As much as I love the display sequencer, it's an absolute mess when you have over 50 action groups containing upwards of 20 parts and 40 actions each, ie moving lights that change colors and turn on and off require at least 6 actions each, times 10 lights it gets hectic. Is there any chance we'll see a different way of timing our shows in the future?
Timeline-Based Display Sequence Option
- Thread starter ObamaCare
- Start date
I totally agree a timeline editor would be so much more user friendly. I refuse to use the display sequencer at all in my parks because it is so tedious to use.
When playing challenge parks and a challenge pops up to make a firework display I just feel angry that they expect me to fight with a list of delay timers. It is really hard to keep track of what is going on and frankly I haven't got time for that. A game is supposed to be fun and entertaining, using the display sequencer is the furthest thing from this.
How hard can it be to make the process drag and drop onto a timeline? Computers are great at working out maths and calculating time differences, me, not so much, when potentially hundreds of elements are involved.
If I need to delay everything in the sequence buy any amount of time it involves changing every single value in the sequence. If it was on a time line I could highlight the elements that need adjusting and drag them all to the desired position in one step. Instead I need to keep a bunch of separate times in my head and work out I need to increment every delay time in the list by 0.3 seconds to make the timing perfect, only to find 0.2 seconds would work better and have to change it all over again.
The timeline in RCT3 wasn't great, but it was a heck of a lot more fun to use than what planet coaster has to offer.
It seems quite clear to me that most people hate the current system judging by the lack of firework displays created by the community. There are only 41 threads for triggered sequences when the other categories have hundreds of threads. I am not bashing those creations, I admire the amount effort involved in making a good looking display using the current system, It just highlights my point that people seem to frustrated with the sequencer to even bother using it.
When playing challenge parks and a challenge pops up to make a firework display I just feel angry that they expect me to fight with a list of delay timers. It is really hard to keep track of what is going on and frankly I haven't got time for that. A game is supposed to be fun and entertaining, using the display sequencer is the furthest thing from this.
How hard can it be to make the process drag and drop onto a timeline? Computers are great at working out maths and calculating time differences, me, not so much, when potentially hundreds of elements are involved.
If I need to delay everything in the sequence buy any amount of time it involves changing every single value in the sequence. If it was on a time line I could highlight the elements that need adjusting and drag them all to the desired position in one step. Instead I need to keep a bunch of separate times in my head and work out I need to increment every delay time in the list by 0.3 seconds to make the timing perfect, only to find 0.2 seconds would work better and have to change it all over again.
The timeline in RCT3 wasn't great, but it was a heck of a lot more fun to use than what planet coaster has to offer.
It seems quite clear to me that most people hate the current system judging by the lack of firework displays created by the community. There are only 41 threads for triggered sequences when the other categories have hundreds of threads. I am not bashing those creations, I admire the amount effort involved in making a good looking display using the current system, It just highlights my point that people seem to frustrated with the sequencer to even bother using it.
Omg i hate the display sequencer. I have built 3 shows in it and each of them has been a total mess to create. I really wish there was a timeline. It would be much easier for timing the fireworks to the music[ugh]. What i hate too is that you need to change the number for every single element/light/firework. How dumb is that[mad]. That's hours of just changing some numbers. Why not let me change a number of elements at a time[downcast]. Come on Frontier plssss. Fix the display sequencer[cry]. I want to finally be able to make my disney firework shows properly.[sour]
I partly agree with this. I think I used the display sequencers to the max. with Planconia Festival (https://forums.planetcoaster.com/showthread.php/29358-Planconia-Festival-Mainstage)
A timeline based system would definitely be a better system as the sequencer-system as it is now. But I think with some changes to the current system, it can be very powerful!
These are the main problems I have:
When I want to change color of a set of lights for example, I have to set the color change for each light. It would be a huge improvement when you could group the lights and set a color change for the complete group. The same goes for activating/deactivating, playing, etc.
I don't know if it is a bug or not, but when changing the trigger effect of a trigger-able item, it goes back up to the first item. With a long list of items I have to scroll back down every time I change a trigger effect. And find the next item to change.
There are parts in my show, where I have to change color of a long list of lights. I have to set the color change for each light, scroll down and search where I was left off after every change. When I want a few color changes after each other, it can be an hour work for a few seconds in the show.
I also don't like the limitation of 50 display groups per sequencer. With my show I have hundreds of display groups. I have to separate the complete show into more display sequencers. The first sequencer starts the music, and the first part of the show. The last display group (number 50) activates a display sequencer with the second part of the show, etc. But when I want to check something, I have to watch the show from start. Otherwise I don't have music.
When adding items to a display group, the order of them is messed up. It would be much easier, when the order is exactly how you added them.
Screens don't turn off when stopping the sequence. I have to manually turn off each screen every time I want to stop the sequence to change something.
Triggers to an item are not 100% synced. When I have for example 10 lights and turn them on at the exact same time, they don't turn on synced. (it's a small difference, but still...)
Some triggers are skipped. This is random. When I play the show a few times, there always are some effect skipped here and there.
When I have a set of items and a display sequencer who triggers the items in some way, I can't copy this. Even when it is in a building. The copied display sequencer refers to the first items. I have to save it as a blueprint and load it again.
With some trigger-able items It isn't possible to activate them, and keep them running. For example a mill. When you trigger it with play , it plays it's animation once and stops.
Moving heads are a real pain in the ass! When moving them to place, they play their animation. It is hard to place them in the directions I want. I tried it with the game on pause. But then every moving head is at another place in their animation.
It would be great when more items are trigger-able. Like the police lights and the fairy lights.
In summery: Because of the above problems/limitations (and likely some others I did forget), it takes WAY to much time to create a descent show. I really hope this system will be improved some time, because I believe in it's potential!
A timeline based system would definitely be a better system as the sequencer-system as it is now. But I think with some changes to the current system, it can be very powerful!
These are the main problems I have:
When I want to change color of a set of lights for example, I have to set the color change for each light. It would be a huge improvement when you could group the lights and set a color change for the complete group. The same goes for activating/deactivating, playing, etc.
I don't know if it is a bug or not, but when changing the trigger effect of a trigger-able item, it goes back up to the first item. With a long list of items I have to scroll back down every time I change a trigger effect. And find the next item to change.
There are parts in my show, where I have to change color of a long list of lights. I have to set the color change for each light, scroll down and search where I was left off after every change. When I want a few color changes after each other, it can be an hour work for a few seconds in the show.
I also don't like the limitation of 50 display groups per sequencer. With my show I have hundreds of display groups. I have to separate the complete show into more display sequencers. The first sequencer starts the music, and the first part of the show. The last display group (number 50) activates a display sequencer with the second part of the show, etc. But when I want to check something, I have to watch the show from start. Otherwise I don't have music.
When adding items to a display group, the order of them is messed up. It would be much easier, when the order is exactly how you added them.
Screens don't turn off when stopping the sequence. I have to manually turn off each screen every time I want to stop the sequence to change something.
Triggers to an item are not 100% synced. When I have for example 10 lights and turn them on at the exact same time, they don't turn on synced. (it's a small difference, but still...)
Some triggers are skipped. This is random. When I play the show a few times, there always are some effect skipped here and there.
When I have a set of items and a display sequencer who triggers the items in some way, I can't copy this. Even when it is in a building. The copied display sequencer refers to the first items. I have to save it as a blueprint and load it again.
With some trigger-able items It isn't possible to activate them, and keep them running. For example a mill. When you trigger it with play , it plays it's animation once and stops.
Moving heads are a real pain in the ass! When moving them to place, they play their animation. It is hard to place them in the directions I want. I tried it with the game on pause. But then every moving head is at another place in their animation.
It would be great when more items are trigger-able. Like the police lights and the fairy lights.
In summery: Because of the above problems/limitations (and likely some others I did forget), it takes WAY to much time to create a descent show. I really hope this system will be improved some time, because I believe in it's potential!
Wow this thread really blew up while I was away
But to echo what Zyned said, I also am having issues with the system as it exists. If I have 10 lights change colors at the same time, they don't, usually one is delayed. and the limitations kinda seem arbitrary, like the 50 groups max/sequencer.
But to echo what Zyned said, I also am having issues with the system as it exists. If I have 10 lights change colors at the same time, they don't, usually one is delayed. and the limitations kinda seem arbitrary, like the 50 groups max/sequencer.