North America Map project

[Sophia]

Hello,

I am learning how to make maps in this addicting game, and I am going to be making North America. I am going to be starting with Canada, and will add USA as I can.

I am wondering if there are any other mappers here that can give some advice on things like how to scale the cities and highways properly, etc.

So, does this sound interesting to anyone ? My goal is to make it as real as I can.

Let talk about this :)

Michael

[Avenger; So uh Yeah]

Maybe you can use Google Maps for something.

[Sophia]

Yeah, I am definatly goingto be using that to get the highways and towns right...

I figure I wil just make the Trans Canada highway first going across all Canada, than then work on details as I go.

Oh, does anyone know a good program for editing DDS files ? I will need to make a dds file of the map.

[FirestormMk3]

I don't really have anything in the way of technical expertise to give you, but the prospect is exciting to me. I'd definatley start a second file that used your mod and then some American truck mods.

[Sophia]

Ok, I have started to get seriuous about this now, and started getting info for the cities I need.

I am using google maps for get the locations of each city, and could really use peoples help if anyone is interested.


So, here is what I need... I hope this is easy to understand :)

I need you to pick a city, it doesn't matter what one. This will be your reference city, so you can label it as a (0,0) point. Then using google maps load up that city area and take a screenshot of it.

Load it in a program like paint, PS, or whatever and make not of the Scale that google shows... using the paint program we need to know how many pixels / Km. This is based on the zoom level you choose. For me it ended up being 115px / 100Km.

Then, using this info and the map you have write down the distances from your reference city to other cities (in pixels) and post that info here. I don't mind doing the math to figure out how far they should be in game, etc...

I hope this is understandable... Here is what I have so far.. maybe it will help clear it up:



100 km = 115pixels
Reference Point: Halifax 0, 0
Truro: 30, 96
New Glassgow 85, 121
Amhearst -58, 152
Moncton -110, 188
St John -228, 82
Antigonish 146, 127
Port Hawks 202,145
Sydney 310, 195
Yar -233, -105
Char 43, 208
Sunnyside -20, 230

There are cities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI...

Anyway... if you are interested, get positions of cities in North America like this for me will be a MASSIVE help.

Thanks.... and I am really excited about this project now :)

Michael

[grybeard]

Add in the northern ice roads! :P

[Lemon Head]

once you have say the roads or the pic and then the locations of the cities what you do next to make the hook up to them via the roads ?.

[Sophia]

Well, not sure I fully understnd what your asking..... but, what I am doing so far is placing the cities in the right locations... and just linking highway between them. I'm not too worried about the detail of the highway just yet.... more or less just a straight line of road for now, and I will do the detail work after I know everything works.

This is a HUGE project... I'd like to make a website to keep track of progress, and eventually have a download as well (one that is not full of ads, and other crap )

I will keep this discussion updated with progress.

[GeorgeT93]

This definitely sounds interesting to me, since I'm from the U.S., and would enjoy the ability to drive around North America (though I've definitely been enjoying my trips across Europe!)

There are rumors floating around however, that SCS is working on an "American" version that is being referred to as American Truck Simulator. While they haven't officially confirmed its development, they have posted some screenshots of a truck they were working on (way back in March), that they did confirm was NOT coming to ETS2 http://blog.scssoft.com/2013/03/stuff-we-are-working-on.html , which is where the speculation of an ATS game being made got its probable start.

In any case, without any ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ information released, no one knows how far along the title may be in the development cycle (or even if it is, in fact, being developed,) but it is something to be aware of since, if true, may be finished and released before your mod is done for ETS2.

I'll be looking forward to your project as it progresses, but like you said, it's a HUGE project, especially for just one person, and you may be spinning your wheels (figuratively), if SCS is in fact making a full game based in North America.

Good luck! :)

[Sophia]

Thanks, I am wctually working on it right now...

Since, I am still learning how to make maps in this game, it's a little slow... but so far I am makeing progress. Trying to figure this stuff out is hard since the documentation is so scarce...

Anyway, thanks for the vote of confidance :)

Michael

[GeorgeT93]

I'm sure things will speed up a bit once you get the basics of making the maps down. I just hope you'll be moving a bit south as you expand west, as I'd love to see Boston, MA and Montreal come "online" at the same time. Then we could maybe haul some hockey gear between the two cities (as well as beer deliveries!) I'm definitely looking forward to this mod progressing along! :)

[Sophia]

well, I probably will go down as far as NY for now... I want to make the ferry between Yarmouth, NS, and Maine as well.

I must say, this is fun, but at the same time annoying, lol....

[AlexSchantz]

hi

[Sophia]

Hey Alex....

[Sophia]

Ok, Just to let you know, I am figuring this out, and I am at a stage where I need to define the Companies that my mod will use.

I am wondering, should I use real life companies, or use the companies the game has already ??

What do you guys think ?

[TracyJay]

Well, I think that using real company names is a great idea for a Sim based in North America.