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Art of Roads in Games (sandboxspirit.com)

611 points by linolevan · 163 days ago · 207 comments on HN

Article summary

The article discusses the author's fascination with roads in city-building games and their attempt to create a more realistic road system. The author explores the limitations of using Bezier curves in game development and proposes using circular arcs and clothoids to create more realistic and smooth roads. The author also shares their experience with mods and game development, highlighting the challenges of creating realistic road systems. The article concludes with the author's plans to share their solution with the community.

Main themes

  • Road design in games
  • Bezier curves vs circular arcs
  • City planning and simulation
  • Game development and realism
  • Transportation and urban planning

What commenters say

  • Some commenters argue that the focus on realistic road design is unnecessary and that the current systems are sufficient for gameplay purposes.
  • Others believe that more realistic road systems and city planning can enhance the gaming experience and provide a more immersive simulation.
  • There is a disagreement among commenters about the role of cars in city planning, with some arguing that car-centric design is a major problem and others seeing it as a benefit.
  • Some commenters suggest that games like SimCity and Cities: Skylines reinforce car-centric urban sprawl and do not provide adequate alternatives for more livable cities.
  • Others argue that these games are meant to be entertaining and that realism should not be prioritized over gameplay.
  • The discussion also touches on the idea that games can influence players' perceptions of urban planning and design, and that more realistic and sustainable designs could have a positive impact.
  • Commenters also debate the importance of factors like density, walkability, and public transportation in creating livable cities, with some arguing that these factors are essential and others seeing them as less important.