Map Maker by trade

[Tom_Anger 0]

Sorry for the book, but that is my curse.  I do have something to offer so I would greatly constructive appreciate replies.. Consider this an informal interview that I will post over at http://www.action-inside.com

I have mapped full time for over 3 years for Joint Operations and about a year in Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, making Multiplayer and Coop versions of maps which require various styles of coding.  The hours I spent on the maps and discussing with squads has been part positive and many server events were setup as a result.  I have now been asked to map for ArmA which I fully intend to do having received the game as a gift from a friend.  When I mention the term Map Editor in this post I am referring to a stand alone create a map from scratch (no objects, buildings, vehicles, etc).  Do not confuse with the existing editor that comes with ArmA.

I spent hours searching but I find myself running in circles.  My interpretation of ArmA for mapping at this point is this:

The existing editor (that comes with the game) allows you to use existing islands and buildings where you can add the vehicles and player stuff with your mission scripts (in a nut shell anyway).  We are unable at this time to create maps from scratch (bare bones/blank).  Customized maps require a mod team to release a mod pack, but an ability to make a map in ArmA can't be done.  They are done in OFP and converted if need be.

I reviewed the biki and see mod programs, but I am not sure if they are map editors.  They see more like object editors, but I want to make a map with nothing but a bare bone/blank terrain.  I have browsed the many websites with information and have seen 3D editor or unbundlers/bundlers for the .pbo files in relation to Operation Flashpoint.  My guess is people with an OFP background have been able to take their work and 'convert' it over to ArmA thus the reason we are seeing some customized servers.  At this point in the game any player can search for, and download an addon that a person has created and place it in the appropriate folder for ArmA.  That will give them custom soldiers, vehicles, etc.  BIG THANKS TO THOSE WHO TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS.

To this date there is no ArmA map creator/editor to create a map from bare bones/scratch using assets in the game along with addons such as buildings, vehicles, and the like".  For OFP folks I believe an editor exists and that is what they are using at the moment (I could be wrong, but that is the feeling I get).  I have witnessed some good and poor maps giving me the insight that custom mapping is available somewhere.

Now comes the hard and noobish question.

1. Because I am looking to make my own maps for the community from scratch, what is currently being done for folks who have ArmA, but do not have OFP?

2. Is there a timeframe for these efforts?

3. If a map making tool or tools exist what and where is it?

4. Aside from map making from scratch, what is the most common tool for modding objects such as soldiers, vehicles, etc for the ArmA community?  I have seen Oxygen out there as a tool, but would like to know the most common.

5. Do you have to have a copy of OFP to use the existing mod tools, namely the ones in answer to my question #4?

I love the game and will probably map 75% of the time so helpful answers are appreciated.  I am in the US if anyone is wondering.  Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[tophe 69]

Quote[/b] ]Now comes the hard and noobish question.

1. Because I am looking to make my own maps for the community from scratch, what is currently being done for folks who have ArmA, but do not have OFP?

2. Is there a timeframe for these efforts?

3. If a map making tool or tools exist what and where is it?

4. Aside from map making from scratch, what is the most common tool for modding objects such as soldiers, vehicles, etc for the ArmA community? I have seen Oxygen out there as a tool, but would like to know the most common.

5. Do you have to have a copy of OFP to use the existing mod tools, namely the ones in answer to my question #4?

All the modding tools needed to do all you want will be released soon for ArmA. That will probably be done after the US release in May.

You do not need OFP to use the existing tools. But it migght be

hard to convert something that you make for OFP first, if you can't even try how it behaves in OFP.

The editor is what you use to make the missions on the islands. You could of course hardcode it, but there is no point and not even BIS does that. The editor is what you will use to make the missions. It's not just a cheap game feature it's the tool used to develop the game.

Here's a link to a list over the official tool that will be available:

http://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Category:ArmA:_Official_Tools

and here are some community tools:

http://community.bistudio.com/wiki/ArmA:_Community_Tools

Start reading around in the forums and look for articles on conversion between OFP and ArmA if you really want to get started.

Me and a few friends made new soldiers and vehicles by modifying existing units, that's a way to do it.

The wiki is an amazing resource. And my best advice would be to get a de-pbo tool and start picking stuff apart.

That way you will learn how addons are constructed for ArmA.

As soon as the map-making tools are released, I'm sure the community will explode with new maps.

But for now, you should probably learn the editor and how to script for ArmA.

That way you will be prepared to make missions on the islands you will make later on.

There are plenty of places on Sahrani for you to make great scenarios on.

Good luck!

[Balschoiw 0]

1. Most tools used for importing/exporting stuff for Arma are based on the XBox Version of the game. Missions can still be extracted with PBO Decryptor or other 3rd party tools that are user-made.

You can have a quickstart by visiting the Arma Editing Biki

As there are no real maptools for Arma right now you are to my knowledge not really able to create an own island from the scratch and get it into the game. As you can already see in the Arma controls setup, Bulldozer controls have already been implemented but the Bulldozer segment is not there atm.

Quote[/b] ]2. Is there a timeframe for these efforts?

Maybe there is an internal BIS timeframe for it, but right now they seem to be busy to iron out the Arma bugs first and then transport of the internal tools to a user-friendly level and release them.

Quote[/b] ]3. If a map making tool or tools exist what and where is it?

There are no official ones right now.

Quote[/b] ]5. Do you have to have a copy of OFP to use the existing mod tools, namely the ones in answer to my question #4?

Not really, but the tools that are available are not really made for Arma and therefore lack functionality and you will have to do a lot of config handwork to make them work. For the average modder it´s easier to wait for the tools than to get lost with editing it all by hand.

BTW your signature exceeds the forum rules.

[sbsmac 0]

Quote[/b] ]Here's a link to a list over the official tool that will be available:

]http://community.bistudio.com/wiki....]

Good link.

To try and put this in context for Tom...

Visitor*/Linda are needed if you are interested in constructing new islands or topography (what you call 'maps'.

Oxygen is needed if you want to construct new object models (buildings, vehicles, soldiers etc).

The built-in editor is needed if you then want to take those things and create a mission around them. It allows you to place objects on the topography and to add scripts to make things happen.

So, as Ollie says, if your end goal is to create missions and interesting scenarios you can at least get started by learning about scripting and use of the editor. If your end goal is just to create islands for others to use, you might be better off getting an old copy of OFP and practicing with island creation there in preparation for the release of the new tools.

-EDIT- * I'm not quite sure of the connection between Visitor and Bulldozer - perhaps someone could explain this ?