The zMapper ProjectThe zMapper ProjectzMapper is a new product for customizing the maps used in both zMUD and AC Explorer. Using a consistent database format, this will provide zMUD users much greater power and flexibility in generating maps for MUDs and other games.
While zMapper will integrate with zMUD as a plugin, it will also function as a standalone map creation and editing program. Another product, called zExplorer, will act as a standalone map viewer and explorer for customers that do not have zMUD.
Click here to see screenshots and tutorials of zMapper.
A new database format is being used to store the map information. In the past, zMUD maps have been stored as separate "zone" files (*.MAP files) along with a Master Map (*.ZZZ file) which contained the information used to link zones together.
While this format made is easy to exchange zones between users, it was cumbersome and introduced several problems related to zone boundaries. Also, files were in streamed-binary format, which was susceptible to file corruption, and the proprietary format made it difficult to develop 3rd party tools, or to add new features to the map.
The new map format is stored in a MS Access 2000 (Jet 4.0) database, and uses MDAC/ADO for database access. All data for a map is stored in a single database file. This allows maps to be moved between computers more easily since there are not multiple zone files to copy.
Extensive import and export features will be available to create secondary map files. These secondary files could be used to export a "zone" and then import the zone into a different map database. However, the concept of "zones" is much more general than before.
In the new database, each "location" (room) has an assigned zone number. You can choose the display only a single zone, or you can choose to show all rooms, regardless of zone. In this way, the zone field can be used to filter the database as needed.
In addition to the zone, each location can also have a "parent" map. This allows a hierarchical map to be created. For example, you might have an overland map, with each town or dungeon pointing to a more detailed map of that town or dungeon. This hierarchy can contain loops and doesn't have any predefined organization. For example, a location in the town might point back to the overland map, or to a new overland map, or to a new town map, etc.
Because of this hierarchical structure, a single map database can actually contain multiple "maps". Think of a "map" as simply a particular view of the database. When you import an old zMUD master map, you will have a choice as to whether to just tag each room with a zone number, or to put each zone into a new "map". You'll make this choice based upon how structured your previous zones were. If your previous zones cleanly represented different towns, dungeons, and areas, then converting zones into map views will maintain your data structure. However, if your previous zones overlapped or were not well organized, simply importing all of the zones into a single map view might be more advantageous. In either case, it will be easy to change the zone numbers for locations, or to create additional views of the map as desired.
In previous zMUD maps, each location (room) could only be a simple square shape. One of the biggest changes with the new map structure is to allow rooms to have any shape. For example, your room might be a simple rectangle, or a simple bitmap icon, or a complex cave shape, or a temple with a central altar and benches, or anything else you can imagine.
A major module in zMapper is the Shape Editor. This editor allows you to combine graphical objects such as lines, rectangles, polygons, circles, text, bitmaps, etc into a single "symbol" used for the room. A single symbol can be used for multiple rooms (stored once in the database), or each room can have its own unique shape.
The Shape Editor will be similar to drawing tools used in other programs like Corel Draw or Microsoft Office. The Shape Editor will be both copy and paste compatible with Windows Enhanced Metafiles. So, for example, you could draw a shape in another program such as Corel Draw, and then simply copy and paste it into zMapper. Or you can copy a shape from zMapper and use it as clipart in a program such as Microsoft Office.
Shapes will be scaleable and zoomable. For example, you might define a complex shape or internal structure of a room that is only visible when you zoom in on that part of the map.
The map can also contain bitmap images. You can assign a bitmap image to a location (room), or to the "shape" of the room. Using the shape editor, you can actually assign multiple bitmaps to a room. Large bitmaps can also be added to the map as background images. As an example, see the map for Asheron's Call used by AC Explorer: a large background bitmap (2048x2048 pixels) is overlaid with various locations (rooms), each of which has a bitmap icon assigned to it.
zMapper will allow you to create maps like this for use in zMUD. Each map "view" can have it's own bitmap, and rooms in that view can either be complex shapes, or bitmaps (or both). You can then zoom and pan this map.
A bitmap editor is included in zMapper for designing simple bitmap icons. A future version will also allow you to design the larger background bitmaps and will have tools for designing 3D landscapes, such as the map used for Asheron's Call. In the first version of zMapper, background images are copied from the clipboard or imported from other graphical tools such as Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop.
The concept of an "exit" is greatly enhanced in zMapper. In older zMUD maps, each room could be linked to another room via a "exit link". By default, these exits were assigned to the cardinal directions, such as north, south, east, west, etc. Non-standard room exits were possible, but were a bit difficult to use.
In the new database format, an exit is simply a link between one location (room) and another. There is no predefined "direction" assigned to the exit. This assignment can be made in order to use features like speedwalking, but a direction assignment is not required.
Each exit link has a start location, end location, keyword (like the direction or portal name), and a shape assigned to it. Instead of simple lines or polylines, exits can have the same complex shapes that rooms have. For example, an exit link might be a winding corridor through a cave. Properties for doors with custom names, one-way lines, etc will all be handled.
In the simplest sense, zMapper is the map creator/editor, and zMUD is the map viewer. zMUD will be able to display any map created by zMapper. The existing features of zMUD such as speedwalking, slow walking, map scripts, etc will also be maintained. There will be no loss of functionality for zMUD users. zMUD users will still be able to add simple rooms (squares) and simple exits. The configuration wizard will still allow you to configure zMUD so that the map is created as you play the MUD.
zMapper will be used to customize the zMUD map, adding more complex room shapes, bitmaps, backgrounds, and complex links. zMapper will also contain the tools needed to import and export maps. A future version of zMapper will have the capability to share maps over the Internet, or allow MUD admins to "publish" maps of their MUDs (for example, they might publish the maps for the newbie areas of the MUD).
In this way, zMUD and zMapper work well in combination. MUD players who are happy with the current map features can continue to use zMUD without zMapper. Players who want to further customize their map can use zMapper to create or improve a map, and then export it for use by someone else that only has zMUD.
zMapper itself is a graphical editor, combining features of programs such as Corel Draw and Photoshop into a single tool aimed at map creation and design. While zMapper maps can be used in zMUD, zMapper can also be used as a standalone graphical editor/designer. Given it's low price, customers might use zMapper as simply a small and inexpensive graphical editor, rather than using a large and expensive program like Corel Draw.
zMapper is a standalone product and will have a final price of $25. Early beta versions may be less expensive, and a $10 pre-order version can be ordered before the first beta is available. As always, future upgrades to zMapper will be free. Also, a full 30-day refund is available once the product ships.
The zExplorer tool, planned for release after the initial zMapper release, will actually be a major upgrade to the existing AC Explorer product. Users of AC Explorer will get zExplorer as a free upgrade. Since zMUD already allows map viewing, there is no need for zMUD users to purchase zExplorer, unless they want to use it's features to play other games such as Asheron's Call.
As usual, upgrades to zMUD that incorporate the zMapper technology will be free. Note that old versions of zMUD will not be able to use the new maps...using the new map database will require an upgrade to zMUD.
zMapper will use an improved version of eLicense. This version of eLicense will also be used in upgrades to zMUD and AC Explorer. The new version of eLicense will not be susceptible to the proxy/firewall problems that the current version has with some users.
Specific dates are subject to change since Zugg Software only releases software when it's deemed ready, and not to meet any artificial target date.
The first product incorporating the zMapper technology will be the new upgrade of zMUD. The new version of zMUD will retain all existing mapper functions, but will use the new database format from zMapper. This beta version of zMUD is expected in May, 2002.
After zMUD is updated, the first beta version of zMapper will be released. This initial beta will have the Shape Editor, Bitmap editor, and tools needed to enhance zMUD maps, AC Explorer maps, or create new maps from scratch. This first beta is expected in June, 2002. Registration codes obtained via the pre-order process will automatically work with this and all future versions of zMapper. The pre-order price of $10 will be available until the first beta is released. After the beta is released, the price will increase to $20 for new users.
After zMapper is released, the new version of AC Explorer, called zExplorer, will be released. This will be a free upgrade for existing AC Explorer users and will use the new database format from zMapper. This beta version of zExplorer is expected in July, 2002.
After all three products have incorporated the zMapper database technology, regular monthly updates are planned to all products to add new features and fix bugs. All products should be out of beta status and available as "public" versions by the end of the summer, 2002.
For more details on zMapper, stay tuned to the www.zuggsoft.com web site.
If you have comments or suggestions, post them to the new zMapper Forum. This is your chance to influence the design of this new product.