25 new development screenshots up

[Marc von Martial]

Hi guys,

we just uploaded 25 new development screenshots to the HTTR site:

http://www.matrixgames.com/Games/HighwayToTheReich

Have fun.

[citizen]

Looks good!

Are the " [ " brackets that show the frontage of a unit locked in at a size proportionate to the unit or can you spread a single chit out 2km for screening purposes?

citizen

[Arjuna]

citizen,

The Force Deployment Area that is displayed when you select a task icon, shows the estimated area for the "force formation" - ie the collection of units that make up a force. It does not affect "unit formations".

So if you specify a 2km frontage and 300m depth for the task, and the force assiged is a Bn, it will probably deploy its three companies in line with 3-500m gaps between them. However, if the force assigned is a single company unit, it will have little effect - the single unit will be located at the centre and will probably only occupy a frontage of few hundred metres.

[Fallschirmjager]

I cant decide if I like the new or old graphics better...

New graphics look more like a sky shot...old graphics made me feel like I was looking at a map planning out my moves

[Arjuna]

Originally posted by Fallschirmjager
I cant decide if I like the new or old graphics better...

New graphics look more like a sky shot...old graphics made me feel like I was looking at a map planning out my moves

No worries. The map graphics are moddable and we'll be providing both the old version and the new. So you can choose. If you like you can even customise a version yourself.

[Marc von Martial]

Originally posted by Fallschirmjager
I cant decide if I like the new or old graphics better...

New graphics look more like a sky shot...old graphics made me feel like I was looking at a map planning out my moves

That´s why we´ll include both sets, the old more "map like" and the new more "photo" like. You can choose whatever suits you best.

[CriticalMass]

so this means both maps need to be developed independently or some of your jiggery pokery creates one from the other?

The only reason I ask is that if both maps are not identical then game play will be different; and MP would be incompatible.

TANX
Critical

[Fred98]

For me the new maps are a must.

The old maps are just silly.

[Panther Paul]

Originally posted by CriticalMass
so this means both maps need to be developed independently or some of your jiggery pokery creates one from the other?

The only reason I ask is that if both maps are not identical then game play will be different; and MP would be incompatible.

TANX
Critical

You use the same map, we now have an external pattern file for the actual drawing and you can replace this with whatever version you like. So we will ship with both set of graphics files.

The map cahce file is still used but it no longer contains the actual drawn graphics, just compressed info that tells the drawing code what to draw where. This way we can change the look at run time, cool hey

[CriticalMass]

Originally posted by Panther Paul
You use the same map, we now have an external pattern file for the actual drawing and you can replace this with whatever version you like. So we will ship with both set of graphics files.

The map cahce file is still used but it no longer contains the actual drawn graphics, just compressed info that tells the drawing code what to draw where. This way we can change the look at run time, cool hey

so you are basically saying the map "image" is separated from the map "data" (terrain, movement grid, etc.). So the map designer would be required to produce n number of maps with identical points where, for example, a bridge crosses a road...i'm starting to ramble, but, you know what i mean......

Alternatively, you could mod it (the map) to show ANY image. I was going to mock up an image of a tank force assaulting across Kylie's bottom, but decided against it

TANX
Critical

[Tbone3336]

The game is looking gooooooddddd!!! I like the new graphics very much (not that the old ones were bad or anything). July 7th release date? Only 38 days and counting!!! woo hoo.

[Grouchy]

release date is 16th August 2003, they changed it not so long ago.

[Tbone3336]

Thanks for the update,even though that is a bit of a bummer . Guess I have to wait, we will have KP and Titans and EYSA to play with for awhile before hand so I guess spacing out the releases is a good thing.

[Arjuna]

Originally posted by CriticalMass
so you are basically saying the map "image" is separated from the map "data" (terrain, movement grid, etc.). So the map designer would be required to produce n number of maps with identical points where, for example, a bridge crosses a road...i'm starting to ramble, but, you know what i mean......

Alternatively, you could mod it (the map) to show ANY image. I was going to mock up an image of a tank force assaulting across Kylie's bottom, but decided against it

TANX
Critical

Critical,

You're nearly there.

We use the MapMaker to create the map file - the underlying "data". We use a paint program like Photoshop to create the map pattern files - the "textures". These are separate bitmap files. When the map is opened in the ScenMaker or the Game, the drawing code uses the data from the map file and the textures from the map patterns files to draw the map on the screen. So by simply editing the map pattern files you can change the "look" of the map, while the underlying data remains the same.

I hope that's clear.

[SS-Visser]

Very nice screens.

[Ross Moorhouse]

Originally posted by SS-Visser
Very nice screens.

I strongly suggest you change your sig and your pic before some who dont like what they see have a go at you.

[benpark]

The game is looking great. The new screens make the cities look better by far.

Lotsa goods coming up from Matrix & friends soon.