Previewing a map in the game setup screen.

[luziferius]

because of the perspective the complete map shots are elliptic, using square images would add much black space that doesn’t contain any information other than "it’s black"

when designed images are used, it would be ok

[Pureon]

I'm really against having images stretched to the correct dimensions, even if the result isn't too bad.

[zoot]

Yeah, I don't really see the problem in just showing the top part of the 512x512 image?

[Mythos_Ruler]

Can't we just change the preview box to a square and use 512x512 images?

zoot and luziferius are correct.

If the golden ratio ever taught me anything, it's that squares aren't pleasing to the eye.

because of the perspective the complete map shots are elliptic, using square images would add much black space that doesn’t contain any information other than "it’s black"

when designed images are used, it would be ok

Agreed to the above.

[historic_bruno]

I'm really against having images stretched to the correct dimensions, even if the result isn't too bad.

A little stretching isn't going to be that noticeable and it's much less effort to put a single constraint on the images (512x512), rather than saying the result has to be 512x512 but make sure it looks OK when cropped to an arbitrary ratio that could change whenever we modify the UI (and similarly for requiring the user to "pre-stretch" the image to an arbitrary ratio which gets offset again by the engine).

[WhiteTreePaladin]

The loading screen images are cropped, so we could do it if we set a standard. If we ever wanted to change it, we would have to redo all the images though. It is a bit more effort.

[zoot]

A little stretching isn't going to be that noticeable and it's much less effort to put a single constraint on the images (512x512), rather than saying the result has to be 512x512 but make sure it looks OK when cropped to an arbitrary ratio that could change whenever we modify the UI (and similarly for requiring the user to "pre-stretch" the image to an arbitrary ratio which gets offset again by the engine).

How is the technically imposed ratio any less arbitrary than one that works visually?

[fabio]

NOTE: I did some tests. It looks like it doesn't need to be a POW texture, it just needs that both dimensions are divisible by 4.

[Spahbod]

NOTE: I did some tests. It looks like it doesn't need to be a POW texture, it just needs that both dimensions are divisible by 4.

Really? that would help a lot. We can use 512x384 previews without problem then.

[fabio]

372 x 272 also works, which is nearest to current 371 x 270.

[Spahbod]

372 x 272 also works, which is nearest to current 371 x 270.

The new preview is actually 400x300. Does that work in your computer? If so we have no problem at all

[fabio]

400 x 300 works fine

[Pureon]

Excellent, problem solved

Mythos will you have time to work on the preview images for the scenarios? If not, I'll sort those out using your guide.

[plumo]

Slightly off-topic but related to the scenarios: Mythos, could you create some new sub-categories? For example:

-1 Tech demo (Pathfinding, battle, decals, ....)

-2 Civ. Showcase (Romans, Persians, ...)

-3 ....

At the moment all scenarios are put together in one category. Slightly messy imo. Any comments?

Also, please change 'Matches' into 'Skirmish' for Alpha 11

[Spahbod]

Also, please change 'Matches' into 'Skirmish' for Alpha 11

Skirmish is going to be the name of a new match type similar to scenarios with the difference that you'd be able to select your civ and location.

[Mythos_Ruler]

Excellent, problem solved

Mythos will you have time to work on the preview images for the scenarios? If not, I'll sort those out using your guide.

I can do them. Will the scenario XML files themselves need updating to call the right image?

[Spahbod]

I can do them. Will the scenario XML files themselves need updating to call the right image?

You need to add a "Preview" = "xxx.png" to the settings of the map in the xml file.

[Mythos_Ruler]

You need to add a "Preview" = "xxx.png" to the settings of the map in the xml file.

I'll need a proper example, then I'll be good to go.

400x300 for the images then?

EDIT: Got it working. Might not be able to do them all before work, but I'll get some done and commit.

EDIT 2: One request for the map drop down list: When I select a map, then go to the drop list again, I think the list should start at the selected map, instead of starting over again at the top. It's a usability thing.

[Spahbod]

I'll need a proper example, then I'll be good to go.

400x300 for the images then?

See this one as an example then:

Zagros Mountains.zip

Yes. 400x300

[luziferius]

edit:

do you want the game to auto-generate the pics or manually do them and link them in the XML?

Edited July 16, 2012 by luziferius

[Mythos_Ruler]

Some kind of auto-generation would be nice, with the option to override it with a custom image.

[luziferius]

i’ve done pics for every RMS included in the last dev autobuild: http://luziferius.lu...pic.de/0ad/RMS/

until those get auto-generated

the small folder contains 400x300 png files

if whished, i’ll do that for scenarios as well

Edited July 16, 2012 by luziferius

[Spahbod]

i’ve done pics for every RMS included in the last dev autobuild: http://luziferius.lu...pic.de/0ad/RMS/

until those get auto-generated

the small folder contains 400x300 png files

if whished, i’ll do that for scenarios as well

Thank you very much. I'll commit them into the SVN.

[luziferius]

Thank you very much. I'll commit them into the SVN.

I’ll assume thats a "Yes, please do the rest!"

so here you go (upload runs, should be 100 files when finished): http://luziferius.lu.../0ad/Scenarios/

I’ve done those by using Atlas + KSnapshot and batch process the pics in Phatch

While creating those I noticed several bugs:

• These maps throw errors that files can’t be found (celtic war dogs, easy to reproduce):
  Arcadia II
  Gallic Fields
  The Massacre of Delphi
  
• When loading several maps one after another Atlas begins to flicker(at first reloading the map helps, but then even restarting Atlas does not help anymore, complete user logout/login fixes it for some time)
  Atlas changes between showing the background and the drawing area quickly while moving the mouse, and shows only the background when mouse stops
  Screenshot
  
• particle effects stay across map loadings (but fade away since they aren’t looped anymore in the new map, noticable best with dust/smoke effects)
  
• file names aren’t optimal:
  you use roman numbers in filenames(not always), but arabic(12345…, not always) in the descriptions, should be swapped
  some maps use _ as word seperator, most use " "(whitespace)
  some unplayable maps aren’t marked as demos(like Tropical Island)
  I think it would be better to name demo maps with "demo_"-prefix and sandbox maps with "sandbox_" prefix (so they stick together)
  

What about using this as the no-preview-available-texture :

Edited July 18, 2012 by luziferius

[historic_bruno]

I’ll assume thats a "Yes, please do the rest!"

so here you go (upload runs, should be 100 files when finished): http://luziferius.lu.../0ad/Scenarios/

I'd prefer closer screenshots for scenarios, selected to show close details of each map. In other words not rushed through in a huge batch or by some automated process