Making 16x maps

I have a question,which I think is vital.
Everyone here noticed I think,when looking down in Empires,on the ground,it isnt very high detailed (the texture quali is quite low)

I think other games get rid of the problems with implenting LOD (Level of Detail) to the ground texture (and other things).
So when you look on the ground reight next to you,it is quite high quali,while the ground further away is less detailed (which you dont notice really) so that you don't kill performance.

NOW my Question:
When you get scaled down 16times,when looking at world textures like the ground,they must look horrible!

So how are you going to manage that?Have you implented LOD for this?Or are we going to walk on hugh pixel battlefields

 

maybe the textures will get scaled down too...

at least thats what im going to do. its all up to the mapper I think

 

Thats what I'm talking about,they will have even lower quality than now!

 

The mapper can scale the textures.

 

no if you scale them down they will get smaller = looking better... anyways
its a bit of a problem though cause it will decrease performance.

 

Texture quality should be similar I guess, nothing prevents it. On the other side, geometry detail can't be the same because the map is up to 256 times bigger (16 times in x axis * 16 times in y axis). It won't be 256 times worse necessarily, not at all places at least. The basic terrain should be a pretty simple resolution mesh, that can be coupled with normal maps to enhance definition. On top of this mesh you may place higher definition meshes or brush work for those areas where fights will take place.

Some tips for making 1:16 scale maps:

On the technical side, learn to use height maps, those are gray scale images used for terrain generation. That means you'll paint the terrain height, and then can be manipulated with programs like Worldmachine to get realistic erosion on it. That saves lot of time and result will be better. Then jump into Hammer to enhance those areas where players will spend more time.

On the tactical side, best environments for 1:16 mapping IMO are: islands is probably the easiest and most comfortable one for mappers. Other good one is mountains and valleys.

 

could some one make a map on the side of a giant mountain? please do!

 

mountain... or volcano?

 

Back to the original topic

Is that emp_params available now, in 1.08, or when 1.1 comes out.

 

Every map has always required an emp_info_params. It just has no scale setting now.

 

when do you plan to release the scaling settings?

 

When we release aircraft

 

will any aircraft be usable in the small maps? perhaps just the heli's?

 

quick question, if we can get maps up to 16x, how big are the current maps?

 

1:1.
Simple.

 

wow...

 

Lol <Filler>

No really though, the scaling with X16 is going to be fun, but hard.
Once anything is blown up it would look funny unless you do super work.

 

It'll be better if you release the scaling setting before aircrafts. Otherwise we'll only have the current size maps to use aircrafts on for a while.

 

He's probably giving it to the team members.

 

does 16 times mean each side will be 16 times the size, or each side will be 4 times the size (so 16x total area)