Map previews/overviews in start game menu.

[smiluu]

This was suggested ten centuries ago, but it slowly became a sideblur of history, left alone and forgotten. (AFAIK)
So here we go again, I'm suggesting this again because this would be awesome to have.

This is what this suggestion means and would look like:


Visualization (polyworks):

[Horve]

like a minimap without having to join a server to view. This would be very convenient indeed.

[demoniac93]

What about the maps you don't have DL'ed?

[jrgp]

What about the maps you don't have DL'ed?

Then have the box grayed out or say "N/A" or something similar.

F12!

[MattH]

EFFF 12! great idea!

[smiluu]

For Join Game menu:

What about the maps you don't have DL'ed?

"N/A", "No Image/Overview" or just a blank gray would go as well.

[DarkCrusade]

Great idea. I totally F12 this.

[Furai]

F12. Would be very helpful.

[demoniac93]

OK, I'm all for it, F12.
Make a poll.

[smiluu]

like a minimap without having to join a server to view. This would be very convenient indeed.

Minimaps tend to look bad and small because of those enormous borders people tend to include.
Self taken pictures would give the better view even though they might end up being lolcat/author
signature pictures.

Poll's up.

[freestyler]

So it would need either a separate folder for those images or merging them with actual PMS file. Both would increase Soldat's weight, decrease performance, and - if images would be merged with PMS - rewriting map format a little.

I don't like it too much.

[L[0ne]R]

So it would need either a separate folder for those images or merging them with actual PMS file. Both would increase Soldat's weight, decrease performance, and - if images would be merged with PMS - rewriting map format a little.

I don't like it too much.

Yeah, it would be much better to have previews embedded in map files themselves, but I doubt it'll be done that way. Although.. 1.5.1 does bring some map format changes, so maybe embedded map previews won't be left out either.

As for size - it depends on file format. BMPs are a waste of space. Non-transparent PNGs or JPGs should be just fine size-wise. Not sure if JPGs will cause same problems as they do in-game, but even if they do - we still have PNGs.

Anyway, big fat and sweaty F12 on that.

[tehsnipah]

Holy shit, an amazing idea! Definitely an F12!

[Bonecrusher]

F12, it reminds me of something

[DarkCrusade]

Hell, Bone, that looks awesome. But it´s not going to happen

[Bonecrusher]

i know, its old fake preview of 1.5

[Furai]

Why not? You just have to make 4 maps. Default one, winter, night and blindnes. Add to map names prefixes referring to map styles. In my opinion it's doable.

[Sotija]

This is good idea And must be added.
F12!

[Taehl]

F12, in the name of all that's awesome!

[Crimson Goth]

f12