I think it's just about time to bring the progress of my little project to the OD community :D
I will post in the main areas once I have something that resembles a complete product.

Ok, the program is called MapGEN, and if you hadn't guessed already, it generates random maps. It is of course different from the standard generator for WA, in many ways.

Firstly, it produces PNG maps, not those of the standard bit format, although a BIT modification might be looked into for WWP support at the end.

Secondly, it doesn't create maps of the classic catagories of Island, cavern, double cavern etc. But of the more modern schemes played today. Shopper, Fort, Roper, BnA... etc.

For each game type, multiple algorithms will be produced to stop all results looking identical and to just introduce variety.

So far the 1st algorithms have been done for Bow n Arrow and Fort modes, both which are working to a reasonable degree codewise, although are missing some of the art that they require.

See a pic of the project here: http://www.lucidweb.org/images/mapGen/mapgen2.png

For those of you who hate coloured windows... there is an option to disable the picture ;)

Also see the thread here for all progress on a smaller scale:
http://www.wormscc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=932

I'm looking for any suggestions and I will post up a demo version to get some feedback from in a couple of days. Exams to do first, followed by excessive drinking!


MapGEN v0.1.4 Alpha
-------README-------

v0.1.4 Update

Output pngs now 92 colour and should load correctly with WA.
Fort sections can now be randomised slightly, although most of the graphics have not been completed or upgraded to support this.
Shows 'Generating...' while, well, generating.
Fixed bug that caused both auto and manual to be selected after reset was pressed.
Added graphics and start of code for Walk for Weapons mode.

Status at v.0.1.3

Current features:
Will generate Bow n Arrow maps correctly with a choice of graphics themes.
Will partially generate Fort maps.
Will generate very bad roper maps.

Known 'bugs'
Shopper only produces blank results.
'Automatic' setting doesnt actually do anything other than disable controls.
Roper generation is incomplete.
Fort maps graphics not complete.
Output PNG's are truecolor and not loadable by WA (must be re-saved at present).

Download MapGEN v0.1.4 Alpha (http://lucidweb.org/download/mapgen-0.1.4.exe)

Very nice!
Could you include all the standard terrain objects as well?
http://www.yoda.arachsys.com/worms/wa/anims/level/

I may well do for schemes where they serve a perpose, like BnG. I'm trying to find new objects for the moment to try and keep things a bit different.

Update:
Just a quick screeny of an almost complete fort map.

Looks like a good idea for stuff where is hard to find a decent map, like BnG... ;)

ok, as promised I've uploaded an Alpha version so you can see how its going so far. Its a big download for what it does, so appologies there. Any constructive feed back much appreciated!!!!

mapGEN 0.1.3 (http://lucidweb.org/download/mapgen.exe)

Not much to say about this, except maybe "I tried it, and it seems to work here." You know, on linux.

Not bad, seems to work fine. After a few generating you quickly figure out what makes the maps, like how the ropers seem to be made of gear-shaped terrain pieces.
Some minor things:
- When you hit Reset All, both Manual and Random buttons are pressed.
- You might wanna make the program auto-detect the Game Path, or at least add some sort of Browse button for the user to choose it.
- Some sort of "Generating..." while a map is being generated would be nice, so users know it's actually doing something when you hit the button. :p

"I tried it, and it seems to work here." You know, on linux.
I assume your using wine/cedega?

After a few generating you quickly figure out what makes the maps

Yes, I only just started roper so not only are they unplayable but rather obdvious :D That will change!


- When you hit Reset All, both Manual and Random buttons are pressed.
Ha! I'll get on that right away ;)

- You might wanna make the program auto-detect the Game Path, or at least add some sort of Browse button for the user to choose it.
It is planned, but at the moment it doesnt actually need the game path. It will if I ever cover BIT maps.

Some sort of "Generating..." while a map is being generated would be nice, so users know it's actually doing something when you hit the button.
Hmmmm, ok, will have a look into it :D Out of interest how long does it take to generate on your machine? Fort is the longest taking a 0.25 ish seconds here, the others are pretty much instant.

Thanks for the comments so far!

Have fixed the look of the matrix BnA logo thingy,

Added a Generating graphic in the preview box during loading.

Made automatic radio button deselect correctly on reseting.

After a few generating you quickly figure out what makes the maps
That's been true of every Worms game to date. There's probably no way around it. And nor does it really matter, if they play well enough.

A nice feature would be a batch mode, so you could maybe run it with some command line parameters like:

mapgen.exe -bow -random -space -5

And it would generate 5 maps, called batch1.png to batch5.png or something, and you could have it run on startup or in a batch file with W:A, or even launch W:A when it had finished, so you'd always have fresh maps to play on. I realise that's often much more ludicrously difficult than it has any right to be, in these managed development environments like I would assume you used.

Well, I think it would be a nice feature. I can't get W:A to run, so I don't care at all.

Hmmmm, ok, will have a look into it :D Out of interest how long does it take to generate on your machine? Fort is the longest taking a 0.25 ish seconds here, the others are pretty much instant.

Thanks for the comments so far!Fort takes 1.0-1.5 seconds, others take 0.5-1.0 seconds.

Fort takes 1.0-1.5 seconds, others take 0.5-1.0 seconds.

ouch, have to see if i can optimise that a bit....

A nice feature would be a batch mode, so you could maybe run it with some command line parameters

Yeah i was thinking along those lines, not worked out a good way of doing it, maybe get DC to help ;)... if we can find him...

I assume your using wine/cedega?

Wine. I don't have cedega.

Updated first post with latest version.

Shows 'Generating...' while, well, generating.Where? I don't see it.

bugger.... ok heres a rar with the two missing images, shove them in the images folder:

http://lucidweb.org/download/images.rar

have fixed the installer also.