From: Campbell Allan <allanca AT dcs DOT gla DOT ac DOT uk>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: Tile-based map question...... for use with Allegro
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 09:13:11 +0000
Organization: University of Glasgow
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o_marciano AT ibm DOT net wrote:

> Im am trying to create a tile based game. I am planning on using a
> 640x480 resolution with a 1024x1024 virutual screen. I will scroll
> using the mouse. Even with the 1024x1024 virtual screen, that really
> doesnt give that much room to scroll around.
> 
> Recall games such as Civ2, Warcraft, CC. This games have maps that
> are more than 3-4 times the size of the physical screen (whatever the
> resolution may be). Is there some other scrolling/virtual screen
> technique that they are using to accomplish this. Or is it possible
> that they are using a resolution lower 640x480 (it doesnt seem that
> this is the case because everything looks to clear to be using a
> resolution such as 320x200)

I remember a technique from when large virtual screens were just not
possible. The technique was to create a set of tiles, which would
represent different structures and then create your level map using
references for these tiles. To display a portion of the level you had to
build up the screen from the tiles, and substitute in tiles when you
scroll so a virtual screen of only just bigger than the real screen was
required here.

This kind of method was used on the (good old ???) c64 to make up for
lack of memory, I'm not sure if there is a limit with making huge
virtual screens, anyone?

Campbell