Google 3D Sketchup...(make map idea-layouts extremely fast)

(EB) #1

I thought that I should share this with you guys…especially when considering that this program’s release has been quite silent. Use it to layout map or model ideas as fast as you could draw them in an art program or on paper. (with a bit of practice)

I downloaded, installed and then opened the program, (I even) skipped the directions and made this SUPER-ugly town-like scene inside of 1 minute:

This easy and moderately powered program is the “FREE” tool that several mappers have been waiting for. This is a BETA version.
http://sketchup.google.com/download.html

Save as: “.skp”
Export as several other file types
You can even export 2d images…all as easily as clicking your mouse.

-Cheers

(nUllSkillZ) #2

Nice find.

Only problem I see so far for mappers (haven’t tested it yet) is the terrain.
Seems to be pretty good for regular shapes like cylinders and boxes.

(Popcorn) #3

What hasn’t Google taken over already? Sure you can make cylinders and boxes real easy, but it isn’t exactly hard to draw them either. I’ve tried it before and it works well for simple maps, but when it comes to something complex with lots of curves and non box shapes your going to have to get out your pen and paper. :wink:

(EB) #4

Everyone has their own opinion but it was only released last week, so you must’ve tried sketchup4 or 5.

ALSO:
Complexities are possible…please do not say that they aren’t. (it’s easy to be a nay-sayer)
Here are some developer pictures of what this program can do:

If you’re going to criticize, do us a favor and prove your opinion to us. Thx.

(Ifurita) #5

OMG EB, you’ve gotten really good with this app over the last 30 minutes.

(Popcorn) #6

Ok, My bad they are possible, but for mapping in Enemy Territory it’s just not worth it.

(carnage) #7

in response to some of the terrain comment i have always found it a pretty hard take to draw terrain on paper anyway since when dealing with hills etc and nice clear cut boundaries it all pretty nice but to show thoes smooth inclines and etc can be quite a pain

if this can save some time making a building part of a map or maby just expand on areas of a basic topology to help visulaise more complex areas this is a GOOD thing. im pretty sure the more planning you do the more smoothy any map developemt will go

EDIT// using this tool for 5 minutes and watches the first video tutorial and alread creating buildings with exensiosn curved roofs agnusl roofs etc and very very impresses. One thing im hinking about is how complex can the atuly data be that holds the shapes together it cant be very complex to convert to a .map format and then be able to import the basic block out of our maps FROM THE MAP DESIGNS!!! that idea realy existes me. IT can be a royal pain to get the scale etc right in radeint and this would pretty much slove most porblems

(IneQuation) #8

Unless you can export it and use as a prefab. :nod:

(kamikazee) #9

I mostly draw height lines and make a basic height map and command map out of it. The PC does most of the initial the smoothing then.

(carnage) #10

I mostly draw height lines and make a basic height map and command map out of it. The PC does most of the initial the smoothing then.

all very well for making but not for actuly planning and concept when you are tweeking your idea before laying the first brush and im not all that hot with photoshop so making hightmap cna be quite a drag

this is a lil something i just cooked up to test the software