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CiM 2 Map Editor Video Tutorials

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OlaHaldor

OlaHaldor

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Jan 12, 2011
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Just like with the original CiM, I jumped right into the map editor before actually playing the game. I can't help it. I love learning and make stuff.
So I'm sharing my discoveries with you. This is fairly basic stuff so far. If you haven't touched the map editor or don't know how to use it, this is for you.

More to come when I learn more about the editor myself.

SCULPTING A MAP WITH 3D COAT
I take map making a step further by sculpting the terrain in 3D Coat, before I use World Machine to add erosion.
Sculpting in 3D Coat is mostly the same as what you can do in-game, but it's much faster, and you can use a whole lot of different tools to make things more interesting faster.
[video=youtube;bmjJigm6hHU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmjJigm6hHU[/video]

WORLD MACHINE to CiM2!
This video covers creating a height map which can be imported to CiM2 using Maps4CiM. With World Machine you can design and generate terrains as you imagine them. World Machine has been used in Battlefield 3 and 4, to make the stunning scenery surrounding the battles..
[video=youtube;mcXuRNjk9GQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXuRNjk9GQ[/video]

I've also made a playlist for the videos.
01 - Basic navigation of the UI
[video=youtube;4MeVZtjSV0Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MeVZtjSV0Y[/video]

02 - Generate and edit terrain, learn about the different brushes and plant tons of trees
[video=youtube;Uok19ub0wrA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uok19ub0wrA[/video]

02b - Update on the height and flatten brushes.
[video=youtube;Lu2SQuZbqK4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu2SQuZbqK4[/video]

03 - Roads and splines!
[video=youtube;9J6CCouenzM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J6CCouenzM[/video]

04 - Populating the city
[video=youtube;disy0Zle_ZQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=disy0Zle_ZQ[/video]

05 - More on generating terrains
More on using Voroni, Perlin Noise and Fractal filters to randomly generate terrain. Look at it as a base for further editing and designing the landscape as you wish.
[video=youtube;h5U7_0uT8uA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5U7_0uT8uA[/video]

06 - Additional info on placing objects
[video=youtube;tucngiQ8QC0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tucngiQ8QC0[/video]

07 - Quick tip on placing roads
[video=youtube;1_QEhjDt5sM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_QEhjDt5sM[/video]

08 - A quick "how to" on making alternative bus lanes and stops between one-way roads and intersections.
[video=youtube;070hr5iNMFE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=070hr5iNMFE[/video]

09 - Create real cities!
[video=youtube;psTf-EoYkDw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psTf-EoYkDw[/video]
 
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Thank you for taking the time to make these.

Much appreciated.
 
Oh yes and a question... I didn't notice it answered in the videos so it may not even be possible.

1. Is there a way to rotate buildings on a finer scale?
What I mean is that I lay out my roads and when I try to manually place buildings they often won't line up with my roads, so I right click with the building on my cursor and the buildings rotate, however they still rarely line up with my roads.

But... If I use the building generator tool to automatically generate my buildings for me, then it is capable of rotating the buildings in such fine degrees that it gets the buildings to all line up with the roads that I've placed, so I figure maybe there is a way for me to also get manually placed buildings to align with the roads that I've already placed.

Thanks,
 
Thank you OlaHaldor for your tutorial. The thing indeed looks pretty powerful!

However, we really have to learn it from scratch as the total lack of grid makes it a totally different experience. Everything works with nods.

For fun, I've made my first stack interchange! :)

echangeur.jpg
 
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Nice one, Metropolitan! I haven't gone into advanced stuff yet. Just basics. I'm exporting a new video about generating and placing buildings. I have an answer for you too, City Builder. :)
PLUS and MINUS keys on the keyboard rotate the building on a fine level.
 
Thanks for these, they definitely clarify a few things I was having issues with.

Any idea if loading of custom brushes is possible or height maps?
I'm currently trying to rip apart all of the data files to mess around with some stuff, but if someone already knows that would be great :)
 
Ok, I also spent 3-4 hours on the editor last night. And, after a while, I got the hang of it. The sheer SCALE is mind-blowing. I ADORE the way the roads are done and spent some time just attacking the general motorway layout for my region (with a couple of complex intersections, obviously!).
A view items come to my mind and which I wrote down last night:
- Dropper for heights: Is there any way to get the flattening tool to pick up the height of any given point and apply that? Or conversely, is there any tool to see the height of a particular point. The flatten height slider is also very hit and miss.
- Grid: Would it be possible to have some kind of grid overlay for the editor, so that things can be aligned nicely?
- Height colour map: Could we see a reinstatement of the coloured height chart of the CiM1 editor? It was very useful for working out heights and working out which areas were of identical height...
- Paving tools: I tried to create a square/plaza/piazza for the city centre, but there's no tool to add paving (or is there?) to the centre of the square. Could that be added?
- Roads to the edge: I know that the game is doing without interregional traffic, but purely from an aesthetic point of view, it would be neat to allow expressways et al to actually go "off the edge", just to make it all a bit more real.
- Area markers: The map will have towns, villages and districts. Would it be possible to have a tool as in CiM1 so that they can be marked on the map?
- Snap To tool: Bendy roads are brilliant, but sometimes we need straight bits. (Same applies to buildings too). Could there be a function to snap the roads or buildings to a grid, to allow better placement?
- Building surrounds: Part of the fun (for me) of the CiM1 editor was the creation of real spaces to live. The buildings would form long (varied!) rows along inner city streets, and suburbs would have hedges around the houses. Is it possible to remove that grey area from around the buildings and let us decide if we want them or not? I personally would really enjoy making curved residential streets of houses with lawns, trees and grass, and then large inner-city areas.

Obviously, those are MY thoughts on the subject. Fully understand if some can't be done. If you could manage a few then this game will increase in awesomeness (and yes, it does grow on you!!!).
 
The things djw2000 mentioned are really good.
A grid and angle snap for roads like in CitiesXL would be great, or a circle tool like in Simcity. Also a key combination for finer building rotation is much appreciated.


djw2000 said:
- Roads to the edge: I know that the game is doing without interregional traffic, but purely from an aesthetic point of view, it would be neat to allow expressways et al to actually go "off the edge", just to make it all a bit more real.
Click to expand...
You could make a mountain and let them end in a tunnel inside, or just hide them in the ground. ;)
 
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