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Map mod (comments welcome)

 
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Map mod (comments welcome) - 6/8/2002 1:27:25 PM   
Supervisor

 

Posts: 5166
Joined: 3/2/2004
Status: offline 		Ok. Don't know whether this would be the best place for this, but here goes.

What I've done is this: I have taken some satellite photos of the region and utilized them to make a map of the theater. By doing so, I have got it set up so that I can add shading to the shallow water hexes (once I find out what they actually are). Right now, the "shallow" shading is essentially cosmetic along any shore/reef that is out there. There have been many things that I "modified" in order to fit the hexgrid (i.e. Papua is a little thinner than it [I]actually[/I] is, [I]Guadalcanal is a little fatter,[/I] Australia got moved south, many little islands got shifted around somewhat, etc.).

What I would like to get is some feedback on these. Especially on defects, etc.

You can use many programs to translate the jpg's to bmp's (I use IrfanView, which is excellent -- and free! :D ).

«edit»

I was able to get the server space (thanks to Oleg). [I]And so, I decided to do cleanup on all of the posts and consolidate everything to the beginning of the thread.[/I]

[I]Note: I have toned down the reefs in the maps.[/I] So, here are the url's to access the map and screen mods:

[IMG]http://home.attbi.com/~m.gilchrist/Images/original-map-shallow.jpg[/IMG]
[URL=http://www.bug.hr/oleg/uv/original-map-shallow-bmp.ZIP]Original game maps, bmp version, with shallow water areas shown[/URL] [SIZE=1](size: 3750 Kb)[/SIZE]

[IMG]http://home.attbi.com/~m.gilchrist/Images/map-photo.jpg[/IMG]
[URL=http://www.bug.hr/oleg/uv/UV-maps-photo-shallow-bmp.ZIP]Dark blue sea color game maps, bmp version, with shallow water areas shown[/URL] [SIZE=1](size: 5384 Kb)[/SIZE]

[IMG]http://home.attbi.com/~m.gilchrist/Images/map-original.jpg[/IMG]
[URL=http://www.bug.hr/oleg/uv/UV-maps-shallow-bmp.ZIP]Gray (original) sea color game maps, bmp version, with shallow water areas shown[/URL] [SIZE=1](size: 5203 Kb)[/SIZE]

[IMG]http://home.attbi.com/~m.gilchrist/Images/map-royal.jpg[/IMG]
[URL=http://www.bug.hr/oleg/uv/UV-maps-mod-photo-shallow-bmp.ZIP]Medium blue sea color game maps, bmp version, with shallow water areas shown[/URL] [SIZE=1](size: 5224 Kb)[/SIZE]

Files included in [I]all of the[/I] map mods [SIZE=1][I](except for the original maps, didn't need to include the StrategicMap)[/I][/SIZE]: [SIZE=1](cspmap, cspmap2 & StrategicMap)[/SIZE]

-----------------------------------

The screen mods got moved to their own thread. 08/21/02

«/edit»

Here's a link for the IrfanView viewer:

[URL=http://www.irfanview.com]IrfanView[/URL]

Thanks.

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Post #: 1
- 6/8/2002 8:48:22 PM   
Gary D


Posts: 164
Joined: 6/6/2002
From: Southern California
Status: offline 		Rowlf,

Downloaded both and popped them through the converter. Will plug the "original" version into the game and let you know if I run into a glitch. Really like the "3D" impression of the satellite imagery. The first version is a little too dark for my personal preference. Makes me think of the North Atlantic!

Appreciate your effort to give us some options in an already excellent game!

Gary_D

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Post #: 2
Rowlf, - 6/9/2002 7:45:23 AM   
von Murrin


Posts: 1760
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: That from which there is no escape.
Status: offline 		The "original" maps are much easier on the eyes. Very clever idea! The effect is quite beautiful.

Also, it really shows the quality of Iain's work, as it can stand up to satellite imagery and still look fantastic. :)

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Post #: 3
Re: Rowlf, - 6/9/2002 4:24:07 PM   
Supervisor

 

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Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by von Murrin
[B]The "original" maps are much easier on the eyes. Very clever idea! The effect is quite beautiful.

Also, it really shows the quality of Iain's work, as it can stand up to satellite imagery and still look fantastic. :) [/B][/QUOTE]
Iain did all of the hard work. I just adapted what he did. :)

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Post #: 4
Updated for shallow sea hexes - 6/17/2002 11:44:04 PM   
Supervisor

 

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Joined: 3/2/2004
Status: offline 		I have just updated my map with the shallow water hexes shown. So I thought that I would post it.

«edit»[I]Just doing cleanup here. All downloads have been consolidated into one post.[/I]«/edit»

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Post #: 5
- 6/18/2002 1:36:08 AM   
von Murrin


Posts: 1760
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: That from which there is no escape.
Status: offline 		Wow! You've outdone yourself. I think I'll be using this one. :)

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Post #: 6
- 6/18/2002 1:44:30 AM   
juliet7bravo

 

Posts: 894
Joined: 5/30/2001
Status: offline 		Excellent! I'll be using it as well. Thanks for the effort and for making it available.

Errr...you're not the guy who made those cool green backgrounds for the Japanese menu/report screens are you? If so, any chance of getting a copy of them?

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Post #: 7
- 6/18/2002 5:02:57 AM   
wmtiz

 

Posts: 30
Joined: 6/4/2002
From: Belton, Texas
Status: offline 		Nice work. Well done!

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Post #: 8
- 6/18/2002 5:48:36 AM   
Sabre21


Posts: 8231
Joined: 4/27/2001
From: on a mountain in Idaho
Status: offline 		Outstanding! What more can you say. I would like to know what program you used for that. Very nice job.

Andy

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Post #: 9
- 6/18/2002 8:58:39 AM   
Supervisor

 

Posts: 5166
Joined: 3/2/2004
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by juliet7bravo
[B]Excellent! I'll be using it as well. Thanks for the effort and for making it available.

Errr...you're not the guy who made those cool green backgrounds for the Japanese menu/report screens are you? If so, any chance of getting a copy of them? [/B][/QUOTE]
Nope. But I did try to copy it! :D

Don't know how successful I was. Attached is a composite (jpg of a bit lower quality) of several of the screens. I haven't yet done anything with the new screens that came with the patch.

«edit»So, if you do want a copy, I can assemble a zipped file of high quality jpgs (translate to bmp's just like the map). Let me know.«/edit»

[QUOTE]Outstanding! What more can you say. I would like to know what program you used for that. Very nice job.[/QUOTE]
Paint Shop Pro 7

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Post #: 10
- 6/18/2002 9:58:14 AM   
juliet7bravo

 

Posts: 894
Joined: 5/30/2001
Status: offline 		I'd LOVE a copy...I'm currently Paintshop-less as my niece destroyed my CD. A VERY nice mod, and you've got just about exactly the right shade of green.

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Post #: 11
- 6/19/2002 10:32:37 AM   
juliet7bravo

 

Posts: 894
Joined: 5/30/2001
Status: offline 		You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman. Looking it over now, a vast improvement over blah blah blue for everything.

Only improvement possible for the "next gen" would be the bits that have pics in them, ie. the ground, sea, intell screens with the maps/pics overlain by the green (or blue) filters. IMO, the pics should be aged BW, the maps should be dirty white maps with the symbols ect. I'll pick up a new copy of PSP and start to work on them as well.

Many thanks, and it's VERY much appreciated!

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Post #: 12
- 6/19/2002 12:44:07 PM   
Supervisor

 

Posts: 5166
Joined: 3/2/2004
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by juliet7bravo
[B]You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman. Looking it over now, a vast improvement over blah blah blue for everything.

Only improvement possible for the "next gen" would be the bits that have pics in them, ie. the ground, sea, intell screens with the maps/pics overlain by the green (or blue) filters. IMO, the pics should be aged BW, the maps should be dirty white maps with the symbols ect. I'll pick up a new copy of PSP and start to work on them as well.

Many thanks, and it's VERY much appreciated! [/B][/QUOTE]
Well, when you get PSP, if you want a file or two to play with, I have them (for the most part) already layerized. Sizes anywhere from ½ Mb to 4½ MB (CombatReportJ_1024). They might save you a little work. :)

I did a little "aging" on the portrait in the Combat Summary graphic (j_combatsummary), and I did some color correction for the graphics on the plane & ship data screens.

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Post #: 13
- 6/19/2002 1:07:56 PM   
Raverdave


Posts: 6520
Joined: 2/8/2002
From: Melb. Australia
Status: offline 		Brilliant work ! Love it!

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Post #: 14
- 6/19/2002 9:23:55 PM   
juliet7bravo

 

Posts: 894
Joined: 5/30/2001
Status: offline 		Found the one you made the corrections on, a vast improvement IMO. I'll play around a bit, and holler if I need the layerized versions. I have a bud who's a commercial artist I work on another game with, I can probably just swap him some 3DS tank models he's been pestering me to do for some graphics work on these. Thanks...

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Post #: 15
bmp versions available - 6/20/2002 10:41:31 AM   
Supervisor

 

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Status: offline 		«edit»

Moved to top of thread. :D

«/edit»

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Post #: 16
- 6/21/2002 2:19:33 AM   
Sabre21


Posts: 8231
Joined: 4/27/2001
From: on a mountain in Idaho
Status: offline 		Hi Rowlf

I really like your maps, in particular the one with the mid shade of blue...also the lighter shade of blue one is nice too. Is there any way to dither out some of the background behind all the labels on the mid blue one (it's the one on the bottom of the 3 you posted earlier in this thread)? The label backgrounds look a bit distorted on that one...I don't know if that was intentional.

Also is it possible to thin out them coral reefs...maybe make them only a pixel or two wide. I know they are necessary for game play but I don't think they need to be so obtrusive. Besides...one of them cuts into one of the islands on your map.

Andy

PS: Great job BTW! I am looking forward to see what you come up with next:)

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Post #: 17
- 6/21/2002 6:17:25 AM   
Supervisor

 

Posts: 5166
Joined: 3/2/2004
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sabre21
[B]Hi Rowlf

I really like your maps, in particular the one with the mid shade of blue...also the lighter shade of blue one is nice too. Is there any way to dither out some of the background behind all the labels on the mid blue one (it's the one on the bottom of the 3 you posted earlier in this thread)? The label backgrounds look a bit distorted on that one...I don't know if that was intentional.

Also is it possible to thin out them coral reefs...maybe make them only a pixel or two wide. I know they are necessary for game play but I don't think they need to be so obtrusive. Besides...one of them cuts into one of the islands on your map.

Andy

PS: Great job BTW! I am looking forward to see what you come up with next:) [/B][/QUOTE]
Well, the text is the same on all three color versions. I have already played with fonts already. Will have to check my other available font sources for any other possibilities.

The reefs actually cut into 2 or 3 of the islands. :D I did shift the Louisiade Archipelago a little bit farther south. I also shifted a couple of the reefs off of the hexgrid boundary just a bit. Look this over. (Trimmed off more of the reefs. The original was a quick trim-down of the reefs from the original map. This is a second quick trim-down).

I'll be going offline for a week and a half or so, so not much is going to change for awhile. :D

Check the attached jpg (346kb in size). It's the results of the quick hackjob that I did on it.

«edit»
[I]I changed the reefs to 25% opacity to tone them down.[/I]
«/edit»

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Post #: 18
- 6/21/2002 7:32:52 AM   
Sabre21


Posts: 8231
Joined: 4/27/2001
From: on a mountain in Idaho
Status: offline 		Thanks for the extra work. I didn't realize the paint program could do all this. Ive been playing around cleaning up the backgrounds on the letters so they blend into the blue more. At least on my machine the background appeared distorted on the mid blue version but not the other two.


Andy

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Post #: 19
- 6/21/2002 9:45:54 AM   
Supervisor

 

Posts: 5166
Joined: 3/2/2004
Status: offline 		[I]Most of the hard work was done while I was first setting up the files (layers and all). Now I can go in and modify one layer fairly easily without disturbing most of the rest. [/I]

[I]As for the text, the only thing that I can figure is[/I] that when the layers are all merged back together (on that background especially) there is some distortion. I can brighten the text of the base names by taking anti-alias off. Anti-alias set many of the border pixels [I]of the letters[/I] at different levels of transparency, so the overall effect changes as does the background color.

As for the reefs (I didn't think of this the first time) but I can make them 75% transparent. That tones them down quite a bit.

The version here has got the base text without anti-alias [I](I think the font is Arial as well, not exactly the same as the other)[/I].

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Post #: 20
Very nice! - 6/22/2002 11:24:36 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

Posts: 37503
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
Status: offline 		Outstanding work, Rowlf! Do you also have modified Allied interface screens that have a similar 3D look to your Japanese screens? I downloaded and am trying out all your mods now and I'm quite pleased with them, look forward to trying out your "total conversion" when you get to finishing this up. :)

Regards,

- Erik

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Post #: 21
- 6/23/2002 3:49:23 PM   
Sabre21


Posts: 8231
Joined: 4/27/2001
From: on a mountain in Idaho
Status: offline 		That last map's a winner there Rowlf...nice job:)

Andy

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Post #: 22
- 6/26/2002 10:47:09 PM   
Intruder

 

Posts: 103
Joined: 5/17/2002
Status: offline 		i really love these new maps however, is it just me or do the seas seem very pixilated? Is it possible to clean these up?

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Post #: 23
- 7/5/2002 5:56:23 PM   
Supervisor

 

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Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Intruder
[B]i really love these new maps however, is it just me or do the seas seem very pixilated? Is it possible to clean these up? [/B][/QUOTE]
What do you mean exactly? I've been looking at them too long to be able to judge (methinks). I do notice that there is a banding around the land (which happens when I mash everything back down to a single layer). I will be trying something to improve on that, but I'm not sure it will do anything worthwhile.

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Post #: 24
Re: Very nice! - 7/6/2002 1:09:07 PM   
Supervisor

 

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Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Erik Rutins
[B]Outstanding work, Rowlf! Do you also have modified Allied interface screens that have a similar 3D look to your Japanese screens? I downloaded and am trying out all your mods now and I'm quite pleased with them, look forward to trying out your "total conversion" when you get to finishing this up. :)

Regards,

- Erik [/B][/QUOTE]
The jpg versions are available. I haven't yet gotten the bmp versions uploaded to the webserver yet.

Modified the post at the beginning of this thread and added the new stuff there as well.

FYi

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Post #: 25
- 7/6/2002 1:28:36 PM   
Fred98


Posts: 4430
Joined: 1/5/2001
From: Wollondilly, Sydney
Status: offline 		Rowlf, the artworkk is excellent.

To prolong the game what is really needed is a new map.

I would hope to play the long campaign, twice from each side H2H and thats it.

If there were a brand new map I would again play the long campaign twice from each side H2H.

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Post #: 26
- 7/6/2002 11:52:53 PM   
Gustaf

 

Posts: 23
Joined: 6/29/2002
From: Wisconsin, USA
Status: offline 		Many thanks Rowlf :)

Great job!

Gus

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Post #: 27
Bravo! - 7/7/2002 11:57:28 PM   
mariovalleemtl


Posts: 360
Joined: 8/9/2000
From: Montreal
Status: offline 		Bravo Rowlf! I do prefer the orriginal map but I use all your other mod. :)

Do you plane to color all the ships in this game? I will love it.

mario

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Post #: 28
bmp versions available - 7/8/2002 6:06:10 AM   
Supervisor

 

Posts: 5166
Joined: 3/2/2004
Status: offline 		Just to let you know that the bmp versions of all mods are now available (again, thanks to Oleg).

These include the new common combat screens, the allied screens, a couple of slight combat summary variations and the toned-down reef versions of the maps.

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Post #: 29
location changes? - 7/8/2002 8:20:50 AM   
Michael Walker

 

Posts: 43
Joined: 6/27/2002
Status: offline 		Hi, I'm very interested in using these mods, but I'm concerned about your comment that Australia was moved south and that various small islands were moved aroung. How far south did it go? As it stands, LBA is stretched to support Port Moresby, I can see where this might really affect the outcome of the game. I'm less concerned about the islands as its indicated that they are small -- I'm assuming that they aren't ones in play.

Can anyone comment on this?

Thanks,

Mike

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