Rivercocytus Mapmaking

[RiverCocytus 0]

This is the thread for RiverCocytus' Mapmapking.

History: I've made maps for games since I was able to build maps in a golf game for the 286 IBM PC (shout outs if you can name what game it was...) I made maps for Doom, Quake, Total Annihilation, C&C, and others. I played SNES' Simcity (was never able to play the old original simcity), and Simcity 2000. The first simulation game I ever played was MoonBase (man that game was HARD. )

Mission: To take some of my spare time and make maps that fulfill these criteria:

1. You want to build a city there
2. Highly functional game-wise
3. Aesthetically pleasing

I DON'T do real terrain, sorry. For whatever reason, when the 'real' terrain is imported into SC4 it is never very inspiring. It just seems like the rises and dips, rivers and valleys are much better in real life.

Instead I render my maps from what I envision it ought to look like.

I use three tools (aside from paint) to help me out: The first is inkscape (http://www.inkscape.org) the second is the gimp (http://www.gimp.org) and the third is trusty ol' Photoshop.

The process is simple:
1. Come up with a terrain idea, and roll it around in my head
2. lay down basic ideas using inkscape, or directly in gimp/photoshop - this means rivers, major hills and valleys, mountains, etc.
3. use gradient fills, smudge tool and pencil to create various terrains.
4. observing the layout, I will try to create a reasonable config.bmp.
5. try to render it.
6. repeat 3,4,5 as needed until it fulfills the three criteria above.

Sounds like some kind of machine
oh well.

The first reason I made this thread is to attempt to increase downloads and or views of my maps.

The second reason is to get feedback, since it seems to be rare and terse at best. Also, I noticed few if any maps have enough votes to actually be rated. That sucks!

Next map: 2x4 large cities: One half of a giant mountain-- rivers, (ferry-enabled, with cliffs/beaches) and a sloping plain.

If it is not too much trouble, I would like to hear what kinds of terrain people are looking for.

Ohkay, L's & G's; peace in the middle east.

[Vandy 110]

Hello, RiverCocytus.

 

That is an interesting screen name you have.  Is there a story behind it?

 

Welcome to Simtropolis and welcome to the world of map-making.  It is really nice to see that more and more people are getting involved in the Mapping Community and I certainly welcome you here.

 

Your first post was an interesting read and I certainly will check out your method for making a map.  If there is one thing I've learned in 55 years on this planet is that you are NEVER to old to learn something new.

 

If there is anything I can do to help you out or anything else, just let me know.

 

Regards,

 

Vandy

[RiverCocytus 0]

Exerrent.

Cocytus is the fourth river of hell (the others are Acheron, Styx and Phlegethon) which is frozen solid always, and leads into a lake in which Satan (or Stan if you wish) is frozen halfway up his body. He constantly beats his wings to try to escape, but the wind produced from the flapping creates further cold.

This, BTW, is from Dante's Inferno, which is a great (but heady) read.

I'm likely going to make a map of Inferno, or 'Dys' as it is called in the book. Will be a great place to use those weird river and terrain mods.

New map: Washburn Mountainside (South Washburn)

[JustinHayward 10]

Your apparent fascination with hell and satan, who you refer to, with the friendly name STAN, is profound to say the least. You now say that you will be making a map, representing the very pits of hell itself. I find that somewhat unnerving. I therefore respectfully ask you as to wether you consider the portrayal of hell and all things evil, to be appropriate on a website, representative of a game, thats is played predominantly by children, or persons who are otherwise fragile, and vulnerable.

[Psyko 0]

I dont see how it could offend anyone. It seems like he read a book he liked and found it interesting. And its not like he can make Magma and Evil souls come out of his region either. I would like to see what he thinks the pit of hell looks like. And if some kid doesnt want to play a 'Hell' region then dont download it. RiverCocytus wont make you (I hope).

And by the way Cocytus nice job so far, in a little here I may need a new region and id like to see how you will make it come to be. Later

[Joesocwork 4]

Date: 2/10/2006 9:48:55 AM Author: JustinHayward Your apparent fascination with hell and satan, who you refer to, with the 'friendly' name STAN, is profound to say the least. You now say that you will be making a map, representing the very pits of hell itself. I find that somewhat unnerving. I therefore respectfully ask you as to wether you consider the portrayal of hell and all things evil, to be appropriate on a website, representative of a game, thats is played predominantly by children, or persons who are otherwise fragile, and vulnerable.

quote>

Let's stay on subject pls guys.

[RiverCocytus 0]

he-he. Well, the medieval Christian mind was very obsessed with the pit-- it's kind of morbid, sure, but we all think about the hereafter sometimes.

But this is a thread about mapmaking!

Also, the Inferno/Dys map might be very difficult to build on-- or I might make it easy. I guess that depends on how I'm feeling at the time

Like I mentioned, the map I have made now is Mount Kilgore (I hope that link works...) but soon I will be doing a map based or inspired by Horeb, the mountain of God. (Also known as Mt. Sinai.) It is a very worn, uneven mountain, and does not bear any snow. Should be fun to render.

Each map is a painting, and the universe is my subject. But when I paint, I paint from the imagination.

Holla back at me, y'all.

[JustinHayward 10]

From Satan and the pits of hell to Mt Sinai ....... that is one helluva (excuse the pun) change of direction! Rivercocytus - you are a very astute man, and I await your Mt Sinai map with tentative anticipation

[RiverCocytus 0]

Um, just keeping this thread alive.

Also, I'm going to be releasing some info on how to get roads up mountains, and how to build cities on the sides of mountains.

I'm also going to address the jpeg issue, which relates to why you do not see a lot of detail in many maps.

Keep it real, youse!
RC

[JustinHayward 10]

Your latest map upload is a contravention of the rules regarding map uploads - the instructions on the map upload pages quite clearly state that the map is to be attached as a GREYSCALE JPEG with a 2.5Mb limititation on size, and NOT as a bitmap as you have uploaded. Quite probably the reason why, to date, this map has had 40 views and ZERO downloads. If you wish to continue uploading maps to the STEX, may I respectfully suggest that you READ THE RULES.

Furthermore, your flippant description on said map, refers to OLD BOOKS. The old book that you no doubt refer to is the second book of the Old Testament of the bible itself.
Your map is MT SINAI where Moses recieved the tablets of stone containing the ten Commandments. Do you not consider that your map is insulting millions of christians the world over? Or was this perhaps your intention, along with your other maps portraying hell ? Your screenname itself is the fourth river of hell in Dantes Inferno.

[RiverCocytus 0]

Wow. This is why I stay away from forums.

Few things... (This WILL be TMI)
1. I've been a Christian since my baptism at age 12
2. I read the Bible every night- finished the NIV 3 years ago
3. You are overreacting
4. Do you remember to assume that someone else is Christian before assuming that they AREN'T?
5. Lake Lachdanan features a mountain far too small to be Mt. Sinai
6. All areas are fantastic, though inspired by real.
7. Doesn't matter much, the maps are far to mountain and terrain mod heavy to attract a lot of d/l'ers
8. Please do not get in my face because I pointed out that the scandinavian map is not to-scale. (It should be 'Map of Europe')
9. Like I've said, the medieval Christian mind was obsessed with hellish images and demons. So I'm a bit macabre, 'judge not lest ye be judged'?
10. The Mt. Horeb map is bleeping beautiful, if you ask me. But I guess a lot of folks don't like desert terrain.
11. I can choose whatever name I want. If you think about it, the River Cocytus keeps Satan at bay, he is frozen in it. (In Dante's Inferno)
12. This thread is to discuss mapmaking, and for people to post comments about my maps, how I make them, what they think I should do differently, what I've done well, what they would like to see, etc.
13. If nobody posts to this thread then it is because nobody is interested in commenting. That's fine- this is not a popularity contest, what I do is my hobby. If I built model trains, would I care if nobody thought they were awesome?
14. I like all of your recent maps, including the scandanavia one. Very nicely done!
15. I also appreciate the fact that you are reading the maps request thread and doing maps that are requested. God bless you for that-- otherwise, the maps request thread is just a trashbin.
16. I will be doing some requested maps soon as well, when I get time.
17. I made a mistake in saying it was a BMP, sorry.
18. I uploaded a jpeg, but also-- Vandy pointed out that it could be a BMP (I think?) BMP provides better image quality because it has NO COMPRESSION. Jpeg at lowest still does compression.
19. If there were millions of Christians on this board, I might start to get concerned. But even then, they might have a more lighthearted approach to their relationship with the Almighty, and learn to have a sense of humor about themselves.
20. The map did get downloads...
21. Golly, I could keep going. I don't want to make you horribly insulted, but... your response struck me as immature. I'm not in Simtropolis to engage in immature banter-- there are 1000's of other forums which I could go to if I desired that.
22. Jesus still loves both of us. Okay? Man...

(Apologies to anyone other than J.Hayward who read this reply.)

To avoid being totally offtopic, I would like to know (for anyone who reads this) What they think of my mountain terrain. If you didn't download a map, was it because...

1. Too mountainous
2. Too many terrain mods
3. I have too many maps already
4. Was looking for a request map

Thanks, guys!