European Cargo Set (ECS) - PROJECT LEADER NEEDED!

[Purno]

I've been thinking about a cargo set with verhicles from all kinds of European Countries, since cargo transport usaly crosses lots of borders. In the Netherlands I see cargo carriages from Germany, Belgium, and lots of cargo where I don't know it's coming from (I once thought I saw something from China ). So maybe it's an idea to create a cargo set containing cargo carriages from all over Europe. Since the only cargo set there is contains mostly German carriages.

Who likes this idea and who wants to do some work (drawing, coding, research, thinking) on it?

BTW: I've started drawing some things

[broodje]

well you don't have to look long for fans .

I already wanted diferend goods cars for the nsset. So I will suport you .

Not now though as I will write in the dutchset topic anymoment now....

[Saskia]

Great Idea! You should create a set only containing cargo wagons from whole europe, and another set with freight locos. So you can choose engines from a country you want You could play a game in NL or D or CH with the same international wagons

PS: You may use my universal/freight engines, of course, if you want! Just wait until they are ready

[Purno]

Great Idea!

Would you like to do some nfo-coding for this set?

[Saskia]

I'll try

[Purno]

Thanks a lot!

[Colonel32]

Are you planing to overwrite existing cargo carriges (original ugly ones?)
or use new ID's for new wagons?

[mauro]

Purno, this is a great idea!
I'd love to help you, but time won't permit me right now...

Maybe someone can make a template grf-file for cargo wagons? I think this makes it really easy for artists to test graphics in-game. What's more, editing an nfo-file is not that difficult if you know what values to change... (Even artist can do it ) So a documented grf-template would be great!

I'm sure it would encourage me to make a quick drawing, 'cause you will get immediate result (I like that )

Wouldn't this make the whole process from drawings 'till ingame graphics a lot easier? And it could decrease the shortage in nfo-files a bit. (There are too many graphics without nfo's right now)

Anyone sharing my vision?

[Purno]

Are you planing to overwrite existing cargo carriges (original ugly ones?)
or use new ID's for new wagons?

Ehmm.... Well if I understand correctly, if we use new IDs, the cargo set will not be compatible with other graphics sets (DB-set, NS-set, US-set, etc...) so we need to use existing IDs, but I think we need more IDs. I was planned, for example, to make more than one oil tank carrier. So that's a bit of a problem.

________________________

Mauro, yes indeed that would be useful.

________________________

Right now we have te following people willing to help:
- me, as a graphics artist
- broodje, as coder
- Saskia, as graphics artist and a bit of a coder
- mauro, as graphics artist
________________________

What next??? Making example nfo? Making a list of carriages we want to include? ...?

[Saskia]

Last night, I've thought about a simple "compiler" that generates NFO code ... I think I'll try to program something like this

[mauro]

- mauro, as graphics artist (and coder???)

I can't code

[Purno]

- mauro, as graphics artist (and coder???)

I can't code

It's changed. I thought you could code because I thought you're the only one working on the Belgian Trainset.

[mauro]

For the Belgian Set i just copy-pasted my graphics over the dbset and adjusted the xsize, ysize, xrel and yrel in the nfo. I'm hoping a nice tool for nfo coding will be ready when the graphics of the Belgian set will be (finally) finished.

So Saskia, I'm really really interested in the "compiler" you are planning to make. Good luck!

[Purno]

For the Belgian Set i just copy-pasted my graphics over the dbset and ajusted the xsize, ysize, xrel and yrel in the nfo. I'm hoping a nice tool for nfo coding will be ready when the graphics of the Belgian set will be (finally) finished.

Isn't that in violation with MB's copyrights???

[krtaylor]

You don't need to worry about making this set compatible with the US set or the Japan set. Those will have their own freight cars, and you wouldn't expect European freight cars to show up there anyway. I don't think you can be compatible with the DBXL set either, because he uses all the freightcar IDs, or at least the ones left are odd. Not sure though.

[mauro]

I don't think so...

As far as i know, he can't complain as long as the "decompilation" is for private use only. I can do with his grf-files whatever i want on my own computer... Although i don't remember exactly if decompilation is allowed for personal use here in Belgium (I once attended a course in "Law and ICT").

I don't think he has any reason to claim that i have stolen his work...

[Purno]

But Mauro, can you release the NMBS/SNCB-set without getting troubles with MB???

[Snorbuckle]

I might be able to draw some stuff. Btw Purno, I added you to MSN so I can ask you noobish graphics questions when they arise.

I'd feel a lot more confident about doing cargo than engines.

[Purno]

I might be able to draw some stuff.

Wow! That would be great!

Btw Purno, I added you to MSN so I can ask you noobish graphics questions when they arise.

I added you too, but you probably already noticed.

I'd feel a lot more confident about doing cargo than engines.

You mean cargo is easier? Well that depends on the kind of engine. In the Netherlands we have some engines which are almost a box, so they aren't much work. Some cargo is more difficult to draw like sand or pipes. And cargo cars need more sprites: empty, half-empty, full, loading, not-loading, etc. etc. but it would be fun to have a european cargo set!

[Snorbuckle]

Are you trying to put me off? <_<