Race Remaster

[Sven Hielscher]

If we replace all text with images, we could avoid this kind of issues. Of course more graphics may slow down everything...
Or we use few graphic and fake buttons (like with html image maps)...

 

[AndreasFSC]

I think I have found the solution now, and it is quite simple as you thought. there are borders and things like width hidden with alpha0 in the images

 

[Sven Hielscher]

Nice!

 

[AndreasFSC]

 

[MJQT]

Loving the new logo from Incredible Hulk, and the way the UI and fonts and so on are all shaping up from Sven and Andreas. Keep it up! Looking forward to seeing how this develops.

 

[AndreasFSC]

Testing things, but should probably not spend too much time on menus now.
Very much WIP for the moment.

 

[AndreasFSC]

I plan to do some basic menu overhaul, then I'll let Sven take over and decide if there should be more of the rounded big button design, improved textures, icons and things like that.

 

[AndreasFSC]

Should I add the (hacky) fix from ST UI that displays championship name instead of just "championship"?
Car logo in ingame menus?
Custom race win screen with manufacturer logo (but not car this time)?
etc etc...

 

[AndreasFSC]

Added championship name in menus, some tweaks still needed. I plan to spend about one more week on UI, then back to shaders (just a little bit left to update probably), tracks (a few pop in objects) and car setups maybe.

 

[Kenny Paton]

Now you know I don't really bother much with graphics,UI, etc. but this really looks so good. Amazing what yourself and the other contributors have achieved in so many parts of the game.
I doff my cap to you all.

 

[MJQT]

This is all looking fantastic. I doff my cap as well.

Should I add the (hacky) fix from ST UI that displays championship name instead of just "championship"?
Car logo in ingame menus?
Custom race win screen with manufacturer logo (but not car this time)?
etc etc...

I think I'd be better able to say in response to specific questions you have. Partially cause I'm not certain what's possible. For instance, I like the championship name displayed, but wouldn't have known that was possible. So ask away with other ideas you're wondering about!

 

[AndreasFSC]

I got an idea to change game mode at the track selection page. Don't know how to design it yet but it works.

 

[MJQT]

I like this idea. Maybe you get to this screen by clicking "Drive" in the main menu, or something like that? Regardless, something like this seems much more intuitive than the default RACE 07 menu navigation.

 

[AndreasFSC]

Sven designed one "button" for all quick race modes, so I made it link to the race event.
I thought it would be one click too many to have a game mode selection after that, so I tried this solution.
But still don't know how the buttons should look. I would like to have a "spinner" controller for the game modes (would be cool to have an arrow to switch game modes in the page title, like "Time Attack >>"), but I can't do that, and I don't have any way to make the selected option highlighted without having 3 different track selection pages.
The only way that the menu "knows" what mode is selected is in the game mode title.
It is possible to use #ifdef conditions, but it doesn't cover game modes sadly.

 

[MJQT]

Sven designed one "button" for all quick race modes, so I made it link to the race event.
I thought it would be one click too many to have a game mode selection after that, so I tried this solution.
But still don't know how the buttons should look.

See how there's a red background behind the selected track (Curitiba in your picture)? Could you have the selected game mode (Race vs Time Attack vs Practice) highlighted with a similar style of background, and a fainter background that appears behind when you mouse over the game mode? Otherwise, I like the placement of the buttons. Heck, I even like it with those blue buttons you have there.

 

[Speednut357]

These graphics changes are looking amazing, agree with Kenny and Andreas.

Just a quick, unrelated thought I wanted to share about something we might be able to add to the Remaster in the future. Was looking into track modding as a newbie, saw this video, and learned about how you can add a detailed physical (but not visual) track mesh in software like Blender -- provides enhanced immersion in the FFB but at little performance penalty from the extra polygons since it's not visual. Seems this is common practice in the AC modding community. Got me thinking: if you added an invisible, more detailed mesh to a track in RACE 07, would you feel in the FFB? If yes, doing that would provide a not-too-difficult way for people with modern wheels to get more immersion and enjoyment from the game. Maybe something to consider... but I don't know if it's possible for older gMotor sims. Is it?

I'm pretty sure this was done in the track Spa 66 and yes it seems to work in race 07 its just very strong on the FFB if you have it set too high.

 

[AndreasFSC]

I think I have done my part of UI work for the moment, now it is time for ai basic setup (bmw cars lock up rear wheels too much when braking hard, SEATS sometimes understeers too much) or something else (shaders, tracks cars etc)

I actually hope that the first version of the remaster can be available in a few weeks, I don't know if it is realistic, but I hope so...

 

[Shovas]

Congrats, it's looking good. Maybe try rapid releases, if you find yourself bogged down. I find it keeps up my motivation to release-early-release-often and helps me not get bogged down in too broad an effort. Good luck, regardless, I'm sure it'll be great!

 

[AndreasFSC]

Trying to fix the last remaining shader details. Fixed specular light on bumpmap track shader that didn't quite work as it should.
It is easy to overdo things that look cool, so I try to tone it down.

 

[AndreasFSC]

Thinking about replacing 3d spectators. The models are not bad, they use polygons well.

But the texture and mapping together make them look not so good

Made my own low poly models because it is a fun thing to do.
The challenge is to keep the poly count as low as possible. Maybe add modeled hands where they are visible.

But, the hard thing is to add all the models in the right places. Blender and bobs track builder have their systems for that, but sadly I don't use them
Maybe I'll come up with something, or someone can help...