Recently, I posted on LFS forum wondering, would it still be possible to release slightly updated Fern Bay before anything major (new tire physics, major graphic updates, new track environments etc). You can find the thread here: https://www.lfs.net/forum/thread/109900
Here's a thing: developers have stated few times that Fern Bay is an exception and only needs minor updates before it can be released. Eric has no plans to majorly update Fern Bay.
This got me thinking: even though it is planned that there are no major plans to update Fern Bay, it would be nice to get additional selectable track configuration into that slightly updated Fern Bay. That track configuration would contain roads that already exists in current Fern Bay!
My point is that it would feel like that slightly updated Fern Bay actually gets something new and it would not merely just contain updated textures! So this track would be meant to include into the slightly updated Fern Bay, not into the one developers would be working in the distant future.
That track configuration is Mini Oval.
You can find the track map here, it's track F24: https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/1578972#post1578972
We already know Eric will add Kyoto Ring North (K21) into the new Kyoto Ring, so why not add this already existing mini oval into the slightly updated Fern Bay? (Source: https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/2062892#post2062892)
You can think this suggestion similar to 0.5S where Aston Grand Touring and North were added. They were track configurations containing sections of Aston that already existed! (Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20111127190444/http://www.lfs.net/?page=t_a_u)
An added plus for this would be that S1 licenced users would get their own oval track!
I don't think it should be too difficult process to add this track as a separate track configuration, as this track already exists. I did drive few laps there and noticed that cameras for that area are already working semi-well. There are few problems with cameras, mainly around the area where Green/Black roads are, but that's about it.
Now, there are two problems:
- What about pitting?
Well, we could think the pitlane area being very similar to South City Sprint 1 and Rockingham Lake (SO2 and RO5). Pitlane area is only for exiting pitlane onto the track, meaning drivers can't do pit stops (unless user manually adds them there). What would that area be then?
I did think about the grass area in the middle of that oval could be an area for entering onto the track. Those areas near that gravel trap where drivers drive on Green/Black configurations may be too narrow for this track. An added plus would be that if this grass area would get walled (making it more look like a paddock), it would also prevent shortcutting!
- How many drivers should fit here?
I think 16 or 24 drivers should be most amount of drivers normally allowed here. 16 is the maximum amount South City Sprint 1 and 2 can normally have, but I was wondering, if this track would be similar to Nascar Cup Clash race.
For those who don't know, in previous seasons, Nascar season has began with a non-championship Busch Light Clash, which is a 0.25 mile oval with no proper pit stop possibilities (there is a pitlane area in the middle of track). Only about 25 cars can race on that track. With that in mind, I could see 24 drivers being allowed in this track configuration at once. According to Cornys, Fern Bay Mini Oval is 0.262 mile long track (Source: https://www.lfs.net/forum/thread/82335-2013-Fern-Bay-150-Discussion-Thread)
Now of course, this raises the separate question, could it be possible to have Fern Bay Green and/or Black also contain that section? Maybe, but I understand that developers want to update Fern Bay majorly only in distant future and those tracks would not be significantly different when comparing to those Green and Black now. This mini oval would be much different to all other track configurations in Fern Bay and it would definitely bring something new to a players for a while!
TL;DR: I understand that the new Fern Bay will only be slightly updated, but it would be nice to have a new track configuration into there which is not only a lot different than other track configurations, but, more importantly, already exists in the game!
Here's a thing: developers have stated few times that Fern Bay is an exception and only needs minor updates before it can be released. Eric has no plans to majorly update Fern Bay.
This got me thinking: even though it is planned that there are no major plans to update Fern Bay, it would be nice to get additional selectable track configuration into that slightly updated Fern Bay. That track configuration would contain roads that already exists in current Fern Bay!
My point is that it would feel like that slightly updated Fern Bay actually gets something new and it would not merely just contain updated textures! So this track would be meant to include into the slightly updated Fern Bay, not into the one developers would be working in the distant future.
That track configuration is Mini Oval.
You can find the track map here, it's track F24: https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/1578972#post1578972
We already know Eric will add Kyoto Ring North (K21) into the new Kyoto Ring, so why not add this already existing mini oval into the slightly updated Fern Bay? (Source: https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/2062892#post2062892)
You can think this suggestion similar to 0.5S where Aston Grand Touring and North were added. They were track configurations containing sections of Aston that already existed! (Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20111127190444/http://www.lfs.net/?page=t_a_u)
An added plus for this would be that S1 licenced users would get their own oval track!
I don't think it should be too difficult process to add this track as a separate track configuration, as this track already exists. I did drive few laps there and noticed that cameras for that area are already working semi-well. There are few problems with cameras, mainly around the area where Green/Black roads are, but that's about it.
Now, there are two problems:
- What about pitting?
Well, we could think the pitlane area being very similar to South City Sprint 1 and Rockingham Lake (SO2 and RO5). Pitlane area is only for exiting pitlane onto the track, meaning drivers can't do pit stops (unless user manually adds them there). What would that area be then?
I did think about the grass area in the middle of that oval could be an area for entering onto the track. Those areas near that gravel trap where drivers drive on Green/Black configurations may be too narrow for this track. An added plus would be that if this grass area would get walled (making it more look like a paddock), it would also prevent shortcutting!
- How many drivers should fit here?
I think 16 or 24 drivers should be most amount of drivers normally allowed here. 16 is the maximum amount South City Sprint 1 and 2 can normally have, but I was wondering, if this track would be similar to Nascar Cup Clash race.
For those who don't know, in previous seasons, Nascar season has began with a non-championship Busch Light Clash, which is a 0.25 mile oval with no proper pit stop possibilities (there is a pitlane area in the middle of track). Only about 25 cars can race on that track. With that in mind, I could see 24 drivers being allowed in this track configuration at once. According to Cornys, Fern Bay Mini Oval is 0.262 mile long track (Source: https://www.lfs.net/forum/thread/82335-2013-Fern-Bay-150-Discussion-Thread)
Now of course, this raises the separate question, could it be possible to have Fern Bay Green and/or Black also contain that section? Maybe, but I understand that developers want to update Fern Bay majorly only in distant future and those tracks would not be significantly different when comparing to those Green and Black now. This mini oval would be much different to all other track configurations in Fern Bay and it would definitely bring something new to a players for a while!
TL;DR: I understand that the new Fern Bay will only be slightly updated, but it would be nice to have a new track configuration into there which is not only a lot different than other track configurations, but, more importantly, already exists in the game!