MajorH
05-26-2000, 04:39 PM
The next free download patch for TacOps v3 is 99% likely to include a modification to the game engine that will allow it to recognize two types of maps - Type 1 and Type 2. The release date for the patch is unknown but it should not take more than a few weeks. Note that this patch will probably not be added to the retail CD version for several months. I don't want to change what is on the CD until several months of testing and trouble free public useage have passed.
The purpose of this addition is to facilitate the future coding of a public map making utility for TacOps.
The Type 1 map is the current factory provided map - nothing different here - all existing factory provided maps will continue to work after the patch. The Mac version of the Type 1 map will remain a single file containing artwork and various data segments stored in Mac resource format. The Windows version of the Type 1 map will remain a single file containing artwork and various data segments stored in Windows resource format inside of a compiled dll structure. The naming convention for a Type1 map will remain 'Map' + 'three digit number' + 'c' + '.map'.
The Type 2 map will contain more or less the same data structure as a Type 1 map but the artwork and data segments will be stored to disk as two separate files for each map, in common data formats that will facilitate the creation of a map making utility - either by myself or by anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of programming.
The Type 2 map will be crossplatform. The same Type 2 map files will be usable by both the Mac and Windows versions of the game engine.
The artwork for a Type 2 map will be stored as an ordinary bmp file. Thus Type 2 artwork can be created and modified by using various popular art programs. PICT format has traditionally been the most common format for Mac artwork but using different artwork data formats would hinder crossplatform usage and development. Most decent Mac art programs can save art in either bmp or PICT format so I don't see this as an unreasonable compromise for the Mac users.
The non artwork data (the terrain coding) for a Type 2 map will be stored as an ordinary binary file. For the most part this file will be a simple stream of 16 bit integers. Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of programming can handle reading and modifying a simple file of integers. The structure of this data (i.e. how to translate the data into game relevant terrain features and characteristics) will be openly published later.
The artwork for a Type 2 map will have the following naming convention: 'Map' + 'three digit number' + 'c' + '.bmp'.
The non artwork data for a Type 2 map will have the following naming convention: 'Map' + 'three digit number' + 'c' + '.dat'.
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Best regards, Major H
majorh@mac.com
[This message has been edited by MajorH (edited 05-26-2000).]
[This message has been edited by MajorH (edited 05-26-2000).]
The purpose of this addition is to facilitate the future coding of a public map making utility for TacOps.
The Type 1 map is the current factory provided map - nothing different here - all existing factory provided maps will continue to work after the patch. The Mac version of the Type 1 map will remain a single file containing artwork and various data segments stored in Mac resource format. The Windows version of the Type 1 map will remain a single file containing artwork and various data segments stored in Windows resource format inside of a compiled dll structure. The naming convention for a Type1 map will remain 'Map' + 'three digit number' + 'c' + '.map'.
The Type 2 map will contain more or less the same data structure as a Type 1 map but the artwork and data segments will be stored to disk as two separate files for each map, in common data formats that will facilitate the creation of a map making utility - either by myself or by anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of programming.
The Type 2 map will be crossplatform. The same Type 2 map files will be usable by both the Mac and Windows versions of the game engine.
The artwork for a Type 2 map will be stored as an ordinary bmp file. Thus Type 2 artwork can be created and modified by using various popular art programs. PICT format has traditionally been the most common format for Mac artwork but using different artwork data formats would hinder crossplatform usage and development. Most decent Mac art programs can save art in either bmp or PICT format so I don't see this as an unreasonable compromise for the Mac users.
The non artwork data (the terrain coding) for a Type 2 map will be stored as an ordinary binary file. For the most part this file will be a simple stream of 16 bit integers. Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of programming can handle reading and modifying a simple file of integers. The structure of this data (i.e. how to translate the data into game relevant terrain features and characteristics) will be openly published later.
The artwork for a Type 2 map will have the following naming convention: 'Map' + 'three digit number' + 'c' + '.bmp'.
The non artwork data for a Type 2 map will have the following naming convention: 'Map' + 'three digit number' + 'c' + '.dat'.
------------------
Best regards, Major H
majorh@mac.com
[This message has been edited by MajorH (edited 05-26-2000).]
[This message has been edited by MajorH (edited 05-26-2000).]