Topic awaiting preservation: Trackmania Nations

it is free. it is fast. it is great. http://www.trackmanianations.com/indexUk.php

Pretty cool. Too bad I don't have a wheel or even a joystick.... cuz the arrow keys just don't cut it... but it's a huge wow for sure. Thanx. =)

mhmm i think the arrow keys do quite fine...

You have much younger fingers. =)

looks cool ...

torrent: http://www.mininova.org/tor/210957

quote:

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NoJive said:

You have much younger fingers. =)

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or younger reflexes

Both the previous Trackmania games were great when played on a LAN. I'll be giving this a look, thanks for the link.

I've played the demo of TrackMania and TrackMania Sunrise. I bought TMS and now I got the TMS Extreme expansion. I have downloaded and installed TMN, but havn't played due to the fact I have to reboot after installation.

My (basic) TMS site: http://tms.zavaboy.com/
Right now I just have some tracks I made on it.

Keyboard controls ??

So help me out here. Arrow Keys are obvious. forward/ reverse left/right.
On the number pad.
0 = horn
1 = overhead view1
2 = overhead view2
3 = First person

The remainder of the keypad numbers are aerial views.
S = Save.

Anything else I'm missing and is there any way to remap the arrow keys?

I'm having a great time chewing up the infields. =)

I like this game a lot apart from the arrow controls. I play with my left hand (which is now numb with "pins & needles" down one side, thanks a lot TmNations )
As much as I like it, if I can't feel comfortable playing, hasta la vista baby. Still it is such a good game that I may try playing with the right hand as well to lessen the damage to tendons/nerve ends.
Even a W,S,A,D swap would have been helpful.

::tao:::: ::cell::

btw, here are the 2 tracks i made. i bet you will need more than 20 runs to complete one of them
http://www.thespacebetweenus.com/files/testtrack.Challenge.Gbx
http://www.thespacebetweenus.com/files/loooop.Challenge.Gbx

you have to put the tracks into this folder:
TrackMania Nations ESWC\GameData\Tracks\Challenges\My Challenges

and the replays go here...
http://www.thespacebetweenus.com/files/loooop(04'06''85).Replay.Gbx
http://www.thespacebetweenus.com/files/testtrack(04'38''72).Replay.Gbx
...into this folder:
TrackMania Nations ESWC\GameData\Tracks\Replays\My Replays

enjoy



(Edited by mas on 02-10-2006 20:55)

Tao: I've come up with a completely stupid partial work-around with the arrow keys. Eases the ol' tetris tendonitis at least a bit. =)

Index/middle/ring fingers of right hand on the 3 inline arrow keys... and then use the left hand middle finger for the gas (up arrow). Also allows you to use reverse as a bit of a brake (or at least so it seems) ...with gas flat out do not back off.... just tap reverse a few times to slow down a bit. (heal/toe in the real world).

Wish I could afford a wheel.

Sooo... We're on a forum swarming with PS users, and nobody's made a skin yet?



The zip is here: http://www.mahjqa.com/stuff/blaze.zip

Just drop it at \TrackMania Nations ESWC\GameData\Skins\Vehicles\StadiumCar. I'm sure you'll figure it out.


If you want to make one of your own, and the ingame editor just doesn't cut it, just download the filters to view and edit *.dds files here: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photoshop_dds_plugins.html

Here is a PSD of the most important parts: http://www.mahjqa.com/stuff/blaze.psd

Have fun!

(Yes, I spent more time tinkering with skins than racing, why do you ask?)

Sometimes you just deserve a big kiss. =)

Excellent stuff Mahjqa, I remember now you did one for GTA too. I've just got to have a play with that, I have never attempted skinning before now seems a great time Thanks for the links.
NoJive, good tips there buddy. I am experimenting with various variations on the theme.
The third level of tuition, expert I think, is having a laugh isn't it? Some of them I have not a clue what direction to take even.
I wonder if you can model the adverts too? That's just calling out for an Asylum logo. Best go and check then huh?

::tao:::: ::cell::

mahjqa, your skin truly kicks ass! great work dude! downloading now...

mas, I downloaded your tracks and replays last night. You are some demon driver. I tried a few times and I could not even half way
I can feel a bit of a challenge coming on so I'm going to make a track for you to try to beat me (and my old slow digits) on.

::tao:::: ::cell::

This track is nowhere near the quality of the ones already submitted, bit 'tis my first and I love it deeply
Anyone want to see if they can beat me?
http://tao.serveit.org/tmn/Tao1(00'29''41).Replay.Gbx
http://tao.serveit.org/tmn/Tao1.Challenge.Gbx
mas, when I have been playing your track I do not see the ghost car, is that normal does anyone know? Perhaps is switchable?

tao: i have no clue why you cant see the ghost car....strange

however, i am off to beat you in your track

I see there is a folder called "CreatedGhost" which also takes GBX files perhaps I'll put a copy there see what happens. Mind you, even if I fixed it, all I would see is your tailpipe fading into the distance Man that is one hard track mas, the furthest I have managed to go is for 1:54 (out of a mighty 5+ minutes) just after that awesome triple 360deg . I was so delighted having gotten myself through that part that I drove right off the next "trick" without the slightest clue as to how it happened or which direction to go next
How about making a track (or series) say between 1:30 and 4:00 minutes long for a challenge? (I'm more talking to myself here) I'll have to get myself more familiar with the track editor and give it a go
Mahjqa, do you have any links to sites that explain how to start skinning you could lash this way merci? I tried, downloaded all the software linked to, but could find no guide to the terminology used, could not understand three words in a row
Slainte

::tao:::: ::cell::

Thanks for all the nice comments about the skin, it makes all that work worth it.

How to skin Trackmania? I'll try to give some pointers.

Ater you've downloaded the plugins to read DDS files, you can start off by taking a look at the base skins in [TrackMania Nations ESWC\GameData\Skins\Vehicles\StadiumCar] . They're zipped, but that shouldn't be a problem.

If you load up a skin from there, you'll get a base image of 1024 by 1024 pixels. Every part of this 2d image is mapped to the 3d model of the car. It's propably tough to figure out which part goes where, but there are solutions to that. For now, it's best to start off with the skin editor that's included in the game. It works pretty nicely to create a good base to finish later in PS.

You can find the editor by going to 'profile' at the main menu of the game. Just pick any random skin and click 'paint!'

There's one thing you should be mindful for: The editor doesn't like it when you switch from trackmania and back. It may fuck up your skin, so save when you've got something good going.

I'll give some explanation about the tools in the editor:

At first we have the flood fill tool. This (duh) paints the entire car in one color. Convenient. Pick a color, and you're done.

Second, there's the "apply image to skin" option. There's only one option here: apply a pre-shaded image of the shadows on the car. Trackmania has it's own 3d shader, but applying this gives your skin some extra shadows, which makes the car a lot more realistic. This is typically the last step in creating a skin. Luckily, you can also do this in photoshop. The pre-shaded image can be found in [TrackMania Nations ESWC\GameData\Painter\Layers\StadiumCar\PreLight]. When you're making a skin, just paste this layer on top, and set it to multiply. Insta-shading!

Next comes 'apply stickers to the car'. It does what it says; it takes an image and sticks it on the skin. There's also an option to do this symmetrically (the car with the 1-2-3 numbers on it) but that also means that the text on the other side is mirrored. You can also add your own stickers here, just drop them in [C:\Program Files\TrackMania Nations ESWC\GameData\Painter\Stickers]. Just duplicate one of the directories and edit the TGA file so your sticker can be used. the TGA also has an extra channel. (you can see this when you click "channels" in photoshop) This is fairly simple: it dictates the transparency of the sticker. Black is invisible, white is visible, and grey is somewhere in between. As soon as you restart the editor, your own stickers will show up.

Finally, there's the 'paint with brushes' option. It's the most versatile of the bunch. Pick a brush and a color, and you're free to go picasso on your car. There's some nice extra options here. It has the 'mirror image' function the sticker tool also had, but you can also select where you want to paint. It's next to the 'mirror image' button, and it's called "sub object somethingorother". Here you can select an area where to draw. So, if you only want to draw on the helmet pick "helmet" and draw away.
(consequently, if you find that you can't seem to draw, it's propably because you left this option on.)

It's also very useful to know where these areas are on the 2d image of the skin. Luckily, you can go take a look in [C:\Program Files\TrackMania Nations ESWC\GameData\Painter\SubObjects\StadiumCar], where you'll find black-and-white images of the various parts of the skin. So, the directory "mudguards" will have the exact location of the mudguards. Very convenient. My PSD also has all these areas marked: http://www.mahjqa.com/stuff/blaze.psd

Anyway. Time to start the actual skinning. Load a car from some country, and use the fill tool to give it a nice, uniform color. Next, you can use the painting tools to create some markings on your car. When I make skins, I prefer to just indicate where things will go using the painting tools, and finishing the job in PS. For example, I drew a rudimentary flamejob in the ingame editor, which I re-did in PS. It's useful to use all kinds of different colors to indicate locations. For example, if you want to have a huge honkin' "42" on the side of your car, grab a drawing brush, make sure the mirror mode is on, and outline the spot you want the 42 to be on the skin with bright yellow. Save your skin, (it'll end up in [TrackMania Nations ESWC\GameData\Skins\Vehicles\StadiumCar]) and load it in photoshop. When you've got it there, replace the yellow spots with 42's and you're done. (You may have to mirror some text to get it to show up right, but that takes nothing more than a bit of trial and error.)

Some further details:

Where the official skins are 1024 by 1024 pixels, the usermade skins are 1024 by 512 pixels. They propably did this to decrease size. I make my skins in a 1024 by 1024 pixel PSD, and paste and shrink it to 1024 by 512 everytime I export.

If you go to " channels", you'll see that the skin, apart from the standard red-green-and blue channels, also has a separate alpha channel. It's a greyscale image, and in this case it's used to indicate the shinyness of the car. I kid you not. Black means that the car will be dull and very non-reflective, whereas white means it's shiny like a fresh dime. Grey means it's something in between. When you're making your own skin you can mess with this all you like, but it's easier to leave it alone for now.


Anyway. I'll propably edit this post a bit later on, but I presume this will be enough to get you started. If some instructions are unclear or you have any further questions, just ask.

Whoa, that's a brilliant walkthrough Mahjqa, NoJive was right, get ready 'cos I'm a puckkering
I'm going to get cracking right now. I want you to know that I really do appreciate the time and effort you have taken to write this up, you are truly a dood amongst doods

::tao:::: ::cell::

This is my first attempt at "Racing Asylum" I love finding a new toy to play with
Here's the ZIP over here

::tao:::: ::cell::

*is under direct threat of snogging*

Tao, the skin looks great from the screenshot, but I can't seem to download it. 404.

Me and my capitals... http://tao.serveit.org/asylum/Asylum.zip
That should do it

::tao:::: ::cell::

(Edited by Tao on 02-14-2006 14:04)

NoJive, I have found a way to customize the keyboard layout that really helps. I have mapped my keys so left and right are on the "A" and "D" keys. Just go to "Profile" >Advanced Settings>Configure Driver Input.
The online games are good to play too.
Is there anyone here who has been playing at all? I know mas has been very busy.

::tao:::: ::cell::

Of course, I'm still driving. I'm still trying to get gold medals everywhere after I accidentally deleted my profile in a reinstall. I do some online driving and LANning with classmates, but I'm not kicking too much ass there.

Good songs for racing:

Cake - The Distance
Apollo 440 - Stop the Rock
Gorillaz - 19-2000

quote:

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mahjqa said:

Sooo... We're on a forum swarming with PS users, and nobody's made a skin yet? ...
...(Yes, I spent more time tinkering with skins than racing, why do you ask?)

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I would... if I had the game ( To see the Results)

As For why I don't have the game... >2 year old Laptop...

..Nice Job on the skin... Makes Me think Firefox for some reason...

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I don't Suffer From Insanity .... I enjoy every moment

(Edited by INSANEdrive on 02-18-2006 00:05)