Civ4 Map Finder Announced!

[Big_Ben]

On a pangea map. Going to try the same settings on great plains in a bit and see what it comes up with. Going to make the game more difficult since it is a smaller map, but we will see.

 

[Big_Ben]

Actually resulted in 4-5% saved maps however they are not the best locations. Going to have to add forests as a criteria for GP maps.

Denniz: Is there anyway you could add a button to the report viewer to allow us to delete the map from there? That way I don't have to load up the map in Civ to make sure it is a right one that I want to delete?

 

[DeafDolphin]

I suspected that a good ruleset other than what's there now would have to be created through trial and error.

Big_Ben, I was thinking that last night too - it would be nice to have a delete button on the viewer to get rid of the map instead of having to manually do that . Time saver more than anything else.

 

[Denniz]

Denniz: Is there anyway you could add a button to the report viewer to allow us to delete the map from there? That way I don't have to load up the map in Civ to make sure it is a right one that I want to delete?

I have been thinking about things along those lines. DaveMcW suggested launching the game from the report viewer. I was thinking of taking that to the next level and have it mark that save as played. (Don't ask me how, I haven't decided. renaming, updating the txt file, moving to another folder, etc.)

Other options to manage maps would logically follow. I have had a mental picture of creating folders and moving around the maps using the app, like I did with the original mapfinder.

Does anyone feel the need to rename the files as well?

Update for anyone who is interested:
I am currently porting the vb6 code over to 2005 VB Express Version. There is a conversion tool that works pretty good, but I have to change out the controls to native ones to break the office dependency. People will need .NET 2.0 but I think the install will help download that if you don't already have it.

I will incorporate all the new features and fixes as is practical. No processes. These will be an optional release of the VB Apps when it is done. (Since I am not changing the file formats either version will work.

Another question:
I added the ability to check for any terrain type in combination with river to the Mod as a contingency just before it was released. I didn't included the codes in any of the control files but all it would take would be some additions to a couple of the dat files. Anyone interested?

 

[DeafDolphin]

Does anyone feel the need to rename the files as well?

That would be nice, yes. The present file naming convention is good, tho, if requiring some decoding... but a renaming feature would be good.

Denniz, thank you for all of your hard work with this. It's a wonderful tool.

Edit: Launching the game from the viewer would be an added bonus, but so would moving, etc. It would simplify things a great deal instead of having to hunt for the right files. I'm thinking renaming them, then moving them would be a huge asset.

 

[Denniz]

Related question: Is there some player-created rulesets to try out ? I think it would be interesting to see what some players like in the way of maps.

Good idea. Maybe we should start a thread where people can post a copy of their rule files that others could download and use.

I'm content to use the default ruleset, which seems pretty good to me, but I'm curious as to what creations players have come up with.

I wouldn't put much faith in the default rule set I created. While I put some thought into it in the beginning, I never did much to refine it in light of results I saw while testing. I including it as an example more than anything.

 

[DeafDolphin]

Good idea. Maybe we should start a thread where people can post a copy of their rule files that others could download and use.

Excellent idea!

I wouldn't put much faith in the default rule set I created. While I put some thought into it in the beginning, I never did much to refine it in light of results I saw while testing. I including it as an example more than anything.

That explains why I had to search 30 maps to find one that satisfied me. It does produce some nice ones for regular SP games, but I want GREAT ones for HoF games.

 

[Denniz]

That would be nice, yes. The present file naming convention is good, tho, if requiring some decoding... but a renaming feature would be good.

Yeah, I was really disappointed with what happened with the Civ4 Load game prompt when I created a file name without abbreviating. It just truncates the name. I couldn't tell the games apart.

Denniz, thank you for all of your hard work with this. It's a wonderful tool.

You are welcome but don't forget Dianthus' contributions. His work with the SDK to enable saving, map regeneration, and screen shots from python made the whole thing possible. Not to mention correcting some of my sloppy work with here and there.

 

[DeafDolphin]

Yeah, I was really disappointed with what happened with the Civ4 Load game prompt when I created a file name without abbreviating. It just truncates the name. I couldn't tell the games apart.

Agreed. I have to resort to looking at the .jpg's to figure out which one I want. Good thing the recycling bin is searchable.

You are welcome but don't forget Dianthus' contributions. His work with the SDK to enable saving, map regeneration, and screen shots from python made the whole thing possible. Not to mention correcting some of my sloppy work with here and there.

And a hearty Thank you! to Dianthus as well, then. You guys certainly make the HoF enjoyable.

 

[Big_Ben]

Actually instead of just a delete option how about a simple option to rename the files from within the viewer? Or both. Because I let it run all day today when I was out and have a LOT of saves. There are a couple really good ones that I want to play, but it is a pain trying to count from the top how many it is until that one since it truncates the name.

 

[RemoWilliams]

If there's anyway to make civ4 generate an autosave when you start a map finder map, that would be a great thing to have. I forgot to do that, so I'm gonna have to hunt for my game now (assuming I submit the final).

 

[Denniz]

If there's anyway to make civ4 generate an autosave when you start a map finder map, that would be a great thing to have. I forgot to do that, so I'm gonna have to hunt for my game now (assuming I submit the final).

Creating a save when you load from a save would be kind of pointless, don't you think? I think the real issue is with management of Map Finder saves. I am working on that for a new release.

 

[DeafDolphin]

If there's anyway to make civ4 generate an autosave when you start a map finder map, that would be a great thing to have. I forgot to do that, so I'm gonna have to hunt for my game now (assuming I submit the final).

Maybe I misunderstood what you mean, but doesn't the HoF mod already have a checkbox for that feature? (Just some gentle teasing, Remo, nothing bad meant!)

 

[Lexad]

One more question, please. If i select a map by MapFinder at 1 computer (at my girlfriend's currently) and then take it to play on my own (cause she was very upset with me playing G-Major I for 20 hours), is it allowable by HoF? this could be a possible exploit as I can get a map knowledge from 1 PC to play on the other, although not major if I'm not duplicating the winning moves.

 

[Denniz]

One more question, please. If i select a map by MapFinder at 1 computer (at my girlfriend's currently) and then take it to play on my own (cause she was very upset with me playing G-Major I for 20 hours), is it allowable by HoF? this could be a possible exploit as I can get a map knowledge from 1 PC to play on the other, although not major if I'm not duplicating the winning moves.

As long as you do not replay turns, it is okay to move your last save to another PC to continue from your last play session. Loading a new map generated by finder is technically picking up your from last play session, so is okay.

 

[Lexad]

Thanx again, feline comrade

 

[Big_Ben]

Is there a way to check and see if we have played a map yet? I know you said you wanted to add that to map finder but I was wondering if there was a way to figure it out from outside mapfinder yet. I have a couple hundred saves right now and I found one that I really want to play but it looks kind of familiar. Don't know if I have played it yet.

 

[Denniz]

Is there a way to check and see if we have played a map yet? I know you said you wanted to add that to map finder but I was wondering if there was a way to figure it out from outside mapfinder yet. I have a couple hundred saves right now and I found one that I really want to play but it looks kind of familiar. Don't know if I have played it yet.

Sorry, that is not a capability I expect to ever have. I will be adding some assistance to help you manage your maps. (ie. rename, move, delete, etc.)

The only reason the HOF can tell if you have submitted the same map more than once is becasue we have a database of submissions to compare against. Not something I would care to do for a downloadable app. Look how much trouble we've had over a couple controls.

 

[Big_Ben]

I was just thinking about a checker that would see if the save file had been loaded/played before. Would basically be the same code you guys use to eliminate reloads in the HOF.

 

[Denniz]

I was just thinking about a checker that would see if the save file had been loaded/played before. Would basically be the same code you guys use to eliminate reloads in the HOF.

I don't think I want to go there.

It is up to the individual to manage their saves. I will be adding the ability to delete, rename, or move map finder saves games in the next version.