GT5 Track Editor Thread

[Hun200kmh]

Hey Flash, don't be so grumpy!

A track editor could be a awesome tool and if the online community takes full advantage of it - like it happened in GPL and is happening with GTR among others - we will have hundreds of amazing tracks and track layouts to play on.

In any case, I doubt GT5 will have a track editor. But I can always remain hopeful

 

[FLASH48]

Hey Flash, don't be so grumpy!

A track editor could be a awesome tool and if the online community takes full advantage of it - like it happened in GPL and is happening with GTR among others - we will have hundreds of amazing tracks and track layouts to play on.

In any case, I doubt GT5 will have a track editor. But I can always remain hopeful

Just for you buddy👍

 

[Timppaq]

Maybe little bored here, but modelled (2min model) a layout without any elevation changes of a track I'd love to do with a track editor.

Would it be so hard to have "half-automated" editor, where you just draw the layout and tap the elevation changes in and then with a few selections choose how the program decorates it. I would be moooooore than happy with something like that

click for bigger

edit, pic removed

 

[Griffith500]

I would also be more than happy with that, so long as it can also generate random splines, according to a few parameters (curviness, undulationaliness, bumpiness, length etc.) and then save the resulting "seed" for future use. This way, it's like driving a country road for the first time - it might be rubbish, so you go back and tweak it, or start from scratch again.

 

[snake900]

I'd rather have DLC tracks by Polyphony than a track editor. I really doubt the track editor would be anywhere near the quality of the GT5 tracks either.

It would probably be like Complex Ring. No fancy graphics - just the road and your car.

 

[Timppaq]

No fancy graphics - just the road and your car.

So close to the 'ring basically.

👍

 

[Raitziger]

Track editor is the next big thing also for other driving games on consoles as modnation has "broken the ice".

 

[amar212]

So close to the 'ring basically.

👍

Or any other non-so-famous racing track on the world

 

[Lizard]

I would love an editor like modnation where you start from scratch and build a track but I would be happy with anything.

 

[cuco33]

I think if we get a track editor it won't be a full blown out one like most here think. I think what we'd get is a track location, a few default layouts, and the editor would be every possible layout imaginable and the user can select what path he wants to take. That would be more than welcome in my book! Some tracks will have only 1 layout, but some you can take the bulk of certain normal race layouts and throw in some different turns if it in real life has connecting straights and curves.

 

[TuneR-]

I'd be happy with a simple large or even medium space, where you can create your AutoX (or is it Autocross, dunno) track with cones etc.

But i guess if some kind of track editor comes, it's nothing big like building your own track fully.

 

[ralph89]

Even if we have a track editor, and someone tried to copy a real track it won't be as accurate as PD's work, but creating your own track is the plus side. 👍

 

[DK]

I'd just be creating touge tracks anyway. I'm becoming obsessed with it.

 

[Sturdy]

generate random splines, according to a few parameters (curviness, undulationaliness, bumpiness, length etc.) and then save the resulting "seed" for future use. This way, it's like driving a country road for the first time.

The coolest thing for me, which I'm confident won't be in GT5 or even 6 for that matter, would be if it generated it on the fly...

No need for complex scenery or anything, just generic bit of field / countryside either side and the odd tree.

Oh the joy

Never going to happen though

 

[G.T.Ace]

Yeah, something like that Tuscany road or the rally stage from the trailer would already be more than enough.

 

[hot-wok]

I'd be happy with a simple large or even medium space, where you can create your AutoX (or is it Autocross, dunno) track with cones etc.

But i guess if some kind of track editor comes, it's nothing big like building your own track fully.

I think it would just be wrong with a track editor in GT5 and I sure as hell hope they haven't wasted time working on one. Though a big asphalt surface where you could put out cones, like in LFS, would be darn cool!

 

[mani_23]

well actually I would much rather "Connecting pieces" then cones, cones would just look awkward and wierd, but if you could choose a variety of pavement like slight right/left turns, medium right/left turns, sharp right/left turns, short banks right/left, etc.
Straight road smooth, straight road bumpy, straight road dirt, etc.
and it all worked like magnetic connectors, like when you played with those Toy Trains as a kid (or atleast I did), and there were straight pieces, rights and lefts, and even a bridge..

I wouldn't mind if we didn't have the oppurtunity to edit the background, or scenery, even if it were just a white plain sandbox, it would be cool. And I also wouldn't mind if there weren't too much freedom of the evelations (so some guy doesn't make like a ramp level, and Kaz would commit suicide)

Lets see what happens at E3!

 

[Tenacious D]

Okay, so there are three possibilities:

1. The autocross cone course. If there's a track editor at all, this will be the first option. It would be fairly easy to implement, just drawing a line on an open lot making whatever course you wanted. It should have a minimum turning radius to keep kids from making physically impossible turns. Then when you're done, the course tool would populate the route with cones set precisely and neatly, probably with a choice of colors. You could define the width of the course for easier or harder difficulty. And optionally, you could have a finish line with a "braking patch" to see if you can stop the car in time. There could even be bronze, silver and gold limits rewarding prize money. While this sounds boring to me, it would be fun for many to set up an autocross event and see who has the best touch.

2. Pre-defined racing environs. By this, I mean an environment like Test Drive Unlimited, in which a city/rural/country region is mapped in great detail, and courses are created by connecting points along established streets and roads, either in a circuit or point to point routes. Minus the traffic of course.

This is more like it, and I've actually been lobbying for this off and on since 2005. A properly varied city layout would give you the possibility to make some decently varied and challenging courses that aren't simply a bunch of right angle turns. Think Rome, Paris, George V. And if you provide terrain all the way out to the country, especially mountainous land, you could have thrilling point to point rally stages. This could quite possibly be in GT5.

3. A true "from scratch" map generator. This one is a little tricky, and I know several of you groan about it, but listen.

I've been playing ModNation Racers, and it features the most amazing track creator I've ever seen for a racing game. You're given four basic terrain types or "themes," and within the bounds given you, which are surprisingly huge, you can make some long, varied courses with as many turns, hills, inclines and dips as the game budget will allow. And the budget is quite big.

The tools are intricate but surprisingly easy to use, and give you the power to create a crazy assortment of terrain by simply dragging a target around on the ground and "painting" elevations or hollows. And you can use almost any method you want to start with: either whip up some terrain first or lay a course, and you can edit either one as you go. Go over hills or through them to create channels or tunnels. And you can populate the landscape with a staggering amount of assets from trees, shrubs and grass to buildings, course markers, all sorts of objects you can knock around, to silly things like sheep and cows. Don't want to take the time to mess with all that? "Auto populate" will lay all this down for you, and it looks very realistic and natural, not random. And then if you want, go in and edit the terrain further to tweak it to your liking.

I laid down a rough version of Trial Mountain, and it seems to have the length of that majestic track. For a ModNation course it's kind of boring, but it's a testament to how much you can create in the game engine, and it seems the creators use the exact same tools you have available, so how cool is that?

While this is a bit far fetched to see in GT5, the fact that it's been done so "easily" in ModNation Racers, and the fact that these PS3 developers freely share technology with each other, means that there is a weeeeeee chance you could find something like this in GT5. While I didn't think much of this sort of thing before, like Photo Mode, it was just taking the time to give it a try to see how incredible such a feature is.

And as always, if you don't like it, just ignore that it's there. Problem solved.

 

[shadynader]

I hope, if indeed there is a track designer included, it is similar to option 3. As you said, the one included in ModNation Racers is powerful and easy to use at the same time. One thing PC gaming has taught me over the years is, given the right tools, never underestimate what the amateur modding communty can offer.

 

[analog]

I've been playing ModNation Racers, and it features the most amazing track creator I've ever seen for a racing game. You're given four basic terrain types or "themes," and within the bounds given you, which are surprisingly huge, you can make some long, varied courses with as many turns, hills, inclines and dips as the game budget will allow. And the budget is quite big.

The tools are intricate but surprisingly easy to use, and give you the power to create a crazy assortment of terrain by simply dragging a target around on the ground and "painting" elevations or hollows. And you can use almost any method you want to start with: either whip up some terrain first or lay a course, and you can edit either one as you go. Go over hills or through them to create channels or tunnels. And you can populate the landscape with a staggering amount of assets from trees, shrubs and grass to buildings, course markers, all sorts of objects you can knock around, to silly things like sheep and cows. Don't want to take the time to mess with all that? "Auto populate" will lay all this down for you, and it looks very realistic and natural, not random. And then if you want, go in and edit the terrain further to tweak it to your liking.

I laid down a rough version of Trial Mountain, and it seems to have the length of that majestic track. For a ModNation course it's kind of boring, but it's a testament to how much you can create in the game engine, and it seems the creators use the exact same tools you have available, so how cool is that?

While this is a bit far fetched to see in GT5, the fact that it's been done so "easily" in ModNation Racers, and the fact that these PS3 developers freely share technology with each other, means that there is a weeeeeee chance you could find something like this in GT5. While I didn't think much of this sort of thing before, like Photo Mode, it was just taking the time to give it a try to see how incredible such a feature is.

Totally agree, as I just played the MNR demo and I was hugely impressed by it.
The possibilties are almost endless ( even in the demo which only offered one template ) and it looks great ( even when you screwed up ) and you can always make alterations and changes afterwards and it struck me a as quite deep in the way it's implemented.
It's also incredible easy to master quickly, just ditch the comic elements, add some realistic backdrops and textures, etc. and slow down and make the creation process slightly more professional/simlike and you're probably not far off what most of us would like to see.
Oh, and its a far more important feature than Photo Mode if included at all in my opinion.

 

[Tenacious D]

I'd rather not say which feature is more important. However, I agree with you analog that a track creator on the scale of the one in MNR would be an absolutely HUGE addition to the Gran Turismo universe. People, mark my words.

Just trying it one time has opened my eyes wide to the infinite possibilities something of this nature offers, even to a novice. The tracks being made in ModNation Racers after being out for only a week or so are simply stunning. I know the downside to something this powerful is the potential for a multitude of mundane to flat out wretched tracks. BUT, keep in mind how many enthusiasts are in the community, people who are familiar with racecourses around the world. People who understand what it takes to make a challenging race track. A track creator like this will allow you to tweak a track to perfection. Tracks will have the capability to be rated. If you want, you can search for the highest rated tracks, and pick and choose the ones that suit you.

I've been pining away for years for all the classic Gran Turismo tracks to be included in GT5. Well, suppose Kaz has given us the capability to recreate them. "But how could you be sure a user created track would be any good?" Give it up for download, and let the old hands here judge it and make corrections they see needed. Eventually, even though it may be off a bit in places, it won't matter because the resulting track will be a joy to race on. I still want Polyphony to make these old tracks, but if we had a track editor, I wouldn't miss them nearly as much.

This is such a huge addition to the racing genre that I consider it an even bigger inclusion than a livery editor. And I want a livery editor and race mod with every fiber of my being. If Kaz can do this justice, after GT5, every racing game is going to be judged on whether or not it has a track editor. And Kazunori sensei can do this.

I think a several month delay for inclusion of 3D and Move capability is ridiculous. But a track editor... this has me thinking...

 

[analog]

It could be the feature which actually makes sense for the Move to use, a sort of free hand movement for creating fluent lay-outs and environments as another option instead or as an addition to the construction-option whereby a controller would suffice.

And I meant more important than Photo Mode as in affecting the gameplay as opposed to a feature which ( although very nice ) "only" allowes creativity and sharing it.

 

[witham]

Has any one thought of like a scaletric type rack design (but with the way it looks on the screen being like the skate park creator on tony hawk games), so you chosse the angle of the peices and the length or them join them together then set the enviroment let the game add it textures you choose were to have gravel traps, grass or a killer wall just off the track. Plus you could add pre made peices like stands, bridges/tunnels, pit lanes etc.

Sure with this type of designer you may never make amazingly unique surroundings to your track but you could make an amazing looking, good to race on track that works with real cahnges of hieght run of areas and grand stands and pit lanes that look breath taking as PD have made them for you.

so what do you guys think?

 

[No46_TheDoctor]

All we need is the MNR system with the ability to import GPS tracks, simples !

 

[witham]

problem with gprs is that your circuit has to be a circuit in real life you can't make your own one or it would be hard for me (who lives in the uk) to get yas marina so i would have to wait for someone to do it and that could be never.

plus GPS is only acurate to within 3 to 15 meters of the GPS and this vaires very quickly so you could make a circuit then were one corner may be 15 meters to wide on the out side but then 4 meters to narrow on the inside

 

[analog]

Has any one thought of like a scaletric type rack design (but with the way it looks on the screen being like the skate park creator on tony hawk games), so you chosse the angle of the peices and the length or them join them together then set the enviroment let the game add it textures you choose were to have gravel traps, grass or a killer wall just off the track. Plus you could add pre made peices like stands, bridges/tunnels, pit lanes etc.

Sure with this type of designer you may never make amazingly unique surroundings to your track but you could make an amazing looking, good to race on track that works with real cahnges of hieght run of areas and grand stands and pit lanes that look breath taking as PD have made them for you.

so what do you guys think?

Don't know if you own a PS3 and have online access, but if you do, you may want to try downloading the demo of ModNationRacers not because of that game perse but for the track-editor option included.
It's really great and allowes an enormous amount of freedom although very easy to navigate.
Just imagine the environments, possibilities and textures to be more real and I think you would agree it is more exciting than just constructing a Scalextric track and the possibilties you mentioned ( like bridges, elevation changes, even creating mountains, etc. ) are all included.

 

[witham]

just borrowed modnationracers of a friend it is an amzing tool and im sure it could easily be used on GT5 with some tweaking, the tools and everything are so easy to use, absolutly adicitive game good fun and the track editor tools are far better than my idea thanks for the heads up analog might have to buy the game depending on the news we get from GT5 at E3

 

[Tenacious D]

And I meant more important than Photo Mode as in affecting the gameplay as opposed to a feature which ( although very nice ) "only" allowes creativity and sharing it.

Well, I ended up agreeing with you in an offhanded way by remarking that it's a bigger feature than a livery editor. Honestly, I can't think of a more monumental achievement than if the Master gave us an MNR style track creator with some more realistic detail. And I doubt it would be that difficult. The only issue would be that textures might have to be scaled back somewhat. But... gosh, I'm sorely impressed with what ModNation offers.

Like I said, if GT5 scores this incredible feature, forever after, every race game announcement will be questioned on whether or not there's a track maker included.

I'm shaping public opinion!!

 

[Jake360]

If Gran Turismo 5 had a track editor, full dynamic weather and dynamic track (marbles, rubber build up = more grip etc) then it'll be worth the 5 odd years of development. What else do they need the 5 years for, if they've just spent it putting 1000 cars in (which i'll probably only use 200 of them anyway) then i'll be disapointed.

I'd like a track editor similar to MNR but i'm not fussed if we can't make our own surroundings, if they can have a randomly generated city/forest/mountains/GP track button then that'll do me perfect.

 

[Tenacious D]

Well, Gran Turismo has never been about a small roster of THE ULTIMATE CARS! That's what other games such as Forza and NFS are for. I love GT because it's made by a man who loves cars and automotive history, and isn't driven to whittle that down to the key tuners and supercars all the kids want. GT is like an encyclopedia, and... gee, I'd better save this for the "What's GT" thread.

In any case, I urge anyone who's skeptical of what a track creator could be, to download the ModNation Racers demo and give it a whirl. I recommend the game itself highly. The demo will give you a taste of what it's all about. But the track builder is so far beyond what I expected it to be that... well, you just won't understand unless you try it. And I realize now that it's one feature which will send GT5 rocketing to the lofty heights of the stars.