FIXHOM2

New Anti Hall-of-Mirrors Backdrop .BINs for MTM2

Version	: 1.0 (release)
Author	: Oliver Pieper (pieper@viaregio.de)
Date		: Sep 8, 1998

This is a set of backdrop .BIN models based on the original MTM2 backdrops, but modified to prevent the so called "Hall of Mirrors" (HoM) effect (see below for explanations). Use them in your tracks to make sure they do not suffer from the HoM effect!

The .BINs are named like the originals, except that the word "drop" has been replaced by "fixd". This is a list of the fixed backdrops:

Model:    Used in:
AA4FIXD  (The Heights)
CC4FIXD  (Breakneck Ridge)
CS4FIXD1 (Scrapyard Run, backdrop part 1)
CS4FIXD2 (Scrapyard Run, backdrop part 2)
DD4FIXD  (Excavation)
EE4FIXD  (Crazy '98. Farmroad 29)
HH4FIXD  (Tinhorn Junction, Tumbleweed Flats)
KK4FIXD  (Sidewinder Canyon)
PP4FIXD  (Summit Rumble)
XX4FIXD  (Voodoo Island)

There is also one "new" backdrop CS4FIXD.BIN. For some strange reason, Scrapyard Run uses two backdrops, each one covering half of the horizon. That makes it a bit awkward to use in custom tracks. I've simply merged the two halves CS4FIXD1.BIN and CS4FIXD2.BIN together and called them CS4FIXD.BIN.

GuitarBill's track editor TRAXX 1.2 and earlier (http://members.aol.com/SoftParts1/traxx.html) will only display backdrop names with "drop" in them when you choose a backdrop for the track (Menu: Edit->Track Components). To access the fixed backdrops, just change the file name pattern "*drop*.bin" in the file dialog with "*fixd*.bin".

Note: These are the same .BIN models that are also used in my BACKFIX2.POD v2.0. This .POD file can be used to fix the HoM effect on tracks that were built with the original, unfixed, backdrops.

Thanks to GuitarBill for the idea of releasing the .BIN models separate from the BACKFIX2.POD so that track authors can use them in their tracks.

=============
ABOUT THE HoM
=============

When TRI built their tracks, they made sure that there were (nearly) no places where the backdrops (the "scenery" pictures in the background) were too short. But with custom tracks, very steep slopes and high drops have been introduced to Monster Truck Madness 2.

It is then possible that a "gap" between the landscape and the backdrop model (it is a BIN model) opens when the
truck is located at a high altitude. My normal graphic adapter (ATI mach64) will paint this gap green. It doesn't look good, but there's no real need to do anything about it.

But since I installed a Monster 3D accelerator card, the gap will not be drawn in any particular color, but it will display parts of previous frames, thus creating the dreaded Hall of Mirrors effect.

Not only is it annoying, but it's sometimes hard to tell where the road ends and where the mirrors start. There are parts of custom tracks where driving is almost impossible because of this.

The solution, however, is fairly easy. All one needs to do is take the original backdrop BINs that are shaped like open cylinders, and close them at the bottom. That's exactly what I did.

============
INSTALLATION
============

Just copy the .BIN files to your MTM2 "models" directory.

*********************
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
*********************
These .BINs are POSTCARDWARE. Please take the time to read the POSTCARD.TXT! Thanks, and Happy Truckin'!

Oliver Pieper
mailto:pieper@viaregio.de
http://www.viaregio.de/pieper

The following BINs were created using Oliver Pieper's BINedit program for use with the retail version of Microsoft's Monster Truck Madness 2. Any alterations, improvements, or other deviations from this use are stricltly prohibited unless given permission by the author. Resale is strictly prohibited unless given permission by the author. All material contained with the POD is considered copyrighted by the author, by Microsoft, or by Terminal Reality Inc.

1998 Oliver Pieper