Lets make a map converter program

[Harlan]

Despite the title, I have no idea how to do that. However, some clever people have made programs to convert Civ2 maps to CTP, Railroad Tycoon to Civ2, bitmap images to Civ2, and so forth. Activision even made one for CTP2, one of the nicer things they did.

If someone can figure out how to add Civ3 to a current map conversion program, or get Firaxis to do something in this area (no conversion of Civ2 scenarios, but howabout conversion of Civ2 maps, Firaxis?), or something, that would be way cool.

I'm just here as a cheerleader. Rah rah rah! I've got some maps I've planned out as graphic files, and if there was a map converter program, I could have more instant good maps for Civ3 than you could shake a stick at.

[Mercator]

Re: Lets make a map converter program

Originally posted by Harlan
I'm just here as a cheerleader. Rah rah rah! I've got some maps I've planned out as graphic files, and if there was a map converter program, I could have more instant good maps for Civ3 than you could shake a stick at.

I´m working on it... Or well, not really yet, I have a deadline to meet and an exam to prepare for next week. Here´s more: http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...threadid=31175

[Fiera]

I have bads news, Mylord (Harlan ).

It looks like Civ3 maps can only be round worlds, that is, no Europe or Iberia maps.

But that's something that a guy with the right skills could probably fix too, isn't it?

[Mercator]

Well, if we´re lucky they put the code in the map file that controls this, but didn´t put anything in the editors. Otherwise we´ll have to wait for the first patch.

[Gramphos]

Originally posted by Fiera
I have bads news, Mylord (Harlan ).

It looks like Civ3 maps can only be round worlds, that is, no Europe or Iberia maps.

But that's something that a guy with the right skills could probably fix too, isn't it?

Is it possible to add a terrain that can't be passed and use it to separate the west from the east?

[hardjoy]

Yes, thats the answer of course! If not any other ways will do, thats the one. I know for one thing that tanks cannot pass mountains without roads, which means you can assign this flag to units at least. But I strongly believe terrains have flags too. So the "flat world" problem can be solved in one way or the other!

[Harlan]

Round world only? How lame is that? We need to make a list of demands of what us scenario making types want, and this has to go at or near number one. Actually being able to set starting locations is another, needless to say.

[Mercator]

Looks like we have to get the Civ3 Suggestions forum back a while to get the suggestions for the patch straight.

[MarkG]

bump

[Gramphos]

Originally posted by MarkG
bump

When even Markos bumps a thread it must be time I think it is time for me to focus a bit on this issue.

I do still need pictures showing the terrain on a per tile level in the corners of the worldmap-files. And a tiny map with all terrains on with a pic over shouldn't hurt either.

Also does anyone know where the Civ2 mapformat can be found?

[Mercator]

civ2 map format: http://gene.wins.uva.nl/~jvermeir/savmaps.htm

I could even send you the source code of MapEdit if you like... I am rather busy next week, but there´s been an unexpected, positive change in my current civ3 situation so I may be able to figure something out a little quicker.

[MagForceSeven]

RE: Lets make a map converter program

I think that it's great to make a map converter for Civ2->Civ3. When I got the game on Wednesday I had the same idea so I messed around with the map editor for a while (can't really play the game yet 'cause I have to get to my classes) and I had some luck in finding out a little about the map format but it was mostly easy stuff like location of the name, description, barbarian level and number of players on the map. I didn't have much luck finding out anything much about the tile information though. I'm using the hex-editor that is in Visual Studios to mess with the .bic files. Mercator, do you have any advice to make finding the map format easier?

Xris, Mag Force Seven signing off.....

[Mercator]

I recommend a free hex editor called A.X.E. It probably doesn´t add much to the other hex-editors that are around, except for one thing: it also has a graphical mode (showing each byte code in a different color). Together with a nice image editor you can easily filter out a color map for each of the separate bytes for every tile. That way the pattern for the different bytes shows up nicely, making it much easier to analyse the data.
You can get it here (I hope): http://www.downloadsafari.com/Files/...HexEditor.html
It used to have its own website, but that site mysteriously changed into some kind of porn site or something.

Apart from that, make little changes to the same map and look at the differences. That´s all I can think of.

[Mercator]

Oh yes, one thing that I did sort of find out. Each tile *should* be 13 bytes... The only thing is, I find a 26 byte pattern instead
Each section in a bic file starts with a four character code (its "TILE" for the map section) then a long integer (4 bytes) indicating half of the map surface and then the map data. This half surface seems to be in accordance with the 26 byte pattern I found... That´s all I know for now, I´m off to do some more checking.

[Gramphos]

Each tile info is 0x16 bytes long (22 bytes) + 4 bytes telling the length.

The Tiles start with TEXT("TILE")+4 byte unsigned long containing the number of tiles. After that the tiles start direct after each other, with HEX(16 00 00 00) separating them.