Making An Arena Track (Traxx 1.4) Although the basics are still the same, making an arena track using Traxx v1.4 is no longer the arduous task that it was with previous versions of Traxx. In short, you can now "see" the arena while you work. Naturally, as with any track, you must extract the models and art from an existing pod. Use summit1.pod for the arena.bin or snake.pod/torture pit for the arena2.bin. The key difference is size:
| Grid Square Size | Best Use
arena.bin | 14x14 | Rumbles
arena2.bin | 18x18 | Circuits
You may also use the arenas from mtm1. Now that you have decided which size arena you will use, open the track components box. If you are uncertain how to do this, please see here. From the component box, open the backdrop option by clicking on the button.
This will bring up a windows box from which you may select the arena bin that you are after. Be sure to check the Arena box in the lower left hand corner.
Click Open to return to the track component box. Now, right click the spot where the name of the backdrop/arena.bin appears and select Arena Settings from the pop up menu.
The arena settings box will appear.
The Center Location coordinates determine where the arena will appear within the grid area. You may locate it anywhere provided you do not place it too close to the edge. Doing so will cause you difficulties with aligning textures as well as adjusting the arena's altitude. For best results, keep it near the center of the grid area. The Internal size should match the arena you are using. If these settings are incorrect, you will experience hall of mirrors effects. Click OK to accept your changes and then again to exit the track components box. Make sure that you have Show Backdrop checked in View/Options. The arena will be fully visible. The altitude of the arena is controlled by the south-west corner of the arena bin. In other words, the arena will always stay in a perfectly flat, horizontal position and it's height will be determined by the terrain altitude at the south-west corner.
It is probably wisest to make sure that the terrain altitude is consistently the same height all the way around the outer edge of the arena area. Anything that dips below the arena wall, at the edge, will cause severe hall of mirrors effects. You will also need to provide a barrier that prevents the trucks from leaving the arena. There are two methods you may use to achieve this. 1.) Place ground boxes all around the outside of the arena area. These should be flush with the ground and extend at least seventy feet into the air. Don't worry; they will not be visible in the game. Set the first one up, then use copy and paste until you've got the track area completely surrounded. You will probably want to turn off the Show Backdrop option so that you can see what you are doing. 2.) Place unapplied object boxes around the outside of the arena area (the same kind of objects you place at the base of checkpoints). This is much more tricky to get into place, but has the advantage of minimizing lag in the game. For most accurate placement, I suggest using 576x2x2 for the arena2.bin. Turning on the wire frame will help you set it exactly at the wall's edge. Then, add the seventy feet or so once it's in place. For example, 576x2x70. You will need four objects - one for each wall. And, again, you will probably want to turn off the Show Backdrop option so that you can see what you are doing. You do not need to use both methods. Next, lay in your textures. You may use the old templates to make patterns for your new track if you wish. But, to make the arena really work, you should create custom textures. There is not really enough room in the arena to rely on stock textures. You will find that you are limited to about five layout choices, and none of them are particularly inviting. So, click here for some notes on creating custom textures for the arena track. Finally, add your models and props, the checkpoints and course, or the rumble zones.
Note: yes, the arena may still be set as a no collide object instead of as a backdrop. But I can find no reason to justify setting up an arena this way. The backdrop method is far better if for no other reason than it guarantees easy center placement of the arena area, whereas you need meticulous placement with the object method. Yes, the object method served us well with earlier versions of Traxx, and, indeed, my own Frottage Pack used it. But, the backdrop method is so much easier in comparison that the object method is no longer expedient.