From: <pet...@ju...> - 2000-11-12 21:12:51
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On Sun, 12 Nov 2000 13:02:01 EST And...@ao... writes: > In a message dated 11/12/00 9:47:28 AM Pacific Standard Time, > x51...@fe... writes: > > > Should the map be delivered with the game for the download time or > > > download piece by piece from the server as you play? > > I think that the latest map from the time of release should be > included with the download. Then if there is any updates, fixes, or anything like > that they could be downloaded from the server when you play. Then next release > could have the latest map again. Just a thought, Andrew. Could the maps be segmented into sections? Each section would have a set dimension. If the map was seperated into sections, the player would start in one of the sections, then as they walked in a direction, the next sections would be loaded as they arrived near the edge of their current section. I'm trying to think in the terms of a very large map, which could result in a very large file. Instead of adding and updating the whole map, you could update each section as you desired. Another advantage to this design would be the wrap-around effect, as if the world were round. (the world need not be physically round; that would create an incredible hassle; just consider having to draw sections that look like that of an interrupted projection map...) I don't know what kind of coding would be involved to accomplish this, but I do have a few pros and cons. Please feel free to add to and discuss this list, or abolish the idea completely. I am not expecting that all (or any) of my ideas will be good/complete ones. Pros: 1. Smaller map files. (enabling easy map modification) 2. Less memory required at one moment. 3. Ability to expand the map size easily. (just add new sections to the top or side) Cons: 1. Possibly a great performance issue for slower systems. (ie. loading the sections) 2. Could produce a coding nightmare. -- Peter ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. |