ABOUT MAP-DEV

This folder contains Inkscape and GIMP files which can be used to easily adapt existing Trigger Rally maps. They are a good starting point for creating new maps too. The SVG files are mostly used for defining checkpoints and where the roads are. Therefore coordinates for the maps visible checkpoints can be found as numbered items in the "checkpoints" layer. (Invisible checkpoints for codriver commands can be found as smaller unnumbered yellow markings on the same layer.)

If you open the SVG files you will need to re-link the loaded map-file from the ingame map folder in order to see it as a guiding layer for making sense of the road splines. (For keeping file sizes low those orientation layers are not embeded into the SVG files but linked. Inkscape can't know where to find those linked files on your system without you telling it.

In many maps coordinates of parts of the map are not taken directly from their coordinates in those files. This is because in such cases the ability of Trigger Rally to extend the roads beyond the actual map tile is used. Since the game repeats the same tile in all directions instead of hindering the player to go over the borders of the limited map area it is possible to plan unlimited routes that go far beyond the original borders of a tile. The only condition is that the map needs to utilize a layout allowing roads reaching the end of the actual map to be picked up at the opposite end of the map. This way Trigger Rally technically allows you to actually drive in one direction endlessly. Of course this way maps would get boring fast since players soon would recognize the repeating area. But if used with caution and sensible turns this can lead to the impression that the maps in game are much bigger than they actually are. This saves memory.

Not all maps do have SVG files and not all XCF files do contain very satisfying layers but we collected and generated all we could get our hands on. Unfortunately most development files for older maps wheren't available any more when putting together the map-dev files.

If you can't find a layer you might want to edit, it probably doesn't exist. We tried to give speaking names to all layers, mostly referring to the file names of the exported images.

If you have questions regarding the map-dev files, please ask us on our SourceForge discussion page: https://sourceforge.net/p/trigger-rally/discussion/

You can find a map tutorial and an XML reference for creating or altering maps on our official web page: http://trigger-rally.sourceforge.net/

We are looking forward to exciting new map files from you. Please let us know about them by posting it in our discussion forum linked above! We might add it to the next official release.

LICENSE INFORMATION

All development files in this folder are distributed with the GPL v2 licence. Your Trigger Rally folder should contain a copy of the full licence text as "COPYING.txt" in its "doc" folder.