Map Generator v0.32

What is it?:
Just a simple map generator i made for fun.

Current Features:
- river placement
- terrain placement
- bonus placement
- features placement
- hill/peak placement
- resource rareity is customisable
- map terrain settings are customisable

Planned Features:
- Currently too numerous to mention, mainly making the interface more user freindly
- presets for different map types. (its currently able to generate quite a few scenarios simular to those already in game but ive had to disable some of the option needed to do this till i get a better interface)
- Any suggestion from community
- pre-placed cities + road/railroads, for a true scenario effect.
- pre-place wonders

Download Here:
- without installer (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=5888)
- with installer (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=6135)

If the version without a installer doesn't work, run the version with a installer and it will install the required files for you.

Installation:
Unzip & run the .exe, unless using the version which includes the setup.exe. In which case run the setup & it with install and place appropriate shortcuts in your start bar.

Screenshots:


Map Generator

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/117066/GEN.jpg

Same Map Ingame

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/117066/MAP.jpg

Same Map Ingame With Resources Displayed

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/117066/MAPRES.jpg

Fall From Heaven Bonuses Test

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/117066/FFH.jpg

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It seems to be great idea - i didn't saw how the generated map looks, but it might be awesome tool
Is It working both with warlords / vanilla?
How this map generator is compatible with mods?

Hmm you did something wrong - i've get this massage after trying to download (hitting the link)
The civfanatics download link is currently not working while the file is being verified or something like that, so in the meantime get it from here (http://home.primusonline.com.au/s7a7d7/MapGenerator v0.17b.rar).


It seems to be great idea - i didn't saw how the generated map looks, but it might be awesome tool
I upload 2 pics (one of the utility + 1 ingame shot) in a moment.


Is It working both with warlords / vanilla?
It should work with both vanilla & warlords.


How this map generator is compatible with mods?
Fine as long as the mod dooesnt use any extra resources types, e.g. gunpowder/hemp or anything like that.

--- removed pic ---

Yes it looks great - i tested it and it genreates interesting maps.
Do you consider more options of the look of the maps - for example if it would be archipelagos or continents or more pangea?

Yes it looks great - i tested it and it genreates interesting maps.
I rushed development of alot of it out of excitement & wanting to play a game :crazyeye: , the current placement of somethings are shocking.

Do you consider more options of the look of the maps - for example if it would be archipelagos or continents or more pangea?

It is already able to do that (using the vars in the misc section) however i disabled them because it requires somewhat of a understanding of how its been programmed(*) to know how to use them. Their labels arent helpfull.

The next version come with presets which you simply select from a drop down box, so far it can generate:
- Ice age
- Archipelago
- Pangea
- Continents (#)
- Lakes
- All Land

Im hoping to be able to emulate most of the standard game scripts in time. I was also actually hoping that the preplaced cities, wonders & roads(true random scenario) would be the main feature of the app, however by the sounds of BTS's advance starts option i guessing that it might be rendered obsolete once bts is released.

# : Currently you cannot choose number of continents, because the choice for me was either to have realistic shapes or control over the number of so i chose realistic shapes. However i just came up with a idea as to how i can do it... but it will have to wait till a bit later.

* : From what i can tell most rnd map generators start by making the map all ocean then placing groups of land fragments, then growing them out till their desired size to create continents. However this results in blob like lands that i dont really like the look of, so i do the opposite, i start with all land, place fragments($) of ocean then keep growing the ocean out till it reaches the desired size. I find this to be a far more realistic looking approach.

$ : 1 fragment == a inland sea map, the more fragments placed the more archipelago the result, additionally placing fragments at different times during the grow process results in different sized oceans & therefore different sized/shaped continents.

It's great news - i can't wait for new version. Indeed i like realism too (especially if i very rarely play multiplayer - i don't need any mirrors or the same continents) - and yours looks very realistic - all that continents plus islands looks very earthly

--- removed pic ---

Yes you should make it one of preset - all those islands capes and bays - it would make naval battle more interesting

--- removed pic ---

WOW
It looks real nice
When the new version will comes out?

BTW do you think it's possible to load custom bonuses from .xml file and generate appearance of the resources this way. It would be cool for mods - for example loading Ffh bunuses .xml would cause appearing of mana resources. or in Visa lemons etc.

WOW
It looks real nice
When the new version will comes out?
As soon as ive put hills & resources back in i'll upload a new version, a week at most i think.


BTW do you think it's possible to load custom bonuses from .xml file and generate appearance of the resources this way. It would be cool for mods - for example loading Ffh bunuses .xml would cause appearing of mana resources. or in Visa lemons etc.
I just had a look through the bonus.xml, i think its very possible... i would've done it this way the first time if i knew it contained half the vars it does.

However, some of the stuff in the file i have no idea how it works, do you know of a tutorial anywhere the explains each variable in detail?

The only real problem is that it'll make things take longer :( but not too much hopefully.

Yeah for sure more time so i understand when this future won't be available. But on other hand we have universal tool for making maps for civ4 :)

Ok here's nice descritpion of this file
http://civ4wiki.com/wiki/index.php/CIV4BonusInfos

and here's tutorial :)
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=153584

--- removed pic ---

I changed my mind about when i am going to upload a new version, i said was going to upload a new one in a week (about a week ago :P) ... but am no longer as i don't want to rush some things.

So next update = I don't know.

Progress report on new version:
- improved terrain = done
- improved mountain ranges = done
- improved ocean placement = done
- improved river placement = done
- improved resource placement (from bonus.xml) = semi complete
- interface = still craptastic.

once i get those last two things done a new version will be uploaded.

Ok i'm waiting for the new version urgently :)
I'm glad you'll be able to put resources from bonus.xml

Keep up the good work :)

A new version will be up tomorrow, while its not up to where i would like it to be, i just would like to upload something to let you know its still being worked on. Last couple of weeks I've had the flew so i barely worked on it. But its significantly better than the previous version i think.

looking forward to it. Keep up the good work :thumbsup:

looking forward to it. Keep up the good work :thumbsup:

I echo this :)

A new version is up (v0.32).

I forgot floodplains & goody huts, again :sad: ... but that doesn't bother me, i don't particularly like either of them on maps.

If you don't select a bonuses file it will not include any bonuses on the map.

Presets still aren't included yet. But thats okay, they'll definitely be in the next as I've got everything major out of the way for a moment... only some minor things left.

... and i just noticed a bug, but thats okay as you wont notice it, a free cookie to anyone that can guess what it is :lol:

Does anyone know how to change the title of a thread? i tried and it doesn't seem to be working how it normally does. Id rather not have it stuck as Map Generator v0.17 (Last Updated: 15/06/07) forever.

PM a mod, he can probably do it. I'de suggest you take off the dates in the title and put it as the first line of the OP.

I tested new version of map generator (both @ work and @ home) and i encountered error. Whe i hit Re-Generate i get bug - i don't know how to translate it to english - it writes something like this: "wrong entry string format" and ask me if i want to continue or close application immediately.

Did i miss something (some important components) or i'm doing something wrong?

I tested new version of map generator (both @ work and @ home) and i encountered error. Whe i hit Re-Generate i get bug - i don't know how to translate it to english - it writes something like this: "wrong entry string format" and ask me if i want to continue or close application immediately.

Did i miss something (some important components) or i'm doing something wrong?
It sounds like you've accidentally put a letter into one of the number fields or it could possibly be something to do with loading the bonuses from a .xml file. Try generating a map without a bonuses file selected to see it thats the case.

If you put any letter or invalid character into one customizable options it will display a error message that reads "Input string was not in a correct format."

Thank you :)

I didn't put any letter or any sign.
I tryed the generator without bonuses.
So it should be something other and this with invalid character start keeps me thinking - i found it.

In Poland we use , instead . in decimal fractions
I have similliar problems with loading .xls file wrote in english to polish M$ Excel - there were problems with understanding dots.

I've corrected all dots in terrain to commas and now it works.

BTW - just small bug it place rivers sometimes on the ice.

I'm really impressed witg generated terrains - much more interesting maps than standard civ4 scripts. Thumbs up! :)

EDIT
I've get another error trying to load BonusInfos.xml :(
i can't translate it well but it writes somethin like this: "recalling to the object wasn't setup for appearance of object
Do you think it's also connected to coma/dot ?

In Poland we use , instead . in decimal fractions
I have similliar problems with loading .xls file wrote in english to polish M$ Excel - there were problems with understanding dots.

I've corrected all dots in terrain to commas and now it works.
Interesting, in english 0,40 is no different from just 40.

I switched the language & region of my pc over to polish to test this out, and you are correct about the source of the problem. I'll make a check in the next version to check the users location so you dont need to switch .'s to ,'s each time you want to generate a map.

The previous version didnt have any .'s which is why you didn't encounter this earlier.


BTW - just small bug it place rivers sometimes on the ice.
Yeah, i intend to remove that... it also looks real odd when it loops over the top of the map.


I've get another error trying to load BonusInfos.xml :(
i can't translate it well but it writes somethin like this: "recalling to the object wasn't setup for appearance of object
Do you think it's also connected to coma/dot ?
I have no idea whats causing this problem, i have tried replicating it to no success... could you email me the .xml file you were trying to load. It could be connected to the comma/dot problem if your file names also swap comma's & dots.

Ok thank you for hint :)
I switched as you did - language & region of my pc to english (great britain) and everything worked well (bonuses also went fine - i used this from warlords) :)

I've generated very nice map - it reminds me those i draw when i was much younger and didn't have pc (you know map for some kind of paper/board strategy game that i was creating and playing in free time).