JII Version 5.1: Ride Parts

Version 5.1 of the Web Simulation is up now.  This one is mostly technical but it is at last focused on getting the ride more fleshed out. Here are the additions and changes:


- The Ride Scene now features the full soundtrack and it is time aligned with the ride scenes.  There is a little bit of cheating here.  Because the soundtrack is a fixed length, I had to make several vehicle speed changes to keep it aligned.  I tried to keep them subtle.


- Some of the sets, walls, and props are starting to appear (still mostly as placeholders) in the ride.  There is a little something in Dreamport, Arts, Literature, Science, and the Finale.  Very little but it's getting there.  Look for the teapot chandelier!


- You now have the option to get out and walk around by pressing the "w" key once the ride starts.  You can resume riding where you left off by pressing "r".  You exit the ride early by pressing "e".


- Because the Flight of the Imagination scene (aka, the turntable) is 5 minutes of staring at the vehicle (with soundtrack now at least), I have added the option to skip it by pressing "s".  This allows you to explore the rest of the ride without having to wait.


- I fixed a couple of missing walls in The Image Works.  Ooops.  Also, all 3 Image Works entrances and exits work now.


- I corrected the Near Culling... whatever that is.  Anyway, you should no longer experience the disorienting effect of seeing through the solid walls when you run into them.  This may still happen with objects I let you pass through.  By the way, certain items (like the queue rails) let you pass through on purpose to make navigation easier.


The next set of additions should mostly be ride content.  It's slow going since I don't have any real scene maps.  I'm slowly working out placement from videos and photos.  Anyone have blueprints or backstage photos I can borrow?  :-)

JII Version 5: The Image Works

The first draft of the Image Works is in the simulation now.  This is the last part of the pavilion that I needed to construct.  I currently have no plans to simulate the restrooms.

I am using the opening 1982 layout, including these attractions: Bubble Music, Rainbow Corridor, Vibrating Mirrors, Lumia, Stepping Tones, Digital Wall, Light Writer, School of Film, Magic Palette, Pin Tables, Kaleidoscopes, and Electronic Philharmonic.  

All of the rooms and attractions are in place though the level of detail isn't very high yet.  I'll be adding the signs, screens, props, and other details in future versions along with the other scenes.  My eventual goal is to simulate the interactivity of some of the rooms, but none of that is happening yet.  I'll also make the 3 entrances and exits work individually.  That's kind of fudged right now.

Big thanks to Martin Smith.  His videos and maps provided most of the research images I used in this part of the building.

The work continues.  Enjoy your Journey Back to the Image Works!

JII Version 4.3: The Little Details

Happy New Year!  To start off 2012, I've uploaded web simulation version 4.3.

As usual, this version includes a lot of clean-up and technical fixes.  Blah blah...  The more important element of this minor update is the addition of many missing details that I think are subtle but important to making the model feel right.  Most of those details are in the outdoor areas of the lobbies of the ride, theater and image works areas.

The architecture and details inside the Captain EO theater went through a bit of an overhaul as well.  Specifically, the walls on either side of the theater are different and some little things (like employee doors and 3D glasses return bins) are in.  I promise, I'll fix the crappy lighting next.  :-)

You can see photos of many of these at the bottom of this post.

I've also added 3 black signs that indicate where the scene changes are (or will be).  A recent comment on the Facebook page made me realize there is nothing letting viewers know about the hidden entrances to other scenes.  I hope this will help make it more obvious.




That's it for this update.