Modifying textures on individual blocks

[HawkGer]

After Hylis told me that the FXcameramap MT feature (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7RFP9Gayso) would not be included in Canyon at release because of troubles with the technique, I thought of other ways to achieve a similar effect.
Basically what I would like to have is to be able to select specific blocks and change a specific texture on them. So instead of having only one texture on all the blocks of the track (as we can do with mods), I want to select one block or a group of blocks and change one texture which all these blocks have in common.

So my idea is to have a MT clip "selective texturing". After creating the clip you load one texture from your Media folder and with the triggers of the clip you select the blocks whose appearance you want to change to this texture.

For Trackmania this feature would probably not be that important, but for SM and QM I see huge potential. Imagine for example that you want to create a SM map which is set in an Apocalyptic environment. With a mod you can create all kinds of destroyed surfaces. But imagine you want to place into this Apocalyptic environment a lab room in which scientists perform experiments. With only a mod you would have no chance to create this room realistically.

Btw. we already missed this feature a loooot in the Stadium RPG community. Driving a 30 min long RPG could have been made much more exiting with the ability to change to different environmental settings during the race.

[oiram456]

agree to all!

[_Junky]

I think I've read that eventually you'd be able to import your own blocks, so I guess you could just take an existing block, modify/retexture it, and then save it as a new block.
Or am I misunderstanding what you mean ?

[eie]

I think I've read that eventually you'd be able to import your own blocks, so I guess you could just take an existing block, modify/retexture it, and then save it as a new block.
Or am I misunderstanding what you mean ?

AFAIK, you would just have the opportunity to create a new block, not a new texture, so you'd end up stealing the texture for another block if you wanted two similar blocks to have different textures. And block import isn't even confirmed yet...

I support your idea Hawk !

[HawkGer]

Importing blocks would create a lot more traffic than just linking a single texture file. And it is not even clear yet how blocks will be shared. If they can simply be shared by using locators that's fine. But maybe one can only download them out of the game. Its also a lot more convenient to just edit a texture file than create a 3d model. Many people who know how to edit textures don't know how to make 3d models.
I hope that for the custom blocks one will be able to decide whether to use one of the standard textures on the model or include new ones in the 3d model. In the first case it would then be possible that mods would even effect those blocks. And in the second case one can texturize the block independently of the existing textures.

[Nesrally]

I come across this post after looking around in the forum a little, and have to say I was happy to read about other also have wishes and ideas like this... I have missed this option since I started racing TM. It could be like the sign blocks, just click the painting icon, select the texture, and voila ! In this way the environment could be a lot more variable, like the free use of different signboard....

[shenef]

i think it´s an awesome idea
most maps on MX will not use this feature i think -> server loading times will only minimal increase
on RPG maps / servers loading will immense sometimes

but imaginge what could be possible if *.bik files come back to Maniaplanet
with *.bik files and a completed maniascript you could make a new game