Topics

1

Mapping Tips/Guides / Tool for ripping maps of 3D games

« on: November 19, 2006, 10:42:24 am »

Hi,

I got this link to a DirectX 9 ripper, called 3D Ripper DX: http://www.deep-shadows.com/hax/3DRipperDX.htm



From the screenshots it looks like you might be able to view 3D scenes from any angle and this could help creating maps of such games.

Additionally there's a link to a Plugin called OGLE which shall capture geometry from OpenGL applications when using GLIntercept.



I do not have much time at the moment but I thought of already telling you of this link. I will also update in here when I tried the program.

Unfortunately you will need Autodesk's 3ds Max to be able to view the files - but maybe the Trial version is enough: http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax

2

Map Gab / Old map created by me

« on: October 23, 2006, 04:19:07 pm »

Yesterday while sorting some old papers I did find a very old printing which shows a part of a map I did create many years ago (around 1995, I think). I think I created it with the old 3.11 Paintbrush and didn't have enough RAM to create more than a little part of the the whole map. But I don't think it was possible to run DOS games in Windows 3.11 so it must have been Win 95 already.

I also created some handdrawn maps of games around that time but I can't find them at the moment. Otherwise I would scan them, too. I at least remember drawing some maps for Rayman.



- I think you all recognize this game. It's the DOS version

The scan isn't colour reduced, I only owned a dot matrix printer.



It's funny how I was into mapping back then but lost awareness of it and only started again 8 years later with much advanced possibilities.

It makes me want to continue mapping soon. I haven't mapped anything for some weeks now.

3

Map Gab / Adventures In The Magic Kingdom (NES)

« on: August 04, 2006, 03:15:54 pm »

This is a small project. The levels look quite nice, but while playing it flickers much. The game also is very short. There are two Jump'n Run levels, two racing levels and one 3D space level. So maps can only be made out of four levels of which I've already done the two Jump'n Run levels. Here is a "preview" of one, for the Ghost Mansion it helped a lot to be able to disable the enemy sprites.





https://img211.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hauntedmansioney4.png

4

Maps In Progress / Rayman Advance (GBA)

« on: July 04, 2006, 03:28:44 pm »

I'm just testing a bit out with the game, I still do not know if I will continue with the full game - depends on what difficulties I will encounter with the other backdrops and if there will be a similar problem as the one I had with the sequel (Rayman 3 GBA) - not being able to reach many areas and no ability to fill it out myself. I already couldn't reach the upper-right corner of the second map but I was able to fill it with some stones and the colour brown easily. Hopefully it will stay as easy as that.



Well, map 1 was easy. The height of the map is only a very small bit bigger than the height of the background so I just put in some plain colour for the water and sky to make it slightly taller.



http://img367.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thedreamforestpinkplantwoods12.png



Map 2 is more than double in size than its background - The only possibility I saw was to stretch it and put a filter over it to remove a bit of the pixelish look.

Background:



Map:



http://img100.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thedreamforestpinkplantwoods28.png



PS: I originally played the game on PC so I might as well look how difficult it would be to map the DOS version of the game - because it might look better: slightly better colours but definitely a better photographer (not one with as big pixels as the one in map 2) and also other things in the GBA version have got big pixels. I just started the GBA version because it's a bit easier due to quicksaves and layer disabling.

5

Map Gab / The Lion King (SNES)

« on: June 19, 2006, 07:10:54 am »

Finally I've finished that difficult seventh stage, so here's a map of it for your viewing pleasure.





http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sdestiny5vd.png



I hope that the rest of the game (three stages) will  be easy so that it won't take too long anymore.



PS: I still miss the possibility to write in colours or to use link images.