Re: [glob2-devel] Reverse Compatibility

[Matthew Marshall]

On Mon 02 Apr 2007, Stéphane Magnenat wrote:
> imho, a much better way would be to have maps as zip (not tgz which require
> entire decompression prior to toc access) files, with content (map itself +
> any number of metafiles + some additional graphics) fused into glob2's
> virtual filesystem. This was my original design I never had time to
> implement. I think it would open endless possibilities.

YES! YES! YES!

Have the terrain, resources, and areas stored in image formats.  (PNG or even 
BMP.)  Other info can be stored in text files in ini format.

This would let random map genorators be easily programmed in 
python/php/ruby/perl/etc.  A python/php/ruby/perl/etc. script could easily 
parse the information for display on a webpage.  Heck, it could even be 
edited by hand.  A map designer could start out a new map in 
GIMP/Photoshop/MSPaint.  Just THINK of the possibilities.

DEATH TO OBFUSCATED FILE FORMATS!!

Just my 2 cents...

MWM