Vehicles for the Underpowered

1. My computer is not the fastest in the world. It does not have the best graphics card. And often I connect to Second Life via WiFi, even though an ethernet connection to my broadband would likely yield better results.

2. I like the idea of vehicular travel in Second Life.

3. I have a collection of vehicles of all kinds, made by a variety of creators, some famous for their madd vehicle skilz, some not so much. Most of them were impulse buys because I thought they looked cool, and (as I've established above), I like the idea of vehicular travel in Second Life.

4. In my personal experience, the actual act of driving/flying/piloting vehicles in Second Life is a disappointment. The lag is killer. I can't keep the cars on the road, I can't keep the hovercraft on a steady trajectory, the boats move too fast for my poor computer, objects around me are unable to rez before I pass them, and I go flying off of the world...

5. This evening I just had a great time cruising around in my Airboat v2.5, originally created by Grizzly Dawson. It was a freebie I got out of a vending machine many months ago, and its mellow speed combined with its somewhat unrealistic but super-maneuverable controls made it a pleasure to cruise around the canals of my neighborhood, even with with my unimpressive SL performance. Also, I'm not a big fan of vehicle sounds, but the Airboat emits a pleasing drone that I like a lot.

6. I have an AG Cruiser 2, a large hovercraft originally created by Ananda Sandgrain. Used to be my favorite vehicle...its top is open, it can seat six passengers in a circle, and at one time it could cruise at a leisurely pace above the world without trouble. It's showing its age though, the physics aren't working as well as they used to, when I try to use it it as often as not goes rocketing off the world, never to be seen again until I rez another copy from my inventory.

7. This thread has a point. I'm sure of it. Oh yes...I'd like to know what currently available SL vehicles work well with mediocre video cards and/or lag. Performance does not have to be spectacular (duh)...a slow, sightseeing pace would be fine (and maybe even preferred). Bonus points for: low-flying hovercraft, capacity for a decent number of passengers, and an even rudimentary autopilot. Would prefer to hear from satisfied customers rather than creators, but if you've built something that fits the criteria go ahead and mention it...just be low-key about it okay?

Insert low-key product whoring here

Also, Cubey Terra's Dropship might fit your description, as it is both easy to fly, and carries many passengers.

My "Rubber Duckie" boat is pretty forgiving of low framerates and high lag. Currently, it's only available through SLExchange: http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=2543. I could also set a copy out for sale at my place in Davenport if you want. It only seats two, though.

Oh yeah, good point. Usually, if I can't procure it in-world, I don't bother. I may IM you about the duckie at some point though.

Anyway, I don't mind if a vehicle doesn't fit all the criteria I listed. Often, you have to use a vehicle for a while before you know whether or not you like it, and sometimes you're surprised by what you like. Mostly, I'm just looking for a lag-friendly cruiser of some kind.

My Toyota Supra (i am gonna release the stock non racing version later today) has a 6 speed sequential transmission and dynamic steering depending on speed that makes it quite easy to drive even in lag filled environments. Moreover i made a security system that frees it if it gets stuck when passing sim limits. I definately feel your pain, if only veichles would be handled better by the game engine a lot more fun options would open up (did someone say races?).

I can vouch for the JGTC Supra. Also, give the Mambo Kalista a try. It's fairly slow and my customers tell me it does pretty well with lag. Seats five and it's cheap.

Yeah the kalista fits perfectly the little family car idea, relatively slow and easyto drive, and cute too

A slow-moving hot-air balloon might be ideal for you. Visibility is good, you can cruise at low speed, and it carries 8 avatars. You can get one of your own here:

http://secondserver.net/index.php?option=com_shopsys&Itemid=65&viewItem=10004730

Or you can try a single-use demo version, available at my shop in Abbotts (in the free stuff vendor).

You almost won the low-key prize Hobonicus (Hobonicus?!?), but ultimately I have to give the award to Jillian Callahan who preferred to IM me directly about her easy-to-use helicopters rather than advertise in the forums. However, because this thread may be of use to others I'll mention her airfield in Caldbeck 197, 216.


I guess the biggest issue is trying to get good vehicle performance where almost anything can change at anytime. I bet we SL users download more new information per second than the users of any of the other virtual worlds.


SL has inspired a new kind of car sales pitch...low-performance as a virtue!


I've been meaning to try one of your balloons. They look good for mobile meetings. Abbotts is so friggin' big though, I can barely rez the place. Guess that's a good argument for the websites like slexchange and secondserver.

My first vehicle was an attachment, It was very cheap to build... FREE! Handled great and no lag at sim crossings....

And best of all it looked terrible!!!

Is this the poop on a stick you were talking about in the other thread?

Illume Skallagrimson makes a lighter-than-air ship that is an absolute dream to pilot. It's called the Queen Surina, and as far as I know she doesn't really advertise it anywhere.

The ship is a beauty, looks like something out of a Jules Verne novel, and she handles like an absolute swan in the skies.

<edited> Found a pic.

I suggest either Hank Ramos' hot air balloon or Cubey Terra's blimp. I have had people tell me they had good luck with my A-11 Slipstream II aircraft in bad network conditions, if they flew it real slow. (It has six throttle settings plus afterburner, but you'd probably want to keep it below 50%.) You can cruise around at very low speed and it has two turning rates, one that's pretty quick and another that's slow. Pitch changes (nose up/down) are also done in a way that is much smoother than a lot of other aircraft. The SSII and some of Cubey's planes can float on the water, making it possible to go sightseeing via river. Garth Fairlight has been working on some vehicles (dunno if he's in production yet) that can drive, fly, boat, AND sub.

If you are looking for a ground vehicle, see if you can find one with mouselook steering. This is wonderful in aircraft as well, but not as critical since you usually have a lot more open space to maneuver in.

I think that in general, people should look at the featureset of a vehicle they are interested in. A lot of vehicles out there look really cool, but seem to posess only rudimentary control scripts. See if you can get the vehicle creator to take you out for a test run.

Personally, I'm not fond of mouselook steering just because I like to look around while I'm being all mobile 'n' stuff.


Yeah, that's the trick, ain't it? I think in general SL vendors need to be open to some kind of try-before-you-buy arrangement. That not only goes for vehicles, but for clothes and gestures as well. My stocky li'l avatar is hard to buy for.

You can test-drive several of my vehicles at my hangar in Abbotts (40/160). Just click the green "TEST DRIVE" sign next to the display models.

Believe me, I've already crashed a few of your vehicles...for free! The test drive is a great feature.

Pol, on purpose crashed, or someone shot you down? lol

Um...neither. More like "Jane, stop this crazy thing!" crashed.

Yout might also like to know that I'm currently working on a new hot air balloon. The new one will be so amazingly easy to fly, it can even be piloted by a one-armed, drunken chimp with half of its brain removed.

Incidentally, do you know any one-armed, half-brained chimps who can help me test this?

What, you're gonna get 'em drunk?!?

Well, Cubey, as you know, I am like Forrest Gump in my approach to vehicles following "The Tigershark Misconfiguration Incident". While I'm not a simian and more feline, I would be thrilled to test-fly your hot air balloon.

I've been craving balloon jonzes for a few months now. So sign me up please if it does ya kindly!

Cheers.

Aw nerts. I was really going for the subtlety aspect too.

I'd suggest either, again, one of Cubey Terra's dropships, or one of his balloons (They're a dollar each!)



Yehp, that's me.

Thank you for the suggestions.

Were you named after an ancient roman transient?

you think vehicles are like a box of chocolates? you prefer to run? no idea what this means. ummm.....not that you were talking to me.

Pol, I just bought this sailboat built by Ale Bukowski. You can get one at his home in Varney (The Pirate's Cove) or at Busy Ben's. It's called the Privateer 2.1. I have a crappy computer and this still works for me. Its smooth, its not rocket fast and I've had a lot of fun toodling around in it. It seats 8 people so I can take you out for a spin in it if you want to see it in action.

I'm really bad at navigating almost any vehicle in SL but this one is really easy. I'm amazed I can actually drive something finally.