Need help to make a map

[Indyjones 0]

How do I change or edit my region and city size so I can make a custom map? I know it involves bitmap images but I have no idea how to get started. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[CaptCity 4,669]

Welcome to Simtropolis...

How do I change or edit my region and city size so I can make a custom map? I know it involves bitmap images but I have no idea how to get started. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

You're correct in that it does involve modifying the config file. It you open it in MS Paint (or some other graphics program) and expand it as much as possible, you can change the pixel patterns to alter the city sizes that will appear in the game. Remember to use only the three colors, red, green, and blue. For large cities, you will need to make 4x4 pixels of blue. For medium, make 2x2 pixels of green. And for small, make single red pixels. The three sizes must fit correctly on the config or else the cities will not appear.

Note: If you alter any existing configs, everything on the map will be erased (including terrain) in those cities that were changed. So if this is not what you're going for, you might not want to try it. And as always, be sure to make backup copies in case you don't like how it turns out.

[Urbanator 7]

To CaptCity: I have been pondering this subject also, so your explanation is much appreciated.

[Paulobergonci 673]

if you already started a city in the region you cant change it anymore.

[Vandy 110]

Hello, Indyjones.

Until the Omnibus is brought back on-line, let me see if I can give you some help on your question.

A small city tile is 1 x 1, a medium city tile is 2 x 2 and a large city tile is 4 x 4 .

You can have a mix of all sizes in your region as long as you make sure the number of times evenly fill your config.bmp file. (That is, unless you are purposely leaving "holes" in the region -- for instance, not rending blank tiles of ocean.)

For example, if I have a map who's grayscale image is 513 x 513 pixels, I would need a config.bmp file that is 8 x 8 pixels. This would allow me to have the following city tiles:

A maximum of 4 large city tiles

A maximum of 8 medium city tiles

A maximum of 16 small city tiles

Any mixture of the three sizes:

Examples: 2 large city tiles, 8 medium city tiles

or

1 large city tile, 8 medium city tles, 16 small city tiles

or

1 large city tile, 10 medium city tiles, 8 small city tiles

etc.

In order to ensure you have the right dimentions for your region and config.bmp file, follow the below formula:

cw = width of the config.bmp in pixels

ch = height of the config.bmp in pixels

rw = width of the region in pixels

rh = height of the region in pixels

If the region size is known, find the dimensions of the config.bmp file:

(rw-1) / 64 = cw

(rh-1) / 64 = ch

For example, if your region is 1025 x 1025 pixels, your config.bmp file should be 16 x 16 pixels.

(1025 - 1) / 64 = 16

(1025 - 1) / 64 = 16

If the config.bmp size is known, find the dimensions of the region:

(cw * 64) + 1 = rw

(ch * 64) + 1 = rh

For example, if your config.bmp is 12 x 8 pixels, your region size should be 769 x 513.

(12 * 64) + 1 = 769

(8 * 64) + 1 = 513

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Vandy