Colorado Map from a newbie

[Jewnior]

Alright, I think I've gotten the hang of the whole map creating and coloring the landscape.

Since I'm moderately pleased with myself on this subject, I decided to model a map after the state of Colorado as the first part of my map modding endeavors.

I was going to post my map but I'm not sure how to post the whole constructed map, only the .tga and that's just the 8 layers of uselessness outside of creating a new terrain in Terrain Editor. Nevertheless, seeing as it's late and that's all I know how to display right now, I'll upload it anyways. Feel free to take a look at it if you wish.

Any advice and critiquing encouraged. Also if anyone has info on how to show my map that's not in-game, let me know, so I can post that or something. Stupid learning new things being a learning experience

Cheers,
Jewnior

[Jancsika]

I like your map. I have a friend in Ft.Morgan, and he will be surprised how close the sea has gotten (Global warming, I guess!).
What I would do, next is placing the cities. It does not matter if it will hit a mountaintop. You can always smooth the terrain with the editor.
Next I would add the terrain features. (mountain, sand,grass etc.)
Last the clutter and trees.

There is a file :”map_colorado1_thumbnail.dds” in your file.
Photoshop has a DDS plugin. You can Google it, or you can use Gimp 2, that's a GNU graphic program.
Of course you have to convert it to JPG to be able to upload it here.

If you are using the terrain editor a lot, check this link.
http://www.hookedgamers.com/forums/view ... %2A#p17515
Jancsika

[Jewnior]

Sweet, thanks for the advice and tips. I think that that map is outdated or something because I had to redo it...Or! I think I uploaded the wrong one, because that was the wrong one, I had to raise the terrain and stuff and I got the save file names mixed up.

I have added some of the major cities (I'm going to add Ft. Morgan now since you mentioned it).

Here's the layout so far

[Jewnior]

Added some more cities and messed with the terrain and tinting, trying to see if above sea level "rivers" were doable.

Thoughts?

[Jancsika]

The way I do the river tintig is to have ligth terrain for background. I normally use "Beach Sand." Then I spot tint the river. After that I go to my Paintshop Pro editor and cover the spot tint with a solid color of my liking. I use Beach Sand for background because the Snow White riverbank does not look good on a green meadow.
It takes a lot of experimenting to get it right.
You still have to make the riverbanks high enough for the game to build a bridge, instead of running the track in the water.
Jancsika

[Jewnior]

Ok, here's the zipped folder for my map, since I don't know what parts you'd need to take a look at my progress so far. I added some trees.....well, lots of trees...since that's all we got are trees and mountains. I also added some of the major rivers and a few other changes. Lemme know what you think.

[Jancsika]

OK
You are doing fine. But now you have to come to a decision: What type of a map you want?
This map as it is working fine as a standard Firaxis stock map and you can add and eliminate Goods/Industries from the production line.
Also, you have to decide if you want to have a SAM type map or stay with the stock design.

You also have to have good idea what the production chain should be: for example:

None
Cornmeal
Swine
Nitrates(Manure)
Grain
Beer
Delivery to Cities

Check out the scenario file of the EastCoast map (RRT_Scenario_User_EastCoast.XML file) you will see how the scenario requirements are made. You don't have to make it at the beginning, but have to have a good mental picture how the industry/goods lineup will develop,
For a sample here is an Excel file of the setup I used for my Zimbabwe map.( I don't have the East Coast any more)

Zimbabwe.zip

(4.44 KiB) Downloaded 450 times

I normally remove most of the industries, traincars, goods to start with, only leave: Passengers, Mail, Grain Farm, Food Plant, Food to Cities in place and add one line at a time, and test it after each line.

This is also the time when I convert the map to a SAM. Here is how. Print this out for reference.
http://www.hookedgamers.com/forums/view ... =42&t=3378

I don't know if I covered everything but I have to quit because I have work to do in the garden.....
If you get stuck let me know.
Jancsika

[Jewnior]

I know it's definitely going to be a SAM map, because I'm going to add some new, custom stuff. Do you have any info or links for creating new goods and their icons and how I need to reference those in their appropriate xml files. I know that I'll be adding a new passenger type, Scientist, as well as a new mail type, Government Documents. The images are below for those. I just am not sure how to create the icons, train cars or something for them, all that stuff.

folderLarge.gif (10.71 KiB) Viewed 11418 times

LabCoat.jpg (2.99 KiB) Viewed 11413 times

Also, should those two goods be labeled as they are, or classified as Fast Freight?

[RockyNarrowGauge]

Snoopy55 wrote up a good Wiki for making goods here - http://eric.bkbobby.com/media/index.php ... ding_Block

You might also ask for help over on that forum as they seem to be creating a lot of new stuff.

[Jancsika]

You have to handle them as "Goods", just like "Automobile" is a good.
Forget about DDS and alpha chanell (at least for the time being). I never could master them in my Paintshop pro.

Here

BB_Senator.zip

(22.25 KiB) Downloaded 423 times

is a file of my BB_Seanator Good
and here is a Tutorial thet Snoopy made as how to make goods, and icons.

icons.zip

(38.06 KiB) Downloaded 442 times

<Good>
<szName>Senators</szName>
<szClass>Passenger</szClass>
<szGTMLIcon>icon_senator_32.tga</szGTMLIcon>
<BitmapLarge>
<szFile>icon_senator_64.tga</szFile>
</BitmapLarge>
<BitmapSmall>
<szFile>icon_senator_32.tga</szFile>
</BitmapSmall>
<BitmapTiny>
<szFile>icon_senator_16.tga</szFile>
</BitmapTiny>
<BitmapCar>
<szFile>S4_CISV.tga</szFile>
<uiX>0</uiX>
<uiY>0</uiY>
<uiWidth>32</uiWidth>
<uiHeight>16</uiHeight>
</BitmapCar>
<BitmapCarEmpty>
<szFile>S4_CISV.tga</szFile>
<uiX>0</uiX>
<uiY>16</uiY>
<uiWidth>32</uiWidth>
<uiHeight>16</uiHeight>
</BitmapCarEmpty>
<Color>58,73,168</Color>
<MinPrice>12000</MinPrice>
<MaxPrice>20000</MaxPrice>
<szIndustryLeaderTitle>Senior Senator</szIndustryLeaderTitle>
<szIndustryPlayerTitle>Junior Senator</szIndustryPlayerTitle>
<szAnimClass>CPassenger</szAnimClass>
<Animations>
<szModel>passenger.kfm</szModel>
<szModel>passenger_man_B.kfm</szModel>
<szModel>passenger_woman_A.kfm</szModel>
<szModel>passenger_woman_B.kfm</szModel>
</Animations>
<szNodePrefix>dummy_passenger_</szNodePrefix>
<EventCodes>
<Idle1>0</Idle1>
<Idle2>6</Idle2>
<Fidget1>2</Fidget1>
<Fidget2>3</Fidget2>
<Fidget3>7</Fidget3>
<Fidget4>10</Fidget4>
<Fidget5>12</Fidget5>
<Walk>1</Walk>
<Run>8</Run>
</EventCodes>
</Good>

You have to change 5 Senator entry to whatever the name of the good is, also change in the Bitmap Cars the two “S4” to Scientist or whatever the name. of the good is.

Now in the game you have to have a TrainCar to haul your new good.
This is the first step. We will handle the Traincars separately.
We will make an FPK file from the Icons later. Right now they go loose in the UserMaps folder

Any Questions?????
Jancsika

[Jewnior]

Nice info there Jancsika, thanks.

But, I have to put this on hold for just under 2 weeks. I'm going on vacation so I'll pick it back up when I get back. Many thanks for all your help, and when I get back, I can kick this into a higher gear.

Cheers
Jewnior

[Jewnior]

Ahh, the cool mountain air, I'm back and I'll hopefully add some more updates with my new map-in-progress.

Cheers to you all,

Jewnior