Cities By The Bay (Draft)

[Freyja]

Inspired by the San Francisco map, I just had to do this. (Because I was left just baaaaarely off the map)

Click image to enlarge.

ideas:

killer neutrals for county seats to make them harder to take
county seats start neutral

I want to get some feedback and suggestions before I continue...

Thanks!

[oaktown]

To begin with, if you live in the bay area but you're off the area of the old map, I feel sorry for you.

But seriously, if you're going to make another San Francisco bar area map, you should go an entirely different direction with the graphics. The last thing we need is two maps of the same area that look identical.

[Bones2484]

While I can understand you wanting your city to be on a map, is it necessary to have another map that is so close to the San Francisco map? I realize you are including more cities, but none of them (that aren't included on San Fran map) are cities that anyone outside of those that live there care/know about.

[ZeakCytho]

Who cares what the city is? If the gameplay and graphics are solid, I'll play it.

[Freyja]

To begin with, if you live in the bay area but you're off the area of the old map, I feel sorry for you.

But seriously, if you're going to make another San Francisco bar area map, you should go an entirely different direction with the graphics. The last thing we need is two maps of the same area that look identical.

No offense, but that really wasn't very helpful. What direction should I go in? What should I change? What do you want me to make look different?

[ZeakCytho]

To begin with, if you live in the bay area but you're off the area of the old map, I feel sorry for you.

But seriously, if you're going to make another San Francisco bar area map, you should go an entirely different direction with the graphics. The last thing we need is two maps of the same area that look identical.

No offense, but that really wasn't very helpful. What direction should I go in? What should I change? What do you want me to make look different?

I think what he's saying is that both the current SF map and this one use a satellite image as a background with some color layers on top. Try making this one NOT like that. The style is really up to you, but try using a different one than the style being used for the SF map, since the regions are so similar.

[oaktown]

I think what he's saying is that both the current SF map and this one use a satellite image as a background with some color layers on top. Try making this one NOT like that. The style is really up to you, but try using a different one than the style being used for the SF map, since the regions are so similar.

Precisely my point. If looks as if somebody took the old bay area map and just made the area bigger - visually it's a knock-off of the old map. There are nearly 100 maps here at CC, and none use the same visual approach taken on johloh's San Francisco map - I suspect it's not a coincidence that your SF Bay map uses a satellite image with color overlays.

If there's going to be a second map done of a geographic region, I would personally prefer it to have an entirely new look AND some new gameplay features. The county seats idea idea is a good example of a new gameplay feature; now this map needs a new look.

And in doing a map of a populated area you need to brace yourself for some discussions around what exactly is a "city by the bay." Johloh went around in circles for weeks trying to work out who to exclude and what to call everything. For starters, Modesto is a good 90 minute drive from the bay (twice that on Friday afternoon), yet Napa is only about 15 miles north of Vallejo and isn't included... personally I'd say anything past the altamont pass is no longer Bay Area. And I image some folks in Aptos might take offense to being considered part of the Bay Area.

[mibi]

alcatraz should be one way only.

[edbeard]

To begin with, if you live in the bay area but you're off the area of the old map, I feel sorry for you.

you know you're jealous of the south bay and silicon valley. To call the other map a 'bay area' map is misleading because it leaves out quite a bit of what people consider the bay area. Which by the way includes everything from about Santa Rosa to Santa Cruz maybe eastwards to Modesto. So, the map does a good job, in my opinion, of at least capturing what the bay area really is.

While I can understand you wanting your city to be on a map, is it necessary to have another map that is so close to the San Francisco map? I realize you are including more cities, but none of them (that aren't included on San Fran map) are cities that anyone outside of those that live there care/know about.

I don't think this matters too much. There's precedent for at least developing two maps of about the same area. As long as graphics and gameplay take a different approach, it doesn't matter too much.




First of all, I'd prefer if the map was just called 'Bay Area'. I don't know anyone that calls it the 'San Francisco Bay Area'. Everyone just says the 'Bay Area'. Sure there are other bays but I don't think that matters. This is the most famous 'Bay Area' (sorry Green and Tampa).

But, nothing about this map has grabbed me. The copied graphical style and lack of direction in gameplay are troubling. You put impassable on the legend but I don't see any on the map and you've just made it int a dotted line so it leads me to believe these will be just taking current continent borders and dotting them where it serves the gameplay. I'd prefer more rhyme and reason about it. Maybe major freeways are the only ways to travel from continent to continent . How will territories be split up? If you're planning on putting all these cities, your small map will be horrid. The airports and military base ideas lack imagination for me. It's almost cliched in terms of foundry maps. And, if you look at all the maps that put airports and military bases, I'll bet about 90% of them are abandoned.


Obviously, you need a new graphical direction. Take the time to think of a new gameplay direction. Think about what's important for the Bay Area. Traffic is horrid. I know Oaktown has a 'LA freeway' map but think about my freeway idea. It's not flushed out but it's better than what you've got, I think.

[whitestazn88]

there are no lines that show the territs... are they linear or are they like actual counties like the other sf map?

and it looks exactly the same in terms of the color scheme. maybe a whole norther cali thing might be better suited

[MrBenn]

This map has been moved into retirement.

It would appear that development of this map has stalled, as there have not been any updates for some time.

If the mapmaker wants to continue with the map, then one of the CAs will be able to help put the thread back into the Foundry system

Mr B