We have to start all over again

[BNSF5767]

Since there will no be any of the same files used for modeling, we'll have to start all over Is there any way you can release some utilites so we could at least get started in the near year?

[nikos1]

Thats a good thing, who wants to see all those models built under the restraints of a 8 year old game in a all new sim.

[marcus92]

actualy i can agree to some part with that, compared to the modles in the new game the old modles will look realy low poly, i think i will be nice to see locomotives with the same standar as what we have allready seen and maybe even a higher standar, but i realy do hope they do give you a guide who to add the man in the cab

[burgerbern]

Cannot agree with that, there are a lot of very high quality models and paintjobs that have surfaced in the last year whose finish are as good as any of the previews we have seen, i am looking forward to MSTSX but would be nice if some of my real favourite high quality engines and wagons could somehow find there way over to the new sim,

[marcus92]

yeah i didnt say ther wasnt high quality locos and paintjobs for msts, i only saide that compared to the built in stock in MSTS2 it wouldnt look as highquality as it did in the first version. that does not mean ther ISNT good locomotives for the simulator.

[rdamurphy]

Keep in mind, that NOBODY's said that I CAN'T import my tank cars into MSTS-X. And the RS guys even said it was possible, and gave me some encouragement, that I can import them into RailSim. I already know I can import them into Trainz.

A 3d model in Windows, for a DirectX game uses - get this - the DirectX format. This is why ShapeViewer is possible, it simply taps into the DirectX API.

The problem comes with whether or not the 3D modelling software supports the game format or not, as far as naming conventions, required textures, and, of course, heirarchies.

In actuallity, Autodesk 3D Max supports everything out there, and it's what all the Pros use. If you can get it into 3D Max format, you can get it into the game. That, my friends, is the trick! We'll have to wait and see what the new game brings, and they may yet decide to do a GMAX gamepack - or it may not be possible under the circumstances. Autodesk may bend to demand and sell an "amatuer version" of 3D Max (not likely) or someone (3D Canvas?) may make a converter that will import a GMAX file, and export it into the other games. (Already been done...)

Robert

[USRailFan]

Keep in mind, that NOBODY's said that I CAN'T import my tank cars into MSTS-X. And the RS guys even said it was possible, and gave me some encouragement, that I can import them into RailSim. I already know I can import them into Trainz.

AFAIK several people have already successfully converted both MSTS and Trainz models into RailSim.

[rdamurphy]

And, quite frankly, the HARD part is learning to 3d model. Learning how to 3d model in a different application isn't that difficult. I can switch back and forth between TSM and GMAX pretty easily, and I'm going to go ahead and give the free version of 3d Canvas a try, to see how it works for me. They seem to be very interested in supporting whatever people want, and highly motiviated towards putting out a quality product. I just don't want to fork out another 70 bucks to get an upgrade when MSTS-X comes out...

Robert

[Vince]

Modeling IS hard . . . But quite easy with SketchUp

And, quite frankly, the HARD part is learning to 3d model. ...
Robert

Agreed!
I started with GMAX and being quite the dummy where it comes to this type of software, failed miserably.
It wasn't until the first really smart 3D modeling software came along, GoogleSketchUp, that I was able to do some simple modeling. Smart? Look through their code; It has a module in there called an Inference Engine. I guess it tries to 'Infer' what the modeler is trying to do, and provides helpful suggestions. For example; drawing exactly parallel lines.
With SketchUp, it was very easy to get started, after completly running through all the Google provided tutorials

And I think it's already been mentioned by the Team that you will be able to convert what you have created for MSTS1 to TS2.
So just as Paul wrote an exporter for Google SketchUp to MSTS shape ( .s) files, I'm sure new utilities will be written in due time.

[rdg7600]

While we will need to start over, I think the previous knowledge gained from other simulators before it (MSTS 1, TRS, RS) While I don't model or paint anything I don't think it's going to be the end of the world.
Also, if your worried about something like this, keep using MSTS 1 until they can build up the MSTS 2 addons. I don't think I'm going to buy MSTS 2 out of the box so I'll be happy using MSTS 1 until the time comes that I find an MSTS 2 at when I want it.

[Vince]

While we will need to start over, ..........

That's not true Cody. It's already been discussed that there will be exporters for the various 3D modeling programs to the TS2 format. Thats not 'starting over' as the model already exists and only needs to be exported to TS2 format
And that's a very looong way from completely building a model, in fact, comparing building the model with exporting the model to the Sim, the export is a trivial thing.

Example; It may take me from about 1 to 24 man hours to BUILD a model, starting from scratch so to speak.
To export that model to MSTS format takes about a minute. using a free utility available in the F/L.

I'm sure utilities to export my models will be written and will be just as easy to use as the ones I use presently. And I will happily pay for them if asked to.

[landnrailroader]

Conversion MSTS-1 to "X"

I am somewhat concerned about this "world of rails" gimmick that is touted a lot. As for me, I prefer to sim. lines that have been abandoned, some as far back as 1885 or so and often it is possible to generate marker files for those routes from aerial imagery using UsaPhotomaps or some such.

So far, nothing has been said about whether one can model a route that is outside the corriders that "X" includes in its world of rails. At the moment, I am working with the Milwaukee Road, Coast Div. in Washington state. Fine, the NP which is more or less parallel exists and so w-of-r might reasonably contain that and all I have to do is improve on it.

Then in one area they mention the powerful tools that will come with "X" and then in another mention a SDK as if it would be a seperate item. I am not convinced that this is
the end-all product yet, and I have recently loaded the second improvement to KUJU and will take another look there as well. KUJU has only a very few really serious flaws in my
opinion.
1. - inability to use specific frog angles, preferably selected by frog number
2. - inability to locate track at a specific elevation above sea level
3. - difficulty in setting specific gradients.

I wonder if these issues, which were essentially solved either by Microsoft on others in MSTS-1, will be included in "X".

J. H. Sullivan
(landnrailroader)

[landnrailroader]

Exporting Utilities

This issue has been hashed over quite a bit. I believe the idea behind most of the export utilities is that the utility would export a model, if one had the original source files for it. This would mean that one would most likely, only be able to export one's own work, thus
eliminating any actual or implied copyright issues.

FlightSim has either included, or has later provided, exporters for earlier version of FS
models, and I can recall very easily exporting FS-5 models to FS-9 for example. In those
cases, the exportation was on the actual FS file and not the source file.

J. H. Sullivan
(landnrailroader)

[rdg7600]

That's not true Cody. It's already been discussed that there will be exporters for the various 3D modeling programs to the TS2 format. Thats not 'starting over' as the model already exists and only needs to be exported to TS2 format
And that's a very looong way from completely building a model, in fact, comparing building the model with exporting the model to the Sim, the export is a trivial thing.

Example; It may take me from about 1 to 24 man hours to BUILD a model, starting from scratch so to speak.
To export that model to MSTS format takes about a minute. using a free utility available in the F/L.

I'm sure utilities to export my models will be written and will be just as easy to use as the ones I use presently. And I will happily pay for them if asked to.

I must say I'm very happy about being wrong this time. Happy to see that not all is lost in this. I must say I still feel like a newbie even though I've been doing this for over a year. I think I got caught up in the thread title and not the facts in the posts. Next time I'll read deeper before posting. Thanks Vince, I owe you about three now.

[BNSF5767]

I agree

I am somewhat concerned about this "world of rails" gimmick that is touted a lot. As for me, I prefer to sim. lines that have been abandoned, some as far back as 1885 or so and often it is possible to generate marker files for those routes from aerial imagery using UsaPhotomaps or some such.

So far, nothing has been said about whether one can model a route that is outside the corriders that "X" includes in its world of rails. At the moment, I am working with the Milwaukee Road, Coast Div. in Washington state. Fine, the NP which is more or less parallel exists and so w-of-r might reasonably contain that and all I have to do is improve on it.

Then in one area they mention the powerful tools that will come with "X" and then in another mention a SDK as if it would be a seperate item. I am not convinced that this is
the end-all product yet, and I have recently loaded the second improvement to KUJU and will take another look there as well. KUJU has only a very few really serious flaws in my
opinion.
1. - inability to use specific frog angles, preferably selected by frog number
2. - inability to locate track at a specific elevation above sea level
3. - difficulty in setting specific gradients.

I wonder if these issues, which were essentially solved either by Microsoft on others in MSTS-1, will be included in "X".

J. H. Sullivan
(landnrailroader)

See here in my city we have stockyards that would once the main hub of the city with rr tracks and all, these days it's a ghost town in the stockyards except for some businesses and Triumph Foods