What do you prefer when playing a new map?

[Barkydog]

Hi everyone,

I hope this doesn't sound like a stupid question but as I'm working on that new map I posted about I wanted to ask you something to try and make it as good for you all as possible.

Now when I first started off building the map I placed some of my metro lines and stations first and build up the communities and towns around them as I've found if I build the city first then more likely I'm going to have to put my metro system underground as I won't have room to have ground level metro. So my method may sound weird but I find it easier to build the ground level metro stations and tracks first then add in the roads and building as the good thing is Bus stops and tram lines etc are always easier to add into the map later on as there is always room for them and of course I can add in underground metro lines and tunnels later on too.

So my questions are really:

Do you want my map to be totally free of all transport systems, stations/tracks etc so you can add your own? Or would you like one of my map releases to have some of the stops in place? For example I could take out the bus stops and just leave the main interchange points in place for you guys to add to or alter as you wish?

I will take out the metro system in the city centre island so you can add your own way of running it. Do you want the surface and elevated metro lines removed too?

I hope my questions make some sort of sense as I'm trying to make the map as good as it can be for you guys.


I'm not sure when I will be working on it again as I'm taking a break from the map at the moment and having a go on the Tokyo Expansion pack so at some point I will go back to the map and do more work on it again after the new year.

Best wishes
Barkydog

 

[unmerged(206565)]

Personally, I'd prefer for a map not to have any (public) transport systems in place. I wouldn't mind having a ready-made "gap" into which to build a ground-level metro if I wish, but I would still want to build it myself.

 

[Synthtronic]

Me too

 

[slornie]

The problem I have with pre-existing networks, and this goes for the campaign levels too, is that often I find that I spend the first 10 minutes on pause completely erasing it because I don't like the layout/positioning. I mean, sometimes what someone else has built can be logical, but everyone designs their transit system in their own way.

 

[douglasrac]

I agree with slornie. That is the whole point of the game: plan a network. If you already do that will be too easy or not rewarding as it would be without it.

I think the biggest concern for us, map makers, should be the traffic. You can create without intention traffic jams that will never be solved. And that will ruin the map, since you will make an area that will never be well served. I have in my map Valleybridge, southwest, an area that doesn't matter what you do it always have a huge demand and the roads to access it its just not enough. As I planned my city, to modify would take a lot of time. Thus it's always good to test and to not let that happen.

And for the fact that the player might not be able to build a metro in that perfect location because there is no space, that is part of the challenge. There are always space, even in a very dense city like Tokyo or Berlin. As a last resort the player can always demolish buildings.

 

[Vercingetorix35]

I think traffic jams make the challenge even harder, because you have to find a workaround to it, off-roads trams, metros if that will be useful, waterbuses if there's water near the area...

 

[unmerged(328188)]

I like to play on maps with no components of public transport installed earlier in editor. I always started on 1920 so map must have Mod CityGrown. Its very importantfor me because I have increased the prices of all elements public transport at my version game so the game is definitely the more interesting. I like big and hard maps like Berlin or Tokyo. Valleybridge is also interesting to grow by what the game is addictive on this map.

 

[finaldest]

If you intend to build a city with existing transport then the best approach would be to offer a download with a choice of either the map with or without transport.

I would actually prefer the above ground rail/metro to remain and leave out any other transports such as bus, tram. Players may pick up some good layout ideas by looking at pre-built networks.

This will then give players the option of both as new players may wish to see a map with existing network in place to help learn the basics.

 

[Barkydog]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I'm so late in my reply. Thanks for your thoughts on what you prefer when playing new maps. On my map I've done a new save and on this one I've removed the transport systems I had in place it must have taken me a good few hours last night as I had forgotten the number of bus stops I needed to remove.

I still need to remove some tram tracks and do some more work on the map but it should look good to try and share the map at some point when it's ready.

Maybe I can try and offer the map for download with the transport systems in place using my other save at some point too.

Thanks again for your help on this one guys.

Best wishes

Barkydog