TM Creative Forum

Hello peeps, I'm a game developer (3d modeler) and I like trackmania

The model's triangles count is under 3600 and I've repeated it for all model levels.
zip structure:


This is my first model for the game, I made it in about 5 hours from idea to this result on 3ds max 9 and photoshop, while looking at various tutorials on the net, but the ones that helped the most (or 99%) were these:

for textures and sounds:
http://www.tm-creative.org/tutorials/use...p#section4
for model:
http://99.235.192.175/UGG/Downloads/Tuto...or_tmu.htm
Since I'm ok in modeling and texturing, I only really needed the file formats specifications.

I've already added the engine sounds and it's all looking good, but one thing is bugging me a lot. I can't figure how to model the projshad cone. I've tried several shapes and sizes but it always results in a giant arrow on the track isntead of the simple circular shadow I want...
From the tutorial: "ProjShad - a cone shaped, unseen mesh that will be used to project a shadow on the road below the car, uses the Projshad.dds file."
There are tutorials showing to how MAKE the projshad.dds TEXTURE, but this is a very simple texture I could make with a simple click on photoshop. My problem is making this cone object for the game to use. My texture is good.

Now I'll flood you with images

My reference:



The WIP:



The problem:



Shapes I've tried for the ProjShad object:



This is how the texture file Projshad.dds looks (it's in dds of course)


There is also a problem with the gBody parts, they aren't colored blue, they are transparent black. I think I'm ok with just making them sBody without transparence but correct color and live with it.

Windshield and headlights are black they should be teal:


Does anybody know what do I need to shape the projshad object correctly?

Oh and also, I've tried to play online. I stayed on the server with about 10 players for 3 consecutive races and nobody still couldn't see my car...

so 3 problems:
1 - How to model the shadow cone
2 - transparent parts are black tinted (should be teal)
3 - car isn't uploading? (I do have a TMU serial key, and I THINK I'm using it, but not sure)

I've fixed the shadow, but still got the 2 other problems

Well, the transparent thing is probably because you have set a wrong kind of alpha layer.
You can find some info about that here:
http://www.tm-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=16817
The uploading problem can be because you maybe behind a router or haven't opened the correct ports (2350 and 3450). To see if your acc. is TMU authenticated, goto your profile, and in the bottom you should see: Account type: United.

Thanks, I'll look into that transparency tutorial!

About the connection, I have tested with a different car and people could see it, but they can't see my car. How can that be...

Adding a locator worked for the connectivity issue

now with a video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcYa7s2QBFM