Any Plans To Improve The Map?

Pulse · January 2003

<div class="IPBDescription">in version 1.1</div> Are there any plans to improve the useless marine map to the point that its worth the small hole it makes in you vision? just a "you are here arrow would be enough" I think that anything more (position of your teammates, structures ect) would cause balance issues and should wait a while but the arrow would make a nice addition to 1.1, waypoints would be really cool too...

dmeep · January 2003

would it cause unbalance if it acted more like a memory then a map for structures etc?

the structures you had when you left base a displayed and when you get back it uppdates if they are destroyd they arent removed untill you actually see it

same with alien structures you mark them down on your map if they are destroyed by someone else you wont know untill you visit that area again

Okabore · January 2003

A dot for where you are isn't that important BUT the map should turn so that up in the map is allways the way you are looking. All real users of maps do this. Its much easier than to turn yourself <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>. If you had a compass then it would be ok to have a non rotating map.
But since most play on the same maps all the time the only people who really need maps are the ones who are new to the game/map. And people new to the game are the ones we dont want to frustrate. Especially since it frustrates the other players to have some one running around asking for the way <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

Pulse · January 2003

Of course its more usefull but its also harder to do and they would probably have to change the shape, and a functional map can be very useful to veterans when trying to learn custom maps (like say... ns_next) well enough that you dont need a map, and besides, its just plain cool <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'>

Hellbilly · January 2003

I would like to see it act like the aliens hive sight. IE, you can see the movements of your teammates so you know where they are on the map. I don´t think that would cause any balance issues, as long as it just shows your teammates like the commanders minimap works. No need to show the structures imo.

Pulse · January 2003

Imo that would be a better version of the hive-sight (which is unbalancing). BTW hell your sig is wrong, that quote belongs to fam.

andyaml · January 2003

Personally, I'd like to see the marines' minimap act just like the commander's. Maybe as an upgrade from the Observatory or Prototype Lab.

Hellbilly · January 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SiLeNcEr-7 @ Jan 14 2003, 03:20 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>that quote belongs to fam.</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
oops

Flayra · January 2003

It was supposed to function exactly like the commander's minimap (it's the same code), but there were some problems with it that I didn't have time to fix for v1.0. I'll definitely be improving it to work like the commander's minimap, probably for v1.1.

Speed_2_Dave · January 2003

excellent. Thanks for informing us, flay!

Evo · January 2003

Yay!

I have another quick little suggestion. Probably won't be feasible or possible, but I can always dream. Anyways, what if the marine mini-map showed the commanders current view? What I mean is, whatever area of the map your commander is currently looking at would be covered in a light colored rectangle. Assuming that area of the map is near (or on) you, you would see it as an overlay. That way you could tell if a commander is actually paying attention to your calls for ammo/health/whatever.
Ah, maybe a picture would help...

At any rate, it was just a thought <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

BigD · January 2003

Okay... I'm reading this post... thinking wtf?

Then I see the screen shot...

Ya know what? I've been playing since Halloween and I don't think I ever noticed that thing in the corner! Or forgot completely about it... kind of went in my eyes and out the back of my head, I suppose...

I guess my eyes only focus on looking for hiding skulks and checking to see who the comm is... but wow... am I blind... <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wow.gif'>

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'>-(hmm where am I?) <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'>

SmallPichu · January 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BigDXLT @ Jan 14 2003, 10:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Okay... I'm reading this post... thinking wtf?

Then I see the screen shot...

Ya know what? I've been playing since Halloween and I don't think I ever noticed that thing in the corner! Or forgot completely about it... kind of went in my eyes and out the back of my head, I suppose...

I guess my eyes only focus on looking for hiding skulks and checking to see who the comm is... but wow... am I blind... <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wow.gif'>

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'>-(hmm where am I?) <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Euhm, he was actually suggestion a green box like that for the next update...

Link · January 2003

In a desperate bid to prove that I have FAR to much time on my hands, I have created colour minimaps. They are created using top down shots of each map.

I know this isn't exactly what people were talking about, but I think they help a bit, and at least look a bit better than the blue.

Anyway, heres a screen on how they look <img src='http://members.lycos.co.uk/userselection/images/minimapscreen.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
which is the best one I could get to show what they look like.

For some unknown reason they tend to stretch sometimes, but they still do the job.

There is full setup instructions in the readme, don't worry, its very simple (Just moving acouple of files around) Remember to backup, cos you may not like these, and if you don't backup, your stuck with em.

Anyway, what do people think?

<a href='http://link.ukan.net/customminimaps.zip' target='_blank'>http://link.ukan.net/customminimaps.zip</a>

eaglec · January 2003

I like the colour maps but I want to see what flayer does with v1.1 first.

Link · January 2003

I only made the custom minis to fill in till 1.1 anyway.

There easy to change back (takes literally about 60 seconds).

Anyway, anyone tried these and liked them?

Flayra · January 2003

Nice work, I really like those. I'm going to play with them for a bit and see if they are as usable as the originals. Thanks.

pardzh · January 2003

I love the look of them Link, perhaps they could even go official. They're much more helpful than the little blue guy, although it is a bit more authentic. I mean, would they really have topdown pictures of all installations the TSA <i>might</i> operate in? Meh, I dunno...

But to go off-topic for a second, does anyone else think these little skulk/onos/gorge/marine figures should be given the axe? I see far too many little frigging re-enactments of NS games here on the forums. Anyway...

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'>

OMG HEHE marinez r pwning gorg3, but watch outlol here comes teh ono!1

GobyWan · January 2003

I vote we replace the emoticons with coil's chibi aliens in miniature form.

Blackout · January 2003

I would love to see where buildings and my teammates are on my map. However, I wouldn't want to see the commander's current view of the map. I imagine clans would love that feature, but I play on pubs all the time, and revealing the commander's current focus would open the floodgates for whiny complainers -- even worse -- backseat drivers. Let the commander supervise his marines, not the other way around.

BigD · January 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SmallPichu @ Jan 15 2003, 09:49 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BigDXLT @ Jan 14 2003, 10:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Okay... I'm reading this post... thinking wtf?

Then I see the screen shot...

Ya know what? I've been playing since Halloween and I don't think I ever noticed that thing in the corner! Or forgot completely about it... kind of went in my eyes and out the back of my head, I suppose...

I guess my eyes only focus on looking for hiding skulks and checking to see who the comm is... but wow... am I blind... <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wow.gif'>

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'>-(hmm where am I?) <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Euhm, he was actually suggestion a green box like that for the next update...</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
That wasn't what I was talking about. I meant the whole "minimap" in general!

Laugh you will!

Link · January 2003

They aren't quite as useable I'm afraid, but thats because I didn't get them perfectly the same as the orginals, but they are close-ish. Also, when used in game they sometimes seem to be compressing or stretching. I don't know enough about them to know why they are doing this, but if you know, could you tell me how to fix it please?

Thanks

Link · January 2003

Shockwave just suggested that these might cause a problem with "checksums" or somthing like that in 1.1
Anyone know what this is and if he is right, cos I don't want people after my blood.

Glacius · January 2003

I kinda know what it is...what he's saying is that the installer might check if the previously installed data hasn't changed (which I doubt it will anywayz). But this can be avoiding by placing back the original minimaps before installing 1.1.

Link · January 2003

Yeah, he explained that to me. There is full instructions on setting the old ones back, so it shouldn't be a problem

eaglec · January 2003

chromeangels minimap for ns_atomicmass13 did the stretch thing (once it was renamed properly) I haven't checked v14 but perhaps he knows why.

I cant view the spr files outside of NS but it kind of looks like a scaling problem. What kind of image file is an spr ?

LaserApa · January 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Flayra @ Jan 14 2003, 06:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>It was supposed to function exactly like the commander's minimap (it's the same code), but there were some problems with it that I didn't have time to fix for v1.0. I'll definitely be improving it to work like the commander's minimap, probably for v1.1.</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
If it will work like the Commanders map, wich shows aliens blips when you have motiontracking. Will that replace the way MT works now? the way you see blue blips in your hud.

I would like that. To make MT look and work differently from the alien Hivesight.

Link · January 2003

Sprites are spesifically for games to display, so you need a special viewer.

You can download this one for free

<a href='http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aghl-faq/downloads/sprview.zip' target='_blank'>http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aghl-faq/downloa...ads/sprview.zip</a> (About 100KBs)

eaglec · January 2003

Thanks,
So what's 'bounding radius'? I checked the files and the ones that stretch have a bounding radius of 181.016 the ones that don't have a bounding radius of 256. Co-insidence?

Link · January 2003

I don't know, but I would very much like to find out.

Phalck · January 2003

I might be the only one in the world to think this but I really like the blue/grey versions of the minmap alot more than the colored ones. True you see better what is what and where but thats not what matters to me, the default ones are just plain more NS.

They look and feel somewhat like the large map that Hicks, Ripley and the others used when they barricade operations in Aliens. Somehow the default maps are perfect for the NS universe, I for one REALLY hope that they do not change the minimap radically. Yes they can be more accurate (not stretched), hold info on players, structures etc and be less blurry, but please dont change them to much.

/Phalck

Any Plans To Improve The Map?

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