06-05-2001 14:49									#1
	Pre-release a sparse cut-down map-making tool Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

There have been talks about a Civ-2 -> Civ-3 scenario conversion-tool ( hence: http://apolyton.net/forums/Forum6/HTML/002645.html?7 ). Thats great - the more they can re-exploit past Civ-2 scenarios into Civ-3 as well, the better it is. Besides, designing scenarios is hard work and those who have put so much work into it in the past, perhaps deserves a second updated chance to show off their old stuff.

Another potential goldmine-source is MAPS. Im not only thinking of some kind of conversion-tool here. Also, it would be great if Firaxis, a few short months before the Civ-3 gold-release, would pre-release a sparse cut-down version of the map-making tool - downloadable from their site.

Nothing fancy: not with scenario-functions - just the barebone MAP-MAKING part of it. Lets face it; the map-generator has its obvious AI-limitations and it can only be a good thing if Civ-enthusiasts manage to crank out an ample selection of handcrafted maps to play on, once the Civ-3 is available in the stores. The way I see it: it would be creative fun for us fans while we wait, and at the same time; Firaxis gets some nice raw-material for Civ-3 maps for free.

	06-05-2001 16:11									#2
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

I think your idea is rather implausible, but it is a good idea nevertheless. Some people are just so much better at designing (real) maps than Firaxis. See OmniGod's maps for an example...

	06-05-2001 16:55									#3
	Get a bigger avatar today!

one thing that activision did right with ctp2 is that they created and was later released on the net a "bmp to ctp2 map" conversion tool. a similar bmp/civ2/civ3 tool should definately be in the box....

	07-05-2001 01:34									#4
	Put an end to popups!

I like Ralph's idea, but I cant figure out how Mark's idea of BMP-converting would work. Someone please explain.

	07-05-2001 02:10									#5
	Suffering from ads?

there are tons of bitmaps on geographical and other similar sites of maps from various parts of the planet

the tool takes a bmp and translate it into the map format used by the game. in case of the bmp-2-ctp2 tool you only have to place the rivers yourself. you can check it out here
http://www.apolyton.net/cgi-bin/ctp...view.cgi?ID=511

most of the ctp2 maps were made with this tools
http://www.apolyton.net/ctp2/files/Maps/Binary/

	07-05-2001 02:19									#6
	Tired of ads?

I hope the game comes with many high quality maps from the start.

A pre-release map editor would be fine, but I doubt that they do that - it would probably reveal to much of the game.

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