[SM] Rocket Building 101

[Kev]

Scenario: Six Flags Houston has a really sad coaster line-up and they know it. They have decided to hire [insert your name here] from Intamin to design and build one of those new-fangled rocket coasters that everybody is talking about these days. They don't want just any old rocket coaster though, with just a top hat and a few turns. No, that just won't satisfy those picky Texans in the Houston area. They want all of the fun and excitement that you would find from riding a looping coaster, hypercoaster, or even wooden coaster. You see, it will probably be another 20 years before they build another coaster, so this one is going to have to last. So?????????..are you up for the challenge?

Challenge: Design and build a rocket coaster within the specified build area (download link for template file: http://www.coastercrazy.com/users/kev/Roc ... ate.smpark ) , following all of the provided rules and restrictions, and sending to kev@coastercrazy.com before 12:00 PM (CST) on February 11, 2004.

Rules

Track AND supports to remain within the build area.
Track length to be within 3,500-4,500 feet.
Track height not to exceed 250 feet.
Existing track and station in template file must NOT be moved or altered.
Build area boundaries in template file must NOT be moved or altered.
Terrain must NOT be altered.

Please follow all of the above rules to prevent disqualification!

Allowances

You may change the colors of the track and trains.
You may add trees.
You may add 3d objects.
You may add car textures.
You may use either the dragster trains or hyper trains.

Scoring System

0-40 points: Technical (track shaping and banking, adequate support system, acceptable g-forces*, etc)
0-30 points: Excitement (Is it fun? Does it have airtime? Is it intense?)
0-30 points: Originality (Is the layout unique? Is the support system unique? Is the theme unique?)

0-10 bonus points: Theme (good use of 3d objects**, trees, cartextures, custom environment, etc.)

Member with the highest score wins!

*Acceptable g-forces for this contest are as follows:

Positive G: 5g max.
Negative G: -1.5g max.
Lateral G: 1g max.

**Using 3D objects has always been possible, but is even easier with the latest version of Scream Machines. Scream Machines now supports the use of 3ds files, which is the same format that is supported by No Limits. Because of this, you have many opportunities that you didn't have before. Check out some of the links at www.coastercandy.com for pre-made 3d objects. One link you may want to check out in particular is this one provided by rtgenxr: http://d1jlserver.dnsalias.net/CCDev2/p ... fm?fid=338 . Of course, you can always make your own objects too! Whatever you want to do, but if you use someone else?????????s objects, please credit them for it. It will not affect your score if you don't make your own objects.

Quick Recap

Download template file here: http://www.coastercrazy.com/users/kev/Roc ... ate.smpark

Build rocket coaster using the template and following all of the rules.

Submit coaster no later than 12:00PM (CST) on Feb. 11, 2004 to this address: kev@coastercrazy.com

Contestants:
1: -1- -02/07/04- sns2015
2: -3- -02/10/04- coasterbum
3: -1- -02/10/04- shaggszgn
4: -0- -00/00/00- Your name here!
5: -0- -00/00/00- Your name here!
6: -0- -00/00/00- Your name here!
7: -0- -00/00/00- Your name here!
8: -0- -00/00/00- Your name here!
9: -0- -00/00/00- Your name here!
10: -0- -00/00/00- Your name here!

(there is no limit on the amount of people joining)

(First column is your number, second column is the number of times you sent in a track, thrid column tells you the date I recieved your most recent entry. Your last entry will be your participating ride)

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Good Luck and Have Fun! [:)]

[Kev]

Any questions? Post them in this thread for answers. [:)]

those links for the template dont have a template in it, it just has the turn, no boundries or anything

[Kev]

The boundaries ARE in the template. Make sure that you have supports set to "on". You can find this option in the "grid" tab. [:)]

Do we have to say that we are signing up, or just give send you the file when we're done with it?

[Kev]

You can just send the file to me when you are done, but I guess it would be cool to know how many people are working on this. Let's do both. [:)]

Originally posted by Kev

You can just send the file to me when you are done, but I guess it would be cool to know how many people are working on this. Let's do both. [:)]

I made a little signup list, just put the contestants on it as soon as they sign up.

[Kev]

Thanks! [:)]

In that case, go ahead and sign me up!

[Kev]

Done! Thanks for participating. [:)]

You can sign me up also.

[Kev]

Done!

[Kev]

Just a few more days left until the time is up. If you're going to participate, then you better hurry! [:)]

Oh you did recieve my coaster OK. I thought everything bounced back LOL.

I just submitted my coaster to the main exchange, you can find it there.

Staff edit: link removed.

[Kev]

Hey thanks for submitting your coaster. I've removed it from the exchange, but will post it after the contest is over. Don't forget to use the email address in my original post to submit any future tracks.

Thanks! [:)]

Ok, I was wondering why it suddenly got removed...

Turthfully, I think the lateral g's are too low for this type of coaster. IMO +/- 1.5 should be the limit, but that's just me.

Also, what happends if someone dosen't meet you g force limits? Just wondering, [:)]

[Kev]

just a slight deduction in score. I'm really not too picky about Gs.

How do I find out how long the track is? I see no where anywhere where this info would be stored.

[Kev]

In the editor, click on the track tab (second tab at the bottom of the screen, the one next to 'grid'). After doing this, you will see a coordinate box on the right side of the screen. Click the 'compute' button in this box, and it will calculate the total length of the track, plus the overall g forces and speed for the track.

Ahhh. Thats what i get for not reading the manual eh? I kept getting just the track segment lengths, didnt realize in the Coaster Color tab you could do that. I see it gives total max readouts as well.

Well im 18ft over. Is that disqualification? The last 18ft come courtesy of a hidden segment when I connect. Or it would be nearly right on 4500. Might just shrink the whole thing too if its that big a deal.

[Kev]

Yeah, I'm afraid it would be a disqualification the extra length. See if you can get rid of that 18 feet. [:)]

[Oscar]

18 ft track can be easily shortened from any track imo, cut a little here a little there and so on.

Yea I got it down to 4440. Though, had to reshape alot of other elements. Bringing down my airtime hills increased some of my tight low turns to 5.2 G's. I wanted to stay within all the marks so I had to redesign a few things. On to supports [xx(]

BTW i think 1.0 on lats is VERY generous. Ive never heard of intamins haveing "high lats". The only thing they usually ever remotely have is rotational G's. In fact ive talked to several who say especially those buckles on Goliath are more leaning and not really pushing laterals. I think Ive gotten mine down to 0.7.