World Level Maps

[Raccoon_TOF]

I'm currently trying to create a new world level map for use in the game. The format information that I was able to decipher is that it is a 1024x768 DDS file, ARGB8888 format, compressed using DXT3 with a single MIP-Level.

So, I created a 1024x768 TGA file, added the alpha layer, and saved as 32-bit color. Then converted to DDS using DXT3, and now have a DDS file version of the world-level map image that is the exact same format as best as I can tell as the originals included in the game. File size is the same, and have tried both a 1024x768 and a 1024x1024 (in case it was a "powers of 2" problem with the DirectDraw texturing...) version of the DDS file, yet both versions crash the editor every time I try to load them. Any suggestions here? Has anyone successfully been able to load a new world level map?

[Raccoon_TOF]

Never mind, it wasn't a file FORMAT problem, it was a file NAME problem. Looking through the dat files in notepad, I noticed that while the maps were not referenced specifically, it did reference "wl_map". So, I changed the map name from "Greater_Egypt" to "wl_map_Greater_1_1.dds" and presto, it loads fine, and none of the existing in-game maps are changed at all. Unfortunately, it does not attach the map file to the scenario directly, so in order for the map to be used in a custom scenario, the user will have to download not only the scenario file, but also the world level map file as well, at an additional 768k of space for the download and a bit more installation hassle. But now we can have custom world level maps as well!

[Gordon Farrell]

Racoon, this is an awesome development. So long as the installation problems aren't too much of an obstacle, this will really provide a ton of creative options to modders, and that's got to be good!

[Raccoon_TOF]

Installation is merely a matter of placing the new map into your data\Graphics\world level\map directory. The game automatically reads it in when it loads up, as long as the format and name are in the correct forms as mentioned above.

[NumakNatut III]

I'd really like to do this but it looks to be way way beyond me. DtX3? ARG888b format? Single mip-level? Krikeys m8!

How about I send you a jpg and you work it up for me? :P

These are to show you what I'm currently working on, scenario-wise.

I sure wish there was a building set expansion pack. (..and an easier way to make a world map. Heh)

[TombRaiderBC]

Originally Posted by Raccoon_TOF

But now we can have custom world level maps as well!

So I can build Pyramids in Texas now! Hooray!

Actually, I'm quite impressed Racccoon. BTW, what does the TOF stand for?

[MAX-1]

Originally Posted by NumakNatut III

I'd really like to do this but it looks to be way way beyond me. DtX3? ARG888b format? Single mip-level? Krikeys m8!

How about I send you a jpg and you work it up for me? :P

These are to show you what I'm currently working on, scenario-wise.

I sure wish there was a building set expansion pack. (..and an easier way to make a world map. Heh)

OMG, OMG, OMG.
Is this a video game that your playing ??? What one ???
OMG, OMG, OMG.
I want to get it if it is.

Err,
or are you moddleing a scenerio for a custom COTN map?

[Gordon Farrell]

...I think maybe he just scanned some pictures from a book in order to show what he wants to do in the COTN editor...

[Raccoon_TOF]

Originally Posted by NumakNatut III

I'd really like to do this but it looks to be way way beyond me. DtX3? ARG888b format? Single mip-level? Krikeys m8!

How about I send you a jpg and you work it up for me? :P

These are to show you what I'm currently working on, scenario-wise.

I sure wish there was a building set expansion pack. (..and an easier way to make a world map. Heh)

It's actually not as complicated as it sounds at first. What you need to do (assuming that you are using Photoshop) is get a copy of the DDS plugin (don't have the link handy here, but if you look up "DDS Plugin Photoshop" on Google you should find it). Then open your existing JPG into Photoshop, add an Alpha layer, and convert to 32-bit color (ARGB8888 stands for Alpha/Red/Green/Blue - 8 bits per channel). Then "Save As..." using the DDS format, and when it asks you for what compression method to choose, select DXT3. Mip-levels are where it saves multiple resolutions/sizes of the image into the final file, used depending on what resolution the end-user views it at (DDS stands for DirectDraw Surface and is usually used for 3D modelling). For the world-level maps, it is always a single resolution displayed, so select "Single Mip Level", and then save the file. Make sure to preserve the Alpha layer when you save it. I'll try to get some screenshots of the DDS plugin interface and post them up here as well.

[NumakNatut III]

Raccoon_TOF I have CorelDRAW9. That's what I'm most familiar with. It doesn't have the DDS format save option. I may be able to find a plug in for DDS. I will check.
I may be able to find photoshop cheap somewhere. Say, is that Adobe Photoshop? I may already have that. It comes free with Acrobat reader? I DL'ed a plugin for it, but the free version doesn't seem to be cooperative. I'm certainly not very familiar with it, at any rate.

MAX-1 it's for a scenario I'm making for the CotN game. Definately a military scenario. I hope it's the best military scenario ever. I certainly have a few interesting ideas I'd like to try to make it so. The local map is nearly finished and tested and looks good, albeit a bit 'nude' at the moment. Next will come the WL map and finally the dreaded triggering.

It will likely be a month, but more likely two, till I get it to the point of release. This next month will be a real bear for me. 26 days straight of 10+ hour days. But then 1wk vacation in NYC followed by 1wk in Puerto Rico.

[Raccoon_TOF]

For those without Photoshop, there is a utility provided by ATI called "TheCompressonator" that also allows conversion to DDS format. It is available at http://www.ati.com/developer/compressonator.html for download. I have not played around with it yet, but from the description it sounds like it will handle everything that needs to be done. Just create an original image in a 32-bit color format with a single alpha channel using whatever graphics program you are familiar with, save it in a format that keeps the alpha channel information (like TGA) and then use TheCompressonator to do the conversion. You'll have to check the docs with TC to find out exactly how to get it to save in the format that you want, but just remember to preserve the Alpha layer, compress with DXT-3 format, and only have a single Mip level, and you should be fine.