Map creation

[DELTA2ALPHA 1]

So I read that Rocket was already fishing for player info on what we like if this game actually went into real production. I only looked at the links quickly provided with this clip, but once you do go live with this project I thought I would throw you this video in for you. Im not sure how expensive this setup might be but it could be quicker and cheaper for mapping out and getting base line maps quicker then having devs make it. Just an idea, specially if you went with an MMO model and wanted massive maps.

[oktyabr 53]

Heh, that's very clever. That's also basically just a nifty, expensive method of doing what all mappers do now (at least for Arma based games), generating a height field with a water level. Now realistic erosion would be helpful and a method of placing flora based on elevation and water, etc.

[DELTA2ALPHA 1]

Well I suppose it could be beefed up with more option. But I figure if they where to make a MMO large scale map, lets say five times bigger then what we already have, this would be a quick way of getting some rough ideas. All the devs could stand around and just play with it for a while and see what they can get. With the water system too, it means that introducing a river system through the map to make boats more effective... well this would help create a quick map rough outlay. Im not up on coding or how systems make maps now. I have been out of the mod making and map creation area since Doom/Duke Nukem/C&C1/SC1/AoE1/WC1. I do remember how long it would take to just make layers in these games. If I could map out a quick base line with some thing like that, it could save hours. But I guess the tech has moved a long some what in that time, allowing quicker creation.

But like I said, it was just a quick vid to throw into the idea pool. Never know, it might be of use :).

[oktyabr 53]

Hey man, nothing wrong with that. Like I said, it is a clever concept and I've never seen that vid before (or anything quite like it) but in the end it's simply making a height field. There are several apps, a couple of them free, that will let you paint high/low with your mouse that achieves the same thing. You can actually do the same thing with Photoshop, GIMP or even MS Paint. Fine tuning of the terrain can be done in first person using the BIS tool called "buldozer" (yeah, with one "L"). When it comes to Arma the height field is actually probably one of the easier things to get done. Placement of buildings, roads, trees, fences, power lines, smoothing the terrain, applying textures to the terrain, etc. is where it gets time consuming.

[b00ce 5]

That is an interesting concept. Very interesting. I wonder if it saves it.

Maps can be made a few ways, a lot are made from real height data from satellites (Like Chernarus (Somewhere in the Czech republic, the coast is actually a river bank) and Takistan (Some tiny part of Afghanistan)) The height map is converted to a gray scale .png file, white is high and black is low. You could also make it from scratch. Then you have the Sat map, What you see from far away and on the map. You also have a texture that assigns the ground type to the sections. There's WAY more to it than I know or care to get into. Suffice to say, I have the utmost respect for map makers because they have patients that I cannot even begin to muster, it is hard.

[Filterfreaker 1]

Terragen?