An Independent News Post Owned By The Foundry Members
BLOGSPOT EDITION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
CONTRIBUTORS
Coleman as the Editor & Chief and People Like You.
FORWARD
Going to be seeing some new items this week. I'll be adding a few more maps I've noticed and had time to study in all the sections. There is a new portion titled "Movement" between Map Ideas and Map Foundry where, well, I tell you what moved from map ideas to map foundry in the past week. Should be pretty straight forward. I may even date them. That should be fun? Right? RIGHT!?
What else? There are some messages from Andy and new staff, which cairnswk and I are now a part of as replacements for Keyogi who has real life commitments he must fulfill. That's up in announcements in the following topic: (clicky).
As always, it is better to go to the topics themselves to get the most information. Everything contained inside these news posts are simply brief glances at the maps and can quickly grow out of date. There are links everywhere for your convenience if you want to find out more about a map or topic. Oh, I've also started sorting from oldest to youngest. This should help maps that have been in development for a long time get more attention as well as giving the news a bit more structure.
One thing to always keep in mind: If any part of this is incorrect and edited the edit will not replace the information, it will instead be added in this text.
We also have two other editions if the form doesn't quite suit your fancy.
http://www.xanga.com/FoundryNews & http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=690594
MAP IDEAS
Ragnarök - Clicky
Start Date: June 27, 2007
Creator: Telvannia
Status: Early Draft
Ranarök is a map designed to simulate a huge battle between the inhabitants of Norse mythology. A working map hasn't surfaced yet but we have a clear look at the general layout available. (Click For Image) This map recently resurfaced from the foundry furnace due to community interest. The Migogaror region is currently being worked on (Click For Image) and should be finished eventually. The current creator has real life commitments slowing development.
WWII Europe - Clicky
Start Date: August 15, 2007
Creator: qwert
Status: On Hold
WWII Europe is an effort by qwert to merge the Eastern Front map with his still unfinished Western Front map into a single map. (Click For Image) It has been confirmed that at current this map is halted until the foundry can decide how to officially handle oversized maps.
State of Map Ideas
The new moderation team is committed to cleaning this place up. Finding real map idea topics amidst the sea of suggestions is difficult. Many seem to be abandoned before they really begin.
MOVEMENT
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Puget Sound
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Canada REVAMP!
Pixel World
MAP FOUNDRY
SUPERMAX: Prison Riot! - Clicky
Start Date: June 6, 2007
Creators: mibi & Coleman
Status: Vacation
SUPERMAX: Prison Riot! is about a riot in a Supermax. Supermax is a very real and frequently used term for a type of prison as much as it is for a section of a larger one. This map is now in vacation status until the creators are comfortable with picking it up again.
South America - Clicky
Start Date:June 17, 2007
Creators: edbeard & Marvaddin
Status: Polishing
Finally a map of South America. This region is very neglected on the site for geographic maps so it is nice having one in development. This map looks near Final Forge, with a few withstanding graphical and gameplay discussion points.
WWII Western Front - Clicky
Start Date: July 19, 2007
Creator: qwert
Status: Graphics Tweaks
This is similar to WWII Eastern Front, a released map. This instead focuses on the Western Front, or more on the Allies vs Germany conflict instead of the Germany vs Russia conflict. qwert has returned from his vacation status this previous week and has begun updating the map again; mostly the graphics.
Pixel World - Clicky
Start Date: July 25, 2007
Creator: BelJoDude
Status: Gameplay Discussion
Pixel World is just what it sounds like, sort of. The idea is to fit as many territories as possible onto a map with the current size constraints imposed by the foundry policy while maintaining decent gameplay. The current, and possibly only, workable solution is starting with a lot of neutral territories, which may be largely unpopular. Otherwise players may start with 40 armies, a very obvious imbalance for who goes first vs who goes last.
Berlin 1962 - Clicky
Start Date: August 4, 2007
Creator: oaktown
Status: Bombardment Revision
This map is about the city of Berlin during the Cold War in 1962. For those who don't know the Cold War was a conflict between the United States and Russia that lasted for years with small skirmishes throughout the entire world. Berlin was one of these locations. The Capital of Germany. The start time for this is slightly inaccurate as this map was initially presented as the city of Berlin from a different point of view. Currently the idea of the Russian sector bombardment is being reworked. Community input has been requested.
The Thai-Burma POW Railway - Clicky
aka: Bamboo Jack
Start Date: August 4, 2007
Creator: cairnswk
Status: Awaiting Updates
Cairnswk had a bad start with this one, creating controversy over playing on dead bodies in the Bridge On The River Kwai. After initial non-interest, the map was re-designed to be based on the Thai-Burma Railway and adjoining territories and four POW camp that can be attacked from the rail line and territories. Standard gameplay, no gimmicks, but lots of territories, with graphics featuring a definite Thai flavour and colours. This map has passed its popularity vote and is now awaiting updates from cairnswk.
The Puget Sound - Clicky
Start Date: August 13, 2007
Creator: Tisha
Status: Polishing
The Puget Sound is a map of a body of water (part of the ocean actually) in Washington. This map mostly focuses on the land around the Puget Sound. Wicked recently moved this to the map foundry which was apparently quite upsetting for a few foundry members. This argument was short lived and development on the map has started up again.
Canada REVAMP! - Clicky
Start Date: August 27, 2007
Creator: WidowMakers
Status: Polishing
The revamp competition for Canada in the map ideas forum is complete. Congratulations to WidowMakers who won with map submission F. A full list of all participants and which map(s) they authored can be found in the first post of the topic. Be sure to stop by and check out the progress and give WidowMakers suggestions on areas to improve. Thanks to everyone who participated!
RAIL EUROPE - Clicky
Start Date: September 1, 2007
Creator: cairnswk
Status: Awaiting rail colours.
This is the second in the series of rail maps planned which started with RAIL USA. Gameplay is slightly different from RAIL USA with a "rail line impassable" at some stations. Close to 99 European-flavoured stations on board covering 17 Service lines. This map is still in graphics stage, and is awaiting rail colours being added as the most significant lacking graphical component.
Map Foundry Debates
Currently the Foundry Process is in a state of flux as a community of foundry regulars is fighting the current processes and standards heavily. The main issues are map size and development time. These are too intricate to adequately cover in a news post but links are provided below. A resolute ending to either conflict is unlikely in the near future.
Foundry Process Debate
Size Requirements Debate
Other Topics of Interest
- Sydney 2000 (Clicky) has been Abandoned.
- The XML checker is being redone by yeti_c and lackattack so it should understand the new XML in the near future.
Quick Overview
Final Forge Maps: 11
Recently Quenched
Doodle Earth - Clicky
Start Date: March 30, 2007
Quench Date: August 28, 2007
Creators: Evil DIMwit
Status: Playable
WWII Pearl Harbor - Clicky
Start Date: May 14, 2007
Quench Date: September 8, 2007
Creator: cairnswk
Status: Playable
RAIL USA - Clicky
Start Date: July 7, 2007
Quench Date: September 8, 2007
Creator: cairnswk & WidowMakers
Status: Playable
Indochina REVAMP - Clicky
Start Date: July 24, 2007
Quench Date: September 8, 2007
Creator: Freakshow
Revamp: WidowMakers
Status: Playable
Last Quench Date Before August 28, 2007 was August 6, 2007.
France! - Clicky
Start Date: May 14, 2006
Creator: reverend_kyle
Status: Territory Names Being Redone
A map of France, guess they got jealous of Germany. It is mostly Americanized, much like the actual country, but that is a different issue. Currently the names for some of the territories are being redone. Other then that it seems to be finished. Nothing New
MALTA Map - Clicky
Start Date: December 6, 2006
Creators: Ruben Cassar & Yeti_C.
Status: Needs Yeti_C's signature.
Map of Malta. If you are starting to notice a trend a lot of December maps of countries were started and are just now nearing completion. The moderators' words on the status of this are vacation, but it needs Yeti_C's signature, as he is the xml artist. So it is not finished regardless. Nothing New
Italy - Clicky
Start Date: December 12, 2006
Creator: RjBeals
Status: Waiting for Update
A map of Italy. Shocking! RjBeals said on September 4th that he'd update this soon with the Vatican somehow. Nothing New
The Netherlands - Clicky
Start Date: December 29, 2006
Creator: Lone.prophet
Status: Graphic Work
The production time for this map of the Netherlands is a bit off base as the whole graphics portion was redone recently. The graphics are still undergoing work. Nothing New
Greater China - Clicky
Start Date: January 14, 2007
Creator: Wisse
Status: Waiting for Wisse Update
Map of China, possibly not set in the present. Otherwise it is mostly true to native names. This map is currently undergoing some slight work as Wisse desires another update.
WWII OPERATION IWO JIMA - Clicky
Start Date: February 24, 2007
Creator: qwert
Status: Needs Graphics Update?
A map of the plans for Iwo Jima as seen by the allied forces. Currently the map is being held up by comments about the lines being 1 pixel thick and not blending with the map? Or something? Not everyone can see this error? It's hard not to be confused.
PORTUGAL - Clicky
Start Date: April 8, 2007
Creator: gimil
Status: Needs Graphics Update
A map of Portugal, the country. It does a decent job of staying true to the indigenous names of areas. Currently the map is being held up by comments about the circles and names touching. Nothing New
D-Day: Omaha Beach! - Clicky
Start Date: April 25, 2007
Creators: mibi & Coleman
Status: Waiting for Poll Results
This map has been as much of a battle field as its namesake. This map plays out a small section of the beach at Normandy during the D-Day Invasion. A poll has just been set up asking about the German territory colours. Please vote. You can find the decision here first after a week of voting.
South Africa Map - Clicky
Start Date: March 16, 2007
Creator: Crowley
Status:Waiting for Creator Update
Map of South Africa. This map is so great it entered Final Forge in August and nobody had anything bad to say about it since. Unfortunately, Crowley has expressed an interest in providing a final update so we have to wait for that.
Battle of Actium - Clicky
Start Date: June 2, 2007
Creator: cairnswk
Status:Waiting for Quench!
This is about the Battle of Actium. That's where Octavius and Antony fought in the water over Cleoptra's son being allowed to inherit Rome or some nonsense. It's Julius Ceaser's fault. Thankfully, most current female political leaders are hideous. Moving on, this map is ready for playing and is waiting for quench.
The Solar System - Clicky
Start Date: June 14, 2007
Creator: maxdetjens
Status: Adjusting Brightness
This is a map of the Solar System. Sort of. It borrows some science fiction ideas, so it is a potential future map of it. maxdetjens went missing during part of the development process due to real life getting in the way. He is now back and updating full time. The map is currently having brightness adjusted.
WRAP UP
Hope you liked this edition of Foundry News. If you didn't send me a PM or reply to this topic and I'll see what I can do. If you did like it, do that too. (Warning, any pms sent to Coleman are considered foundry property and can be publicized in Foundry News without the sender's consent unless they are specifically related to Cartography Assistance, in which case, standard privacy rules apply.)
