I want a Mars map.

Tenko · January 28, 2001, 01:48

Being beyond lousy at designing maps I thought I'd post my idea for others to persue. Wouldn't it be bloody marvelous to colonise Mars? There's enough maps of the red planet to do a huge map and it would feel perfect to play it in SMAC. If you've read Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy I'd think you'd agree.
[This message has been edited by Tenko (edited January 27, 2001).]

Jasonian · January 28, 2001, 23:11

Ooooh! A Mars Trilogy mod! What a concept!! I love it!

Tenko · January 29, 2001, 16:02

Exactly. I've been tinkering with some existing maps but Im just learning to get to grips with the designer. I reckon that just about anyone else could do a better job than me.

Question? If I have no water to start with (ie: barren mars)and warmed it up would water "spring forth" at the lowest points? I hope so as it would be just like the books!

Jasonian · January 29, 2001, 18:16

Maybe. I assume the sea rise algorythm figures out the lowest points and, if they are lower then the levels the sea is expected to rise, just covers those tiles with water.

To get this to happen earlier, you could probably tweak the "ecological death spiral" variable in alpha.txt. This would cause lots of fungus, but I believe it's actually possible to turn off fungus and planet in the scenario editer.

So yes, it may very well be possible.

Maniac · February 4, 2001, 09:53

Good news. I am in possession of a VERY good Mars map, even a scenario on it.

Bad news: because this site-owners seem to be neglecting the SMAC site, there's little chance it'll ever get on the site. I sent a Mars AND Earth map to DanQ in the beginning of December, another time to MarkG at the end of January, but they still haven't added it. So, if you want a Mars map, go complaining to Markg about his lousy service and demand him to add it.
[This message has been edited by M@ni@c (edited February 04, 2001).]

networknode · February 5, 2001, 10:11

Hey m@ni@c, I'm trying to get a scenario section up and running on my site, If you like I'll post them for you.

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Maniac · February 6, 2001, 17:07

Thanks! That would be great! I already had a look at your site some weeks ago, really good!

PS: perhaps my last post was a bit rude with the word 'lousy service'. Apolyton is a great site for news and for the forums. Though I really must say Apolyton is the last place I'll look for files.

networknode · February 13, 2001, 23:47

Any luck with sending those files over?

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Maniac · February 14, 2001, 10:20

I haven't forgotten you, but I'm making some arrangements to the map so that the terrain that has to be flooded à la Mars trilogy, IS flooded after one Polar Cap Melt. Means making that terrain as close to 10m as possible.

Maniac · February 17, 2001, 15:01

Files ready and sent on this very moment!

Maniac · February 17, 2001, 15:10

But I received a message there are delivery problems. It must be something with your address, because I send the files to two other guys as well and I haven't got any problem with them.

networknode · February 21, 2001, 09:07

sorry about that please try dooze@mac.com

------------------
–III THE NETWORKNODE III–
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Submit your own Faction!
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Tenko · March 1, 2001, 19:44

Bugger me!

Nice one m@ni@c. I've just downloaded the Mars map from the networknode and can only express my gratitude and admiration at its quality. Ive been practising at creating my own map but i can't get the terrain to the correct depth. Did you use a greyscale editor or am i missing a trick? (appologies if this seems like a stupid question but I am, in fact, quite dim).

Maniac · March 11, 2001, 10:25

Haven't got a clue what a greyscale editor would be. You just have to do it manually. Sometimes it's correct after two times, other times you have to try dozens of times. Obviously then, such a map takes more than a few hours/days/weeks to complete.

Tenko · March 12, 2001, 15:35

A greyscale editor is a piece of software that records height differences as a shade of grey. Ive seen editors used for other games where actual terrain maps are converted into game maps and i think Ive seen one which can be used for SMAC and CTP, somewhere on Apolyton I think. Dont know how good it was but as the images in such editors are often saved as a graphic they can sometimes be ported to and from a graphics package, great if you can get colour coded terrain maps as changing the palette can give you a readily usable map.

Maniac · March 14, 2001, 16:00

Thanks for the info.

Purple · March 15, 2001, 14:35

Have you guys seen the excellent wall map of Mars in the February 2001 issue of National Geographic?

gwillybj · March 15, 2001, 23:14

Yes, it is a beauty! Here are a couple of URLs for sites where one can find the Longitude and Latitude for the many landmarks, and other geographical and topographical images:

http://www.roving-mouse.com/planetary/Mars/ (for a laugh, check out What Really Happened to the Mars Polar Lander)
http://www-pdsimage.wr.usgs.gov/PDS/...mapmkr.htm#map
http://ic-www.arc.nasa.gov/ic/projec...up/Atlas/Mars/
[This message has been edited by gwillybj (edited March 15, 2001).]