This update has been in the works for a while, and completely changes how maps are loaded, viewed, saved and edited.
Large maps like the famous Nevada, Arizona and Utah use to take 5 minutes+ to load, now you can load it in a matter of seconds!
Parts of the map are now loaded in as-needed, which means you can load up a huge map just as fast as any normal map.
View distance optimizations have also been added, so all custom maps should now run much, much smoother! You can change how these new optimizations behave in the "Graphics -> custom track" menu.
Saving is also now infinitely faster!
In fact you can save in a matter of seconds even on the largest maps.
Along with these optimizations there is also now an entirely new editing system.
There is now a portable "edit tool" which you use to enable editing at a chosen point (instead of needing to enable editing for the entire layout!). Use the tool to choose the layer you want to edit (track, tables etc) the point and click to select the area you want to modify.
After making changes simply choose "apply changes" on the edit tool, and all your edits will be applied.
This new editing system means you can easily edit small parts of HUGE layouts with no limits, and you can build absolutely everywhere on the map without needing to worry about the old "edit regions".
Plus lots of other small bug fixes, features and changes:
Here's the full list of changes made in this update:
- Added edit tool to the game
- Both an edit tool and controller automatically show up in your belt when you load a save
- Made significant optimizations to loading maps
- Made significant optimizations to saving maps
- Added LOD (level of detail) to custom maps
- Added a new "custom track" sub-menu in the "graphics" menu, which has options relating to the new chunk system
- Added a couple of new grass props (a patch of grass & a large grass tuft)
- planes now show up in the custom table room
- Changed the custom track tutorial to reflect the new editing system
This update has involved a lot of re-writing large parts of the games programming, so there are bound to be small bugs yet to be spotted.
Keep an eye out for anything unusual (specifically around saving & loading layouts) and make sure to post in the "bug reporting" thread.
Next up is going to be some quick fun content for Halloween! (plus a sale on all of my games).
After Halloween, the Santa Fe update will be in full swing with a goal of being released before the end of November!
There will also hopefully be a new magazine issue coming out all about the Nevada, Arizona and Utah map!
In the mean time, I hope everyone is happy with these much-needed improvements to the game.
Enjoy!