Hello, New User Question
by zamfir · in General Discussion · 10/23/2006 (2:37 pm) · 12 replies
Hi. I'm completely new to TGE, so these questions may sound boneheaded, but I assure you I did search the forums for the answers...
I would like to create levels using a bitmap rather than the terrain editor. (I want to make a more TRON sort of map-based game with rectangular walls and such)
Can this be done, and if so how, and what size can my map be in pixels?
Also, is there a way to make the textures not feather or blend, as they normally do?
Thanks.
~zamfir
I would like to create levels using a bitmap rather than the terrain editor. (I want to make a more TRON sort of map-based game with rectangular walls and such)
Can this be done, and if so how, and what size can my map be in pixels?
Also, is there a way to make the textures not feather or blend, as they normally do?
Thanks.
~zamfir
#2
10/23/2006 (5:33 pm)
*chirrup*
#3
Welcome. Love your music.
Using bitmaps for terrain is pretty easy. Some preparation is in order though. The image should be .PNG and should be 256x256 pixels in size. Unfortunately, it probably won't work like you're hoping. Even with 'shear' dropoffs, there is still some degree of sloping and texture warping. I don't know of a way to turn of texture blending for terrain textures.
You can go into world edit mode (F11) then go into one of the terrain tools (F6 or F7 can't remember) then look for an operation to create the landscape using a bitmap. Once you find it, just apply the operation. You'll need to save your changes, though.
Having said all that, for what you're wanting, your best bet might be to get rid of terrain alltogether and use .DIF interior files instead. That way, you have total control of how your surfaces and textures look. You can use something like QuArK or Cartography Shop to create your angular worlds. To eliminate the terrain, you will need to either comment out the terrain data in your .MIS files or delete the terrain sections entirely. Eliminating terrains will improve your overall framerates, which is super cool. Make sure that your player spawn points will drop over your interior files. Otherwise, your players will fall for a verrrrry long time.
10/23/2006 (6:19 pm)
Hi,Welcome. Love your music.
Using bitmaps for terrain is pretty easy. Some preparation is in order though. The image should be .PNG and should be 256x256 pixels in size. Unfortunately, it probably won't work like you're hoping. Even with 'shear' dropoffs, there is still some degree of sloping and texture warping. I don't know of a way to turn of texture blending for terrain textures.
You can go into world edit mode (F11) then go into one of the terrain tools (F6 or F7 can't remember) then look for an operation to create the landscape using a bitmap. Once you find it, just apply the operation. You'll need to save your changes, though.
Having said all that, for what you're wanting, your best bet might be to get rid of terrain alltogether and use .DIF interior files instead. That way, you have total control of how your surfaces and textures look. You can use something like QuArK or Cartography Shop to create your angular worlds. To eliminate the terrain, you will need to either comment out the terrain data in your .MIS files or delete the terrain sections entirely. Eliminating terrains will improve your overall framerates, which is super cool. Make sure that your player spawn points will drop over your interior files. Otherwise, your players will fall for a verrrrry long time.
#4
I will go to the mountains and ponder while playing my flute to the goats.
10/23/2006 (6:31 pm)
I can see that this is going to take some effort.I will go to the mountains and ponder while playing my flute to the goats.
#5
I will go to the mountains and ponder while playing my flute to the goats.
10/23/2006 (6:53 pm)
I can see that this is going to take some effort.I will go to the mountains and ponder while playing my flute to the goats.
#6
It's not as complicated as it sounds. For a Tron-like world, just ignore everything but my last paragraph. If you need help, just let us know and someone should be able to walk you through it.
Also, the forums are kind of wierd. Hitting refresh on a page you've responded to tends to repost the same message again.
10/23/2006 (7:18 pm)
:)It's not as complicated as it sounds. For a Tron-like world, just ignore everything but my last paragraph. If you need help, just let us know and someone should be able to walk you through it.
Also, the forums are kind of wierd. Hitting refresh on a page you've responded to tends to repost the same message again.
#7
I will go to the mountains and ponder while playing my flute to the goats.
10/23/2006 (7:31 pm)
I can see that this is going to take some effort.I will go to the mountains and ponder while playing my flute to the goats.
#8
10/23/2006 (7:32 pm)
Yikes! That's good to know about the forums!
#9
10/23/2006 (7:32 pm)
Is there a free level editor you can think of?
#10
10/23/2006 (7:58 pm)
I would suggest building the TRON battle arena in a DIF editor. QuArK (Quake Army Knife) is one free DIF editor. You can add an empty (flat) terrain block to the level, but mostly ignore it (just to shut up the mission editor).
#11
Cartography Shop was fairly cheap, and really cool to work with. The new version got a name change, (3D World Studio, maybe, can't remember) but I haven't tried it since I'm happy with CS.
Eventually, Garage Games will release Constructor, which looks to be pretty excellent. It won't be free though.
I hope that helps.
10/23/2006 (7:59 pm)
Interior editor, yes, there are a few. QuArK is totally free, but really unfun to work with. Radiant is free too, but I can't say how it works. Hammer is free but is in legal limbo. Cartography Shop was fairly cheap, and really cool to work with. The new version got a name change, (3D World Studio, maybe, can't remember) but I haven't tried it since I'm happy with CS.
Eventually, Garage Games will release Constructor, which looks to be pretty excellent. It won't be free though.
I hope that helps.
#12
10/25/2006 (10:56 pm)
Just got Cartography Shop, it seems like it'll do the trick. 
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