Conquer Club

sully800 wrote:Thanks for the tip, I'll try scaling to even pixels only (I do use the % boxes, but I never thought about the consequences of odd versus even number of pixels).

Actually, it seems like if the initial file is even you should scale to an even pixel count. If the initial file is odd you should scale to an odd pixel count.

Or you could probably just crop it to an even number.

I still prefer the globes to the list...

But here's a wild idea,
why not do something similar to the 1959 board game (you know, the one that didn't have any cities at all)
Anyway, why not have 6 small circles across the bottom, each with it's respective color, with the appropriate # noted.
but I still like the globes best, in case you missed that part


And that CC star ghosted into the ocean is kinda cool with those rings radiating outwards...
i imagine that to be a CC version of a mushroom cloud,
but i think it would be better without it...
Better to keep this map 'Classic' in every sense, without such extra embellishments

Robinette wrote:I still prefer the globes to the list...

But here's a wild idea,
why not do something similar to the 1959 board game (you know, the one that didn't have any cities at all)
Anyway, why not have 6 small circles across the bottom, each with it's respective color, with the appropriate # noted.
but I still like the globes best, in case you missed that part


And that CC star ghosted into the ocean is kinda cool with those rings radiating outwards...
i imagine that to be a CC version of a mushroom cloud,
but i think it would be better without it...
Better to keep this map 'Classic' in every sense, without such extra embellishments

i don't like it... but i agree with this mysterious young filly in every aspect

I still vote for 2 or 3 globes.
I understand the reasons for not wanting the 3 globes but, I like them better than the basic list.

globes > list.

Besides, I'm worried that using the original continent names might lead into copyright issues yet again... so it's better to just represent them graphically.

natty_dread wrote:globes > list.

Besides, I'm worried that using the original continent names might lead into copyright issues yet again... so it's better to just represent them graphically.

He still has to label them on the globes, though.

He does? Why?

natty_dread wrote:He does? Why?

Why indeed? The globes are too big anyway, and the different name lengths detracts from the balance. I vote for 3 globes, no watermark star, no bonuses list, and no continent names.

john9blue wrote:

natty_dread wrote:He does? Why?

Why indeed? The globes are too big anyway, and the different name lengths detracts from the balance. I vote for 3 globes, no watermark star, no bonuses list, and no continent names.

I agree. But keep in mind, even if there are no continent names on the map, there must be names in the XML.

I went without labels on the globes for a while, but a good chunk of users feel those names are too important for clarity to be left out. I think most users would be able to figure the names out, but keep in mind this may be the first map for a lot of players, and some of those players will never have played this game before. It's important to make the map as clear as possible, especially for the new recruits. If there is a less obtrusive way to label the continents though, I'm all ears.

sully800 wrote:I went without labels on the globes for a while, but a good chunk of users feel those names are too important for clarity to be left out. I think most users would be able to figure the names out, but keep in mind this may be the first map for a lot of players, and some of those players will never have played this game before. It's important to make the map as clear as possible, especially for the new recruits. If there is a less obtrusive way to label the continents though, I'm all ears.

Well, they are already labeled by color, and other maps (such as Cairns Metro) neglect to put continent labels. Also, labeling the continents on the map might infringe on big H's copyright (and we don't want to go through that debacle again). At least include this option in the poll that (hopefully) will decide all of these issues.

Here is a smaller large version - now just 774 pixels wide. I've also included a mock up of a possible new scheme for the bonus region labels. The text is a little small, but it doesn't need to be read repeatedly (like the city labels do) so it might suffice. The globes are now smaller and and double shadow in the Anchorage-Magadan label was eliminated.

As for a poll, I think I'm going to renege - there are too many possible options and variations, and I don't think we can get an accurate opinion from the limited voices who would be participating. I've listened to the input and in the end I will make what I think is the best decision.

[bigimg]http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4912/classic9l.jpg[/bigimg]

Excellent!

Print it!





oh wait... the circles in parts of Africa and aussie seem kinda bright... might want to tone those down a bit...

And the Nairobi - Dubai connection is a bit pale.
Maybe Perth - Port Moresby could be a bit clearer too.

That aside, it's great!

Yeah, it's like the Dubai-Nairobi connector is missing its shadow... Perth-Port Moseby is also a bit on the light side.

I really think that, at minimum, we've reached the Final Forge point. If I were designing this map (I'd have to have the skills to do so, which I don't), I might have one or two small changes. But I think that's the case for anyone who observes it. No one is going to be pleased 100%, but I think we're at the point where players--foundry aficionados and casual players alike--are more than 90% satisfied with this map, so long as they accept the initial concept. In short, move it to Final Forge and let's iron out the really minute details.

My only somewhat serious quibble is that New Zealand should be physically visible on the map even if Auckland isn't a territory, as I've stated for awhile. But, I'm sure others will have many suggestions like that. If they don't fit, so be it. The bottom line is that there's now no reason to keep this map from progressing.

Robinette wrote:oh wait... the circles in parts of Africa and aussie seem kinda bright... might want to tone those down a bit...

The lighter circles are caused by the lighter background (the circles are not a solid color - they are white with low opacity so you can see through them a bit). That means that over desert areas they look much brighter. I don't think the difference will be as noticeable once the troops are on the map. In fact you can look at the small version with numbers to prove this.

saaimen wrote:And the Nairobi - Dubai connection is a bit pale.
Maybe Perth - Port Moresby could be a bit clearer too.

That aside, it's great!

Incandenza wrote:Yeah, it's like the Dubai-Nairobi connector is missing its shadow... Perth-Port Moseby is also a bit on the light side.

Yeah the 'lighter' connections are caused because the lines are going in the same direction as the global light. This was a problem in Southern Europe earlier, so I rotated the light and now we have the same issue in a few other places. Maybe I can play with the rotation to find a better angle, or maybe I shouldn't try to use a global light source. It might look a bit odd to have shadows coming from different angles, but I'd rather have the connections be perfectly clear and visible.

Peter Gibbons wrote:I really think that, at minimum, we've reached the Final Forge point. If I were designing this map (I'd have to have the skills to do so, which I don't), I might have one or two small changes. But I think that's the case for anyone who observes it. No one is going to be pleased 100%, but I think we're at the point where players--foundry aficionados and casual players alike--are more than 90% satisfied with this map, so long as they accept the initial concept. In short, move it to Final Forge and let's iron out the really minute details.

My only somewhat serious quibble is that New Zealand should be physically visible on the map even if Auckland isn't a territory, as I've stated for awhile. But, I'm sure others will have many suggestions like that. If they don't fit, so be it. The bottom line is that there's now no reason to keep this map from progressing.

I think I agree with you!

As for New Zealand, I can add it back in but it gets truncated off the right side of the map and crowds the area where I have my signature. Would it be better to move the island (luns would appreciate that comment) to make it fit better? Or if that is the only option would you prefer to leave NZ edited out?

Well, as far as NZ goes, it looks to me as though Hawaii has been moved closer to North America. Why not do the same for NZ, and move it to the far left of the map? It might be a distortion, but that might be more acceptable than omitting it entirely.

On another note, is this map going to go through the Beta phase? I mean, there are no questions of game play to resolve. Does Beta ever really introduce changes to graphics? If not, there seems little point to delaying the full live play.

You're right, Hawaii was moved (since Honolulu was initially included) so the same can be done for NZ. After all, it's a much more notable land mass than Hawaii!

As for Beta - I would imagine this map should go through Beta (other revamps have always been Beta'd). This is a good opportunity to play test the XML, even though I'm pretty confident I've got it right. It's also a good opportunity to get final feedback from the community, once everyone sees the finished version.

Is this map missing New Zealand? I see a tip of New Zealand, I think, but nothing that wraps around?


--Andy

AndyDufresne wrote:Is this map missing New Zealand? I see a tip of New Zealand, I think, but nothing that wraps around?


--Andy

This is being discussed (scroll up)

AndyDufresne wrote:Is this map missing New Zealand? I see a tip of New Zealand, I think, but nothing that wraps around?


--Andy

Monkeys have never been great at reading!

Final Forge

---The Classic Map has reached the ‘Final Forge’ Stage. The map has passed rigorous gameplay and graphics examinations, and major concerns have been addressed. If you have any other concerns, please make your voice heard. If after a reasonable amount of time there has not been any objection or protest, the map will be deemed finished with the 'Foundry Brand' of approval and will be submitted for live play. As long as there is still discussion or posts that have yet to be commented on, the map will remain in Final Forge until said discussion has reached the conclusion that the map has reached its final and polished version.

Post questions and concerns if any.

Sully800...congratulations on FF. It's at last on it's way.
The onyl thing i'd like to adjust is that Johannesburg be moved slightly inland off the coast. Any chance of that happening, if you8've got to adjust for NZ?

WOO HOOOOO

Way to go SULLY!!!!!!

It's the Final Forge!

We are getting OHHHHHHHHH SOOOOOO Close!

I am getting SOOOOOOOOO Excited.....

There's Cheering Everywhere

[bigimg]http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/EC5727-001.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=E71A629F3945C5E854E8237DD13D4BD36529E79887609E4F[/bigimg]

Do you suppose this will launch by Christmas?
Or for the 4th anniversary of ConquerClub...
ohhhhhhhhhhhhh.... nice idea, huh.......


Can i be part of the 1st beta game?
Can i? Can i? Please Please Can i?
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease ?