Staff (Formerly Rock and Roll Fantasy)(Edit Page 5)

[army of nobunaga]

Lot of colors... kind of rock and rollish. The connections need some work, and I think the picks should be a little smaller.

I cant read the instructions too well.

Looks like a start man!

Oh, those sren't just colors, that's an LSD trip.
I just noticed the bonuses are hard to read, and I still haven't figured out the connection problem.

Connect with guitar wire? COnect with hands that do the rock thing-->

+ lighters?>


you could even make the hands with lights a one way... lot of stuff to do man.. you know. if yo uare gonna make it crazy and lsd like colors.. have a friggin blast with it and go over the top with crazy connectors and shit.

up to you though.

I like it man. I think you may get a lot or a little flack for it being rather simple so far, but the upside to this one is great . hope you stuck wi th it.

[danfrank]

RECYCLE BIN

The foundry could do without that kind of attitude... Who are you to shoot down someone's map idea?

For the record, CC could use a music themed map. Why not? I've seen stupider ideas gather support in the melting pot...

Granted, the idea will require more development. Also you're going to need some other software than MS paint. GIMP and Paint.net are both free graphics softwares that can be loaded from the internet, and both can be used for mapmaking. Don't worry if you don't know much about graphics, if you keep at it with perseverance and commitment, you will learn all that you need during the process of making your map.

I recommend working on your visual presentation a bit more, and thinking about the gameplay... Take a look at existing maps for inspiration. Play some of your favorite maps and think what gameplay features make them enjoyable, and try to figure out how to implement such features in your own gameplay.

. I dont care for the map. posting pictures of records and tdk cassettes is kind of lame. I am entitled to my opinion and can post it in this thread if i choose to so. Thats what the foundry process is about constructive criticism.

[natty dread]

the foundry process is about constructive criticism

There's nothing constructive about "toss it in the bin".

Anyway, I'm a bit worried in the sense that a project like this is going to be really hard to pull off, and it might be more advisable for a new mapmaker to try something more... well, traditional, for his first map. I mean doing a geographical map is relatively easy, there's good tutorials on that and lots more people will be able to help you with the graphics. Here when you're doing stuff that doesn't really conform to anything the foundry is used to seeing, you have to figure out everything by yourself, and I'm a bit worried if you will be able to teach yourself the graphical skills to pull something like this off...

I don't know, I might advise putting this project on hold, trying to do a more traditional map first, which will give you an easier ride through the foundry. You will learn tons of stuff about graphics work while you're at it (not to mention gameplay design)... then you could always return to this project once you know what it takes and how it is done.

[Industrial Helix]

OK, design brief acknowledged.

Obviously CC lacks any musical themed maps and likely has a sort of niche that could be filled. So you're right about that.

But the biggest problem that this map faces are its graphics. Essentially it looks like a lot of copy and pasting and some quick lines illustrating connections. In order to move on to the next phase we're going to have to see some significant graphical development. I suggest finding someone with graphics skills to take up that portion of your map or perhaps play some more games on CC and observe the graphical standard of the maps, then keep practicing with GIMP until you get more familiar with its tools.

The second problem is gameplay. It makes very little cohesive sense to me when I look at it. It's strengths would be the different records/cassettes/picks and using them to sort of build a bonus... but other than that it is very scattered and makes no sense. Perhaps something like a timeline would work better, records being in the 50s-60s era, cassettes in the 80s and so one. You need to develop a better theme in terms of gameplay. Simply having records on a white background is not rock and roll, you need to figure out what is.

Anyway, give it some thought and certainly don't give up. There's a ton of foundry goers who will help to bring your skills in the graphics department up to snuff. Check out the Foundry Discussions for advice as well as mapmaking tools and tutorials over there. If you have any questions, never hesitate to ask.

[rockandrull]

RECYCLE BIN

The foundry could do without that kind of attitude... Who are you to shoot down someone's map idea?

For the record, CC could use a music themed map. Why not? I've seen stupider ideas gather support in the melting pot...

Granted, the idea will require more development. Also you're going to need some other software than MS paint. GIMP and Paint.net are both free graphics softwares that can be loaded from the internet, and both can be used for mapmaking. Don't worry if you don't know much about graphics, if you keep at it with perseverance and commitment, you will learn all that you need during the process of making your map.

I recommend working on your visual presentation a bit more, and thinking about the gameplay... Take a look at existing maps for inspiration. Play some of your favorite maps and think what gameplay features make them enjoyable, and try to figure out how to implement such features in your own gameplay.

. I dont care for the map. posting pictures of records and tdk cassettes is kind of lame. I am entitled to my opinion and can post it in this thread if i choose to so. Thats what the foundry process is about constructive criticism.

I would respect your opinion more if you had actually made a map if you were actually giving constructive criticism. What is constructive about "THE RECYCLE BIN"?

[rockandrull]

Click image to enlarge.

Here's the map's latest version. there are still a few noticable white spots, but it looks a lot better now.

[natty dread]

Ok... the background will have to go. It's giving me flashbacks. You'll have to think of something else, I don't think players will want to look at all those colours while they play... too distracting, and hurts the legibility of the map.

The background should be less noticeable than the territories and other important features. Right now your image is dominated by the background.

Another thing is thematic consistency. Widowmakers said it the best so I'm just going to quote him:

To best decide what style graphics to use, one must understand the purpose of the final piece.
Here are some questions that you can ask yourself before you make a map. They will help you focus you ideas and design.

Who are the characters in the map? (backstory .i.e. why is this map significant or a cool story)
What is your map about?
Where does it take place?
When does it take place?
Why are the events taking place? (again backstory)
How will the events unfold?

For example, let's say all the players are rock bands, and they have to conquer venues to get cash... you could have bars that give a small bonus, clubs that give a medium bonus, a few stadiums that give a high bonus... You could do a "rocknroll city" where all these places are. It could also feature hazards of the rocknroll lifestyle, like drugs, std:s, what have you.

Or let's say before you can conquer the bars and clubs and such, you'll have to put together your band. You need to conquer a drummer, a basist, a guitarist, etc... then you need a place to train, from there you could assault the bars... holding the record studio doubles all bonuses... and so on...

I'm just trying to say, there's much more you could do with the theme. Use your damn imagination man

[rockandrull]

Ok... the background will have to go. It's giving me flashbacks. You'll have to think of something else, I don't think players will want to look at all those colours while they play... too distracting, and hurts the legibility of the map.

The background should be less noticeable than the territories and other important features. Right now your image is dominated by the background.

Another thing is thematic consistency. Widowmakers said it the best so I'm just going to quote him:

To best decide what style graphics to use, one must understand the purpose of the final piece.
Here are some questions that you can ask yourself before you make a map. They will help you focus you ideas and design.

Who are the characters in the map? (backstory .i.e. why is this map significant or a cool story)
What is your map about?
Where does it take place?
When does it take place?
Why are the events taking place? (again backstory)
How will the events unfold?

For example, let's say all the players are rock bands, and they have to conquer venues to get cash... you could have bars that give a small bonus, clubs that give a medium bonus, a few stadiums that give a high bonus... You could do a "rocknroll city" where all these places are. It could also feature hazards of the rocknroll lifestyle, like drugs, std:s, what have you.

Or let's say before you can conquer the bars and clubs and such, you'll have to put together your band. You need to conquer a drummer, a basist, a guitarist, etc... then you need a place to train, from there you could assault the bars... holding the record studio doubles all bonuses... and so on...

I'm just trying to say, there's much more you could do with the theme. Use your damn imagination man

I'll replace the background, but I don't want to start from scratch with this. Maybe I should throw in a needle or two and make them immpassable...

[natty dread]

Start from scratch? Believe me man, you have barely started. If you think you don't want to "start from scratch" now, think how you would feel if this was told to you after you had worked on your map for several months...

[rockandrull]

I know the map sucks right now. I simply meant that I like the current idea a lot.
(I hope that you don't tell me I have to restart this in a few months)

[rockandrull]

Click image to enlarge.

Ok, the background has been changed
I will add the specifics later on.
I am also thinking about adding a bonus for holding one of each...

[natty dread]

Well, the current theme is a bit ambiguous. You have various recording media, and guitar picks... which doesn't really tell anything about rock per se, the same things could be used to play/record any music...

Don't get me wrong, I like the general idea of a music map. But you'll want to develop the theme a bit more. I merely gave some examples how a rock'nroll theme could be fitted for the purpose of a CC map. You don't have to do those exact things, but come up with something that integrates the theme a bit better.

Don't be afraid to try changes to your map. If they don't work, you can always go back to the previous version.

And yeah, if you do the ground work well enough, then hopefully no one will tell you months from now that the idea doesn't work...

[FlyingSquirrel]

Those dang cassette tapes. Always getting chewed up and then you'd pull 'em out of the machine and the tape just stretched out everywhere. Might wanna use little strips of magnetic tape to connect your territories.

Are those supposed to be guitar picks or what? Way too big if they are. Could use small guitar picks to connect territories, maybe. Perhaps a large record player or two would be in order?

P.S. Don't forget 8-tracks!

P.P.S. Hey, I just got an idea. Why don't you make the theme be some teenager's messy bedroom strewn with all kinds of music media (cd's, cassettes, records, SMALL guitar picks) and maybe have the cases, album covers etc. in little stacks. And have a record player, cd player, cassette player. Then some of the bonuses might be if you controlled the record player and a couple of records; cd player and a couple of cd's; cassette player and a couple of cassettes. Or a stack of album covers and a couple of records. Kind like, the kid is either trying to clean up his room and put his prized music away, or he's trying to play it, or both.

Maybe a guitar that he's trying to learn to play could be a bonus when combined with a few picks and an amp.

Headphones too, god knows his parents have been telling him to turn that !#$%* down!

But lose the hypodermics, we don't want it to look like he's a druggie do we?

[rockandrull]

Maybe I should make the backgrouns a shag rug so it looks likes they're on the floor...

[rockandrull]

Click image to enlarge.

Here's the new update.
It's not much better than the old one.
I'm thinking about switching ove to paint.net, because you have a lot of experience using it and nobody who uses gimp seems to post here.

[rockandrull]

I like your suggestions, but I'm not sure how to execute them, if you know what I mean.

[rockandrull]

Click image to enlarge.

I've turned this from a rock and roll fantasy to a beethven's ninth.
The new image has 26 playable territories, including the rests and clefs.

[rockandrull]

What do we all think of the new map?

[rockandrull]

Click image to enlarge.

Here's the new image.

[FlyingSquirrel]

What do we all think of the new map?

You're jumpin' around too much for me. Probably should've made a new thread for this one, I was still involved in the other idea. The musical note map isn't really doing it for me, actually both maps just seem a bit too contrived and without a really strong theme. I dunno. Also it's pretty similar to the guitar map currently being worked on

[rockandrull]

You're jumpin' around too much for me. Probably should've made a new thread for this one, I was still involved in the other idea. The musical note map isn't really doing it for me, actually both maps just seem a bit too contrived and without a really strong theme. I dunno. Also it's pretty similar to the guitar map currently being worked on

I don't think the guitar map is really being worked on, there hasn't been an update in months. How do you suggest I make the theme stronger on this map?

[Industrial Helix]

In response to your submitted design brief, I'd say Flying Squirrel pretty much echoes our thoughts on this map. The theme needs to be stronger and more interesting because as of now, the map doesn't look to have much support. The graphics are going to have to be much better as well.

I'd suggest taking a look at more maps already on CC and try to echo their graphical quality. Also, there are a number of people using various graphics softwares in the foundry forums, see if you can find one using gimp and get some help. There are also numerous tutorials online which may help as well.

[MarshalNey]

I can help a bit with GIMP, if you need help, although I'm completely self-taught on the thing so I probably missed a bunch of nuances.

"Music" as a theme isn't a bad way to go, as I said on ZoeBear's thread; math is a strong part of music and should translate very naturally into bonuses. Plus, done right, music is something with which most people can relate.

The key is to make the Music Map exciting, and relate it if possible to a conflict, since players will be fighting each other for "territory". A few ideas spring to mind:

1) Battle of the Bands. With the proliferation of Rock Band into every community where Playstation consoles are sold, the idea of having a Rock-Out Duel is very much with the times.

2) Making It Big. The passage of a band (or singer) from local bars to half-time at the Superbowl is practically the stuff of reality TV (and yes also a theme from Rock Band). Players trying to "fight" their way to a record label and superstar status could make for an interesting conquest map.

3) The Wild Gig. Lots of things can happen at a concert, particularly a rock concert. Although a 'conflict' isn't directly implied in this setting, you could create one by involving police/security vs. rowdy crowds, etc.

You could have the notes of a song still involved in any of these ideas, but they would probably be a small region in a larger setting. Anyway, hope this helps.

[rockandrull]

The sky 840x800 pixels is the limit.

I just got that joke! (pretty sad)