This is a project I’ve been working on for quite a while. If any of you are members of UE4 discord, you’ve probably seen me mention it already.
Subtransit is a metro train simulator game that focuses on post-USSR metro networks (at least, at the moment) - on a few trains which are practically legendary around that part of the world (due to their durability and for how long they are in service). This game lets you drive these trains as well as explore the metro tunnels and infrastructure.
Greenlight: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=878184278
Website: http://subtrans.it/
Devblog: http://devblog.foxworks.cz/
Some key features:
- Detailed systems model for the trains - all electric relays, control circuits and power circuits, pneumatics and so on are fully simulated. The train systems model is based on the actual schematics, verbatim.
- Advanced physics/dynamics model. The wheel vs rail collision is fully calculated and all dynamics of motion of profiled wheel vs profiled rail are recreated (hunting oscillations, etc). This model is integrated with PhysX, which is used for calculations related to the rest of the train physics.
- Multiplayer support which permits multiple people to ride or control trains
- FPS-style movement with freedom to move around the train and around the world
- All track data and signalling layout is based on the real metro tracks with high precision
- Lots of graphics detail - although everything is still a work in progress
I’m doing all the engineering and programming for this project, as well as textures and material work. For this project I’ve developed a workflow to let us create high pixel density on all surfaces and also permit us to constantly make adjustments with the 3D models in the game - so all of the screenshots are subject to change. Much of the focus right now is on getting the game fully playable and ready for public testing. A lot of graphic polishing and additional features will follow after the beta test. At the same time, the train systems modelling is based on the prototype that was built under Garry’s Mod/Source Engine and a lot of other development work, by this time it’s pretty solid.
In fact, we found numerous glitches present in the real circuitry of the metro trains while testing this simulator! I’ve reverse engineered the entirety of the 81-717 train (and some others too, to an extent) - the simulation is based on all the real schematics and various engineering data I recovered from a ton of sources. Old books, photos, various schematics etc. The simulation runs realtime and calculates stuff like how electric relay contacts move under influence of electric current, all processes in the power and control circuits and so on.
The teaser video below is simply an animation of the camera, by the way - the train itself runs on physics and systems simulation.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tLw1fouSseU
http://i.imgur.com/dlshA0R.png
http://i.imgur.com/C2KkDZq.jpg
