map idea: Moon Race

by **DukeHazzard** on Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:06 pm

MrBenn wrote:It's good to see new faces in the foundry, and you've made a bright start here. Having said that, I should advise you that you probably still have quite some way to go before the graphics will meet the current Conquer Club standard.

Thank you for the welcome. I'm still working on the graphics to bring up the standard and would take any suggestions that anyone might have. I understand that they need to be great!

MrBenn wrote:As for the map itself, the concept of some kind of Moon Race is fine. However, the first step you'll need to negotiate is the gameplay workshop, which means that you need to give some serious consideration to how things will pan out in a game... At a glance, the bonuses look a little bit high, and I'm really not too sure how well the "race to the moon" concept will transfer into the gameplay (other than providing an almost unholdable +50 bonus).

The bonuses and neutral numbers are negotible, as I picked numbers that I thought might be reasonable, I know that it might work out different. I don't know why you think that the 50 bonus would be unholdable, but the point of the race is to use the bonus to kill everything else, similar to arms race. First one there wins kind of idea. But I'm also interested in the balance of play to make this map successful. My experience is in making the gameplay balanced is at a beginner level. Should I already be in the gameplay workshop for help in this? I thought the graphics was the first step. Can someone give me some more direction here? Thanks.

MrBenn wrote:I think there is a lot of potential here, but would like to understand how the map concept is going to drive forward the development of the map. As I said earlier, you've made a bright start, and I'd like to be assured that there's enough here to make a blast-off worthwhile

I would be happy to explain my concept futher with anyone. I thought it was mostly clear how things would work. If it is not, then give me some specific questions or points (that I may have not seen) and we could discuss them.

Thank you everyone for your input and support.

Duke

by **Teflon Kris** on Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:23 pm

MrBenn wrote:It's good to see new faces in the foundry, and you've made a bright start here. Having said that, I should advise you that you probably still have quite some way to go before the graphics will meet the current Conquer Club standard.

Sounds like things that the graphics workshop is about?

MrBenn wrote:As for the map itself, the concept of some kind of Moon Race is fine. However, the first step you'll need to negotiate is the gameplay workshop, which means that you need to give some serious consideration to how things will pan out in a game... At a glance, the bonuses look a little bit high, and I'm really not too sure how well the "race to the moon" concept will transfer into the gameplay (other than providing an almost unholdable +50 bonus).

Sounds like things that the gameplay workshop is about?

MrBenn wrote:I think there is a lot of potential here, but would like to understand how the map concept is going to drive forward the development of the map. As I said earlier, you've made a bright start, and I'd like to be assured that there's enough here to make a blast-off worthwhile

The mapmaker has already responded to a number of suggestions and, as far as I can tell, the current suggestion is all about the graphics for planet earth - which the mapmaker can surely address in a re-vamp at the graphics stage?

As for this forum, the mapmaker has submitted his concept and it is a popular one. What does he need to do to get to the next forum? The suggestion of providing assurances suggests some further work on gameplay at this stage to demonstrate the ability and perseverance to make alterations and therby be able to progress through the whole process?

by **DukeHazzard** on Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:29 pm

So am I supposed to move myself to the gameplay and graphics workshops or wait for someone else to do it?

by **natty dread** on Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:44 pm

You wait to be moved.

You should still keep working on the map while waiting for the move.

by **DukeHazzard** on Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:50 pm

natty_dread wrote:You wait to be moved.

You should still keep working on the map while waiting for the move.

Thank you. I am still doing touch ups and changes. Will post latest updates soon.

by **DukeHazzard** on Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:30 am

latest

by **PonyGal** on Sat Feb 05, 2011 8:58 pm

Hey Duke

Ok here is what I think .. its brilliant! Very original and creative and I love the idea of having to get into orbit!! Make it bigger 8-)

Big maps rock.... it looks exciting, and id expand the "space" element :twisted:

.. but if someone gets stuck on uranus its sucks their points 'oasis style' :lol:

.. youre now officially a space cowboy

... and things are slower in space so perhpaps the "space" element works as only one move every two rounds (haha can you mess with game play stuff like that? I wanna know for when i invent my "abandoned lunatic asylum/ house of horrors" game board (based on the 'Saw movies' ... "Id like to play a game..." Im teasing Dukey, its fabulous! And love the colours! (baby poo brown maps are so boring), Im really impressed with the lay out entirely ... make it risky to get to space.. some rockets dont make it and you lose all the troops on board :lol:

Ok thats not cool, sorry. :twisted:

by **Victor Sullivan** on Sun Feb 06, 2011 2:50 pm

First off, let me say that I am stoked about these graphics!

PonyGal wrote:and things are slower in space so perhpaps the "space" element works as only one move every two rounds

Well, think of how long it takes to organize your army and invade and conquer a region - I'd say about the same amount of time as it would to get to the mood in this map's age.

Keep on trucking! I think others expressed wanting a non-satellite image background, so I'd say that's the next step.

by **DukeHazzard** on Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:42 pm

ok sat image is gone. see what you think.

by **thenobodies80** on Thu Feb 10, 2011 5:28 pm

Although the Drafting Room is not the place in which people is expected to develope the final graphics, give us just an idea of your graphical skill could help.
Honestly you have just applied a PS effect to the previous image, that it's exactly the opposite of what MrBenn was suggesting...
Something that can assure to us that you won't be in trouble with the graphics would be really appreciated.

by **DukeHazzard** on Thu Feb 10, 2011 7:35 pm

thenobodies80 wrote:Although the Drafting Room is not the place in which people is expected to develope the final graphics, give us just an idea of your graphical skill could help.
Honestly you have just applied a PS effect to the previous image, that it's exactly the opposite of what MrBenn was suggesting...
Something that can assure to us that you won't be in trouble with the graphics would be really appreciated.

Honestly... I applied many PS effects here and spent about 4 hours on it. I cut apart the entire map and rebuilt it, THEN applied the PS filters. If it doesnt work for you, just say so. No need to assume I don't take the time or have the skill. I can assure you, there's no trouble here. I'm trying to come up with something that isn't the same as all the rest. Thank you

by **Bruceswar** on Thu Feb 10, 2011 7:42 pm

DukeHazzard wrote:
thenobodies80 wrote:Although the Drafting Room is not the place in which people is expected to develope the final graphics, give us just an idea of your graphical skill could help.
Honestly you have just applied a PS effect to the previous image, that it's exactly the opposite of what MrBenn was suggesting...
Something that can assure to us that you won't be in trouble with the graphics would be really appreciated.

Honestly... I applied many PS effects here and spent about 4 hours on it. I cut apart the entire map and rebuilt it, THEN applied the PS filters. If it doesnt work for you, just say so. No need to assume I don't take the time or have the skill. I can assure you, there's no trouble here. I'm trying to come up with something that isn't the same as all the rest. Thank you

That is not what he is saying... He is more saying it is the same image done over again... Nothing to do with time or skill.

by **DukeHazzard** on Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:41 pm

Bruceswar wrote: He is more saying it is the same image done over again.

why wouldnt it be?? everything is sized to the original map. are you saying I should throw it all out and start over?? I dont think so...

by **Victor Sullivan** on Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:16 am

thenobodies80 wrote:Although the Drafting Room is not the place in which people is expected to develope the final graphics, give us just an idea of your graphical skill could help.
Honestly you have just applied a PS effect to the previous image, that it's exactly the opposite of what MrBenn was suggesting...
Something that can assure to us that you won't be in trouble with the graphics would be really appreciated.

What? Really? Okay, no no no no no... This is stupid, nobodies. Many maps have progressed through the Melting Pot/Drafting Room and the Gameplay Workshop, even though they didn't necessarily have a graphics artist. Think of EvilD's Baseball and even my Pachisi didn't have Spike on board until Gameplay, so I don't see why we're treating this guy any different. He obviously has talent, too, so this seems extremely frivolous at this point. No matter what you believe, gameplay trumps graphics, and this isn't even the time to be holding up this map for a graphics edit! We're months away from the Graphics Workshop, stamp this already, it's met the Draft Stamp requirements.

by **thenobodies80** on Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:21 am

DukeHazzard wrote:
thenobodies80 wrote:Although the Drafting Room is not the place in which people is expected to develope the final graphics, give us just an idea of your graphical skill could help.
Honestly you have just applied a PS effect to the previous image, that it's exactly the opposite of what MrBenn was suggesting...
Something that can assure to us that you won't be in trouble with the graphics would be really appreciated.

Honestly... I applied many PS effects here and spent about 4 hours on it. I cut apart the entire map and rebuilt it, THEN applied the PS filters. If it doesnt work for you, just say so. No need to assume I don't take the time or have the skill. I can assure you, there's no trouble here. I'm trying to come up with something that isn't the same as all the rest. Thank you

Yes it doesn't work imo.
But I'm not questioning about your effort or your talent. Who am I to do it? No, no don't worry I'm not that type of person, if you say that the graphics will not be a problem then I'll believe you. O:)

Anyway, my request was done simply because we don't want that mapmakers spend lot of time on a map project to find out only at graphics stage that achieving the CC standards is an impossible task ... an example? Guatemala. If you think you can develope something better than that map, then I stop to bother you about graphics now, if not, then I want just to suggest you to see if around there's someone who is willing to give you a hand. Nothing else.

However, talking about something else ...i was wondering what the territory Oceania represents? Considering the position...it could be Samoa? Tahiti? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... ceania.jpg (btw on the first look your island remind me this :lol:

)

by **DukeHazzard** on Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:39 pm

thenobodies80 wrote:Yes it doesn't work imo.
But I'm not questioning about your effort or your talent. Who am I to do it? No, no don't worry I'm not that type of person, if you say that the graphics will not be a problem then I'll believe you. Anyway, my request was done simply because we don't want that mapmakers spend lot of time on a map project to find out only at graphics stage that achieving the CC standards is an impossible task ... an example? Guatemala. If you think you can develope something better than that map, then I stop to bother you about graphics now, if not, then I want just to suggest you to see if around there's someone who is willing to give you a hand. Nothing else.

Sorry that I misunderstood you. If your concern was only about me not wasting my time, I can appreciate that.

thenobodies80 wrote:However, talking about something else ...i was wondering what the territory Oceania represents? Considering the position...it could be Samoa? Tahiti? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... ceania.jpg (btw on the first look your island remind me this )

As this map is set in the future, I have placed ocean cities. Yes they look a bit like the pacman ghosts. :lol:

The names I choose, I felt, needed to be relevant to the area, but not necessarily exact names of current islands. I'm not attached to the names, however, and if there is a need for change, I will go with the flow.

by **DukeHazzard** on Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:57 pm

another map solution

by **Teflon Kris** on Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:37 am

Regarding the background earth graphics - at a quick glance maybe it would look better if the background were a bit brighter and more defined to integrate with the icons more? For example, thickening the edges of the land and brightening trhhe land a little to contrast with the sea / northern clouds. As for the moon, would it look better if it were the full moon?

Not being a graphical expert, it looks like mthe mapmaker is spending plenty of time with regular responses and updates which suggests the background(s) would be addressed well further ahead in the grphics room, although if needed, I am sure there would be plenty of willing helping hands given the potential popularity of the map.

Good work so far.

by **Bruceswar** on Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:49 pm

yeah I think what people are saying is they want a more cartoon effect.

by **Teflon Kris** on Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:55 am

Bruceswar wrote:yeah I think what people are saying is they want a more cartoon effect.

Maybe not quite cartoon in my case! Or, perhaps slightly cartoon.

Your icons now are more arcade game than cartoon, cool, just needs the background map to be colourised in a way that will work with that.

by **natty dread** on Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:14 am

I would suggest making the background something like on Arms Race.

by **Victor Sullivan** on Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:56 pm

How goes this?

by **DukeHazzard** on Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:49 pm

Victor Sullivan wrote:How goes this?

still working on it. wondering why I havent moved to the next stage yet as everyone says this isnt the forum for graphics. in the middle of moving this week so may not post changes for a while.

by **Victor Sullivan** on Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:49 pm

DukeHazzard wrote:
Victor Sullivan wrote:How goes this?

still working on it. wondering why I havent moved to the next stage yet as everyone says this isnt the forum for graphics. in the middle of moving this week so may not post changes for a while.

Yes, yes, I agree... Unfortunately, thenobodies and MrBenn are in charge, so there's not much anyone else can do if they want to see better graphics... Nevertheless, I still think this is worth pursuing, so I hope you don't decide to bin this project.

by **isaiah40** on Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:36 pm

DukeHazzard wrote:still working on it. wondering why I havent moved to the next stage yet as everyone says this isnt the forum for graphics. in the middle of moving this week so may not post changes for a while.

A couple of things to help you move on:

1) I agree with carl that maybe you can change the background into an arcade style background. I personally think it will work with the rest of the map.
2) You need to submit a design brief.