Map Size & Memory Issues

[C.O.G.]

Knowing not where to ask this, I ask it here.

There was a discussion regarding this in file creation as far as it went.

With a Gig of RAM what is the largest map playable?

I understand that the problem is caused by the game trying to find the shortest path for units. Is this right?

What method is used?

I wonder if it would save on memory if for the longer journeys the game grouped tiles together in groups of 4. Each group would need a movement cost based on the direction of travel, but wouldn't the vast reduction in combinations make it more efficient?

I wonder so I ask.

[Willem]

Re: Map Size & Memory Issues

Originally posted by C.O.G.
With a Gig of RAM what is the largest map playable?

There's more to it than just RAM. Your processor speed and video card also make a difference.

wonder if it would save on memory if for the longer journeys the game grouped tiles together in groups of 4. Each group would need a movement cost based on the direction of travel, but wouldn't the vast reduction in combinations make it more efficient?

The maps currently use grid blocks of 4X4 tiles, so your suggestion has already been dealt with.

[C.O.G.]

From the map generators I surmised that the maps were generated in 4x4 blocks.
I didn't know the "unit router" did the same.

My processor is the Athlon 3500+ which runs at 2.19 ghz.
The video card is the Radeon ATI Xpress 200. I'm not sure which one.
Perhaps I have reason to be optimistic.

Thanx for the input.

Has anyone saved games that tested the resources?

Perhaps people could download such games and get a feel for how big a map their system is capable of.

[Willem]

Originally posted by C.O.G.
My processor is the Athlon 3500+ which runs at 2.19 ghz.
The video card is the Radeon ATI Xpress 200. I'm not sure which one.
Perhaps I have reason to be optimistic.

Well you won't have trouble playing Huge maps at least. I have the same processor with a Radeon 9550 and 1.5 gig of RAM and I can play Huge with the graphics set on low. I only have problems using the grid in the late game, it takes forever to redraw the map. I do get some lag at that point but only after a few hours, and restarting the game clears it up. If you want larger than that though, you'll just have to experiment.

[Adagio]

Re: Map Size & Memory Issues

Originally posted by C.O.G.
With a Gig of RAM what is the largest map playable?

Well, the best way to find out is trying out the different map sizes

I'm playing with huge maps on a Pentium 4 2.4 GHz, 1 GB ram. I do see slowdowns, but these are not related to map-size, as a quick alt-tab to windows and back again fixes the problem

[C.O.G.]

Thanx for the info.