Microprose's Bitmap Format

[William Keenan]

John, the bitmap images created by microprose are two-thirds the size of any bitmap format I have ever seen. How do you guys do this?

[John Possidente]

Magic.

[John Possidente]

Okay, I actually don't know. I'll ask one of the artists.

[gambler]

I think they are in 16 bits format instead of 24.
And 16/24 = 2/3

[Mog'Dug]

I agree, I'm a game artist myself, they look like 16 bit to be. at least they are higher than 256, unless someone's got a really nice graphics compression/colour thing over there.

I made the Fenris scenario way back for Civ2, is it possible to make scenarios for TOT with all new units yet? how far has that come along?

[John Possidente]

Yep. It's 16 bit (actually, it's 15 with one bit reserved for something no one will explain to me in English). Oddly enough, it's essentially the same file format as was used for the original Civilization.