CTS: Tram - Pic of the Week #10
Welcome to the tenth edition of our 'Pic of the Week' for City Transport Simulator: Tram! Today, we take a closer look at the tram signals awaiting you in Tramau.
Trams have their own signaling systems, often quite distinct from signals for regular cars. While there are standards for tram signals in Germany, many cities have developed their own specific signals. Therefore, it was crucial for us to figure out which signals best fit our city. We mostly oriented ourselves around the signals in Munich, as we already had experience with them, but also made adjustments for Tramau.
Developing tram signals required the collaboration of all teams. Initially, the logic for the driving signals and switch signals had to be established. Especially for the switch signals, it was important to ensure they matched the current status of the switches and considered the planned route of the tram. This meant implementing triggers to automatically switch the route based on the selected line. Of course, it's also possible to operate the switches manually. The game also needs to recognize whether the signal was correctly passed, as this is important for earning EXP in Career Mode.
[h2]Adjusting Traffic Light Phases[/h2]
For the driving signals, we had to align them with the traffic light phases for cars to ensure they coordinate well with traffic. We aim for a realistic traffic light phase that is also entertaining and doesn't involve long waits for players to arrive on time.
The placement of signals in the city is another challenge. It's important to ensure that the signals are clearly visible inside the trams, regardless of the model being driven. The positioning therefore varies depending on the intersection and can be placed either to the right, above, or elsewhere. Sometimes, another signal in front is also necessary.
[h2]Additional Signals[/h2]
Currently, we're working on implementing dispatch signals and speed signals. Dispatch signals help determine the optimal time to leave the station to avoid unnecessary waits at intersections. Speed signals indicate how fast the tram should travel. These restrictions are displayed in the CTS: Tram HUD, but we also want to visualize them realistically in the city.
We want to emphasize that all signals in the game are explained in detail and interactively to ensure that players understand the system. In addition to an interactive tutorial, there will be a user manual that explains everything in detail and improves the game's accessibility.
CTS: Tram will be released in 2024, and we look forward to sharing these exciting developments with our community. Stay tuned for more in-depth insights into the development process, exclusive features, and exciting updates. Join the discussion in our Steam Forum, Discord Server, and explore our social media channels (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook).
Sign up for the CTS: Tram newsletter, where we share exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes content, and much more – click here to join our mailing list!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2604480/City_Transport_Simulator_Tram/
Week 10: Tram Signals
Trams have their own signaling systems, often quite distinct from signals for regular cars. While there are standards for tram signals in Germany, many cities have developed their own specific signals. Therefore, it was crucial for us to figure out which signals best fit our city. We mostly oriented ourselves around the signals in Munich, as we already had experience with them, but also made adjustments for Tramau.
Developing tram signals required the collaboration of all teams. Initially, the logic for the driving signals and switch signals had to be established. Especially for the switch signals, it was important to ensure they matched the current status of the switches and considered the planned route of the tram. This meant implementing triggers to automatically switch the route based on the selected line. Of course, it's also possible to operate the switches manually. The game also needs to recognize whether the signal was correctly passed, as this is important for earning EXP in Career Mode.
[h2]Adjusting Traffic Light Phases[/h2]
For the driving signals, we had to align them with the traffic light phases for cars to ensure they coordinate well with traffic. We aim for a realistic traffic light phase that is also entertaining and doesn't involve long waits for players to arrive on time.
The placement of signals in the city is another challenge. It's important to ensure that the signals are clearly visible inside the trams, regardless of the model being driven. The positioning therefore varies depending on the intersection and can be placed either to the right, above, or elsewhere. Sometimes, another signal in front is also necessary.
[h2]Additional Signals[/h2]
Currently, we're working on implementing dispatch signals and speed signals. Dispatch signals help determine the optimal time to leave the station to avoid unnecessary waits at intersections. Speed signals indicate how fast the tram should travel. These restrictions are displayed in the CTS: Tram HUD, but we also want to visualize them realistically in the city.
We want to emphasize that all signals in the game are explained in detail and interactively to ensure that players understand the system. In addition to an interactive tutorial, there will be a user manual that explains everything in detail and improves the game's accessibility.
CTS: Tram will be released in 2024, and we look forward to sharing these exciting developments with our community. Stay tuned for more in-depth insights into the development process, exclusive features, and exciting updates. Join the discussion in our Steam Forum, Discord Server, and explore our social media channels (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook).
Sign up for the CTS: Tram newsletter, where we share exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes content, and much more – click here to join our mailing list!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2604480/City_Transport_Simulator_Tram/
