FreeGameDev

I don't know if this was already suggested but what's about traffic lights instead of the "1, 2, 3, ..." at the beginning of a race?

If you are interessted you can use these ones:



or


Looks like the upload messed them up. If you wan't I can uplaod an archiv including the xcf file.

Currently the game starts with "Ready" "Set" "Go"
See this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yu5jqLV-Uk (the sounds are altered in it though)

qubodup {l Wrote}:Currently the game starts with "Ready" "Set" "Go"
See this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yu5jqLV-Uk (the sounds are altered in it though)

Are you testing sounds, is that why the 0.7.2 "Bing - Bing - Bong" sfx now sounds like a tolling bell?

Anyway, I think traffic lights is a great idea - it sets us apart from all the other racing games using 3,2,1 or Ready,Steady,Go.

Simple visual cues and cute, novel graphics are always appealing to me. Goes with the theme here too.
I'm all for this idea

Interesting idea, though I think I would rather go with 3D floating models...

I like the idea.

Funto {l Wrote}:Interesting idea, though I think I would rather go with 3D floating models...

Hmm - difficult question: if we make it a floating 3d model, we have to make sure that all karts can see it properly (think of split screen, one player starting at position 1, another one at position 20). Or we have one 3d model for each kart. As a simple 2d overlay we can just put it in the middle of the screen, so it can be seen by all players.

Cheers,
Joerg

Ah and the idea in itself is not really original, that's done for example in Mario Kart : http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/6/62 ... _super.jpg

How about something less from the adult world of cars and something kids can easily relate to as well.

Ready, steady, go!

Get, set, *bang* (start pistol being fired)

Funto {l Wrote}:Ah and the idea in itself is not really original, that's done for example in Mario Kart : http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/6/62 ... _super.jpg

It's actually very clear that that's not what we are doing. Are we putting "3, 2, 1, GO!"? No. We're using a traffic light.

charlie {l Wrote}:How about something less from the adult world of cars and something kids can easily relate to as well.
Ready, steady, go!
Get, set, *bang* (start pistol being fired)

There is countless games with that sort of "Ready Steady Go". There is no racing game I can think of that uses a conventional traffic light for it's countdown.
And you really can't be serious - kids can easily relate to this - unless they're infants, and if they are, they shouldn't be near a computer.
I do support the Pistolshot idea though.

I would make it 2D - and have it drop down on a line from the top of the screen, and shoot back up again. You'd have no visibility problems with that.

-Iridium

Iridium: There IS a traffic light in Funto's screenshot...

The problem is that everything may be already used by another racing game. To be honest I don't mind if it is present elsewhere. I think we should use what fits best in this game and what we like.

Maybe we should make a vote?
- Traffic light
- 3, 2, 1, Go!
- Ready, Set, Go!
- Ready, Steady, Go!
- Get, Set, *bang*
I hope I have nothing fogotten.

I would only add an exclamation mark to the "Go" to set an accent.

My favourites are the traffic light and "Ready, Set, Go!".

What do you think?

No, no votes. Open source is meritocracy. An idea needs time and implementers. Not a vote. I have faith that somebody will produce something appropriate by experimenting with a few concepts - or even just their favourite concept - and producing something good. That does not need a vote, it needs a volunteer. Like you!

Charlie {l Wrote}:How about something less from the adult world of cars and something kids can easily relate to as well.

Ready, steady, go!

Get, set, *bang* (start pistol being fired)

+1

What about an animated character that agitate flags at the center of the road, like for F1 races?

A character is nice but someone has to do it. I am not to good in rigging and animating a character. Someone who is willing to do this? And of course I would combine the character with the on-screen text. Maybe the text can increase slightly the size while be displayed on screen? What do you think of this idea?

fraang {l Wrote}:A character is nice but someone has to do it. I am not to good in rigging and animating a character. Someone who is willing to do this? And of course I would combine the character with the on-screen text. Maybe the text can increase slightly the size while be displayed on screen? What do you think of this idea?

A 3d model would have to fly, since some tracks might not have enough space to place a 3d model on the side of the road (think of subsea track).

Looking at Mario Kart Wii (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xISC5Y4pudY at around 0:42) they use a flying 3d model, and apparently only for the kart that it is meant to be (you can't see the character for the other kart) - which is easy enough to do. So any takers? Thunderbird might be a good model And it could actually carry the 'horizontal' traffic-light-like thing.

Otherwise I think a 2d image would be fine as well, but it should be a horizontal image, not a vertical traffic light (imho).

Cheers,
Joerg

How about a character with a gun that shoots, and another flying character goes out from the gun and shows the sign ?? (joke inside)

More seriously :

hiker {l Wrote}:Thunderbird might be a good model

I agree. Maybe songbird also ^^ I think we should take a mascot which is not likely to be used as a kart character (those two are hard to place in a kart ^^ ).

hiker {l Wrote}:Otherwise I think a 2d image would be fine as well, but it should be a horizontal image, not a vertical traffic light (imho).

I agree too.

hiker {l Wrote}:So any takers? Thunderbird might be a good model And it could actually carry the 'horizontal' traffic-light-like thing.

If asked so kindly
Here is my try at making one:





I don't really like the "Ready-set-go" part as is, I thought of something that would turn on itself and show the messages (like "Ready" -> turns, you see the backside: "Set" -> turn again, but then the front-side has changed for "Go!!!").

But anyway a traffic light should be better I think.
I'm wondering what kind of "roleplay" we could add to the letter/mail thing, like having the messages going down from the enveloppe, which would open?

Hi Funto,

nice model but a problem with your ready/set/go is that it's "hardcoded" in english, whereas STK is a translatable game. A traffic light would have the advantage to work in any language

Thanks ^^.

Yes, I'm not really happy with that "ready-set-go" anyway, a traffic light would sure be better, I'm just not sure how we can animate it (changing the texture, probably?)

Funto {l Wrote}:Yes, I'm not really happy with that "ready-set-go" anyway, a traffic light would sure be better, I'm just not sure how we can animate it (changing the texture, probably?)

Nice. And yes, we could change the textures. While we could of course render the text to texture (and therefore allow translations), I would also prefer a non-textual solution (translations might be too long, e.g. "ready" is "Auf die Plaetze" in German).

Cheers,
Joerg

Can be coloured ?

Ready
Set
Go

Now with a red light.
I made the textures for green and orange as well, no need to take a screenshot of those ^^



I think the texture and texture mapping of the bird could and should be improved, but I'm a bit lazy those times

I was thinking of a lightning going out from the bird to the ground when the race starts, and some sort of sound of falcon around that time

Hi, ...

What do you think about a = ProgressBar.

What about = sky change color.

What about = a car at the beginning, like in daytona 500 and/or nascar.

What about = Shaking Screen.

What about = blur screen to 100% clear screen.

What about = Shake Joystick.

My opinion about these ideas :

ProgressBar : why not, if it's well done it could be cool. Maybe a circular progressbar, with 3 different fills, 1 red, one orange, one green...

Sky change color : there is not a real interest for this on a race start to me... maybe keep this effect for another event (e.g. explosion ?)

a car at the beginning, like in daytona 500 and/or nascar : same problem than the one hiker told : not enough space on some tracks.

Shaking screen, blur screen : same than sky change color I think.

For the Joytick, why not ^^

Kinsu {l Wrote}:My opinion about these ideas :ProgressBar : why not, if it's well done it could be cool. Maybe a circular progressbar, with 3 different fills, 1 red, one orange, one green...

I like this idea!