Ello
This is my first time posting here, but I wanted to make an account to post a few of the tweaks I would like to see in Planet Coaster. I have not actually played the alpha yet, because my schedule is absolutely slammed, but I have been watching all the streams released by you guys at Frontier (Great work so far guys and gals [happy]) and I have also been watching a lot of the gameplay other consumers are sharing with fans of this upcoming title. So, don't worry about this post being about some over-scopped ridiculous feature that only a few people would want. I've done my research by watching the gameplay, and as student game developer (I go to DigiPen), I have some constructive feedback that should be beneficial.
Thus far, this game looks excellent, but I think a few improvements to the path building system could be beneficial. In particular, it would be great if players could adjust the path once it has been laid down instead of having to delete it and remake it. It might be quite difficult to design a system that handles such a specific task, but fear not. A system similar to the one I am thinking of has already been made before a few years ago in another game.
I will bring up videos of this specific feature, but the game that has done this "path modification" feature before is called Modnation Racers. Being big fans of creative type games, I am positive that most of you have heard of this game before, but for those of you that haven't, here's the high concept.
Modnation Racers is a next-gen kart racing game that allows players to construct their own characters, karts, and (my favorite part) tracks. Here are a few trailers for reference as well.
Official Trailer - [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M2m7JFylgA ]
Create a Track Trailer - [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyk3CC3vyyg ] << this one is more important.
Disregarding all the great features this game supplies, one of the best features this game gives to players is the system for tweaking the shape of their tracks. A pre-release version of the system can be seen at 0:27 of the "Create a Track Trailer." in the final release of the game, this feature was fully fleshed out and well done. Here's how it works.
Basically, there are two modes of track "tweaky tweaky [weird]", quick edit and advanced edit. Here's a video for reference so what I describe can be easily understood. https://youtu.be/VIcGmTeP_uw?t=1m50s (1:50 - 2:20) (Best video I could find [blah]).
Quick edit allows a player to modify one entire node on the track. They can make it wider, raise it, or change the modify the bank depending on the controls they press.
http://imgur.com/Iozb2HM Advanced edit is much more detailed. In this mode, a track node is split up into four different nodes; a left and right edge (1 / 2), and an outer left and right edge (3 / 4). With these four specific nodes, a player can select an individual one and proceed to change its height (z - pos) ( 5 ) or its horizontal position (x, y - pos) ( 6 ) depending on the modification mode they have selected. With these very basic editing tools, players can go nuts with the number of ways they can bank tracks, change width, height, etc. If you're interested, here are some of the tracks I made when I played this game. This is the system I used to shape the track just how I wanted it. Something I would spend hours doing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2cABk5Ee9c&list=PLL5S48DjKl8gH4aTeKXtavGVMp85bV4au (It's a playlist).
This advanced edit mode is exactly the kind of system that could really make Planet Coaster's path construction shine. Yes, many tweaks will need to be made to fit in with the systems that have already been constructed (I don't think we'll be seeing any path banking in Planet Coaster [shocked]), but just the basic outline of this system gives players a lot of freedom with their paths. It would give them the ability to change, not only the position and height, but the shape as well. I don't know about other players, but this is something I would love to see in a future build of Planet Coaster.
Welp, that's all I really wanted to say. Back to not procrastinating on other things. Once again, great work so far to everyone on the team. We can't wait to see more. glhf.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Make sure players can rotate items over a horizontal axis so the angle that lights are shining at can be changed. Ok, now I am done.
This is my first time posting here, but I wanted to make an account to post a few of the tweaks I would like to see in Planet Coaster. I have not actually played the alpha yet, because my schedule is absolutely slammed, but I have been watching all the streams released by you guys at Frontier (Great work so far guys and gals [happy]) and I have also been watching a lot of the gameplay other consumers are sharing with fans of this upcoming title. So, don't worry about this post being about some over-scopped ridiculous feature that only a few people would want. I've done my research by watching the gameplay, and as student game developer (I go to DigiPen), I have some constructive feedback that should be beneficial.
Thus far, this game looks excellent, but I think a few improvements to the path building system could be beneficial. In particular, it would be great if players could adjust the path once it has been laid down instead of having to delete it and remake it. It might be quite difficult to design a system that handles such a specific task, but fear not. A system similar to the one I am thinking of has already been made before a few years ago in another game.
I will bring up videos of this specific feature, but the game that has done this "path modification" feature before is called Modnation Racers. Being big fans of creative type games, I am positive that most of you have heard of this game before, but for those of you that haven't, here's the high concept.
Modnation Racers is a next-gen kart racing game that allows players to construct their own characters, karts, and (my favorite part) tracks. Here are a few trailers for reference as well.
Official Trailer - [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M2m7JFylgA ]
Create a Track Trailer - [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyk3CC3vyyg ] << this one is more important.
Disregarding all the great features this game supplies, one of the best features this game gives to players is the system for tweaking the shape of their tracks. A pre-release version of the system can be seen at 0:27 of the "Create a Track Trailer." in the final release of the game, this feature was fully fleshed out and well done. Here's how it works.
Basically, there are two modes of track "tweaky tweaky [weird]", quick edit and advanced edit. Here's a video for reference so what I describe can be easily understood. https://youtu.be/VIcGmTeP_uw?t=1m50s (1:50 - 2:20) (Best video I could find [blah]).
Quick edit allows a player to modify one entire node on the track. They can make it wider, raise it, or change the modify the bank depending on the controls they press.
http://imgur.com/Iozb2HM Advanced edit is much more detailed. In this mode, a track node is split up into four different nodes; a left and right edge (1 / 2), and an outer left and right edge (3 / 4). With these four specific nodes, a player can select an individual one and proceed to change its height (z - pos) ( 5 ) or its horizontal position (x, y - pos) ( 6 ) depending on the modification mode they have selected. With these very basic editing tools, players can go nuts with the number of ways they can bank tracks, change width, height, etc. If you're interested, here are some of the tracks I made when I played this game. This is the system I used to shape the track just how I wanted it. Something I would spend hours doing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2cABk5Ee9c&list=PLL5S48DjKl8gH4aTeKXtavGVMp85bV4au (It's a playlist).
This advanced edit mode is exactly the kind of system that could really make Planet Coaster's path construction shine. Yes, many tweaks will need to be made to fit in with the systems that have already been constructed (I don't think we'll be seeing any path banking in Planet Coaster [shocked]), but just the basic outline of this system gives players a lot of freedom with their paths. It would give them the ability to change, not only the position and height, but the shape as well. I don't know about other players, but this is something I would love to see in a future build of Planet Coaster.
Welp, that's all I really wanted to say. Back to not procrastinating on other things. Once again, great work so far to everyone on the team. We can't wait to see more. glhf.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Make sure players can rotate items over a horizontal axis so the angle that lights are shining at can be changed. Ok, now I am done.