A few people will have noticed a few minor updates fixing a few minor bugs. Phew! Thanks to those giving great descriptions of the bugs, makes finding and fixing much easier.

XPacks have recently been getting a bit of attention in order to support collisions, moveable objects and driveable surfaces. I’ll do a tutorial video that explains how this all hangs together in a Complex object, but the smart cookies will probably have examined the Stunts XPack and figured it out already.

XPacker is now a very capable tool, but there’s still relatively very little XPack content to be found. RTB XPacks are scarce and although some people have privately converted older BTB ones, this hasn’t resulted in a resource that is easily accessible. Google just doesn’t cut it.

Thankfully there’s a feature in Steam that supports the sharing of User Generated Content. Steam’s Workshop allows people to upload “game’ content into the Workshop where others can then “Subscribe”; Steam the downloads the resources automatically.

In RTB, users could use the Workshop to upload XPacks they have produced so that other RTB users can enjoy their work. There’s even the ability for authors to earn money for their content should they like to explore that avenue. I’m in the early stages of understanding how best to utilise the Workshop and am producing a tool that will assist in the process of uploading XPack content.

Let me know if you have any other thoughts and experiences about Steam’s Workshop.

A few people will have noticed a few minor updates fixing a few minor bugs. Phew! Thanks to those giving great descriptions of the bugs, makes finding and fixing much easier.

XPacks have recently been getting a bit of attention in order to support collisions, moveable objects and driveable surfaces. I’ll do a tutorial video that explains how this all hangs together in a Complex object, but the smart cookies will probably have examined the Stunts XPack and figured it out already.

XPacker is now a very capable tool, but there’s still relatively very little XPack content to be found. RTB XPacks are scarce and although some people have privately converted older BTB ones, this hasn’t resulted in a resource that is easily accessible. Google just doesn’t cut it.

Thankfully there’s a feature in Steam that supports the sharing of User Generated Content. Steam’s Workshop allows people to upload “game’ content into the Workshop where others can then “Subscribe”; Steam the downloads the resources automatically.

In RTB, users could use the Workshop to upload XPacks they have produced so that other RTB users can enjoy their work. There’s even the ability for authors to earn money for their content should they like to explore that avenue. I’m in the early stages of understanding how best to utilise the Workshop and am producing a tool that will assist in the process of uploading XPack content.

Let me know if you have any other thoughts and experiences about Steam’s Workshop.

- Added: Material property AC_GameSurface now determines driveable surface type when exported.
- String Objects can now also be made Driveable so kerbs will act like kerbs.
- Improved: Minor updates to XPacker and Materials Editor.

- Added: Material property AC_GameSurface now determines driveable surface type when exported.
- String Objects can now also be made Driveable so kerbs will act like kerbs.
- Improved: Minor updates to XPacker and Materials Editor.

- Added: Stunts XPack.
- Improved: XPacker Object selection control now easier to use.

- Added: Stunts XPack.
- Improved: XPacker Object selection control now easier to use.

- Added: Support for Driveable objects. XPacker has new "Driveable Mesh" option for Complex objects.
- Added: AC export has option to merge the Terrain mesh into one object (or more if needed).
- Added: AC export has option to split so sections of terrain that are not touching a track are flagged as non-driveable.
- Improved: Invisible Collision objects not created in RTB but instead only used during export.
- Improved: Remembers last ThemePack/Width/Depth after each new project.
- Fixed: AC export uses ksPerPixelAT for Transparent Diffuse material.

- Added: Support for Driveable objects. XPacker has new "Driveable Mesh" option for Complex objects.
- Added: AC export has option to merge the Terrain mesh into one object (or more if needed).
- Added: AC export has option to split so sections of terrain that are not touching a track are flagged as non-driveable.
- Improved: Invisible Collision objects not created in RTB but instead only used during export.
- Improved: Remembers last ThemePack/Width/Depth after each new project.
- Fixed: AC export uses ksPerPixelAT for Transparent Diffuse material.

Collisions in car racing games can be the fun! Some games are based entirely on crashing into something. In order for collisions to occur game developers must have a good understanding of complex physics and math. But that’s not the end of it, designers must also consider game performance. Highly detailed objects look wonderful, but they will kill game performance if they are also used for physics calculations.

Race Track Builder aims to simplify this process by incorporating detailed models alongside simplified meshes. The high polygon and detailed buildings that are found in the City Streets XPack, now also contain low-polygon invisible meshes that are then used for the physics. RTB’s XPacker utility provide a way to combine these models into one object that the user can place into their race track.

When objects have been designed without specific Collision models, then RTB will generate a Collision object automatically, either as a Collision Column or as a BoundingBox around the entire object.

A similar approach is planned for String-Objects and Walls where an invisible simpler mesh will be automatically generated to act as a barrier, rather than attempting to use a detailed looking object.

v1.3.3.0
- Added: AC export now allows collision with Complex or non-Complex objects. Collisions occur with custom collision objects, collision columns or using a calculated boundingBox.
- Improved: XPacks have minor modifications to improve collision detection.
- Improved: Yorkshire Dales Rock Wall now has normal map.

v1.3.2.7
- Added: AC Export now has Complex Object Collision and Movement support.
- Added: Object now has Moveable property (effect currently limited to AC export and Complex Objects).
- Added: Collision Objects added to all Complex Object in the City Streets XPack.
- Added: XPacker: When loading FBX file, if texture can't be found, then it looks for "textures" or "texture" subfolders, before asking user for location.

Collisions in car racing games can be the fun! Some games are based entirely on crashing into something. In order for collisions to occur game developers must have a good understanding of complex physics and math. But that’s not the end of it, designers must also consider game performance. Highly detailed objects look wonderful, but they will kill game performance if they are also used for physics calculations.

Race Track Builder aims to simplify this process by incorporating detailed models alongside simplified meshes. The high polygon and detailed buildings that are found in the City Streets XPack, now also contain low-polygon invisible meshes that are then used for the physics. RTB’s XPacker utility provide a way to combine these models into one object that the user can place into their race track.

When objects have been designed without specific Collision models, then RTB will generate a Collision object automatically, either as a Collision Column or as a BoundingBox around the entire object.

A similar approach is planned for String-Objects and Walls where an invisible simpler mesh will be automatically generated to act as a barrier, rather than attempting to use a detailed looking object.

v1.3.3.0
- Added: AC export now allows collision with Complex or non-Complex objects. Collisions occur with custom collision objects, collision columns or using a calculated boundingBox.
- Improved: XPacks have minor modifications to improve collision detection.
- Improved: Yorkshire Dales Rock Wall now has normal map.

v1.3.2.7
- Added: AC Export now has Complex Object Collision and Movement support.
- Added: Object now has Moveable property (effect currently limited to AC export and Complex Objects).
- Added: Collision Objects added to all Complex Object in the City Streets XPack.
- Added: XPacker: When loading FBX file, if texture can't be found, then it looks for "textures" or "texture" subfolders, before asking user for location.