Chrysler Maps Development Team Thread

[everbodyhateschris 0]

Welcome to the official Chrysler Development Team thread. My maps and other user's who join maps are open to all comments and suggestions, and my latest map is located at the bottom of page 2. When you comment, please use constructive criticism. I need suggestions, not "it looks bad".

[Cleaner475 150]

Glad you've started a thread, I look forward to you posting your projects

Richard

[everbodyhateschris 0]

Here's my first map for you...currently in progress, it's a config. Good or not?

[everbodyhateschris 0]

 Here's the progress of the first map, Mountain Hights

Middle half:

Upper Half:

[un1 40]

Its great that you started a mapping thread however your map (as shown above) is a bit flat. Perhaps making it so that there is some more terrain (I'm not saying overdo it like my maps though )?

[everbodyhateschris 0]

 I'm working on some more mountains right now (there will be some flat terrain left over, though, as some users liek flatter land vs. mountains and mesas)

[Cleaner475 150]

Originally posted by: un1

Its great that you started a mapping thread however your map (as shown above) is a bit flat. Perhaps making it so that there is some more terrain (I'm not saying overdo it like my maps though )?quote>

Stop advertising .

Its a good start just make sure you terraform the majority of the region and not leave most parts flat in the finished version but well done so far

Richard

[everbodyhateschris 0]

I've been terraforming some more, added some islands, some more water...just tell me what you think.

[content_writer 0]

Hello everybodyhateschris,

Welcome to the place to learn how to create better maps.

You've asked for comments on this map.  I think you need to improve it in three areas:

My first suggestion is to make the mountains more gradual.  Try foothills, or a leading slope or cliffs to make your mountains more realistic.  If you have conical peaks coming out of the ground, with nothing to make it "belong" you have a collection of volcanoes instead of mountains (and even inactive volcanoes usually have remnants of a lava trail--again, a gradual slope).

Second, I wouldn't suggest completely ignoring the "city limits" tilelines--it is a city simulation after all--but when you have one geological feature isolated in one city tile here and another geological feature contained in another city tile there, you have geography that has no connection with each other.  Your rivers and lakes cross tiles; hills, coastlines and mountains should do the same.  Take advantage of this program's cross-tile ability:  The main reason why maps are so popular on the stex is because the in-game terraformer only affects one city tile at a time with lousy reconcile edges capabilities.

Thirdly, as others have suggested, your land shouldn't be so flat.  Just don't overdo it with the land texturing.  Most of the time "default" land is gently rolling hills or very gradual changes in elevation, with the occasional big hill, cliff, plains or bumpy patch.

Overall, I think you have a good eye for 2D and as you develop more of a sense for 3D your maps will improve considerably.

[everbodyhateschris 0]

Originally posted by: content_writer

Hello everybodyhateschris,

Welcome to the place to learn how to create better maps.

You've asked for comments on this map.  I think you need to improve it in three areas:

My first suggestion is to make the mountains more gradual.  Try foothills, or a leading slope or cliffs to make your mountains more realistic.  If you have conical peaks coming out of the ground, with nothing to make it "belong" you have a collection of volcanoes instead of mountains (and even inactive volcanoes usually have remnants of a lava trail--again, a gradual slope).

Second, I wouldn't suggest completely ignoring the "city limits" tilelines--it is a city simulation after all--but when you have one geological feature isolated in one city tile here and another geological feature contained in another city tile there, you have geography that has no connection with each other.  Your rivers and lakes cross tiles; hills, coastlines and mountains should do the same.  Take advantage of this program's cross-tile ability:  The main reason why maps are so popular on the stex is because the in-game terraformer only affects one city tile at a time with lousy reconcile edges capabilities.

Thirdly, as others have suggested, your land shouldn't be so flat.  Just don't overdo it with the land texturing.  Most of the time "default" land is gently rolling hills or very gradual changes in elevation, with the occasional big hill, cliff, plains or bumpy patch.

Overall, I think you have a good eye for 2D and as you develop more of a sense for 3D your maps will improve considerably.

quote>

Just a note here, you can't see them so much, but there are foot hills around the mountains, and most of the mountains have elevation changes behind what you can see. As for volcanoes; ? Thanks for your advice; I'm working on it right now.

[everbodyhateschris 0]

Alright! I have the first render ready! Tell me what you think...

 

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Reminds me of smallpox.

I think content_writer's points are trying to get you to think in terms of maps like this rather then flat maps with some geographical points of interest sprinkled on top. Try "connecting the dots" and painting a mountain range and foothills from the disembodied mounds you already have. Michelangelo didn't paint the Sistine Chapel with a handful of strokes, likewise its going to take many "strokes" to paint, sculpt, and ultimately crate appealing and realistic geography.

[everbodyhateschris 0]

Originally posted by: SimHoTToDDy

Reminds me of smallpox.

I think content_writer's points are trying to get you to think in terms of maps like this rather then flat maps with some geographical points of interest sprinkled on top. Try "connecting the dots" and painting a mountain range and foothills from the disembodied mounds you already have. Michelangelo didn't paint the Sistine Chapel with a handful of strokes, likewise its going to take many "strokes" to paint, sculpt, and ultimately crate appealing and realistic geography.

quote>

I understand what you are saying, but I don't have the tools nor time to do that.

[Cleaner475 150]

^If you don't have the time or desire to improve your maps then the there is no point to this map thread at all and your better off just using your maps for yourself and not uploading them.

Looking on the bright side; you seem to enjoy adding rivers to your map and you seem pretty good at it, maps with varying terrain are nice but lots of people prefer just having flat map with rivers running through. Your render looks much better but you seem to have included the 'bumps' for no reason or just to prove that the map isn't flat. This doesn't benefit anyone and doesn't exactly make the map look attractive to potential users. I'd advise you to keep it simple, do a flat map with rivers running through and look at the results. It seems to me that you are trying to include every single feature you can which is good but you need to improve your basic skills first.

Please read my comments and take them onboard, I feel you have great potential and are one of only a few new mappers that do. You need to put the effort in or just work on your maps for a longer period of time but stretch the development over the course of several days or a couple of weeks.

You've recieved some good tips from users in this thread and thats why I'm glad you started it in the first place but you need to evaluate your own performance and be certain that your doing this because you want too, promise yourself you won't rush your work and take onboard feedback given. If you are not willing to devote your time to maps then you don't have to and you can easily spend your time doing something else relating to custom content like lotting.

Richard

[everbodyhateschris 0]

 I think I'll just be better off using my maps for myself. (

I have no future in this category.

This thread is now closed.

[Cleaner475 150]

I'm sorry you've decided to stop with your mapping. The choice is always your to try again and I hope someday you will, you've still got the potential but its always your choice to use it or not.

Good luck in whatever you attempt next, whether SC4 or otherwise, its been enjoyable helping you and I hope I've at least shown you the door. I really am sorry your not going to continue but I hope you'll find something else you can spend time doing and enjoying,

All the best,

Richard

[TekindusT 3,809]

In my opinion, I think it's way too early to give up mapping. It's your first map on this thread and I guess you opened it to improve, of course it won't be perfect. Nobody is born knowing how to use the SC4Terraformer, and you need to practice and take note of the tips and critics the maps guys leave here.

Anyways, this is up to you...

[content_writer 0]

I say "keep trying" because you have a good 2D awareness. I practiced for a while before I uploaded anything.

[everbodyhateschris 0]

 After four uploads to the STEX which I thought were amazing, users rated it the worst thing they had ever seen. I'm sorry, but I can't continue.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

When someone criticizes me, I take it as an opportunity to improve. In fact, I'd rather everyone point out the flaws in what I do rather than idly chime "looks good."

You on the other hand shrink at the first signs of "rejection". No one is rejecting you, we just think that you can do better and we are here to help you!

If you really enjoy doing this, keep trying! I BAT because its a lot of fun for me. You won't become great in one project, and giving up will ensure that you never will, so keep going!

[Cleaner475 150]

Originally posted by: everbodyhateschris

After four uploads to the STEX which I thought were amazing, users rated it the worst thing they had ever seen. I'm sorry, but I can't continue.quote>

Look at some of my first uploads! They were rubbish, took me ages to find make anything that people geuinely rated good because I'd finally reached a stage where I could produce something useful. Your being stupid if you think you can just make amazing stuff straight away. I realized that and I was stupid in the begginning (probably still am a little bit )

Richard

[everbodyhateschris 0]

 I think you're right. I just didn't use patience. Let's start with the basics.

[Cleaner475 150]

I'm glad your cotinuing, it normal to get frustrated, I used too and still do

I look forward to seeing your work,

Richard

[un1 40]

My first upload was so bad I got it deleted when I became good! It does take practice, and trying not to advertise (cleaner ), it took me 8 months of getting bad ratings until I finally became good at lotting and 9 months until I learned DEM mapping. No one is saying "you are terrible, get lost", they are trying to give you ideas on how to improve! All good BATer lotter and almost everyone gets criticized atleast once, it took me 8-9 months! I never gave up, nor did anyone else. Look at SimGoobers first uploads, they were terrible, now look at his uploads, he never gave up and now he is huge!

[everbodyhateschris 0]

Here is a pre-render of a region I already built a city on, but have added basics, like water. If you noticed, I signed it by the bottom with my initials, A.M. 

[everbodyhateschris 0]

Alright, I've edited the map to make the shore lines more realistic. There is in fact a noticable change, with less circle-like objects.  Also, more sand has been added to the shorelines, and one small island has been removed. 

[everbodyhateschris 0]

OK, next pre-render: I have taken away some lakes and rivers, and due to some minor terraforming difficulties, I have added some hills.

[Cleaner475 150]

It looks good but in my opinion you should start with a blank a 4x4 large tiles region, that way you can quickly load and save each game tile, to show us what the full map looks like as well as the fact we won't have thoose annoying cities,

Richard

[everbodyhateschris 0]

Here's a better basic map: one that's rendered, too. It's a 4x4, with only large tiles. I still haven't smoothed out the shorelines, I will do that later. 

[Cleaner475 150]

Now thats more like it, I can clearly see what the map looks like now, well done

Good start and I hope you'll add a lot of varied terrain to it.

Its a good idea to decide what type of map your going to make. Such as a river map with flat terrain, rivers with mountains, plains with hills. etc.

Good start though,

Richard