which will then generate an output file. The input file should be edited according to the elements listed below. Elements "5"..."13" and "27"..."32" can be used instead of "0" and the rest of them should be used according to the table below. When the output file is finished, edit it [etc.]

[dreadnaut]

This is actually what I did here:

Neat, looking forward to a version that creates Stunts tracks!

[Matei]

Why create Stunts tracks? There are already over 1000 available. Also, if the tracks generated with my programs don't work in Stunts then the problem is with Stunts, because tracks from Stunts do work in my game (+ a few tracks from TORCS).

[dreadnaut]

Why should I play your game though? I have no emotional connection with it, it doesn't make me happy, so it's no fun 🤔

[Matei]

Your "emotional connection" idea is rather ambiguous i.e. I didn't understand anything from it. Maybe for songs...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QojTmmJiICQ

Not a diamond,
not a flame,
not a knight with a shining name.
Not a hero,
not a light,
just a shadow in fight.
[etc.]

Just found this today - music created with "advanced technology" including "A.I.". Chaison Hale's voice sounds like Greyson Chance's, probably coincidence. Yes, I know you don't like music:

 https://forum.stunts.hu/index.php?topic=2479.1980