Custom Support Structures/Sculptures...

What is your take on those really elaborate and time consuming custom support structures / sculptures? There is no way that the support structure makes the actual ride any better, so why do these types of rides get such high ratings?

Sure, I'll give credit where credit is due, it's a nice accomplishment to make a sculpture out of supports. But most of these rides are strictly average when you look past the sculptures. So, what di you think?

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"X" marks the spot in 2001!

Custom supports can add visuals when riding the coaster, so I say it's a plus. They also make it look more realistic, and thats what the simulator wants, realism.
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I totally agree to an extent. I give credit to anyone who can build those crazy Schwarzkopf supports.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Jeff, what Shwarzkoph supports are you talking about? Do you mean the supports around the loop?

If sculptures improve the ride experience, I will rate higher for them. On Eiffel Towere Extreme, a ride with the Eiffel Tower made of supports, I gave it good ratings. The Eiffel Tower helped, because it was cool to go up the side. If it was to the side, say, next to the station, I wouldn't have rated it as high, because it only was cool because the ride went through it. On another ride, you went through a zero G roll and were surrounded by supports. It gave a really cool effect, so I rated higher. Personall, I could never make anything close to the Eiffel Tower.

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If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge,would they call it Fed UP?

No, I mean the network of supports on pretty much any of the loopers. Because I have a photo of it in mind, take the Scorpion at BGT around the lower turns, for example. There are several supports that are very much not squares perpendicular to each other.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Where would I be able to find the download for Eiffel Tower Extreme? I've checked Coastergames and can't seem to find anything.
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Eiffel Tower Extreme is available for download at coastersims.com

It's definately time consuming, but it also definately adds a whole lot of visual quality to a coaster.

I spent well over a week creating a mock wooden coaster, and it has definately paid off! checked periodically side-by-side with the same coaster without any supports at all, and there is no comparison. To just put generic single vertical beams on a coaster, it just shows that you put no real effort to make it realistic as possible.

With the supports, not only does it add realism & visual quality, but you can also use it to your advantage. You can make a "support tunnel" either under the existing track above which already has supports, or just make some custom supports to create a sort of tunnel. t's been done, and 've done it myself. The results are much better than going with the generic tunnel given in No Limits.

I say the effort truly pays off if you make most of the coaster with custom supports... 've compared my first batch of coasters when all did was use the pre-fab supports, to the ones now which are mainly custom... no comparision!
I just wish it'd be a LTTLE easier to create supports by having more complicated pre-fabricated supports, but hey... beggers can't be choosers!!!

*** This post was edited by DawgByte II on 1/15/2002. ***

DawgByte II said:

To just put generic single vertical beams on a coaster, it just shows that you put no real effort to make it realistic as possible

I wouldn't say that, because some people have a life (not directed to you or anyone else). I don't have the time to make every part of a coaster have custom supports, barely enough to just put supports on it.

Back to the topic, I think custom supports do add to the coaster, however it can be over done. The Eiffel Tower ride slowed my frame rate to 20 (it's usually around 60) . Yes, the ride looked great, but how do these people have time to do all that?!?

Also, what can I do to get the best frame rate possible?

*** This post was edited by FanTurn on 1/15/2002. ***

FanTurn, if you have the time to design coasters, you have the time to design supports. Nobody (at least nobody should) sits around for hours, making the enitre coaster in one session, from track layout to support structure. For me, I'll spend a half hour a day on it every one or two days, and I'll usually get it finished in a week. I could get them to run smoother, and look better if I spent 2 weeks on them, but I don't feel like working on the same thing that long.
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Right. Look at the supports I made on Steel Comet. I took about 3-4 hours to design the track, spread out over a few days, and then took 4-5 hours to do the supports, spread out over about a week. I produce fewer coasters, but they're quality. Right now, I'm beginnign the support work for my newest coaster, only my 7th No Limits coaster (that I actually finished). So, 7 coasters in 2.5 months isn't much, but I like to think that I make good rides, with realistic supports. I want my coaster to look like a park built it...not some guy with a coaster game.
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