Re: Mechanik Train Simulator.

["Jonathan Boles" <mousewithglasses@hotmail.com>]

(ALMOST) NONSENSICAL FODDER FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT.
Take this, and hope that it helps you. I hope you understand it.

You are not able to change tracks in the game: here's why.

** The game does not work by actually searching for the tracks in the 3D
environment and then following them. The simulated train ALWAYS is heading
straight ahead, and the simulated environment is drawn as either textured
polygons (hills, surfaces on other trains, etc), calibratable textured
objects (catenary, signs), semaphores or horizontal textured objects
(track, ground, road, etc), IRRESPECTIVE of the heading of the train.

** All this environment information is stored in the file "trasa.dat". The
file contains all the route information, and since it is a file, the route
is always constant and you cannot arbitrarity change the route yourself
(ie. by switching tracks).

** When you encounter a point, the marker next to it (either the white
square or diagonal arrow, according to the way the points are set) is
declared as a calibratable object in the "trasa.dat" file. So that cannot
be changed, indicating the fixed 'destiny' of route that you must follow.

** When you do go over points and switch tracks, (Yes, it DOES happen in
some scenarios), what makes the train seem like it is switching, is what's
known as a correctional marker. It has two parameters, the actual location
of the marker, and the point of reference to which the environment is
'centered'. When a correctional marker is encountered, the entire 3D
texture environment is rotated so the 2nd parameter point lies on the Z
axis of the 3D space (plane is inappropriate here). So when you go over the
facing point in a left crossover, the entire 3D environment is rotated and
redrawn to the right, so it seems the train turns to the left. And vice
versa when the other end of the crossover is reached. (NB, correctional
markers are also used on curves to get the real effect of the train turning
in relation to the environment).

IN SUMMING UP, the "trasa.dat" file, contains the entire data for setting
up the 3D environment in which the train moves through. Points cannot be
changed because the file sets the 'destiny' of the route, and due the the
physics of the 3D environment in this game, it is not the train that
rotates, it is the entire world.


> <snip, snip> I haven't been able to change tracks since I downloaded
> yesterday.