New Maps / Satellite Terrain (Google Earth et. al.)

[Incognito84]

I was just wondering if the team has ever considered using satellite images for the terrain textures instead of designing their own images and making tiles.

I'm not sure whether or not it would be easier or faster than custom textures, but it might enhance the look of some of the maps. Not to say that the maps are bad looking or anything.

I also think that satellite maps are an awesome reference idea to the extent where places can be recreated based on them.

Just an idea.

[Dev1200]

Check some of the Map developer's posts, I remember one of them is going through google earth and getting SAT images. I just don't remember.. it's one that's been in the works for a while. Not sangin, btw.


Im working on a map for PR right now, I've already designed most of the map, so if I went to SAT images i'd have to restart =(

[nick20404]

Tom clancys HAWX does this and its ground textures look horrible.

[Dev1200]

Well, HAWX has a huge Line of sight ( I forgot the name.. fog of war thing.. idunno), so your system would have a hard time doing it.

[Incognito84]

Tom clancys HAWX does this and its ground textures look horrible.

Agreed, and HAWX is also a flight simulator. The textures look better from up high and worse from down low. That's why I mentioned that building maps off of satellite images might be a buttload of work because you're have to modify each of the texture sets to correspond with both sky and ground views.

In short, you'd have to add a detail map (little rocks, pebbles, etc.) to go on top of the more basic satellite map which would look better from the sky. Things like roads and cities might not benefit as much from it as deserts, forests, rivers and valleys would.

[Rhino]

biggest problem is with things like prebaked shadows etc which you dont want in a colourmap. Lots of other complications as well, its normally best just to use them as references then work over the top of them.