Shout out to the VR version

[jillndave]

Not sure if this is appropriate, but while I love CMS2018 and have nearly a thousand hours in it, I have to give a big shout out to the VR version of this game.

It takes this game to the next level, and that's from being a game to being a hobby.
My bedroom is suddenly transformed into my garage. I'm no longer in my bedroom looking at my garage through a computer screen, I'm there. I'm actually in my garage.
It is all around me, all encompassing, my whole world. It's awesome.
But it's not just the immersion that's awesome, it's the multitude of game-play elements that it brings that makes this far more interactive and complex.
You really have to think about what you're doing, and plan it out in advance. When you pull a part off a car, not only do you do it physically - with a tool, but you also have to do something with it afterwards.
It doesn't just disappear into the ether, it's actually in your hand. If you let go of it, it'll just fall on the floor. You have to actually do something with it.
If it's repairable, you then have to actually carry it over to the workbench, put it down, go grab your trusty hammer and beat on it. Four small or two large objects at a time.
That's lots of running around. Lot's of challenges. Lot's of fun. The hammer is tricky to use.
You can repair body parts on the ground, with lots of tools. What's interesting about this is that you can repair all parts incrementally, including the chassis rather than just the all or nothing deal in CMS2018.

Here I have a 1956 Ford F-100 rat rod project underway. This truck was edited using CMS2018 car editor, lowering it, discs all around, supercharged V8. Then imported into VR.
I had to buy 3 trucks from the junkyard to get all the body parts in 15% condition or better, then assemble them into one vehicle. That alone took a full evening in my garage.
I have written an "allowed places" app for the VR version which allows me to easily find what I'm after at the junkyard etc. Happy to share it if anyone wants it.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816240095



Next is a screenshot after I have partially repaired the body parts, chassis, bumpers, rims etc to give them just the right level of rust. Also added my garage logo to the doors via photoshop. Another evening's gone by.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816240390



The next day I went to a barn and got a good donor truck for suspension, brakes and motor. Here I have carefully laid-out all the parts from the donor truck. They're in piles of salvageable and non-salvageable parts for each corner of the car. You've gotta actually think about these things. An element of game-play way beyond the 2D version. This takes another evening in my garage.
You can see a 1968 Holden Monaro from Fulysic in the background. Yes you can add workshop cars to VR, so long as they don't contain dlc. This one was also edited using CMS2018 car editor.
I have written an app to import workshop cars into VR. If anyone wants it give me a shout.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816240705



Time to repair all them parts. My trusty hammer. I'm sure to save regularly during this process, and restore/try again when an expensive part is accidentally destroyed.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816240911



Got a good engine from the barnyard donor car too. This is gonna keep my hammer busy for some time to come.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816241363



Finally, all parts repaired that can be repaired. All neatly laid-out ready for installing into the truck. Trouble is, I've gotta keep all the old bits from the truck away from all the neatly laid-out new bits now.
Curses! I didn't think it through after all... !!!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816241735


The point is that this project will likely take a week of my evenings. I remember taking a Pagani from junkyard wreck to pristine machine in something like 45 mins in the 2D version.
There is so much more to the VR version, besides the total immersion. I really recommend it.

[jillndave]

Gonna carry on this story if anyone's interested.

I decided to strip the old suspension off the truck using lifter B instead. This way I can keep lifter A stuff as it is. I'll swap the truck to lifter A for final assembly.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816702817



The suspension is pretty knackered, but I don't care as lifter A has all the good repaired donor bits good to go.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816703215



I'm in luck. One of only two parts I need to salvage is salvageable. 16%. Happy days.
The watch performs all sorts of functions which are very useful. It even shows the time in real life (so no excuses for not realising it's dinner time when the wife calls).

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816704099


Actually, all these parts are salvageable! I'm pleasantly surprised. Should have checked first, maybe I didn't need the expensive donor car from barn find after all... But the donor engine is waaaay better. So maybe still worth it. I can always clean these parts up and sell them.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816705886



The aftermath. What a mess. It'll take some time to clear up.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816707079



Truck transferred to lifter A ready for assembly.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816707661



Still gotta buy some parts though. Note that the shopping list is automatically in alphabetical order in the VR version, no matter what order you put them into the list. Fantastic feature. You can also delete items from the list by clicking the little X. A real bonus!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816707892



New parts have arrived!! It's christmas. :-)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816708861



Some assembly still required. Shock assembly/disassembly is done by hand, like everything else really. Changing tyres / fixing rims is a logistical challenge. This is what makes it really immersive. The little things.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816710071



Finally. Ready for final suspension assembly. This is another evening's work done. Tomorrow will be fun as it's just assembling all new shinny stuff. What I am loving with the VR version is the time this all takes. It's just so much fun. I really recommend it.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816711056

[Mardoin69]

Very interesting. Never been excited about VR anything really. Liked the idea when it was first introduced but, trying it out turned me off from it right away. Just made me nauseous and dizzy. I'm sure that's come a long way but, still not real interested.....it would be too much like playing the Wii imo. But, from what I'm seeing in your post....I'm starting to re-think how much I might like VR......for this game at least. Tbh...if I want to feel like I'm actually working on a car....I can go out to my shop and work on one of my projects, lol. But, this is very interesting.

You should make a short YouTube video of you playing it. Maybe just something like having a project ready to put back together....except a part you need to fix and a part you need to order. Then showing those 2 real quick and on into you putting it together.

[jillndave]

I'm jealous. Don't have a workshop. If I did I wouldn't have CMSVR...
I brought a new headset recently (HP Reverb) and it's high res compared to the old headset I had. Plus it doesn't need tracking stations etc. It's almost no fuss. It also seems smoother/less nauseating, but VR nausea has never been a problem for me.
And I can assure you that it's nothing like the Wii. Not even close. The difference is night and day.
I'm looking forwards to the upcoming F122 in VR. Finally, an official F1 game in VR. Sim racing in VR is the holy grail. It's arguably the best game genre suited to VR gaming. You're sitting, and don't need the wands. The steering wheel and pedals are tactile so you can feel them, albeit that they appear differently than what you're actually holding. But wow, looking forwards to that.

Anyway, now that I've invested so much time with this story, I'm gonna see it through...

So, the next day was fun as I could assemble all the shiny new suspension. Assembling all news parts is fun!
Here's one corner coming together. Using tools and swinging your hands around is great fun. At first when I started playing this my legs would get tired from standing up for so long, but I've learned to do it seated and standing these days, and my legs have gotten used to standing for long periods now. Same deal with holding my hands above me, my arms used to get tired but well used to it now. God I'm unfit.
Most of the suspension stuff can be done seated with the car on the lower lift setting. It's a bit more forgiving than the 2D version in that respect.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817168077



Suspension all done. Happy days. That was fun.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817169223
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817169826



Just gotta add the wheels using a wheel gun...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817170362



Sweet!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817170755
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817171444



Now I've still got the mess from lifter B to clean up. After a marathon repair bench session with my trusty hammer, I managed to salvage all these parts.
I had to sell them. Got just over 1200 bucks. I've still got to make money. No such thing as a free lunch in this game.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817172048


I decided to salvage what I can from the old engine. You never know your luck.
Here I am removing a carb. Notice that the engine stand is tilted to 45 deg. You can actually rotate the engine stand with one hand, and remove items with the other. This is a great feature because the engine stand can be back breaking! All that bending over for long periods of time. Since discovering the trick with the rotating engine stand that's largely solved. You can always walk around to the other side of the stand too of course...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817173899



Turns out it was worth it. The parts on the bench in the background are OK and have been repaired! And they're expensive parts!! Happy days.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817176289



Time to tear down the donor engine. I find using a screw driver easier for bolts facing straight towards me, socket is great for bolts facing up and spanner is for bolts facing down.
Always pays to have a few tools around because I'm a butter fingers and drop them quite often. Most of the time I can just pick them up, but sometimes they'll go under a cabinet or something, or just disappear amongst a pile of rusty old parts and I just can't find the damned thing. Or I forget where I left it...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817177291

[jillndave]

Finally stripped down. All these parts on the bench are salvageable. Fantastic.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817179500



But a bit disappointing in some respects, the parts on the ground are not salvageable, and that includes the heads!
Mercifully, I managed to salvage them from the old motor, but still a thumbs down on that one.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817180334


So, another evening's flown by. Tomorrow will be repair and rebuild of the engine. Looking forwards that. I'm loving the VR version of this game. I really recommend it.

[Mardoin69]

ROFL...about dropping the tools. OMG that's so much a real problem in RL. Can't count the number of times a wrench has slipped out of my hand while reaching down into an engine compartment trying to get to a hidden bolt head. And, then losing it and trying to find if you have a 2nd one to continue or if you have to go comb through every inch of the vehicle and / or shop to find it.

[jillndave]

Mate, it doesn't get any better in VR either. Whoever invented gravity should be shot. Wait until you hear about Carly...

Anyway, engine rebuild time. I'm repairing parts as I go rather than repairing them all at once because I just feel like it.
First up is the short block of course. Need to order new pistons and rings. Here I am using my tablet to order parts. I usually order via the PC but dropped this in just to show off the tablet.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817708492



Then I head over to the delivery bay to collect them. Here I am collecting the pistons using Carly the crazy cart to ship the parts across the garage, rather than making several trips.
Carly can be kind, Carly can be cruel, but most of the time she's just plain crazy. She has a "personality" all of her own, as do many of the interactive bits and bobs throughout the game. She can be very temperamental!
Items are spawned in/out of the game via the orange icon at the top-left of each item. Orange means it's on-scene (somewhere), green means it's in inventory only (and not somewhere in the garage).

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817710345



Time for a quick drink. Methanol... Gonna need it if I'm using Carly.
Most things are interactive. If I drop this bottle it will break. Then I've gotta clean up the mess...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817711062



Kids, don't try this at home...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817712137



Here I am inserting a piston. Note the mess on the floor from the engine strip. This is not good. More on that later.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817712470



Rod caps repaired.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817712995



Short block done.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817713423


Installing heads, and bolting them down.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817713859
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817714131



Back with crazy Carly to collect my pushrods I ordered.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817714499

[jillndave]

Push rods are tricky to install. Some go in easily, others are difficult, some are nigh on impossible.
Just like real life - some things give trouble. Some don't. Most everything has a personality. It's all part of the fun.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817715700



Some things take a bit longer to endear themselves than others. I'm not sure whether I like or loath Carly. She can save time, but then, if she's in the mood, she'll bite you - if you don't treat her right. But I am warming to her.
Here I have accidentally crashed Carly into the engine stand. No big deal I hear you cry, except that Carly doesn't like it when you crash her.
In this pic you can see there are 4 valve rockers in Carly. There were 16 before I crashed her. That means there are 12 of the little things scattered all around the vicinity, and some of them will no doubt be mixed up with old parts still on the floor. Mercifully there's not a lot of parts, but I ought to keep it clean. It's my own stupid fault. And I should manoeuvre Carly with a lot more care. Let my guard down and...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817716867



...here I am, down on my hands and knees grovelling around the floor looking for them damned rockers. They will find all the little nooks and crannies to hide in. You can count on it.
I find myself wondering why I didn't just stick to the 2D version. You don't get this sh*t in 2D!!!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817719646



All present and accounted for. Whew!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817723174



Finally, got all the rockers in place. After all the effort, sweat and tears it took - I applaud myself for doing it the hard way. I could have just lasered them on.
Carly looks on... mockingly.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817723954



The rest of the build goes with any hitches. Here I have a cool head torch. If I pick it up and put it on, it has a great yet subtle effect on what you're looking at.
These two screen shots really don't show the difference or do it justice, but this is a fantastic tool. If you put it on before going to barn, you can actually open the hood etc in the barn to better see what you're getting. Is that cheating?
In the background of the second shot, you can see some glasses. These are really cool too!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817725751
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817727723



This is what you see with the glasses on! Fantastic. You can walk around a whole car wearing these, instant inspection mode comes on when you get close to the car.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817729690

[jillndave]

There are other cool wearables too. The welding helmet amongst others.
The second screenshot is just from my left eye, but here I'm welding one of the equipment stands for demonstration. If you don't wear the helmet you just get a blinding light so it's hard to judge subtle welds.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817730276
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817732000


Anyway, back on subject.
The crowning glory.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817732362



Finally, engine build done. Happy days indeed.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817732986



Tomorrow, will be engine install, gearbox, drive train, exhaust etc. Should be a doddle.
Loving the VR version of the game. I really recommend it.

[jillndave]

Well I finally finished the truck. I even learned some new tricks along the way.
250 ish hours into VR version now, and still discovering little tricks. Amazing.

Anyway, the engine's in!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818207369
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818209613
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818223086


So up on the hoist to install running gear / exhausts etc. Here the crazy cart is actually being useful.
Installing the gearbox usually involves me stand on my tip toes and reaching as high as I can. I keep meaning to adjust that, but never do.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818210031
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818210897
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818211640


The very last touch! Add oil. There's a gauge as you can see. Same deal on the battery charger too. It has a gauge.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818212886


Finally I get to drive it! Even if it is just the test track. I must remember to sit in my real life seat before sitting in the car...
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818213681

OMG!!! IT'S ALIVE!!!
It moves and everything. Even passed the test.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818215054
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818215522

[jillndave]

Time to see what this thing can do!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818216202


Straight into a spin. Lot's of smoke though so that was cool!
I didn't put new tyres on it did I. Forgot about that. You would think I'd remember because I took all the tyres off to repair the rims.
Should've got new ones then. Putting a full set of new tyres onto rims with tyres on them already is quite the task in VR version.
This'll take a while.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818218032


Decided I can't be bothered doing the tyres. I mean, who'll know?
So, lucky last step - the interior. This is a bottle of "Cockpit Cleaner" right? Sound's like a car interior cleaner to me.
Well, that's what I thought. But it just wasn't fixing the interior at all, despite trying it all different ways.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818220688


So, swapped to a different cleaner type/sponge combo and presto! Much better. This one works.
This is a new trick I learned despite cleaning numerous interiors before. Not sure what happened there.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818221104
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818224283


And here she is, in the paint booth to show off in best light.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2818224795


Well, I hope this shows what a build is like in VR.
From beginning to almost end. I've still gotta put a right seat in. And number plates.
There was something else but I can't remember... But who cares, that'll do. It's just gonna sit in entrance B anyway.