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Maps/Ideas for Menu Backgroud
Posted: 25 Feb 2015, 20:28
by Funkencool
I'll try keep The OP updated with Ideas and maps
Maps so far:
Ideas:
- Depth of field Shader
- Use Springs Mapgen
- Asteroid widget
- Multiple rotating/configurable backgrounds
- Cinematic camera widget
- Blank maps with pretty skyboxes
Also,
thoughts on eyecandy / animated background
Original wrote:Does anyone have suggestions for a map to be used as a background to a menu?
Imo it would need to balance these requirements:
- Quick loading, to get into the menu as fast as possible.
- Aesthetically pleasing as a background.
- Won't encounter issues with any systems ( or deals with them in some way ).
On one side a blank map would be the quickest option, but would waste an opportunity to have a live background. On the other is the pretty maps that seem to have issues with certain graphics drivers.
As a side note, does anarchids new volumetric fog widget have less issues with certain graphics drivers than previous fog widgets or is it about the same? ( I recently updated my gfx card and can't tell anymore )
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 25 Feb 2015, 20:33
by Silentwings
Decide exactly what you want and I'll (try and) make you it
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 25 Feb 2015, 21:07
by abma
a
map to be used as a background to a menu
ask specific questions maybe?! :)
in other words, the map has to:
- be tiny
- fast load
- be eye-candy
- work on all computers
- be "neutral"
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 25 Feb 2015, 22:07
by 8611
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 25 Feb 2015, 22:12
by Super Mario
I don't like the fact that you have to use a map for a background. Would be much reasonable to load an image than a map?
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 25 Feb 2015, 22:22
by smoth
Yes but you still need a map to start spring currently..
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 25 Feb 2015, 22:35
by Funkencool
Super Mario wrote:I don't like the fact that you have to use a map for a background. Would be much reasonable to load an image than a map?
Like smoth said.
A simple background is possible but I think most agree since the map is loaded anyway; we might as well use it. It also has many advantages over a static image.
This actually sums it up nicely ( ironically I found that just before you posted )
Silentwings wrote:Decide exactly what you want and I'll (try and) make you it
If it's not too much trouble an empty map would be a great start and a good benchmark for load times.
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 25 Feb 2015, 23:02
by PicassoCT
In Addition to goldfish could add angleshark (though in need of shaders)
If you got to be neutral, you can still pretend to show battle by having cannoballs and rockets fly across screen.
Also could make one Loadscreen that grabs units out of the mod that is last time loaded .
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 25 Feb 2015, 23:41
by Jools
Since this will come up anyway, might just start the bidding with this:
Duck is:
* 4x4
* not eye candy maybe
* loads fast
* neutral
3 out of 4 is not so bad
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 26 Feb 2015, 18:50
by Silentwings
If it's not too much trouble an empty map would be a great start and a good benchmark for load times.
Ok, I was expecting something harder :p
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 27 Feb 2015, 09:42
by Silentwings
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 27 Feb 2015, 10:03
by enetheru
blank v1.sd7 = 1295 bytes
2 tiles in the smt.
unnecessary text in the smd
a tilemap in the smf that was alternating 1's and 0's
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 27 Feb 2015, 10:09
by Silentwings
Is there any visible difference? I thought I had enforced complete darkness.
I've no idea how to persuade mapconv to put less tiles into the smt, it was fed only black bitmaps. How did you control that?
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 27 Feb 2015, 10:24
by enetheru
Silentwings wrote:Is there any visible difference? I thought I had enforced complete darkness.
I've no idea how to persuade mapconv to put less tiles into the smt, it was fed only black bitmaps. How did you control that?
quite right you are, fixed it to be all black.
only skycolor, fogcolor and cloudcolor are needed for the sky
put the terrain below the water and use voidwater to completely remove it from the situation
might be able to squeeze a couple more bytes out of it.
I dont use mapconv, I use my own compiler smf_tools, it works pretty differently and still needs some polish. but it gets the job done pretty well these days.
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 27 Feb 2015, 15:11
by The Yak
This map fits listed criteria:
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30821
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 01 Mar 2015, 20:55
by zwzsg
I made this map for a small filesize competition:
Rusty Warehouse (Mapsize: 12x8 Filesize: 141 kilobytes)
On the technical side, it's as simple as a map can be: no lua, no features, no specularity, etc.., which implies no reason to have any issues on any system.
Maybe it also fills your other requirements?
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 01 Mar 2015, 21:13
by PicassoCT
Do you really want to pick something existing..
If landscape only, at least make it some perfect landscape- with Mountains or ocean in the distance, with islands..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_aesthetics
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 03 Mar 2015, 00:17
by Funkencool
Thanks for the blank maps
and also the suggestions. I'll start messing around some more and see what I come up with.
It depends. A landscape would look especially nice with a good camera effect; but existing ones could also look good with simple units battling ( I think KP did this? ).
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 03 Mar 2015, 09:03
by Forboding Angel
Re: Blank and/or Quick loading Map
Posted: 03 Mar 2015, 10:53
by gajop
I think enetheru/Silentwings' blank maps are ideal for this.
At least I don't want a (visible) map as a default.
