README for SS UNITED STATES V3.0 model by DVOMarineDesign for Vehicle Simulator 2.24 and above. May 2nd, 2011. Updated Version SS_UNITED_STATES_3_1, Copyright 2011/2025, Dominique Vaccaro for all content of the archive. http://www.dvomarinedesign.com NEW in this update V3.1: - Model designed for Vehicle Simulator (compatible with Virtual Sailor NG, please notice the author does not provide support for that). - Model specialy reworked and reorganized for Vehicle Simulator. - Some improved textures, meshes and materials for better visual realism and for optimization to the Vehicle Simulator' graphic engine. - New configuration files for more realistic behaviour that Vehicle Simulator allows. - Internal lighting now switched on and off by activating the animation (anim.x file) by using the Ctrl A command. - Extensive bump mapping and reflection effects through the entire model. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----TERMS OF USE:----- Purchasing this addon allows you to download the ship for an unlimited time, for your own computer only. But you MUST keep and save as back up all the necessary files the author will provide you the first time you download. With one purchase, you can install it on as many personal computers you have at home. If you need to install it in other places for allowing other persons to use it, you must purchase as many models as computers you want to install it on (one purchase = one user). Please notice, downloads are limited. There will be no permanent hosting of the archive file for automatic download, but you'll need to contact the author in the case you'd have a request for downloading again in the future. *** IMPORTANT *** DO ENTER A CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS during the purchase process, in order to allow you to receive the email with the URL where you can download it from. Thank you a lot for your generosity and help. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SS UNITED STATES, entering in service in 1952, later laid-up since 1969 is currently rusting at a quay in Philadelphia, PA, USA. This model is a tribute to this great liner. Now you'll be able to virtually sail and walk onboard the ship in Ilan Papini's game, Vehicle Simulator. It has been realized after a lot of search and with a lot of documentation in order to provide accuracy for the add-on, about 400 hours have been necessary (+ about 50hrs for this new v3 version), hopefully for a more enjoyable resulting onboard experience into the simulator. However, please, keep in mind there are notable limitations involved in the process of building such a large and detailed model of a very large ship with sheer where nothing is aligned, acceptable number of polygons to allow usability for rather recent computers being the most important of them. These limitations have led to some known issues and an acceptable compromise between them and usability has been the main concerne for the author and has been worked out. The model has a basic and generic interior bridge with all the essential working instruments needed for navigation. Contrarily to the exteriors of the ship, this bridge does not represent the real one, this in order to save a huge amount of polygons number to keep playability on recent and average computers correct in a fairly loaded scenery and traffic environment. However, with the various working instruments implemented, you'll find everything necesssary for commanding the ship from this bridge (compass, auto pilot command, autopilot display, knots indicator, rudder indicator, fuel gauge, separate starboard a,d port engines throttles, separate starboard and port engines rpm, bridge wings compasses, a wheel and a marine radio clock). -----WARNING:----- This MODEL AND ALL FILES contained in the archive are the sole property of Dominique Vaccaro, www.dvomarinedesign.com . By unzipping this archive, you accept to not host the files of the models contained into the archive on any other server than the author's one, to NOT DISTRIBUTE THEM IN ANY WAY (email, private message, disk, hardware, software material...), to not sell them, to not modify, TO NOT USE ANY CONTENT or file(s) included (models, xx files, cfg files, horn.wav sound file and all bmp or jpg textures) into this packages for another model, for another purpose than a use into the sole program Vehicle Simulator or for another person or application or commercial entity, with no limitation of time. BY DOWNLOADING OR INSTALLING THESE FILES, YOU ONLY OBTAIN THE RIGHT TO USE THEM ON YOUR PERSONNAL COMPUTER BUT YOU DON'T OWN THEM. THE USE OF SCREENSHOTS MADE FROM THESE MODELS IS NOT ALLOWED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE THAN SHOWING THEM INTO VEHICLE SIMULATOR SIMULATION RELATED WEBSITES OR FORUMS. ANY OTHER USE SUCH AS PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL, 3D OR IMAGE PRESENTATIONS, RAISE OF FOUNDS, CALENDARS, SEARCH FOR INVESTORS OR POLITIC INVOLVEMENT, ETC, MUST BE DONE VIA ANOTHER SALE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE USER AND DVOMARINEDESIGN (Dominique Vaccaro) AND WITH PRIOR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION FROM DVOMARINEDESIGN OR THE AUTHOR OF THE MODEL, Dominique Vaccaro. You can run and use this model in unrestricted circonstances, off-line or during on-line sessions or meetings, as long as you do not request payment for using them. In case you use screenshots in simulations websites or forums, you needn't a prior authorization BUT YOU MUST ADD "Model from www.dvomarinedesign.com", excepted if they're posted into the official Hangsim.com Virtual Sailor or Vehicle Simulator forum, where you do not need to add this mention. ANY INFRINGEMENT TO THESE TERMS WILL LEAD TO LEGAL ACTION. The author will not be held responsible for any damage done to your computer or programs installed. By installing these add-ons, you fully agree with that term. However, in case of freezing or automatic restart of your computer, this is not the add-ons themselves which has been fully tested that will harm your computer but the unappropriated action you may do immediately after. -----Minimum hardware and software requirements:----- 2,2 GHz Dual Core processor, 2Go Ram, GeForce 7800 graphic card with 512Mo graphic memory, Microsoft Windows XP, Vehicle Simulator 2.24 or above. PLEASE, BE AWARE OF THESE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE MAKING YOUR DONATION AND DOWNLOADING THE FILES. LESSER HARDWARE CONFIGURATION MAY BE ABLE TO RUN THIS MODEL IN AN ACCEPTABLE WAY, BUT YOU DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. THERE WILL BE NO REIMBURSEMENT, for whatever reason. -----Utilization----- Simply unzip the content of the boat directory of the archive into your "Vehicles" directory of your Vehicle Simulator game. Check "Use 24 bit Z buffer" on into your video settings of the game. Loading into the game is almost immediate, depending on your system. Do not switch off your computer during this process. I'd recommend to set your water settings on "shaded", which is more realistic in open high seas and less hardware demanding. To enlighten all portholes, windows and funnels + external halos at night, press Ctrl A, that will activate the animation (anim.x file).(sailbf.xx file) This is a large and heavy ship. In consequence, max speed of the model (around 39 kts) will be reached after about 5 minutes at full throttle. Similarly about 20 minutes are required to go from max speed to zero if you shut off your throttle. Maneuverability is not the one of a race boat or trawler either. Please, keep that in mind during your navigation and maneuvring. ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope you'll enjoy your sailing onboard SS UNITED STATES and thank you for your support. If and only if you accept ALL the above terms, you can purchase the addon. Thank you a lot for your generosity and help.