...I have played the SP series in all of its iterations over lo these many years, and just recently purchased the WinSPMBT version. I did this mainly because of the increased resolutions.
As I have evolved as a gamer and game designer, I marvel that the terrain used in the SP series hasn't kept pace. I'm not disparaging the game more than I am questioning the theory behind not going with a less "gamey" look and embracing softer colors and smoother renderings.
I understand the difficulties that a hex-based game presents with its limitations on the types of terrain available, but I would think that an upgrade to the map engine and editing would have been a priority in the latest version of SPMBT. I have absolutely NO experience in working with the design of hex-based games, as all of my commercial and professional map design experience is with the DTED elevation maps in the ATF series and the basic terrain blocks in TacOps and Decisive Action, so I may just be talking out of my proverbial rectum here.
I would think that there "should" be the ability to create/import .jpg or .bmp files as the color map, overlay that map with the generic hex grid, have the map program "slice" the map, then allow the user to assign the different elevation/terrain/movement/defense data to each hex as needed. I believe this is also the concept behind ADC2, but I'm only guessing.
I hope I'm not stepping on any toes here, but I truly believe SPMBT can be a visually stunning and enjoyable game in addition to its engrossing style of gameplay.
Thoughts? Comments? Vulgar slurs?!
All the best to a great gaming community,
Curt
At the Risk of Starting an Argument...
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