Graphics for Freeciv

[fairline]

Originally posted by Harry Tuttle
The dimensional restrictions really depend on the tileset that the player chooses. Since tilesets can be almost any size, so can units. For example, the Civ2 unit dimensions are 64 x 48 (?), but in Freeciv you can have 72 x 64 or even 56 x 40 if I'm not mistaken.

Now that's got me really ineterested! More pixels to play with - yay!

[Harry Tuttle]

Originally posted by fairline


Now that's got me really ineterested! More pixels to play with - yay!

Yep, more pixels, more colors, bigger units.

[Harry Tuttle]

John Baumann, a Freeciv contributor, is updating his Civ2 to Freeciv ruleset/unit/terrain/cities converter. It works basically the same way the Civconverter works for ToT, converting the rules to Freeciv and the .gif files to PNG format. Yes, PNG format.

Up until now the civconverter sat stored away in the Freeciv forums here at Poly. I used it last night and it worked fine. Problem is that the version is for Freeciv 1.14., but it works nonetheless. In the Freeciv thread mirroring this one he's stated that he's got it working for Freeciv 2.0, the version which will, in a not-to-later release, have a workable events script.

In other news, I worked on a scenario last night, not AE2 related, that was pretty easy to get started (all that talk about the Roman scenario got me hankering for something). It's called RomaMini and features a very small Roman world (Europe, Mediterranean, Asia). I'm using Curt's classical cities right now and it looks positively beautiful. I'm also planning on somewhat accurately depicting the migration of barbarian tribes and a small scale economic model. Should be a fun game when I get it finished.

[CapTVK]

Another item that needs help is maps. At the moment we need a way to convert maps from Civ2 to the FC (isometric) format. The FC developers don't really have the details on the Civ2 save- and map format so they need help or we need a simple utility that can convert civ2 maps to the FC isometric format.

[Harry Tuttle]

Can FC use bitmaps as a base for conversion? - cuz utilities like mapedit can convert bitmaps to saves and vice versa, based on a limited palette.

[CapTVK]

I think so, if someone (has) made a bitmap to mapconverter. Civ2 or FC format, in essence the mechanics remain the same.


Btw,

It seems someone (Evyscr) is having a go at making a mapconverter although it isn't finished yet (no starting positions). I'll contact him to see how things are progressing.

http://www.freeciv.org/index.php/User:Evyscr

2. Creating a civ2 to freeciv map/savegame converter (Thanks for all who made topology 4-7! :
civ2 *.mp map structure is converted to freeciv format successfully. Now I'm trying to understand starting positions. (BTW, /data/scenario is not a good place for maps, IMHO, because /data/map(s) is better)

[Harry Tuttle]

See Mercator about MapEdit 2.1. It converts Civ2 saves to bitmaps. Could be a possibility.

[Mercator]

Originally posted by CapTVK
Another item that needs help is maps. At the moment we need a way to convert maps from Civ2 to the FC (isometric) format. The FC developers don't really have the details on the Civ2 save- and map format so they need help or we need a simple utility that can convert civ2 maps to the FC isometric format.

The last time I checked FC didn't yet have isometric maps like in Civ2 (only tilted square maps, if you know what I mean). They do now?

I also wrote a document describing the Civ2 map format. They can use that:

http://www.civgaming.net/mercator/reference.htm

I could also give a hand with providing some of my MapEdit code (particularly for reading maps from savegames). But I'd rather do that in a private conversation with a few developers or something. I don't quite want to make my code public... And if they're interested they'll just have to contact me, because I'm not gonna contact them, or register at their forums.

Originally posted by Harry Tuttle
See Mercator about MapEdit 2.1. It converts Civ2 saves to bitmaps. Could be a possibility.

And if someone can provide me with the FC map format I'd be willing to add a FreeCiv map "Export" function. MapEdit can already export c-Evo maps. Back when I added it FreeCiv didn't have proper isometric maps yet, so I couldn't add it then.

[CapTVK]

Thanks for the offer of including an option in your utility Mercator. I'll see if can find some documentation about the FC map formats.

In the meantime I've also been in contact with Evyscr. He's still working on it. He's busy sussing out the resource placement algorithm for the map.

P.S
Evyscr thanks Mercator for that link, he found it very useful.

[Theben]

Wow, amazing city graphics! I should have been paying more attention to this thread.

Is there a download or thread which has more cities in it? Some have been alluded to in this thread.

Keep up the good work!

[CapTVK]

Some info on the mapping topology.

http://www.freeciv.org/index.php/Map_format

[CapTVK]

The first version by Evyscr

http://evyscr.murom.net/freeciv/my/utils/civ2mp2fc.html

note: This is the source, not a binary, some experience with compiling required.

[CapTVK]

Finally have some time off to work on the graphics again. Some minor updates coming up.

Plus some interesting news!
Someone has started improving the Freeciv SDL client. I my mind the best looking version of Freeciv that´s out there. Glad to see someone has picked up the work for this client again.

http://rcswww.urz.tu-dresden.de/~s3564543/freeciv-sdl/diplodlg.png

[Varwnos]

Hi

This is a freeciv version of my late colonial set for civ2