[TUTORIAL] Official Map Making Thread!

Object list:

Before we start, this tutorial is made for people who have knowledge of the map-editor of MTA SA.

Spend time to make both track and deco, it's better to spend 2 more weeks on it than rush it.

So, how do you make a decent map?

I'm going to divide this tutorial into 2 sections:

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1: The Track
2: The Decoration
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The Track:

Nowadays people "need" the toolbox to map, so it's advised to download it first, and watch a tutorial about it.

First of all, it's important to ALWAYS let the driver know where the track is going. I see alot of new mappers who make their track so weird that you have no idea where to go.

Now, let me make a list to make a great track:

1. Make smooth landings, (if you're to lazy to make them, here's a tool)it's always annoying if you land real hard since you often bounce off.
   
2. Try not to make endless (350+ pieces) Loops/Wallrides with Bauss' Toolbox, those are boring to drive. (imo)
   
3. If you make a ramp, always cover it with a shade, (Preferably with another colour). Here's an Example.
   
4. Create some diversity in the track, don't make 3 loops in a row. Make as many diversity as possible. (Wallride/Ramps/0.50 loops etc.. etc..)
   
5. Find some new objects to use as a track! Alot of people only use shades/roads. Try to use buildings as well, alot of them are driveable and look nice as well.
   
6. Use the track in such a way which nobody has done before, that might take time, but it's worth the effort.
   
7. If you make a ramp of only 1 type of shade, try to create a pattern in the ramp. (1 grey/4 brown or 2 grey/5 brown etc...)
   
8. Build the track lower or the same height as the deco is, if you do so, you can see alot more from the deco.

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The Decoration:

Use the toolbox as less as possible for the decoration. If you copy Rocks/Trees etc.. with it it will look generated which shows you didn't put much effort in it.

1. If you're making your first map, it's not a problem to use basic objects like Rocks/Trees/Buildings etc.. but it's always better to try something different.
2. If you're gonna make a tropical-style map (Time-5:30-6:00), pick objects that fit in a tropical map. (Brown Rocks/Palms/Hipoly/Brown-coloured buildings) So don't use snow trees etc..
3. If you're gonna make a night-style map (Time-0:00-4:00), pick objects that fit in a night style map. It's adviced to use dark objects and put a light object on that, because in a night map you see lights alot better, and they look better as well.
4. Combine objects in such a way that they look cool together, do NOT just pick objects you saw on other maps and put them together with rocks and trees.
5. A diversity of colours is always adviced. For example: a white rock combined with object-"hipoly" looks great if you put a "healthcity" behind it.
6. A thing that I use alot is to make the deco look "real-ish". For example: A bridge can't fly, so make some pillars to "support" it. Buildings can't fly as well, support them with rocks so they look like they're standing on something.

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Some usefull (imo) tropical objects.

-8902 -Bally building (Pink building)-- Attachment 525
-16113 -Brown rocks
-726...735 -Hipoly trees -------------Attachment 526
-8397 -Luxpillar (Big yellow pillar) ----Attachment 527
-3276 -Wooden Fence---------------Attachment 530

Some more buildings I like in a tropical map:
10398, 4193, 4569, 4573, 4576, 4681, 6966, 10056, 10143

Some buildings in a nighttime map:

LibrTow1_Lan || 4550
ballypllr01_lvs || 3437
ballys01_lvs || 8393
exclbrsign01_lvs || 8620
ggbrig_06_sfw || 9690
mall01_01_sfs || 10974
flamingo02_lvs || 8488
vgn_corpbuild3 || 6873
vgsn_pipeworks01 || 7347

Also i'm sure I've forgotten something, any feedback is welcome!
(Oh ye, i'm posting this in general discussion because very few look in the Tutorial section.)

I hope this was usefull in a way.

-Vortex

So basically you're saying it's more important to put effort in the deco than the track? Way to go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flake

So basically you're saying it's more important to put effort in the deco than the track? Way to go.

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I said that they shouldn't rush the deco. I didn't say they should rush the track instead..

But I edited it to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.

It's just what I experience as the biggest problem in nowadays maps, they rush their track with toolbox and spent rest of the time making some useless deco. Instead, the time spent on deco should be the time spent on making the track perfect and deco is just something to make the map look nicer overall, shouldn't be the other way around.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flake

It's just what I experience as the biggest problem in nowadays maps, they rush their track with toolbox and spent rest of the time making some useless deco. Instead, the time spent on deco should be the time spent on making the track perfect and deco is just something to make the map look nicer overall, shouldn't be the other way around.

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That wasn't my intention at all.. I just forgot to mention it by the track.

Good tutorial, I liked the way you explained.

Those 'blind maps' where you can't see the road started to be annoying also - hope people will care about it.

Vortex, that's a lovely guide! Thank you very much.

Wrong section.
I prefer to stick it on the 'Mapping' subforum.

Someone was bored on their Coffee-duty today ;p

Added some tropical objects, will add more later.

very phew? i think you mean few :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flake

So basically you're saying it's more important to put effort in the deco than the track? Way to go.

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Go and cry somewhere else. When you will learn to make a PRO map( Epic track ) come and teach us what we have to do.

Let's keep this on-topic please.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BaTTaNiiK

Wrong section.
I prefer to stick it on the 'Mapping' subforum.

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I prefer to stick it at the section Vortex chose.

You became such a smartass batanik :)

http://blackgemrecords.com/gallery/d...5/smartass.jpg

well , i already made such a thread, but since this is made by the professional it is obviously more reliable

ps: http://static.minecraftforum.net/pub...ult/mobpig.png

could be nice if you added some pics under each object number, i can help if you like

Attachment 525
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Attachment 526
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Attachment 527
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Attachment 528
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Attachment 529
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Attachment 530
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Attachment 531
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Attachment 532
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Attachment 533
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Attachment 534
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Attachment 535
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Attachment 536
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Attachment 537

how to make this? like on gus' and andys maps

http://i.imgur.com/agqTK.png

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stranger

how to make this? like on gus' and andys maps

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You have to turn 1 shade a bit to the side, and then duplicate that x10 for example. And then hand place them correctly.

Just play with the duplicate thing to get the result you want.

ok thanks

What about Some usefull night objects ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BaSzTy!

What about Some usefull night objects ?

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Will do that sometime, i'm really lazy..., if any1 want to help me with that. That'd be great, you can send me a PM if you want.

Thanks for this usefull guide vortex , nice tips. :)

nice guide Vortex , But Mta sa editor keep FUCKIN BREAKING DOWN.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vortex

Make smooth landings, (if you're to lazy to make them, here's a tool)it's always annoying if you land real hard since you often bounce off.

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Link does not work.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vortex

Will do that sometime, i'm really lazy..., if any1 want to help me with that. That'd be great, you can send me a PM if you want.

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ill DO IT!, well maybe..