BeamNG Alpha: My Thoughts EDIT- changed

"TheOnelectronic" (theoneelectronic) 08/03/2013 at 23:28 • Filed to: riglopnik

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As undoubtedly the most vocal fan of Rigs of Rods on Oppo, I feel like I might as well share my thoughts on the BeamNG/Drive Alpha. In short? Not for me. Not yet.

Here's the issue: I love RoR because I can make anything I want. I can make a crane, a plane, a boat, a thrust-vectoring VTOL, or a 6x6 E30 Pickup, all within the same physics system. BeamNG has no capabilities for anything beyond cars that drive. Sure, I could still make that 6x6 E30, but nothing else is possible within BeamNG. You can drive and steer. That is literally it. Oh, and there are turn signals. If they have plans to add more, I can't find anywhere where they've shared them.

I've had reservations about this ever since I first heard about it: The principle vehicle developer is the guy whose primary focus in RoR was deformable cars. While I support them making the game they want to make, I fear that it won't have the things I loved so much about RoR.

EDIT- Word from gabester himself, "We plan to eventually fully support all kinds of advanced functionality allowing for planes, cranes, heavy machinery, trailers, tow trucks, etc."

My fears are extinguished!

twinturbobmw > TheOnelectronic 08/03/2013 at 23:30

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Well, it's only in alpha so maybe we'll see more soon.

Joe_Limon > TheOnelectronic 08/03/2013 at 23:32

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If beamNG picked up the voxel farm engine for modifiable voxel based procedurally generated terrain... I would probably cream myself.

The voxelfarm engine was most recently shown off in the everquest next press releases.

TheOnelectronic > twinturbobmw 08/03/2013 at 23:34

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This is my hope. There are some promising statements like

"Can you simulate vehicle type X?"

"We can simulate anything :) "

And

"Hydros are beams that can change their length. Currently they're only used for steering."

TheOnelectronic > Joe_Limon 08/03/2013 at 23:35

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I'm sure they've considered it. Deformable terrain has been on the RoR request board for years.

Likely it's just not possible with current hardware. It's easy to have real-time terrain and preset physics, like voxelfarm-based games or Spintires, or have real-time physics and static terrain, like Rigs of Rods or BeamNG. Having both would likely melt your CPU.

CB > TheOnelectronic 08/03/2013 at 23:39

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I'm enjoying drifting pickup trucks in the demo. Those are my only thoughts so far.

Joe_Limon > TheOnelectronic 08/03/2013 at 23:43

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Deformable terrain, meh, I am thinking of being able to construct destructable worlds to drive around in.

TheOnelectronic > CB 08/03/2013 at 23:44

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The traction is definitely off. The Devs are aware of this and are trying to fix it.

The driving dynamics and the graphics are astounding. That's a lot of why I'm tentatively disappointed.

CB > TheOnelectronic 08/03/2013 at 23:45

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The sounds could also use some help. The engines don't sound right (it's either all or nothing, it seems, with no idle noise), and there aren't any horrific crashing noises.

TheOnelectronic > CB 08/03/2013 at 23:49

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I'm sure these things will be improved upon. The people working on the game are/were some of the top-flight developers for RoR, and gabester in particular was always a stickler about how his cars sounded. It's still very early in development.

Random Commenter > CB 08/04/2013 at 00:15

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Where can I download the BeamNG Demo from?

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > TheOnelectronic 08/04/2013 at 15:36

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I'm a huge fan of RoR and have been playing it for years! I'm at my cottage right now but am really looking forward to trying out BeamNG on my G27 once I'm home!

TheOnelectronic > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare 08/04/2013 at 18:26

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Haha, I'm a recent convert, but I've dived in pretty deep with making cars, helping others, etc...

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > TheOnelectronic 08/06/2013 at 18:06

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I'm probably gonna take a stab at making my first car for BeamNG soon... I gotta get the alpha for sure.

TheOnelectronic > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare 08/06/2013 at 18:16

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Once I finish the BMW I've been working on, I plan to re-make the chassis for BeamNG. I've looked at their documentation, and it seems way, way more organized and logical than RoR's system. Hopefully the pricetag and complexity will scare away some of the 12 year-old schoolbus fanatics.

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > TheOnelectronic 08/06/2013 at 18:19

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I hear you on that one for sure, and yeah, even going though the tech demo's files and checking out the new format for vehicle creation, its way less of a pain in the ass then RoR every was; everything is cohesive and is very easy to grasp.

TheOnelectronic > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare 08/06/2013 at 18:37

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RoR's forums are both hilarious and terrifying. My favorite so far is "Do not closing thread! It is thread!"

And also, "I don't care what you think, it's my thread and I can do what I want."

"Actually, I'm a moderator, so you should care what I think, and you can't do what you want. Banned."