07: Making Race Tracks

[Jos]

Making Race Tracks

The process for making racetracks (as opposed to challenge levels) is very similar, with just a couple of differences.

Below we will cover the steps to make a very basic racetrack – which you can then expand in to a thing of wonder and glory!


Start a new track with a START FINISH
If you are still in the editor select FILE ? NEW from the drop down menu.

Instead of placing the default START PIECE, instead hold down L (to bring up the piece selection menu) and select the START FINISH PIECE (the RED / GREEN circle icon which is second from the left on the top row.

Racetracks are defined because they have a single START FINISH PIECE rather than separate START and FINISH PIECES.


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_56.jpg


Once you place this piece you are now ready to build a race track using the same tools as you built the challenge level.

Here’s one idea …


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_57.jpg


Place a few straights (press X several times), followed by an up-hill banked corner (Hold L to bring up the piece selection menu, whilst in road mode, then whilst still holding L press Left 3 times, up twice and then O to bank to get the above corner).


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_58.jpg


Then add another corner piece but level out the height and banking as you do so, so you can add a cross roads after it (CROSSROADS and other junctions are available in SPECIAL ROAD mode, but cannot be attached to banks or slopes)


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_59.jpg


Then add a couple of straights followed by 3 banked corners to join back on to the cross roads and make a good flowing corner


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_60.jpg


Then I added a couple of straights followed by loop for a bit of a challenge (the straights were added so that the loop wasn’t too close to the track that runs behind it).


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_61.jpg


Next I added a downhill-banked corner (normal road mode, down hill, and banked)


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_62.jpg


Then a straight piece to level out the bank [These are extra long straights that are automatically selected when you change banking on a straight piece].

In this case I ended this banked transitions straight on the shallowest of downhill slopes, so that I could have an uphill hairpin corner to finish the track


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_63.jpg


I placed a couple of straights in order to get my Z co-ordinate down below 0, then I added the hair-pin corner (SPECIAL ROAD MODE) … I then added a single straight which changed slope to flat … and then a load more straights to take me to the finish. Resulting in the below track.


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_64.jpg

[Jos]

Adding Checkpoints
At least two checkpoints are required on a custom racetrack. You can’t even save the track until you add the checkpoints. So using ROADSIDE mode, select the four lane checkpoint (the big Yellow/Blue circle) and place some checkpoints (make sure you are in SNAP mode) to make your life easier


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_65.jpg


Adding Pick-ups
Now you can save and test your track.

I’m sure you found you ran out of nitrous too quickly. So add a load of pick-ups (Select PICK-UP mode from the drop down menu) then select the
nitrous icon from the PIECE SELECTION MENU.

Remember it’s easiest to place pick-ups in SNAP mode, when you want them attached to the track.


Weapons
Although there are no AI in custom race tracks, you can race against your friends in multi-player races. So feel free to add weapon pickups (the ? icon) when adding pick-ups


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_66.jpg


NO Stars & GS
There are no “RACE CHALLENGES” or BONUS CREDITS in custom race tracks … so you can’t add stars or GS pick-ups in race mode



Changing Properties
The properties for a racetrack are slightly different for a challenge level. Instead of the INITIAL TIME field, you have a number of LAPS. This (as you’d expect) specifies the number of laps the track can be … maximum 9.


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_67.jpg


The gold, silver and bronze time refer to time trial targets – so are the target time for completing the number of laps specified in the LAP COUNT field


NOTE: If you would like your level to be set in a different theme, now is as good a time as any (it can be more awkward once scenery has been placed).


Adding Scenery etc.
Adding scenery follows the exact principles as for custom challenge levels.

There are no traps on any of the race levels supplied in the game … but there is no reason to not include them in your own if you wish too.

Most of all … have fun


http://forums.sidheinteractive.com/images/others/gripshift/playguide/track_editor_68.jpg