In Paint Shop pro, I created the images using 32x32 tiles. The world map is a 6080x2880 image with about 2 dozen layers. To bring it into Gamestudio, I have a PSP script that automatically divides the world map into a bunch of 320x320 images (10 tiles x 10 tiles).

Inside the game, the 320x320 images are created and placed as sprite entities with ent_create. I just have a couple of nested for-loops that line everything up seamlessly.

The town images are simply panels, since I don't need to worry about passable/impassable locations there.

It's coming out great Zelek! Looks well made. I'm curious for your progresses .

You might consider using 256x256 or 512x512 when using sprites/models. The engine makes 512x512 out of 320x320 due to faster rendering. So you waste a lot of video memory.

Yeah, I wondered if that might be the case. I thought having each square be 10 tiles by 10 tiles might be more intuitive while designing things, but it turned out that it didn't really matter.

Once the world map gets bigger and it becomes necessary, I'll just implement something that purges the distant sprites. I'll probably only need around 12-16 loaded at any given time, so it should be pretty efficient even with a gigantic map (hopefully).

I've found one fellow to help me out with testing the game, but I would really appreciate one or two more if anyone would be kind enough to spend 15-20 minutes once or twice a week to try things out. Getting 3-4 people on at once will help uncover bugs that might get overlooked when I test on my own.

Please just send me a PM if you'd be willing to do this. Thanks!

I'd be happy to help test. Just send me a pm and let me know when. I'm on EST time and avaiable early in day until 1:00 and late at night. Currently on vacation so within the next 7 days I'm good whenever.

Quick update - this project is still alive and well, but unfortunately I had to convert things over to XNA for better threading support. Since it's no longer a Gamestudio project, I posted some new screenshots over in Morbius if anyone is interested:

http://www.opserver.de/ubb7/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=260561#Post260561 (Screenshots, etc)

This is gonna be a good one to follow. I look forward to your game, and will definitley play it when available.

Will there be pirates who rob the ships?

Great idea!!