Back to the course creator in GT5

[smskeeter23]

Since we STILL DON'T HAVE THE COURSE CREATOR in GT6 I've all of a sudden rediscovered the entertainment factor found in GT5.

My intent is to revert to an earlier version and start modding cars again. But that will leave my kids heartbroken because we'll lose their favorite jump track.

So I set out to see if I can replicate it (or something as fun for them) and I must admit the giggle factor with the AI on some of the tracks was pretty high.

What kind of tracks have you guys been making lately?

 

[cjr3559]

I was late to the party and never took advantage of the CM in GT5, but this thread got me interested so I went back and checked it out. I basically just picked random numbers with the longest track distance and came up with a decent track. I guess it's a good tool to keep things interesting once the track library gets stale. Just hoping the GT6 CM turns out to better than GT6 B-spec after all the wait.

 

[smskeeter23]

Yeah I never used the CM in GT5 much either. Never spent much time with it.

But I did see last night what others said in the past about being able to make some interesting things by spending a bit of time searching a good initial layout and then tweaking the settings a bit.

It's sad though that after more than a year and a half to do something new I need to go backwards by almost 5 years.

 

[another_jakhole]

I was late to the party and never took advantage of the CM in GT5, but this thread got me interested so I went back and checked it out. I basically just picked random numbers with the longest track distance and came up with a decent track. I guess it's a good tool to keep things interesting once the track library gets stale. Just hoping the GT6 CM turns out to better than GT6 B-spec after all the wait.

Hmm, I think I remember a couple of your posts from when you first started playing GT5. I don't know. I have a strange memory. Anyway, don't use the biggest numbers all of the time. Don't always set the number of sectors to the highest amount. You'll see what I mean. Start changing the settings in a way that appear (slightly) counter-intuitive.

 

[quatschkopp]

My intent is to revert to an earlier version and start modding cars again. But that will leave my kids heartbroken because we'll lose their favorite jump track.

It's really sad to read about this. Especially if you'd knew, that all the data you'd need to bypass PD's lacks of exporting/importing a custom track to the PS3 Filesystem (and thus further down to USB) is being present inside a replay file. It's all there.. in all its glory (and even with a matching hash).
It could be taken apart (like ripped) and re-integrated into the PS3 filesystem, if PD had chosen to allow this..

Thumbs down for this, everyone..

 

[smskeeter23]

@quatschkopp

So are you saying that tracks "can" be added back in after reinstalling the game?

Edit: Ok I think I see what you're saying. That the data is there just that PD made it impossible to do.

 

[quatschkopp]

@smskeeter23

Technically, yes. There would be a way which I can't further talk about here.

Exactly, the data for each "course creator" generated track is part of a replay file. PD most probably just didn't think of exporting/importing that data to/from USB (like a savegame, or exporting Photo mode pictures) - or they actively refused to do so. Who knows..
If I recall correctly, they however allowed User courses to be uploaded and being shared back in the days when online services were still up and running.

The topic might be worth some more research... I think I might then be able to read the settings for each user generated track, like:
- this track has x sectors
- sector 1 has a complexity setting of y and a width of z and/or whatnot
Basically, showing all user inputted values for each track.

But, as I haven't looked into that up to now.. I'm not sure how the terrain data is created - especially if you're not satisfied with your track and create a new terrain with the other settings untouched. If it is based on pure random data, there would be no way to fully re-create old tracks even if you had all other settings for the track.
On the other side, if the terrain is not generated in a random way but follows a pattern (when creating a new terrain).. it might be possible to fully re-create tracks in game.
For example, if they have a set of let's say 50 pre-generated terrains and just shift throught them when you click on new, it would be very possible.

At a best guess (without going for a deep research yet), the terrain is randomly generated.

I'll have a look into it

*UPDATE*

I must admit, I totally forgot about that you can edit a previously generated course. Meaning, you can see all the settings for the course with in game methods already.

On the other side, when trying to create a complete new course, I wasn't able to re-create my test-candidate. Even when clicking 99 times on "New Track" to generate a new one (and the game then refused to create further new tracks).

Well, I think it depends on how old your kids are, and if they'd recognize that their "jump track" is looking a little bit different now. If you can convince them that it ever has looked this way, you might be good to go
On the other side, your game might have crashed bad while the kids were busy with something else and you would have had to reinstall it - while loosing the track data.. But that decision is up to you

 

[smskeeter23]

Hahaha yeah the boys are 7 and 10 and they know it VERY well. This is the infamous "Wings of the red Dragon" track where the X20xx cars fly so far they hit the track barriers in the sky sometimes lol

I might be interested in talking to you offline about those other possibilities though

 

[ToyGTone]

I came back to GT5 like almost a week ago and I enjoyed making some random generated tracks. I created a Mt aso theme track with high speed hilly course and then did a race with 15 A.I and just laugh everytime they go over bumper and jumps and then ended up similar to what you posted basically.

But still, my favorite track is still the wings of the ring which I got just over a month before GT6 release. I hope we will be able to recreate that in GT6 course maker....that if it will even come out.

 

[Manasseh257NSX]

I was late to the party and never took advantage of the CM in GT5, but this thread got me interested so I went back and checked it out. I basically just picked random numbers with the longest track distance and came up with a decent track. I guess it's a good tool to keep things interesting once the track library gets stale. Just hoping the GT6 CM turns out to better than GT6 B-spec after all the wait.

I'm with you man. I too was late to the CM party. I got GT5 about a month after it's release but never used the CM to it's potential. I went back to GT5 back in June because I got bored of the current tracks and wanted to create something new, and I never realized how good of a track you could make with this thing. The track below took me about 30 min. (Due to the repeated times I had to test) The environment and setting around it is very boring and not very lively like I would like but the track is great nevertheless! The track is known as

East Coast City Raceway

I plan on having this track in a city environment or urban setting once GT6's CM comes out. (If it is possible)
​

(Ignore the date created. It says August 22 because I tried to edit the name and ended up saving it as a whole other track)

Tracks stats

Length: 4.56 miles
Longest Straightaway: 0.61 miles
Elevation Change: 284.8 ft.
Corners: 35
Fastest Lap time: 2:05.7 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP

 

[GTHuayra]

My two favorite creations are the Asterione Circuit and the Rascasse Raceway.

Asterione Circuit:

Length: 4.61 Miles
Longest Straight: 0.83 Miles? or 0.69 Miles
Template: Eifel Circuit
Corners: 28
Fastest Lap: 2.38.446 in the Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Rascasse Raceway

Length: 6.08 Miles
Longest Straight: 0.57 Miles
Template: Rainy Eifel
Corners: 69
Fastest Lap: 4.01.998 in the Nissan R89C

Asterione is a long version of Paul Ricard and Rascasse is a soggy, dark mini-Nurburgring.