Google Maps 2D Driving Simulator | Hacker News Reader

Google Maps 2D Driving Simulator

framesynthesis.com

161 pointsdoppp42 comments

How do I shoot? [1]

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_2

Just Press Y.

Need a handbrake! [SPACE]

Yeah, the car doesn't really slow down. Anyways, this has an insane amount of potential. Imagine the moral questions raised, when people spend hours committing violent crimes in a simulation with their neighbors.

Rotate the map, rather than the car. With OpenGL in the browser, you can get the graphics card to do it.

It would be fun to add some multiplayer support via websocket just like Mozilla did with BrowserQuest. Maybe make it run on phones and take it with you when you actually drive.

Then we can simulate the traffic jam in Mountain View together!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uveD0Z3lIWo

Could it get roads and buildings from OpenStreetMap to add collisions?

Next step. Make it 3D using Street View. Theoretically, you have enough 3D information in there to detect building collisions. Also, Oculus ;).

The developer seems to be making progress: http://framesynthesis.com/drivingsimulator/3d/

Or add collisions with stationary vehicles and walls. That would be cool.

Next next step : Counter Strike : gMaps.

There was a Google project that done this. I'd guess five years ago, so before full 3D buildings. Just hills and perhaps certain landmarks.

Wouldn't it be better if he used an airplane since the car is flying over building and fences anyways

Eventually driving simulators should replace 80% of initial real-world driving instruction. It has the potential to be a lot safer, cheaper and environmentally friendly.

Not to mention that repetition-based practice of mind-muscle reflexes, like stick-shifting, could just as well be practiced in a fun context (like racing simulators).

You'll need to replicate the full physical feedback, i.e. you'll need a simulator machine akin to what flight pilots use.

Good stuff, small remark: the braking and accelerating on the car are pretty poor (as in, both take forever).

And it handles like a brick in a vacuum. The momentum taking you of your lane in a corner at 20km/h is just ridiculous.

It says "Box2D" but I am not seeing any collisions, is it just for car control?

Driving around Mountain View again gave me a big nostalgia trip. I miss that place.

I fly out of there tomorrow. I'm not going to miss it (except for the excellent food).

Why not?

It's a desolate suburban wasteland of freeways and strip malls, utterly lacking in character, history and any real sense of geography.

Although I will grant you that once you get up into the hills it's really rather nice.

Reminds me of the first (pre 3D shooter) Grand Theft Auto.

reminds me someone had put together a way of entering directions into google maps, then seeing a 3D view of the step by step navigation. Anyone remember what the url was for that?

It riminds me of a video game I used to play as a kid -- you could be the driver of a hook-and-ladder fire engine, and you could drive in the front or back position. The fun part was driving through neighborhoods smashing everything flat and causing fires, all in awesome two-color graphics!

The turn radius on my car is abysmal

Whoa, this is so cool because you can pick a real world location you're familiar with, and role play driving around, and you know you can reach any destination you imagine. It's going to be there. So fun.

It let me see how fast I can get to work if I drive 120 km per hour. :)

This, combined with driving through a few walls and parks seemed to speed up my commute considerably.

I had a fun time flying down the runway at Groom Lake going 150mph

I wonder if you could detect trees and objects from the shadows

Also there is 3D data for buildings that could be used.

The car controls really weirdly. When you steer to the right, it slides right off the road to the left.

It's like the center of rotation is in front of the car, instead of beside it.

That's pretty awesome. Would be cool if you could upload a google tracks file and have it show you're route with the car.

Make this a multiplayer, an MMO! Force a slightly different field of view, like a chase view and it'll get even better!

Neat! Of course the first thing I tried to do was see whether you could drive though buildings. You can.

Same. It's neat, but I don't think you can call it a simulator without collision detection.

>No WASD

Cool. This really needs some audio though.

Awesome!

Game of the year!

...and I'm not kidding

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