Random Map Script:Northern Lights

[Spahbod]

New random map. Playable but not complete. It needs some of the myconid's graphical improvements like distant fog. Also it needs some new art assets. Slightly different from the one Mythos_Ruler posted.

Players start in a tough map to play with scarse wood and dangerous polar animals

Earth's polar regions are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles also known as frigid zones.The Arctic's climate is characterized by cold winters and cool summers. Precipitation mostly comes in the form of snow. The Arctic's annual precipitation is low, with most of the area receiving less than 50 centimetres. High winds often stir up snow, creating the illusion of continuous snowfall. Except for those areas adjacent to warm ocean currents, there is almost always continuous permafrost due to the very cold winters. The famous aurora can be seen from these regions.

[Mythos_Ruler]

Hmmm, we could make some "blowing snow" particles too, similar to the blowing sand particles for desert maps. And I agree, distance fog would do this map very well.

[MishFTW]

Looks sweet. And, are the auroras going to be real (or is it just for description)?

[Mythos_Ruler]

Auroras reflected in the water would be awesome.

[wraitii]

You could use a specific sky setting for that.

[feneur]

Provided we have animated textures it sounds like it should be relatively easy to implement, just create a sky that includes auroras (or perhaps even on a special extra "layer").

[Spahbod]

Michael, Pureon, do you have time to make the proper art assets (I mean trees, rocks and mines) for this map (and other "arctic" ones)? If not I'll try to make some.

[wraitii]

Provided we have animated textures it sounds like it should be relatively easy to implement, just create a sky that includes auroras (or perhaps even on a special extra "layer").

Do auroras actually move at any noticeable speed? I've only ever seen pictures and figured they stood still, in which case a simple skybox worked fine enough.

[zoot]

Do auroras actually move at any noticeable speed? I've only ever seen pictures and figured they stood still, in which case a simple skybox worked fine enough.

I was actually wondering about that too. After watching a few youtube videos, my best judgement is that they do move/flicker noticeably.

This is supposed to be recorded in real-time:

(Edit: I guess the reason they are mostly seen in still-shots or time-lapse videos is that they need a long exposure time to look good on photos.)

Edited July 30, 2012 by zoot

[MishFTW]

Yes, auroras move. The magnetic and electrical forces constantly shift in reaction to one another. And the color also depends on which atoms the highly electrons strike and at what altitude. One thing for sure... don't fly through an aurora

[wraitii]

I've let the AIs duel a bit on this map... Doesn't seem to be that hard, there's room. I really like the look of the map however, it's very cool. What did you use for the coast? Some variation of what I did on Corsica or something else entirely? The islands are a really cool touch. The only thing I'd change is make the terrain a bit less flat, adding a few small hills(I mean, large but not high) to make the terrain look less flat. Perhaps you could try adding a few more different textures to the ground/have more areas with different textures too. Overall, big props, it's really nice!

[Spahbod]

\ What did you use for the coast? Some variation of what I did on Corsica or something else entirely?

Nothing else worked perfectly except something like Corsica.

[Gen.Kenobi]

Michael, Pureon, do you have time to make the proper art assets (I mean trees, rocks and mines) for this map (and other "arctic" ones)? If not I'll try to make some.

Request rocks here

[Spahbod]

Request rocks here

Well, we just need some rocks suitable for this environment.

[Gen.Kenobi]

If you provide references, I'll see what I can do.

[Spahbod]

Something like this

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=657&tbm=isch&tbnid=CdXIIja3hmlwKM:&imgrefurl=http://coolsciencenews.blogspot.com/2012/02/arctic-sea-ice-decline-may-be-driving.html&docid=iyVYsQjlM-3pnM&imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MtHNLLOqDmU/T0xLifovUQI/AAAAAAAAfIA/YUK7A1vhAFE/s1600/photo%25252B1.jpg&w=500&h=333&ei=ipAgUI-aFoWPswaq54HQBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=389&vpy=234&dur=656&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=210&ty=95&sig=112154157362814063946&page=2&tbnh=140&tbnw=214&start=18&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:18,i:203

And we need some new mines that are half buried in the ground. Something like a sheet of stone.