This thread is pure speculation on my part just to keep the rumors rolling and take some attention way from the tragedy that has struck the Broke Dorifto Society.
Whilst browsing the LFS page I noticed new pictures of the tracks. With South City I noticed smth strange (see below picture)
With red color I have highlighted a whole section of a never before track area (see red line on above picture). A link to this area existed before patch X11 (see green circle #1). However, green circle #2 indicates a section that has been modified with the recent changes to SC track. Here is a closer look at it:
Arrow #1 indicates curbstones that were removed with the latest patches. There used to be curbstones but there aren't any anymore.
Arrow #2 indicates new curb. Question: why would you have a curb like that? The curb strip should stop where the track stops and not go further to the other unused road. The only reason to put a curb like that is if you were going to use it.
Arrow #3 indicates dark grey area - there is no textures there.
Another angle of the same place:
Please note on the above picture that catch fencing continues to the unused road, but stops after a short while. Please also note there is no real scenery there, although there is a few buildings. Question: why would you have catch fencing there ? Only tracks have catch fencing. Access roads do not have it. Ofcourse there is a chance its there to keep the pedestrians/fans off the track, but in that case you would have the top part of the fence the other way - to make it harder to climb over, not easier.
My speculative conclusion: They are considering another layout for SC. However, they have decided not to do it just now, but somewhere down the line. Possibly even not do it - maybe plans will change/plans have already changed. Just in case they have changed the track curbing to suit the new track if it should come along. As it is likely the PB's and hotlaps will be reset at this stage, changing the curbs now prevents the SC hot laps being reset at a later time when the new track is possibly included and this change would have to be made - changing this curbs characteristics and affecting all laptimes using this section of the track.
The track itself seems to be already layed down as you can see from the map, but there is no scenery (buildings or textures) for the area - it has not been developed.
EDIT: Green circle #1
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8084/sc7iu2.jpg
Whilst browsing the LFS page I noticed new pictures of the tracks. With South City I noticed smth strange (see below picture)
With red color I have highlighted a whole section of a never before track area (see red line on above picture). A link to this area existed before patch X11 (see green circle #1). However, green circle #2 indicates a section that has been modified with the recent changes to SC track. Here is a closer look at it:
Arrow #1 indicates curbstones that were removed with the latest patches. There used to be curbstones but there aren't any anymore.
Arrow #2 indicates new curb. Question: why would you have a curb like that? The curb strip should stop where the track stops and not go further to the other unused road. The only reason to put a curb like that is if you were going to use it.
Arrow #3 indicates dark grey area - there is no textures there.
Another angle of the same place:
Please note on the above picture that catch fencing continues to the unused road, but stops after a short while. Please also note there is no real scenery there, although there is a few buildings. Question: why would you have catch fencing there ? Only tracks have catch fencing. Access roads do not have it. Ofcourse there is a chance its there to keep the pedestrians/fans off the track, but in that case you would have the top part of the fence the other way - to make it harder to climb over, not easier.
My speculative conclusion: They are considering another layout for SC. However, they have decided not to do it just now, but somewhere down the line. Possibly even not do it - maybe plans will change/plans have already changed. Just in case they have changed the track curbing to suit the new track if it should come along. As it is likely the PB's and hotlaps will be reset at this stage, changing the curbs now prevents the SC hot laps being reset at a later time when the new track is possibly included and this change would have to be made - changing this curbs characteristics and affecting all laptimes using this section of the track.
The track itself seems to be already layed down as you can see from the map, but there is no scenery (buildings or textures) for the area - it has not been developed.
EDIT: Green circle #1
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8084/sc7iu2.jpg
. Indeed, this is where most people thought the new SO config would actually be, after seeing the 'green circle 2' bit in the FBM video.
Even if i can't stand those cruise servers, i would really like the South city with all the configurations connected, just for some fun offline..
