Normal maps in Richard Burns Rally

[UPCPC-IvanThaDriver]

Hi

I have a question concerning what I wrote before here

http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/btb-improvements.81438/page-3#post-1644320

I have found following screenshots in depths of my hard drive (attachments). Would it be possible to add such shaders to Bob Track Builder for Richard Burns Rally?

 

[ebrich]

Shouldn't think so. If it knocks your fps down to 20, I cannot see much point.

 

[UPCPC-IvanThaDriver]

These screenshots are around 10 years old or more, and they weren't done on my computer. Now machines are ultrapowerful compared to these years, normal maps really aren't a problem

 

[ebrich]

That's why the author of BTB made RTB. The shaders are so much better in the modern sims so he had a complete different base point to make his software.

I don't know how you would do it but the only thing possible, that I can think of , would be to start in BTB and use 3dsmax or Blender to make the texturing up to your requirements. Blender has a plugin for rF1 and 2.

https://forum.studio-397.com/index.php?threads/rfactor-import-export-scripts-for-blender.48926/

 

[UPCPC-IvanThaDriver]

Wow, I was out of touch with that for a long time, I didn't know new RTB tool appeared. I am stuck with Bobs Track Builder 0.8.0.0 and tried to edit shaders in FX directory after export but this is beyond my skills now. Now I read http://www.racetrackbuilder.com/Home/About that it doesn't output tracks straight to game like BTB but just produces FBX files. In this situation I guess maybe someone with shader programming knowledge could modify BTB .FX files to cover normal maps and maybe some additional reflection/roughness maps stuff. By the way I am interested only in Richard Burns Rally and no other game at all.

 

[ebrich]

I've never exported to Rich B. Rally so I know nothing of the texture files that are used, except for the fact they came from BTB. If it's normals (Bump maps) you want BTB export them.

 

[UPCPC-IvanThaDriver]

There are such files in RX_CONTENT\Tracks\TrackName\FX directory :


BTB_DiffuseSpecular.fx
BTB_DiffuseBumpSpecular.fx
BTB_DiffuseVertLerp.fx
BTB_DiffuseSpecularVertLerp.fx
BTB_DiffuseMultiplyAddVertLerp.fx
BTB_DiffuseMultiplyAdd.fx
BTB_DiffuseBumpVertLerp.fx
BTB_DiffuseBumpSpecularVertLerp.fx
BTB_Diffuse.fx
BTB_DiffuseBump.fx
scattering.h
fx.ini
sky.fx
clouds.fx


it's possible to edit them manually (text files). Some have "Bump" in their name but I don't see any bumps in game. Maybe someone could modify them so it would look for texture name given inside but with _NORMAL suffix, this way even people who didn't create already existing tracks would be able to upgrade them. I suppose some more advanced shaders could be possible (maybe some sun system)

 

[UPCPC-IvanThaDriver]

Here is yet another screenshot I have found

 

[UPCPC-IvanThaDriver]

I am working on my own BTB tracks including very big parking place playground with dragstrip, karting track, drift area, driving exam area etc

so I am very interested in bringing RBR shaders to modern standards. BTW using this occasion I would like to ask if someone could point me to engine sound edition tool. I am a sound engineer and I think about making a live vst-based mod which would add effects to engine sound (subbass after octaver etc)

 

[martinez]

Hi,
- Original RBR uses only Diffuse and Specular shaders. There are also textured and vertex shadows and texture blending possibilities (but I'm not sure if they are "shaders")

- RX_ plugin (BTB) uses Diffuse, Specular, Multiply and Bump (texture blending and multimaterial is allowed). I have never heard of textured and vertex paint (shadows) for RX_

- Additional maps made for native RBR format and exported from Wallaby Exporter (most common plugin here is "Czech plugin" - RBRTM) use only Diffuse shader (since DirectX there allows to use only one layer). Textured and vertex shadows are allowed though.

As far as I know, there is nobody in possesion of RBR original game source code and I don't know anybody who could "hack" into original game and do anything with shaders. And since RX_ has shader information specified in it's files, you can only experiment there, I think.

About engine sounds, there was some Japanese who could do this, I never had time to dig, I think the shortest way to find some info is to search YouTube for "Richard Burns Rally engine sound", there were some links for tutorials, but I;m afraid only in Japanese.

I hope it helps
M.

 

[UPCPC-IvanThaDriver]

Native RBR has something looking like roughness controlled reflection, I don't know if Wallaby is able to handle this. It would be something for building windows for example (I think about putting some cities into RBR)

 

[martinez]

This is one more thing that is not available any longer. But there is a trick. You can add as water surface some texture with around 25% transparency and as the "reflection" use the same meshes, but mirrored upside down. Or add new meshes, looking more rough.
There could be also some other half-transparent texture for "bottom" of the pond or you can leave it empty - then "water" will get actual sky color. Unless you don't add any special dome with 360 degree sky, the original sky in RBR is a sphere around everything.
If you like to have special texture for your skydome, you can use that mirrored object as well.