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Rocket Sleds .hectate 02/05/2010 - 18:52 EST Rocket Sleds is a 3D drag-racing game for one or more players. For information on actual rocket sleds, see this wikipedia article. Unlike actual rocket sleds, the rails in the game do not have to be perfectly level and straight. In fact, it would be best that they are not so. In the game, each player is given an equal, specific dollar amount to spend on constructing their rocket sled. The amount may vary depending on the track being raced on. The components of a rocket sled fall under a few categories that can be purchased from. 1. Frame and Body - Different frames and bodies affect the characteristics of the rocket sleds in a variety of ways. One important factor is drag (wind resistance), since lowering drag will increase the efficiency of the rockets used. Having a streamlined body constructed into the sled will decrease drag. Another factor is size. A larger frame will allow the player to attach a greater quantity of rockets, or even increase the size of the rockets themselves. The mass of the frame (relative to the size and composition) is also added into the total mass of the sled. As a result, additional funds can be spent on lowering mass by altering the composition and construction of the sled's frame and body. There should be no less than three main frame/body styles available to the players - a large one, an average one, and a smaller (and lower drag) one. 2. Rockets and Rocket Engines - Different rockets have different characteristics as well, which will affect the performance of the sled. A large rocket, for instance, may have a very high output of force (for acceleration), but conversely increases drag and mass. Additionally, many rockets have multiple stages that can be triggered. Some of the rockets will shed excess mass as they discard the previous stage, reducing the amount of force required to propel the sled. As with any component, the player can add as many rockets as they have room and funds for. Rockets are designed to burn for a set period of time determined by the amount of fuel available in the rocket. It is also possible to mount a rocket engine and a fuel tank as an alternative. Each rocket has a force graph available that shows the amount of force produced from ignition to empty, as well as the nominal stage separation points if the rocket includes that feature. When installed, rockets are marked by the player as being part of a certain stage (or somewhat automatically for the large multi-stage rockets). This sets a bit of strategy into the game for the players, as they have to plan out which rockets should burn when. 3. Odds and Ends - Other components that add additional functionality to the sleds. Early Stage Triggers allow the player to opt to fire the next stage of rockets early, perhaps to kick up a new boost right before the finish line. The Fuel Tank was mentioned earlier. Additional reinforcement can be installed for the frame and body, to protect against failure from the physical stress of speed and movement (or else it breaks up and explodes violently). Ejectors can be set up on some smaller rockets to discard their mass when they are spent, much like the larger multi-stage rockets. Brakes may also prove useful for the sled that proves a little TOO fast. Once the player has constructed their sled, they then have the option to save it for future use. Since the rocket sled is on rails, they will not have to steer - their only control will be to ignite the rocket and trigger any additional stages if necessary. As a result, multiple players could easily play on the same computer by utilizing separate trigger buttons on the keyboard. Since so much of the game revolves around the actual construction of the sled, it will be possible to share designs and also compete online. |