JR

Zest No Limits Track Packager File README written 7th April 2007.txt Zest README written 7th April Zest Version 12.nlpack Zest No Limits Track Packager File

At LAST! Zest is ready! Download today via the link from the Zest project page : http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/p3033 Your comments welcome here! Have fun!!

Having tickled your appetite with Trailer One, we're about to blow your senses apart with Trailer Two! Hold on tight and get ready to rumble to some funky zesty music! Thanks to xascher once again for all the work on this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=643gx5DxpVM Please let me know what you think.

The first Zest Trailer has arrived thanks to xascher! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDUM_nBu1K8 Please do take a look and then post some freeback here!

Apologies for the double post, but this one is very important and I think it is sensible to keep this separate. The ZEZT TANNOY:- The 'Zest Tannoy' is a small program that runs just like any other, but I have programmed it such that the operation/user is able to select when to announce a 'reminder'. You can choose from three announcements, (although I do wish it was more), and these can either be triggered as the user requires or through an auto thirty second randomiser. The main wave is the full Zest Soundtrack which some of you may have been privileged enough to download, and every time an announcement is relayed this is automatically dipped to the required level. When I was originally designing the Zest Tannoy, it was my intention to create a program that could run at the same time as the no limits sim. To date I have never managed to do this on my PC but once the Tannoy is downloaded you are welcome to try yourself and see if your PC will let you. Personally, I have recorded a wav file while running the tannoy using windows sound recorder and replayed this file in i-tunes which works fine. The link below will take you to the Zest Tannoy Download page. When you reach it scroll down until you see a 60 second countdown. After 60 seconds this becomes a save link, so click on it and save the program at a suitable place on your computer. If using FireFox select open rather than save if you wish. Microsoft Internet explorer must remember where they have placed the download on their hard drive so they can navigate to open it. To open the program double left click as you would expect to. Once open your first port of call should be the help button which will guide you through what to do. It is key to note that the main wave must be ON if announcements are to be made. The link is : - http://upload2.net/page/download/2K0lhDUbUScruGc/ZEST+TANNOY.exe.html If you have any problems please post them below. I would also like each user to give some helpful feedback - hopefully positive

Apologies for this lengthy post but there are so many different issues to address, and I always try to avoid double posting where I can Issue one: Zest teaser video: I mentioned a way back in this thread that I did intend to release a video and I know that I have spoken to a few people on other forums about this and the problems I am having. Thanks Coaster Sim. Fan for your offer with help, I'm sure your editing tips will be most valuable. Unfortunately it is not my lack of editing skills (which I grant are not amazing) that is causing the biggest problem. There are three real issues here to consider: 1) My mid spec PC is not producing videos of even a 'good' quality with Zest, probably due to the amount of 3DS objects. The videos are choppy and frankly horrible. 2) And this is the worst one - my PC does not have enough hard drive space to store a decent length video while editing it. I am literally running with only a few MB to spare due to all my A-level work stored on here which I cannot remove at the moment. I need every program I have installed and aside from anything else I don't have the time for a big clear out. 3) I have too much work on to make a really exciting, creative video, and that is really what I'm looking for. So the search is now on in all Zest threads across the net to find a No-Limits user with some ability in making No-limits videos that are creative and exciting. That person obviously needs to have the time to do a good job of it unlike me and preferably a nice high spec PC that will create a really good quality video. Many of my friends who have followed zest construction don't have No Limits and never will. This video needs to give them a real sense of Zest - they need to have the ride of their lives! Anyone who thinks they can help please post to that effect - many thanks in advance for your much appreciated help. Issue Two : Full release of Zest Tannoy Dowload Link I have cited on other threads a release of 4.30 pm today (UK time). It will certainly be up on all forums by then, but probably a bit earlier. Check back in an hour. Issue Three : Lastest Screen Shot Thought you might all be interested to see this so I've attached it to this post for you all. Nice outdoor picnic benches and lawn wall finally finished thank goodness. The walls will be the last 3DS addition to Zest I hope. Terraforming is also now complete for the plantation areas that surround the ride. You may also be able to spot new support work for the finale of the ride. Final Screen Shot

If anyone who has it already wants to sort out the randomiser error which causes only 2 of the 3 announcements to randomly play, then I have the new download link ready for you. New requests for the program will get the new link. Thanks to everyone for their patience and encouragement. The general response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive and I appreciate the effort people have made to contact me. Glad I have been able to help so many of you sort out problems immediately in a way I could not have done if I had posted a link up here and elsewhere straight away.

Enjoy

I challenge all of you to come up with the coolest lighting sequences for the Jump: Evolution logo. You need the two files below. cut out the pink section in a grahics editor and put the dark layer on top of the lighter one. then cut out the lights which you want on. save as a jpeg but don't close, then make more changes, save as a jpeg again etc untill you have a series of slides. Then either post the slides in order here or make a looping GIF file yourself. Have fun!! Base Overlay

Pleased to say that only one programming error has been spotted by the 12 people who are currently using the 'Zest Tannoy' software, and it concerns only the Randomizer function. To be clear, it is a minor glitch, and the randomiser as such works OK. All manual features are working perfectly : ) I will get this fixed soon, and those who are in contact with me will receive a new download link to update their versions. For everyone else who is unsure about getting the software, I can only implore you to try it. I will also support anyone through any technical difficulties via MSN if I can : ) For your information a version of 'Zest' was also Beta Tested for the first time last night. EDIT: Further to various discussions, this a PC version only. No mac version exists, and this version will not work on a mac. Do not expect any mac version to be released. Sorry to any mac users affected. EDIT: 23rd March 2007 - One Danish user contacted me last night with a couple of problems. Windows XP was refusing to run his copy of the Zest Tannoy Program, stating it was not a valid win 32 Program. As of yet this issue has not been resolved and I would request anyone else who runs into this problem to contact me A.S.A.P. since I know there were a few other issues involved. It is my opinion that this is an isolated problem since this is the first time a user has brought it to my attention in over 30 downloads.

I know how quiet things have been with Zest, but as I have mentioned elsewhere, I have been very ill recently, which had other consequences for the immense amount of 'real' work that I have to do, and so coaster designing found itself being pushed back and back. I have made a couple of decisions to speed up the process of getting Zest out to the masses. Today I wish to announce the arrival of the 'Zest Tannoy.' This is something that has been metaphorically waiting on my shelf for a while and I have had to make some sacrifices in order to create a reasonable version. I have basically achieved what I wanted to, and I will be glad to know that people can at last access it The Download Link has now been publicly released - see info in posts below. The screen shot below should wet your appetite for the 'Zest Tannoy' - it really is a beautiful program despite the problems it has presented me with. Zest Tannoy Preview

Don't worry, Zest is waiting in the wings. I have been very ill recently, which is the main reason for lack of zest updates, for which I do appologise. With A-level work kicking in, don't expect to see Zest released too soon, possibly during Easter EDIT: Pop over to the Zest topic to find out how you can now receive the 'Zest Tannoy program' that I have created!

I'll link to the dev page when a couple of a good screens are up, but for the moment, what does everyone make of this logo? EDIT: http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/p3315 Jump:Evol GIF Logo

Well, yes I do accept that point, although Zest is the only project where I have nearly so many screenshots, and once zest Is released I may well cut back on the number shown.

It is not a necessity to have 'that many' screen shots, but I don't have room on my PC to keep them all, and personally I like to be able to look back over my work to see how it has progressed. A lot of friends follow the progress of Zest or have been involved with it, and I know that they enjoy browsing through such a large collection of screens. The lack of a download of Zest is surely a good thing - the project is in good hands and I would hate to spoil it with an early release. The track needs to be beta tested before release anyway and all this takes time. I also have a lot of work on at the moment so progress is quite slow, and I really am sorry about that. I am just as excited about the release of Zest as anyone else, but I am acutely aware of the need to get everything right. Please be patient as everything comes together. I have a special surprise download before any track release and I don't want to say too much about this at the moment - just watch this space.

Structurally the over vertical lift is daft, since it would 'pull' the tower over right from the top IE with great leverage. You would probably need some leg supports as a result: two tripod style ones should do it - I say remove the over vertical lift since it is pointless, both in terms of ride experience and expense structurally.

Take a look at more screens here: http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/p3196

A few new screens up of the improved zest environment. take a look at your leisure. See more here : http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/p3033

Please take a look at new screens of control cabin, and my first ever 3ds 'person' : http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/p3033

*************** The New Zest soundtrack beta 2 is released today! Download it from the link via the dev center - http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/p3033

Release is approaching but not imminent: The best way to keep up to date with news on zest is by being added to the zest mailing list: send an e-mail containing the word Zest to: jrrcoasterfan@hotmail.co.uk and I'll make sure you are included in any mass e-mail's with Zest news (obviously your e-mail will be used for this purpose only, not handed on, and you can withdraw any time by sending a second e-mail with words to that effect.) The second way to be kept up to date is to add me on myspace and get zest Bulletins: http://www.myspace.com/jrrcoasterfan Right well, you'll all be pleased to know that casing has been placed over the most exposed wires (see new screens at bottom of Dev page http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/p3033and I can finally show you my work around for the lift situation. I've basically constructed all the machinery needed for a rotational segment of track that allows easy evacuation of the car from the base of the lift. With NL I obviously can't make this function a reality but it takes only a tad of imagination to see how it will work. As I have mentioned before, I have used a method of forced segment completion to ensure an Estop pushes the car via friction wheels through the majority of the lift segment, and brings the car to rest at the start of the chain by the upper evacuation platform every time, so no hanging upside down or anything like that! Anyway, check out the screens for the rotating track. If anyone wants a custom on ride zest photo, strike a pose and e-mail the pic to:- jrrcoasterfan@hotmail.co.uk A helpful comment on a coaster forum such as this will be thanks enough for this service! So get snapping! We'd love to have you on board (pun intended lol)

Perhaps you can give me some feedback on this new logo - also check out the new batch of screen shots over at the dev: HERE New Logo for 'Zest'

A quick reply to those comments - So far as a video is concerned I have every intention of making one and have played around with this in mind, although it is highly likely I shall produce a promotional video prior to a full length on ride video. In other words - watch this space. I can't see much point in producing a full video of the ride until I am happy with it completely - it still needs more support work etc. To say it looks insane is a great thing! I love that response - all my favourite real rides make me respond like that so thank you very much. I should, however, make clear that this ride, like all the rides I build, is strongly rooted in reality rather than fantasy. I afraid I can't quite understand the comment about curves where the ride is inverted? Since I can only disappoint on the video front at the moment I have uploaded 11 new screen shots for you all to peer over - they can be found at the bottom of the Zest Project Page (link in my first post.) Don't forget to have a look at some of my other projects and feel free to vote for your favourite on my my-space poll - **click here for this!!**

Hello everyone! Please take a look at a small project that I have underway - any feed back from the screen shots would be very helpful : - Click Here! Zest logo