Thermalito 1.22

By: Woffin and Madcowie
Origin: Scratch | Fantasy
Category: Permanent Circuits
Initial release: 10-Apr-08
Current release: 1.220, on 16-May-08

CIRCUIT THERMALITO V1.22 by Woffin

Description
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Circuit Thermalito is a fictional race track developed from a real life location in Thermalito, California. Based around a hydroelectric dam, the 5.229km course races around the water's edge and through two tunnels inside the dam itself with a challenging selection of corners, plenty of overtaking opportunities and a wide variety of elevation changes. The paddock and grid can support upto a maximum of 36 cars with immediate access to the podium and VIP conference centre outside of T1. Facilities also include a complete lighting system for night/endurance racing and main/backup tv cameras as well as recently introduced multiple track configurations for international/club racing.

Youtube Preview
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9pxP8_o17M

New for Version 1.220
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- Added a new layout! You can now race around the 3.268km 'Thermalito West' configuration of the track which is ideal for lower category cars.
- Improved FPS. They're still not fantastic but they're definitely better than the initial release and probably as much as I can squeeze out of the track. Although there is still a slight slowdown in places, it's not much more than you would normally experience at other tracks.
- Improved the track surface by adding some 'wear-and-tear' in the form of small dips and bumps around the circuit (NOTE: for this to take effect you must make sure you follow the instructions carefully and delete the old HAT data)!
- Tweaked 'glistening' on road surface. Tarmac now looks more grainy.
- Added much more vis grouping so that detail levels have more of an effect and now some things will only show up at a race weekend (such as crowds).
- Minor changes to the AI and camera angles.
- New loading screens and menu icons.

Installation
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Simply, copy the "Thermalito" folder and all its contents to your "Gamedata\Locations" directory. In-game, it will show up as Thermalito on the track selection menu.

IMPORTANT: If you already have version 1.010 and are now installing 1.220, please make sure to delete the "thermalito" folder from your GameData\Locations folder and also delete the "thermalito.hat" file from your UserData\Log\HAT folder before installing the new version. Failing to do so may cause mismatches and stop some of the new features/fixes from working.

Thanks to
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- Piddy for creating and continually developing Bobs Track Builder. Without this tool I wouldnt have even considered starting this project!
- Madcowie for joining the project late on and helping to model the trackside structures and also teaching me all the tricks of the trade in track building
- JFerrell for explaining realistic circuit infrastructure and road markings
- Ennisfargis for the tarmac textures and template
- Guitarmaen for his AIW and CAM editor and also helping solve a few camera bugs
- Gilles Benoit/The Pits for the cameramen
- Guimengo, Duff, JFerrell, Loque, Flat_Tyre, LoveTruncheon, Chet and Paul_Snoop for their rigorous beta testing and ideas
- ISI for developing rFactor in the first place and providing a good starting point for textures and trackside objects
- The RaceSimCentral, rFactorCentral and GrandPrixGames communities for their knowledge and support

Known Bugs
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- AI during safety car conditions isn't perfect
- Lighting issues on some trackside terrain
- No transition textures between grass/gravel/road
- Slight FPS hit on Start/Finish straight (somewhat fixed now)


Please feel free to rate and leave comments :)

If you're having any problems getting Thermalito to work or if you want to contact me in person then my e-mail is:
woffin at hotmail dot co dot uk
