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| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 05/02/2015 at 23:03 #68898 | |
maxand
1637 posts |
Thanks for the more recent posts which have reverted this thread from an acrimonious one to something more interesting. I too like Muzer's suggestion in post #39: Quote: What would be MUCH nicer IMHO is the ability to record games. This would probably require less effort than implementing an autonomous demo player, would work on all (loader) sims (correct me if I'm wrong, again I don't know much about the architecture of SimSig!), and would trivially solve the problem of providing demos whilst also providing a useful archive for bug reporting and simply sharing particularly spectacular games. Thoughts?First it might be helpful to summarize this thread to date as I see it: My initial suggestions to have a completely autonomous (continuous) mode plus at least one demo TT that ran comfortably in it was intended to help newcomers to a particular sim see at a glance the locations of the tricky places such as reversal timing points, poorly labelled shunting yard exit and entry points, etc., without needing a reverse-video or printed version of the signal map, route tables or a copy of a tersely-written manual or scads of forum references to help them. A shorter, demo TT would have helped - I am too old to play for more than 1 or at the most 2 hours these days continuously without needing to take a break or to attend to other much-needed jobs; in fact, about half an hour (saving every 10 mins) is about my current limit. Then Steamer rightly pointed out in post #9: Quote: Max. Stop, calm down and think about it carefully. You are asking for a simulation that automatically executes a timetable, setting all routes, handling all trains and regulating correctly. You have just described ARS. In fact, you've just described something above ARS, because ARS can't handle certain things.Also: Quote: There's no way to create a 'hidden' ARS that does everything normal ARS does and more, without adding ARS to the simulation (and further enhancing it). As JamesN said, this is a non-trivial task.Then it became clear to me that was no need to "reinvent the wheel" by trying to shoehorn in a "super ARS" when simply adding existing ARS code to sims that don't have it (hiding it behind an option when it didn't exist in real life) would achieve everything I needed and also teach me the value, limitations and pitfalls of this marvellous feature instead of forcing me to find a sim that would let me run it comfortably (so far, only Swindon is totally satisfactory for now but there are probably a few payware ones that do it as well or even better). Steamer also asked: Quote: The main thrust of your argument appears to be "Why not make a mode that allows the user to do absolutely nothing"- in which case, why play SimSig (or indeed any computer game/simulation) at all? My immediate reaction was "Yes, why am I suddenly finding myself enjoying Swindon so much more when ARS-enabled than any other sim I've tried before". It may not run continuously, but it's the first sim I can run with enough precision to achieve a much higher score than ever before and feel proud of my efforts. When I was a practising musician, my teachers all told me to get each difficult part of a piece exactly right before moving onto the next one, and they were right. Instead of always playing sloppily and never rising above this, I learned each difficult area until it became second nature, then moved on. Another teacher once said "adjust your speed so that no one part of a piece is any harder to play than any other". And the same applies to SimSig. I don't forever want to be stuck at playing the sim at half or three-quarter speed just so I can remove backlogs, I want to play it at normal speed but still be able to localize myself temporarily to difficult areas until slower trains are held back for just long enough to allow faster trains to pass them. This usually involves flitting from Show Timetable for one train to that of another and comparing arrival and departure times at the same timing point, etc. I then usually write these down somewhere, either on a handy sticky note near the timing point, or less conveniently on a piece of paper. ARS allows me to temporarily forget the rest of the sim while I get just that bit of extra time I need in the area I'm working, then have the satisfaction of seeing things going to plan. I can always turn off a bit more of the ARS later to retain the challenge, but it's always the first few runs of the TT when I need it the most. That's mainly why I suggested building ARS into all sims. I can always write notes to myself about how to achieve the desired result in any location for a particular TT, and maybe add them to existing documentation, but there's no guarantee they will stay in there, as they may need to be updated, and those who hate seeing what they consider to be "spoonfeeding" in the Wiki are likely to quickly remove them without my knowing. Now, returning to screen recording. A great idea, but IMO if it will take so long to implement ARS for all sims, think of the overhead and additional interface of building in a screen recorder, even without audio. Sure, the devs might sneak in a third party module without telling us (discoverable only by examining the binary code!) but then they have less ability to customize someone else's meager effort to SimSig. Again, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. A quick glance reveals a number of off-the-shelf, free screen and audio packages that any of us can obtain here. They all used to be payware, expensive and difficult to use, particularly the SWF format ones, and limited to Windows. The most famous (difficult/notorious?) is Techsmith's Camtasia, not particularly freeware, but as the links below show, it has plenty of free contenders such as CamStudio, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_screencasting_software Best Free Screen Session Recorder Best Free Session Recorder Top 5 Best Free Screen Recording Software For Windows And on it goes. It's a while since I've felt the need to create movies of gameplay, and the best apps for this have changed. I still like Jing. You should all read the comments regarding the various choices at the bottom of each review page. Each product takes a bit of learning. I think CamStudio may be a good solution. If one of these products don't fill the bill I will be happy to consider creating something dedicated to SimSig. Temple Meads wrote in post #46 Quote: Max, I can see where you're coming from with most of your suggestions, but from my point of view, taking into account SimSig's position as a simulation, not a game (yes, this point is continually bought up, but it's a key one), I'd much prefer to see new simulations, and development of things such as a more realistic phone call system, particularly as the best way to learn about SimSig is just to get stuck in and get very, very, confusedTrue, but others might find this very, very discouraging and the learning curve a lot steeper than envisaged. That's why I prefer a well-written, fully documented document to dispel confusion. Some official publications employ the right people for this job, others are abysmal. When no ambiguities remain, clarity prevails. Last edited: 06/02/2015 at 04:29 by maxand Log in to reply |
| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 05/02/2015 at 23:13 #68899 | |
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peterb
451 posts |
Post deleted - rule 6 violation Peter Last edited: 06/02/2015 at 06:44 by Peter Bennet Log in to reply The following user said thank you: slatteryc |
| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 06/02/2015 at 01:16 #68908 | |
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maxand
1637 posts |
Post deleted - rule 6 violation Peter Last edited: 06/02/2015 at 06:44 by Peter Bennet Log in to reply |
| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 06/02/2015 at 05:36 #68913 | |
northroad
870 posts |
" said:I'm thinking that this topic has really run its course and has degenerated a bit: so while I'll not lock it yet that's an option that's a probability if hostilities continue.Judging by the lat two swipes at each other this may be a good idea before anyone else chips in again Log in to reply |
| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 06/02/2015 at 06:30 #68916 | |
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maxand
1637 posts |
Post deleted - rule 6 violation (ish) Peter Last edited: 06/02/2015 at 06:45 by Peter Bennet Log in to reply |
| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 06/02/2015 at 09:52 #68927 | |
lazzer
605 posts |
I think this thread is done now.
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| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 06/02/2015 at 10:09 #68928 | |
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peterb
451 posts |
Seriously Max, it would be easier for you to make your points and appreciate where you're coming from if it weren't for walls of text with long words and/or ramble I don't understand. That way you'd be more likely to get inclined readers! And if watching live signalling diagrams is what you're after, these are available from a number of sources online. Thread over. Last edited: 06/02/2015 at 18:10 by peterb Log in to reply |
| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 06/02/2015 at 19:57 #68949 | |
ozrail
197 posts |
You can take a person to SimSig, but that doesn't make them a Signaller. Still I don't have Cable TV so this is both entertaining and annoying at the same time. Farewell thread.
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| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 06/02/2015 at 20:29 #68950 | |
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delticfan
476 posts |
" said:You can take a person to SimSig, but that doesn't make them a Signaller. Still I don't have Cable TV so this is both entertaining and annoying at the same time. Farewell thread.I'm the same ozrail, I don't have tv so my PC including Simsig of course is my entertainment centre. I just enjoy learning as I play. Mal. Log in to reply |
| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 06/02/2015 at 21:11 #68953 | |
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Foulounoux
26 posts |
Why not create two versions of SimSig Version real As now a simulator that reflects real signalling practice Version arcade. Simsig as per max requests. This becomes a game not a simulation I know which one I prefer Colin Log in to reply |
| Look Ma - SimSig no hands 06/02/2015 at 22:24 #68956 | |
Peter Bennet
5362 posts |
OK move along now nothing to see here any more. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply The following users said thank you: postal, BarryM |