[xp-u] xpilot .map generator program

[Menno R. <bh...@fr...>]

 Hi,

 I just subscribed here and thought I'd send a small 
 self-introduction.  I'm very new to the xpilot game, did only 
 install it a few days ago, and have so far only played it alone 
 (i.e. not yet over the internet with other human users). 

 What I very much like in the game, is that almost everything seems 
 to be configurable.  I like the "ascii" format of the .map files. 

 I prefer to play with gravity set to zero in the server.  I'm 
 curious whether some of you guys share this preference with me ? 


---
 I had a try at writing a program that generates xpilot .map files.  
 I.e., that generates "randomized" maps.  The program thus allows 
 one to play in a completely unknown new map each time the server is 
 re-started. 

 I have no idea whether something like it already exists ??

 The program is still very new and may therefore still have some 
 silly "child sickness" bugs, and it is (as yet) slow when 
 generating very large maps of sizes like 500 x 500 or larger.  But 
 even so, this first version does seem to work well enough to be 
 actually usable. 

 Should some of you like to give it a try: I've put the source at:

     http://www.rubinghscience.org/softw/mkmap1.C

 I also put a number of "sample" maps generated by the program here:

     http://www.rubinghscience.org/softw/out_S1.map
     http://www.rubinghscience.org/softw/out_S2.map
     http://www.rubinghscience.org/softw/out_S3.map
     http://www.rubinghscience.org/softw/out_S4.map

 The source 'mkmap1.C' is C++, without templates and without using 
 the C++ STL, all in one source file ('mkmap1.C'), and compiles with 
 the GNU gcc (g++) compiler (on Linux), but since it doesn't use 
 platform-specific things it should compile with any C++ compiler 
 and on any platform. 

 Build source into executable (on Linux):
    g++ mkmap1.C -o mkmap1 -lm

 Usage: 
    mkmap1 -?
         Prints a help message with the available options
	mkmap1 [options]  > out.map
         Generates new xpilot .map file (with filename 'out.map')

 Through command-line options, many things can be configured, such 
 as: the size of the map; the density and "clustering" of walls; the 
 density of bases, cannons, wormholes, etc.  See 'mkmap1 -?' for 
 details. 

 I hope this map-generator will add to the xpilot gaming fun !!

 Please do feedback to me any comments/questions on the program.


---
 Regards,

 Menno Rubingh (bh...@fr...)