New Club Project 1/12/09

[Derwin]

O.K., fella's, I have been bouncing around an idea, and I think it's now time to get all of you involved, and even the membership when the time comes. The idea revolves around the creation of an interactive video game (yes, I'm 43 years old!) that has as it's focal point the Persu Hybrid. This video game will work on the 3 major platforms that are out today.... Playstation3, XBox, and the Nintendo Wii.

I have devised the skeleten of a story line for the game..... This game will be about "How to start a Car Company" or better yet... "How to usher in a new era of mobility" or something that will describe what Venture Vehicles/Persu Mobility is attempting to do.

It will basically start with the player deciding he wants to develop a new vehicle, and change the way people drive. We can even have aspects of the game begin with the player needing to go to Europe and "negotiate" with a company for certain tilting rights to start off the game.

The game can go on to several other levels mirroring the process that Persu has been going through over the past 3 to 4 years. Putting together a team of engineers; finding partners; obtaining funding; building an alpha, etc, etc.

The player would go through all of these levels in the attempt to get his car company up and running, and getting the vehicle developed. While going through the levels, the player will actually be RIDING in a finished Persu Hybrid, and getting a drivers view (at times), somewhat like the view in the link below, except our game would be much more interactive, and would have the vehicle actually traveling through the streets.

http://www.carverexperience.co.nz/inside.php

Well, that's the core idea that I have. Obviously the story line will need to be beefed up considerably, and we need to create all of the various levels and content of the levels. Graphics are yet another major aspect of this project.

I don't want this to be some cheap 1977 Atari-looking game with stick figures. This game will be completely modern using the same quality graphics that are in the best games on the market today.

I know...this is no small project. It is huge, and I do not underestimate what a massive undertaking this will be. But I think we can do it if we put our minds together, and tap into the talent base that exists in our membership.

The first thing that needs to be done is we need to put together a professional proposal of this project that I can present to Phil Oseas. By the way, Phil is a direct employee of Persu Mobility, and the club will be working directly with him from now on. We will no longer be going through Scot, who is simply an independent contractor of Persu.

Once we get some more ideas and can put them all together in a proposal, then I will submit it to PM for approval. This way we will be working on an official Persu authorized project....our very first! Then, when we get it approved, I think it will be time to open this project up to members who have the capabilities and ideas, and would like to help. But until then, we must keep this project TOP SECRET....FOR YOUR EYES ONLY.

Please give me some feedback.

Derwin

[Jack Willard]

(yes, I'm 43 years old!)

And I'm 58! And I don't do video games! wh;aa;aa;t1

Sounds like great fun for some young whippersnapper. But I'm seeing that giant movie theatre where you ride in seats that move with the wind blowing in your face. Disneyland I think it was. Now that would be interactive.

Okay, you want to FlyTheRoad? How about a new ground aircraft simulator plug-in for one of those existing programs? They already have oodles of background scenery. Or grab some existing scenery of winding mountain roads and Yosemite Valley maybe. Hmm... Google Earth Street View somewhere?

Forget the whole company storyline. Who cares? Just take people for a really fun and entertaining ride! Heck, that's what all of us are waiting for. Show em Ian's VISION in 3D. A real dream ride. The rest of it is caca. sc:oo:t:e:r4

[Derwin]

The rest of it is caca. sc:oo:t:e:r4

Hey....You callin' my idea CaCa? Why, I outta! an:arms:1 Just for that, I'm gonna pop a cap in your butt! :guns:

j:o"k'e)j:o"k'e)j:o"k'e)


Jack, If I put a lot of M-O-N-E-Y in this project, it's gonna have to be something that is MARKETABLE. Video-games with story lines and objectives are marketable, if put together in the right way.

By the way, I am NOT a video game guy. I think the last time I actually played a video game was about 10 or 15 years ago when the sega dreamcast came out. I do, though, play Tiger Woods Golf on the PS3 with family members. Actually, Tiger Woods Golf is the ONLY game that I own for the PS3, and the only game that I ever play. I'm just not a big video game guy myself. To me it's a collosal waste of time. But that's just MY opinion, and there is literally BILLIONS of dollars being made in this industry. So there are MILLIONS of people, of all ages, that love playing these games.

That being said, I think your idea of a 3-D type "viewer" would be nice, and a heck of a lot easier to produce. But don't you think poeple would get bored of that pretty fast? I don't know. I also don't know how exactly we could replicate the "feeling" of riding the Persu Hybrid. We have to come up with some ideas about that.

C'mon, people. Give us some more input about this. This is a work in progress, and we need to brainstorm on this to come up with something that is very unique, and would be interesting to most anyone. Maybe Jack is right.... We should try to come up with something that replicates what it will be like driving the Persu Hybrid. This alone would be a big project, and if done correctly, may even be marketable.

Derwin

[Derwin]

UPDATE: I just checked the google earth street level, and it's pretty impressive. But I don't see how it would work as a moving backdrop for this project. Every time I went to move forward, the image would go blurry for a moment, and then get clear. This would not work in a fast moving Persu Hybrid simulator, unless we could figure out how to avoid the blurriness.

Any other ideas?

[Jack Willard]

MM89 said
I live right at the base of Highway 191's famous Coronado trail aka devil's trail formerly known as route 666.

Heck, I live in the biker heaven mountains of Northern California. It's all tall trees, winding roads, whitewater rivers, alpine lakes and granite peaks. Fabulous backgrounds are not a problem. Then there is Highway 1 along the Pacific coast. Then there is Yosemite valley.

Attach a gyro-stabilized camera to any smooth riding vehicle and shoot lots of video while driving nice and slow to get "stop at anytime" resolution. Visualize that "Carver Experience" viewer with a video background running that you can speed up, slow down or stop. You can rotate the background by rotating the steering wheel. Use a 16:9 ratio panarama movie type lens for a wide view.

Plug your Ipod into it so you can play your favorite music during the ride. Open the side windows, turn on two side fans to catch the breeze, and add the road noise that you recorded on the video.

Add visual messages that reflect off the inside of the windshield, like "PASSING AREA" :burning:rubber:, "SLOW TURN AHEAD", "VISTA POINT HALF MILE AHEAD", "ENTERING WHITEWATER RIVER VIEWING AREA". Lots of possibilties with a "Heads-Up Aircraft Type Display". dr:ive1)You can have interactive display on the dashboard instruments. It's all about creating a Cockpit experience. Then you sell them lots of new video backgrounds of trips to add to their collection, from all over the country. 2thumb:up :whoohoo: cl:ap)1

[AZEqualizer]

I have done Beta testing on a bunch of games, most of which are MMOG (massive multiplayer online games), I have also been a GM (Game Manager) on several games that were both commercial and one that was based upon a Freeware release of Ultima Online. I was involved with three different groups that setup Ulitima Online Game worlds based upon Freeware code that was released to the public and then modified for public use.

Just using the public tools available this was a large undertaking and we had 80% of the graphics and lots of coding all ready established.

I don't think you realize the scope of this kind of project. Most Game Companies have multi million dollar budgets and take several years with a team of coders and graphic arts people to make a game.

Look at what has to be done to make a linear cartoon ... now you have to also make it with multi branching and this is just the graphics.

[Derwin]

I don't think you realize the scope of this kind of project. Most Game Companies have multi million dollar budgets and take several years with a team of coders and graphic arts people to make a game.

So, another idea shot down before it even gets out of the gate.

O.K. Let's just forget about it.

Oh, well. o:h"we"ll1

Derwin

[Jack Willard]

Oh, well. o:h"we"ll1

Derwin

Not so fast... Think VIEWER and BACKGROUNDS. Not a game. Now that would be MUCH more acheivable.

[Derwin]

Not so fast... Think VIEWER and BACKGROUNDS. Not a game. Now that would be MUCH more acheivable.

O.K. Aze....what about it? Is this doable? Is this within the realm of possibility?

Derwin

[AZEqualizer]

I don't exactly understand. Are you talking about a static view say out the windows like the MS flight simulator thing and then a moving backround of the terain that you see?

[Derwin]

I don't exactly understand. Are you talking about a static view say out the windows like the MS flight simulator thing and then a moving backround of the terain that you see?

AZE, We are just brainstorming here. Everything is open to discussion. We just want to come up with SOME way to give people a life-like experience of driving the Persu Hybrid.

Do you have any ideas of how we can do this or what we can create?

Derwin

[Miracleman89]

Well I will let you guys work out the technical details, as for me I think you would be better off with a different scheme for the game story line! One might think of a video game that would encompass all the latest hybrid vehicles not just the Persu, and have the story line work out something like:

You are fighting against an oil cartel who is determined to prove that hybrids and all electrics are nothing more then a fad and can't really keep up with regular gas powered cars! It is you job to win each race and prove that a hybrid /electric cars are the future!"

You can get footage of almost every major international raceway out there! Anyway, just a thought! I think if you could set it up similar to Gran Turismo you would sell those things like hot cakes! But it will really come down to marketing and gamers word of mouth!

[Derwin]

You are fighting against an oil cartel who is determined to prove that hybrids and all electrics are nothing more then a fad and can't really keep up with regular gas powered cars! It is you job to win each race and prove that a hybrid /electric cars are the future!"

I think that would be a good story line. It makes for good fiction at any rate! But I really wanted to have this centered around the Persu Hybrid, and not just a generic game about all EV/Hybrid vehicles.

That being said, I think its a moot point anyway since AZE claims this kind of project would simply be way beyond our means.

Derwin

[Jack Willard]

Are you talking about a static view say out the windows like the MS flight simulator thing and then a moving backround of the terain that you see?

Yes, exactly. See the Carver Experience viewer http://www.carverexperience.co.nz/inside.php



Visualize that "Carver Experience" viewer with a video background running that you can speed up, slow down or stop. You can rotate the background by rotating the steering wheel. Use a 16:9 ratio panarama movie type lens for a wide view.

Plug your Ipod into it so you can play your favorite music during the ride. Open the side windows, turn on two side fans to catch the breeze, and add the road noise that you recorded on the video.

Add visual messages that reflect off the inside of the windshield, like "PASSING AREA" :burning:rubber:, "SLOW TURN AHEAD", "VISTA POINT HALF MILE AHEAD", "ENTERING WHITEWATER RIVER VIEWING AREA". Lots of possibilties with a "Heads-Up Aircraft Type Display". dr:ive1)You can have interactive display on the dashboard instruments. It's all about creating a Cockpit experience. Then you sell them lots of new video backgrounds of trips to add to their collection, from all over the country. 2thumb:up :whoohoo: cl:ap)1

[Derwin]

Your idea is fantastic, Jack. But we need to check and see if this is even feasible. I'll be calling a few of my contacts overseas to see if they can create something like this.

Hopefully we can get this done and make something unique and fun.

Actually, should I move this conversation so the general membership can view it? I think it's safe now. What do you think?

Derwin

[Jack Willard]

Don't forget to send them this:

http://flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=815&stc=1&d=1231870991



Actually, should I move this conversation so the general membership can view it? I think it's safe now. What do you think?


You will sure get more input that way. It wouldn't surprise me if we have some members that work in related industries.

[Derwin]

Yes. That interior view is a must.

O.K., then. I'm going to move this to the public forum now.

Derwin

[Derwin]

Hello! We just moved this thread from the admin area of the club, to this open forum where all of you can view it and participate.

If you have any good ideas in regards to this project, and/or have suggestions to offer, please post them here.

We have the opportunity to create something really unique and exciting, AND have the official endorsement of the company. If we put our minds together we should be able to come up with something fantastic that either takes a person into a video game adventure, or gives them a virtual Persu driving experience. Either way, it should be fun! dr:ive1)

Derwin

[MikeB]

Hello! We just moved this thread from the admin area of the club, to this open forum where all of you can view it and participate.

It might be appropriate to edit out the 'TOP SECRET' portions of the 1st post, since they no longer apply. When I first saw this post in my RSS reader, I was convinced that something had gone quite wrong....

[MarkH]

*radio silence mode off*

Story Schmorey. If I'm gonna invest time in a game I don't want to get bogged down in details. I wanna drive.

I mentioned this a while back and I'll mention it again now.

hard work has already been done. coding is not required. you just need to design the vehicle to work within the parameters of the program.

sorry, I can't help with car design. Work has encroached way too far to leave much time for fun.

www.racer.nl

Good Luck.

*radio silence mode on *

[Derwin]

hard work has already been done. coding is not required. you just need to design the vehicle to work within the parameters of the program.

Are you saying that the "racer" program can be integrated into this project in some way? If so, is this "shareware"?

I already have some people overseas lined-up to work on this project. But if you say that the "hard work has already been done", then I would definitely like to take advantage of that!

Please share a few details of what you mean. If we can get a jump start on this project, that would be great! thu:mbs:up:22

Derwin

[MarkH]

Hi Derwin,
The racer program is free. The following is taken from the racer website:

Racer is a free cross-platform car simulation project (for non-commercial use), using professional car physics to achieve a realistic feeling and an excellent render engine for graphical realism. Cars, tracks and such can be created relatively easy (compared to other, more closed, driving simulations). The 3D, physics and other file formats are documented. Editors and support programs are also available to get a very customizable and expandable simulator. OpenGL is used for rendering.

Note the line about non-commercial use. You wouldn't be able to sell the resulting Persu vehicle simulation but if your goal is to experience the feel of the vehicle in a graphically realistic environment that you could make available here on the site, then this would be the most cost effective way to go about it. Your only investment would be in time to learn the program and then creating the vehicle and tracks/road courses.

If your goal is to come up with a commercial program then I'm not sure that racer is what you want.

There are dozens of tracks available for download on the web and I expect (but am not sure) that Celtic Flyer already has a 3d model that can be adapted for use as a car.

The program does not limit you to 4 wheels as explained in the features section of the site.

Just wanted to point out an alternative that you might have missed.

[rogwild]

The 'racer' program is really well established with a large worldwide 'user base'. It should be 'fairly easy' to develop a 3-wheeled vehicle and instrument panel 'skins', BUT I don't believe that you would experience the 'tilting' effect in the turns. Perhaps an 'add-on' vehicle to an existing (hopefully freeware) MOTORCYCLE racing program would provide the proper 'game physics' to allow the vehicle to tilt in turns. Another option might be an add-on vehicle to MS Flight Simulator (probably largest user base) with the 'altitude' set to 0 ft. AGL. You might then be able to 'Fly the Road' on any of the major roads depicted on their 'Scenery Disks'.

I think something like this would be an inexpensive 'proof of concept' (Alpha, if you want). After the bugs get worked out, then a major STAND ALONE program could be developed.

Instead of a 'Car Company Development' theme; I think something along the idea of the Automotive X-Prize would be more FUN. You could have different ICE and EV engine options for the Persu Hybrid that you could select for different "Across the Nation" race events (Oval or road course race tracks, Urban courses, Interstate, rural and mountain legs, etc.) For each 'race' you select a different mix of ICE engines, EV's and battery packs to maximum your chances of getting the fastest times and best MPG. You would race against X-Prize vehicles that had 'set' performance specs.

You could pick a course and just RACE; or you could enter the Entire Competition and gain points in each race to try to win the Overall X-Prize.
The 'Stand Alone' program is a major and 'expensive' project, and would require many different vehicles to race against, permission from the Progessive X-Prize people (unless you 'changed' the name), AND a major software game company to provide the expertise. On the other hand, a 'plug-in' to an existing game would be much faster and cheaper.

[Dutchy]

Guys !

Great idea. Am 41yr old gamer (no virgin) with a 150" home theatre screen.
Yes, size does matter... in this case.

Any of you familiar with Burnout Paradise ? It offers a great platform for any type of racing, crashing, stunting and megajumping (of mountainsides). You can play single, cruising the streets and hills, against computer adversaries or online with your mates!

Last august I mailed the developers to please include a Carver/VV into the car portfolio, but haven't received any response.
Lately they have included a couple of motorcycles, so now driving with tilt can be enjoyed. If a car editor of some kind exists for this game, it would be relatively easy to include a new vehicle into it and be ready to Rock and Roll !dr:ive1)

Good luck, Dutchy

[Hoosier]

if you want anyone under the age of 20 to be interested in checking it out, you better add blood. Lots of it.

du:n:n:o(

I kid.

[Derwin]

if you want anyone under the age of 20 to be interested in checking it out, you better add blood. Lots of it.

du:n:n:o(

I kid.

I don't think our target audience would be any kids under the age of 20! I think our target market would be people from the age of 25 or 30 on up. Those that are most interested in simulation devices and experiences. And that is a huge market. Actually, to be honest, this is mainly going to be for people interested in the Persu Hybrid vehicle, the CarverOne vehicle, or any other vehicle that is similar.

Derwin

[Hoosier]

Was just a feeble attempt at humor. j:o"k'e)

Back to my hole now.......

[Derwin]

Was just a feeble attempt at humor. j:o"k'e)

Back to my hole now.......

LOL! Well, it's 40 below zero windchill here in Chicago. It's too cold to laugh! :shivering:

Derwin

[Hoosier]

Actually, you and I aren't located that far from each other. We get that awful Chicago weather here where I'm at too.

I wouldn't care if you just kept it all to yourself. 2thumb:up

[Cocolicius]

You would be better off developing a 3D model for an existing games company and donating or licensing it to the PC gaming developer to include in their next racer game project.

[Miracleman89]

LOL! Well, it's 40 below zero windchill here in Chicago. It's too cold to laugh! :shivering:

Derwin


Actually, you and I aren't located that far from each other. We get that awful Chicago weather here where I'm at too.

I wouldn't care if you just kept it all to yourself. 2thumb:up


r:o:f:l:2:2:1 just basking in the warmth of the Arizona Sunshine!

Top ten things I don't miss about Illinois!

10.) corn fields
9.) Humidity
8.) t-shirts during the day winter coats at night! even in the summer!
7.) forced to use my credit card as an ice scrapper!
6.) raining one day then fall on my butt the next because it is now ice!
5.) breaking ice scrappers due to the three inches of ice on my windshield
4.) driving in a blizzard with white out conditions while SUVs fly by you on the interstate even though you are still doing the speed limit!
3.) having my car buried by the snow plow!
2.) Car rusting from all the salt!
1.) Corn fed women! =D

pop:c:r:n12

[JoeU]

MM, I'm from Chicago and now in Tucson. Didn't see to many corn fields, but the rest sure hit home. 71 today and lots of sunshine. No Vitamin D deficiency!

[Miracleman89]

MM, I'm from Chicago and now in Tucson. Didn't see to many corn fields, but the rest sure hit home. 71 today and lots of sunshine. No Vitamin D deficiency!

Nice!!!!

[johnhead]

Along the vein of getting the experience of riding in the (name inserted here) vehicle Years before it is available, I'm seriously contemplating spending the $800 or so to install an electic motor to my Modified (to lean) Sun EZ-3 three wheeled recument tricycle. (photos posted in earlier threads). As some of you may remember I was able to modify this three wheeler to lean and drive under pedal power. Recently I came across a electic motor that was NOT a front wheel (hub style) motor. This motor kit actually drove the rear sprocket cluster which you could shift through.This allows for a much wider choice of speeds and torque "on the fly". This electic motor is 24 volts. I can EASILY carry up to two 12v trolling motor batteries on the rear rack giving me plenty of range between charges (20 miles?).The only remaining add-on would be to fabricate a (cloth, fiberglass?) canard around the trike. My only concern in using this for transportation is that some car jocky would run over me as I try to get to work in the rush hour traffic!