DEVELOPMENT

Ridge Turnpike Development goes here [WIP] - This should be later updated with a few WIP videos I had stored from when it was being made for Kart, since I didn't save anything from the porting process from Kart to RR when that was mainly just getting the right textures brought back and waypointing again.

A few details were thought on the fly when mapping to my heart's content back then, such as the Ridge Turnpike name being a mix between having [Ridge Racer] and [Toad's Turnpike] in my head, as well as having either a song of Contra Rebirth or Last Bronx planned to be used in the track [I eventually used the LB track - but the Contra track is used in the old WIP video].

The first recording I have of the track available here used to be named "WIP track + bot test (SRB2Kart ArcadePak v1.5)" when it was uploaded in March 12th, 2021 - but I eventually renamed it to not forget it was this video that had what eventually became Ridge Turnpike Zone.

And a partially familiar state too: Despite the lack of work on any background decoration [having GFZROCK walls instead] as well as the name being Ridge Park at that point, the layout was almost practically there gameplay wise, with the only notable thing I saw missing was the item batch + sneaker panel in the ramp before the end because the ramp itself wasn't finished at that point.

There's also a version of the track that exists in a clip from a Sonic Retro stream in 2021 when I had got the people there to try out the map in beta form, and it seemed mostly complete aside from how it had a starry night sky instead of a morning blue sky as seen in the final.

Regarding the transition from Kart to Ring Racers, the track wasn't too retouched layout wise, only having replaced the first red spring panel set with a red Moon Panel [since RR doesn't have the same type of springs V1 does - but there's a mod that adds springs similar to it] and the last red spring panel set that's in front of the finish line with a slightly steeper ramp so that you could clear the jump easily. I don't actually remember if I considered a Trick Panel there or not - but if I did, then there must have been a reason for me to not go with it at the end...but I somehow think I just never thought of it.