Modded Map - Tease!!

[Rob Gjessing]

Here is something that I am working on.. this images are a work in progress.. I still have more to do.. but thought I would share them with you to get some feedback..

[Zakhal]

[&o]

[Fred98]

Very nice Rob.
 
As always, I play with hexes "ON".
 
 

[Dave Ferguson]

these are photoshop mods right? As there is no way of getting at the map graphics? so you would have to persuade the developers to change!!!
 
Dave

[Barthheart]

That's awsome! Well done.

[Rob Gjessing]

The maps along with all of the other graphics are sitting in the Images folder as PNG files there for all to see and access.. After I have done the map, I will offer it to Slitherine if they are interested in it though.. if they want to release it officially as part of a patch then thats fine. 

Joe - the hexes are an option setting, so you can still turn the hexes on and off as you please, I simply turned them off as I didnt want them to get in the way of my good work when I dumped the images to showcase it

One thing I dont like is how the engine puts some shading and shadows in the hexes over the map. I dont know why it does that.. would be good if that was an option you could turn on and off also.  And Im not sure what the Darker Map option does in the options settings.

If someone from Slitherine or Matrix who has been involved in the games development could touch base with me that would be great. 

[Dave Ferguson]

Ah! somehow I missed that map, so there is no reason why you can't produce your own map mod as it has no influence on actual gameplay.
 
Now if we could also get at the terrain array!!!!
 
Dave

[IainMcNeil]

Rob, if you have any modding Q's just post them in our modders forum so we spot them.

[firepowerjohan]

There is a modding forum with a guide for modders here http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=34&sid=c9cc4e0959486c8972de7892e0f892a3
We will add more info there later this is just in starting stages yet

[Howard7x]

Map looks great Rob [;)] 

[Rob Gjessing]

Well the maps are done.. but I dont want to release them yet until I chat to Ian about a few things first.  I have sent him several emails but no response.  Maybe he doesnt like the maps.  Ian you please reply to my emails or email me at robjess@gmail.com

Anyway.. here is a tease of the middle zoomed version of the map.  I plan to release an unwatermarked version after discussion some things with Ian.

http://users.on.net/robjess/CEAT/map50_nogrid.png

Click on the image above to download/view it.  If you want to view it in game, then you need to save it to your ..\images\background folder under where you have the game installed.  Hopefully I can get the proper versions out soon.

I have only modded the middle zoom and the zoomed right in maps, as I think the original map that ships with the game does a great job as a 'strategic' zoomed right out map.

[Dave Ferguson]

beautiful map, hope there are no issues with using it PBEM or TCPIP

[Rob Gjessing]

Yeah I suspect that there may be.. which is one of the things I wanted to talk to Ian about.  It seems kinda silly that the engine needs to make sure that images files are the same.. I can understand why it need to check the validity of scripts and unit/scenario data.. but not something which is just cosmetic.

[firepowerjohan]

ORIGINAL: Rob Gjessing

Yeah I suspect that there may be.. which is one of the things I wanted to talk to Ian about.  It seems kinda silly that the engine needs to make sure that images files are the same.. I can understand why it need to check the validity of scripts and unit/scenario data.. but not something which is just cosmetic.

Only the data need to be the same not the graphics.

[Rob Gjessing]

Thats excellent then, so Fintilgin's mini graphic mod should be fine too then.

[Rob Gjessing]

The modded Maps are done.  Well at least to the stage where I am happy to release them.  There are still some things which I notice when I look at them which I think I need to tidy up - but I have been sick with the flu all week and havent got around to it yet.  But they are mostly small things which Im sure most people wont even notice. I will eventually 'fix' them - but I dont know when.

So here is version 1.00 of the Modded Maps for Commander.

http://users.on.net/robjess/CEAT/CommanderModMap.zip

I dont know how long I will have it on my server for though - so if there is somewhere else that can host this?  Matrix?  Or Slitherine?  Maybe?  But in the mean time Im happy to host it until a more concrete home is found.

Can I also recommend Fintilgin's mini mod..  Its most excellent and really compliments my map mod.

Here is a copy of the Read Me file that is included as part of the release:

This package contains modded maps for Slitherine/Matrix Games Commander - Europe at War.

'Commander' ships with 3 levels of map in the game, Map100, Map50 and Map20.  Each of these maps provides a different level of 'zoom' to the map within the game.  So when playing the game you can zoom in and out between these 3 levels of zoom, with Map100 being the maximum zoom in and Map25 being the least zoom - or the most strategic of the 3 maps.

The maps I have created are modified Map100 and Map50 maps, so the two most zoomed in maps. I didnt modify Map20 - or what I refer to as the strategic map as I quite like the original map that is within the game for this level of zoom.

So the Two maps that are included in this package are:

Map100_nogrid.png
Map50_nogrid.png

To install these maps so that you can use them in the game is very very simple.

All of the game maps are located in the ..\Image\Background\ folder.  You should be able to find these folders under your main Commander Europe At War Folder.

The very first thing you should do is back up the original maps that we are about to replace.  So to do this, rename the existing Map100_nogrid.png and Map50_nogrid.png files to something like Map100_nogrid-backup.png and Map50_nogrid-backup.png

You should do this because you may not like my modified maps and may want to go back to the original maps at some stage.

Once you have renamed or backed up the original two maps, then simply copy the two maps:

Map100_nogrid.png
Map50_nogrid.png

From this package into your Commander War in Europe\Image\Background folder and there you go!  The maps should now show up in the game!

If you want to go back to the original maps all you do is delete the two

Map100_nogrid.png
Map50_nogrid.png

Maps of mine from the Commander War in Europe\Image\Background folder and then rename your Map100_nogrid-backup.png and Map50_nogrid-backup.png files back to their original names :

Map100_nogrid.png
Map50_nogrid.png

But I guess you already worked that out.

If you have any comments or questions feel free to email me at Robjess@gmail.com.  If you have any further suggestions about these maps or other mods, then email me I would be pleased to hear your feedback.

Rob!
June 2007

[jbunnelle]

FYI, the file you posted isn't a zip file. 

[Dave Ferguson]

If you copy the link and paste it into your address box then delete back to CEAT it will take you to a menu page with the map. It is 48 MB though!
 
Dave

[Rob Gjessing]

oops Sorry about that.. here is the correct link.. and yes its about a 50meg download.

http://users.on.net/robjess/CEAT/CommanderModMap.zip

[ijontichy]

Rob, what software aided you in the creation of this great-looking mod? I'm curious to learn how to create maps like these.