Ideas for new monster truck game

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Thu Dec 14, 2000 2:07 pm

One of the most important points with the physics in MTM is that the tires only get traction on their driving surfaces. In reality, a truck with locked differentials, a feature I would very much like to see, can do far better donuts and, most importantly, save itself from a rollover. In Ratbag's Dirt Track Racing: Sprint Cars game, the tires have proper traction on both the tread and sidewall surfaces. When the cars get on their sides, they can in extreme cases "get back up again". Though a real sprint car would have fallen apart long before that would happen, their solid (without differential) axles allow them to do that. Though it isn't common, and most engines wouldn't take it for long, monster trucks can do that too. Going hand in hand with the locked axles, a great mode of play would be rock crawling. In rock crawling, the trucks have to drive over rocks, carefully planning where each tire goes. Trucks with longer suspension travel keep their tires planted better. With limited travel, you can get a tire up on a rock, and the opposite tire leaves the ground. Without a locked differential, that axle becomes useless. I'd be more than happy to provide an MPEG video of rock crawling. Even if rock crawling doesn't make it in, lockable axles are an absolute necessity.

Another feature that has been largely overlooked is the "rebound wheelie". When a truck goes over a jump and lands it just right, the front end will bounce up. A well timed burst of the throttle can turn that into a great wheelie. Again, I'd gladly provide an MPEG video.

The suspension on the trucks is one of the biggest errors in MTM. Most trucks use a 4-link setup to control the location of the axles, but TRI simply put in leaf-spring type traction bars. For proper 4-link bars, there need to be 4 bars, with the top 2 meeting quite close to each other at the axle. At the frame, all 4 bars form a rectangle or square. More information on the 4-link bars and suspension information can be found at http://truckworld.com/Monster-Trucks/Monsters-Monthly/2000-august/monster-tech1.html

Despite what Paul curtis said, the tires in Monster Truck Madness are indeed scaled properly.

As for the independent rear steering, it'd be a major selling point for me, so make it an option! In the MTM series, it was limited to about 40% of the front wheel angle, which is terribly unrealistic.
-Angus

Keep on truckin!
http://angus.karf.net/
[img]http://angus.karf.net/splat.gif"%20width=75%20height=75%20alt="Angus's%20Smiley%20Splatter[/img]

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Thu Dec 14, 2000 10:13 pm

Sorry to let anyone down, but we proved on the MainMTMboard that this person is full of...shall we say...*beep*?

Andy

Psyco · Post by **Psyco** » Thu Dec 14, 2000 10:30 pm

i dont believe its the same person...
(judging from ip) I think the retard on the main bbs saw this and was just trying to be a troublemaker.

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"If it don't hurt, your not havin fun"

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Post by **Phineus** » Fri Dec 15, 2000 2:20 am

This was posted on the mtm bbs

Chachoze · Post by **Chachoze** » Sat Dec 16, 2000 1:31 am

Just gonna add my 2 cents....It would be nice to see the trucks more editable...by that I mean where to postions the axel bars,be able to add as many axel bars you want,ability to choose what the axelbars look like(custom axelbar model and be able to choose where the bars pivot...also would be nice to choose how many shocks you would like to be on your truck,as well as the ability to change the model of the shocks and the position of the shocks...etc.

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Angus · Post by **Angus** » Sat Dec 16, 2000 5:38 am

The "axelbars" as they're called in MTM2 are really the four-link bars, which I addressed in my previous post. Most trucks have 4, but old-style leaf spring trucks generally have 2. That's really a good idea, but "adding as many as you want" is not a good idea, because it'd just shoot the realism in the foot. That brings another thought to mind, and that's the ability to change the suspension travel, and type of spring (leaf spring, coil-over, air spring, nitrogen shock, etc).
-Angus

Keep on truckin!
http://angus.karf.net/
[img]http://angus.karf.net/splat.gif"%20width=75%20height=75%20alt="Angus's%20Smiley%20Splatter[/img]

driven-out · Post by **driven-out** » Sat Dec 16, 2000 11:47 am

I would like to see muliple tire support.. like having 6, 8, or even 10 tires on trucks

CW · Post by CW » Sun Dec 17, 2000 6:47 am

Hi everyone,
I knew there would be some doubt as to whether this is for real, and the question "why post on a BB for answers"?
We are putting actual quotes into the proposal from suggestions posted here, so the publisher can see for themsevles, this is what the fans want in a Monster Truck game.
All I can say is, please be patient and as soon as I can let you know more, I will.

XZ SIG · Post by **XZ SIG** » Tue Dec 19, 2000 4:41 am

If Army Armstrong is in the new game then please update the comment "THIS COULD BE AN OLYMPIC EVENT, IN THE YEAR 2000!"

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*edit* Sig, that signature is just plain disgusting. bring back the exploding smileys! -Angus *edit*

[This message has been edited by Angus (edited 22-12-2000).]

Jam-N-Jim · Post by **Jam-N-Jim** » Tue Dec 19, 2000 7:35 am

Hmmm, CW's profile says his/her location is Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Could it be Rat Bag?

If it is, dont worry about a Monster truck game. Finish Leadfoot already!

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 2:05 pm

One thing that's been overlooked is the sound. MTM was close, and sounded good, but the idle was a little off (I actually recorded a new one, which sounds awesome), and the lack of reverb for indoor races is very annoying. In real indoor racing, the sound of the engine keeps on going after the sound stops being produced. A combination of reverb and echo. MTM had a lousy echo underneath ground boxes, but I'd love to hear something better.
-Angus

Keep on truckin!
http://angus.karf.net/
[img]http://angus.karf.net/splat.gif"%20width=75%20height=75%20alt="Angus's%20Smiley%20Splatter[/img]

XZ SIG · Post by **XZ SIG** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 6:27 am

As you wish Angus. My signature is now an exploding smiley.

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Yours Mentally
SIG
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sigage@breathe.com
BIGworld Racing

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 1:19 pm

Thanks dude. That was just a little too much, but the exploding smiley makes me laugh every time

-Angus

Keep on truckin!
http://angus.karf.net/

CW · Post by CW » Thu Dec 28, 2000 11:45 am

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
The proposal is in, and we've had some excellent feed back from the publishers.
They especially liked the fact that we posted on this message board asking for ideas, and that we included all of your comments in the proposal (all of your names as well).

We've got until mid January to finish the demo (which is coming along fine) but I'm on holidays now until the end of January, so I'll let you know of any news when I return.

The answer to the question "Could it be Ratbag?" is NO, Ratbag are in Adelaide, so you will have to narrow it down to about five developers based in Melbourne ;-)

ObeOne · Post by **ObeOne** » Thu Dec 28, 2000 2:24 pm

Hmmm.... here's all that I know of:

Blue Tongue Software
Tantalus
Perfect Entertainment
Torus

=)

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Road Rage - Faster than a speeding bullet...not nearly as dangerous.
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GRA-Genral801 · Post by **GRA-Genral801** » Fri Dec 29, 2000 12:39 am

I Would Like To See A Bine Editor Like The One That OP Never Released. Some Of You May, Although Most Of You Won't Know, But OP Wrote A Bin Edit That Worked In 3DFX. I Would Like To See That. Oh Yeah, Name The Game After Me Too. hehe jk, But 3DFX Editors Would Be The Way To Go!!

ObeOne · Post by **ObeOne** » Tue Jan 02, 2001 6:06 am

Oh no, PLEASE tell me it isn't Tantalus! Aren't they the ones who made South Park Rally? That is one of the worst games I've EVER seen.

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Road Rage - Faster than a speeding bullet...not nearly as dangerous.
.·´¯`·-> Road Rage Gaming <IMG SRC="http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net/boldblue.gif" border=0>

Post by **Phineus** » Tue Jan 02, 2001 10:31 am

Now Obe, this is no time to start a panic. Man, take a step back from the keyboard, take a deep breath, go on, inhale, now hold it.... .... ..... .... .... ..... keep holding ... .... ..... .... .... ..... now let it go. phew, don't that feel better now? hehe. Believe me, if CW gets this contract, even if only half of this stuff makes it in, I think we're in for a exciting game.

ObeOne · Post by **ObeOne** » Tue Jan 02, 2001 10:34 am

*Breathing deeply* You're right Phin. I just don't want it turning out like Test Drive Off Road or have physics like Evo (oh my

). I guess if they have enough sense to come ask opinions on the forum, they can't be half bad =)

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Road Rage - Faster than a speeding bullet...not nearly as dangerous.
.·´¯`·-> Road Rage Gaming <IMG SRC="http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net/boldblue.gif" border=0>

LEO · Post by **LEO** » Sat Jan 13, 2001 5:13 am

To many reply's here to read them all.
So here's my input.

Windows explorer type organizer, pod mounter for the onslot of addon trucks & tracks, That will allow you to store them anywhere on your dir. Even on a defirent dir. one that will keep the track where you put them and load the from there, (not copy them to the game)
multiple dir. support so you can put them in category's or whatever you like.

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[This message has been edited by LEO (edited 09-02-2001).]