Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!scea!peter_alau@playstation.sony.com
From: "Manny Najera" <mannyn@ix.netcom.com>
Newsgroups: scea.yaroze.programming.3d_graphics
Subject: 3D racetracks
Date: 16 Jun 1998 22:15:11 GMT
Organization: Flash Games
Lines: 22
Message-ID: <01bd9975$08f8fa40$59b5dccf@mannynaj>
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I asked this question about a year ago, but I think now I'm in a better
position to understand the answer:  How do you go about creating a 3D
racetrack?

After drawing up some sort of 3D track, you have to include the collision
detection between the car and the road.  A SCEE member created a track that
lied entirely in one plane, and that track was divided into many
rectangular sections.  In his program, he checks to see which rectangle the
car lies in, then does the appropriate adjustments.  Do other racing games
(Hover Racing in particular) use this method, or a modified version
thereof?

Here is my thinking:  After the track is drawn up, or before, a 3D model
consisting of nothing but 4-sided panels is created out of the road part of
the track.  For each of the four tires (the only part of the car touching
the road) the program finds out which panel they're touching, and where
inside the panel they are touching.  With this information, a calculation
of the tire's height is performed.  The locations of the four tires then
determines the orientation of the car.  The four tires also form a
convinent box for collisions with other cars.  Does this seem feasible?

Manny Najera