[General] Map size Question

[Crystalknoct]

Hey I was just wondering what is the max map size before optimization like say your map is 8mb and you optimized/protected does the maps size decrease and if so by how much allowing for extra editting before optimization?

 

[Daffa]

If you use Vexorian Map Optimizer, then it should decrease. The amount of decrease is up to 80%, well, based on how lucky you are

Careful that some scripts may break using the optimizer, well some triggers can get buggy too sometimes, but this rarely happens

 

[Mr_Bean]

You can try taking a look at the Widgitizer.
You should always keep a backup of your map before running the optimizer or widgitizer.

 

[Crystalknoct]

ty guuys any tips on how it affects sizes

 

[Mr_Bean]

They decrease the map size?

 

[Crystalknoct]

I was told that they can idk if I was misinformed

 

[Mr_Bean]

Haha, I wasn't asking a question, I was saying they do.
The change in size depends on your map, so it will be different for each map.

 

[Xonok]

I was told that they can idk if I was misinformed

It's true, they do.
However, the greatest thing they do is decreasing loading times and making the map run smoother.

 

[Crystalknoct]

ok so say my map was made for multiplayer and I had it 10mb then I did optimize it should lower it to 8 allowing it to be playable online?

 

[SA Dashie]

I wouldn't rely on it much as it can only do so much.
It all depends on the content in your map as it is going to be different for all maps on how much yours can be optimized.

If you are planning on having such a large filesized map and are going to be sure that it is going to be ~10 MBs then try optimizing it with the imports that you want.
If you don't get the result you want and if you have anything that you can reduce the quality of any content(textures, music, etc.) in your map to preserve enough space or try using the 'New Buffer Size' option in Vexorians Map Optimizer. I'm not entirely sure how or even if it works although might just do what I suggest yourself.

Otherwise why would you be so sure about it being about 10MBs anyway?

 

[Crystalknoct]

just curious cuz atm its 5mb and I plan on adding a quite a bit more im maybe half way done the map atm so just checking on how far I can go

 

[Xonok]

just curious cuz atm its 5mb and I plan on adding a quite a bit more im maybe half way done the map atm so just checking on how far I can go

There's also the option of using local files. I would make it so that first there's many hours of content in the map(maybe as much as possible) and then when you run out of space you will probably have dedicated players that are willing to download extra just to keep playing further.

 

[Crystalknoct]

how would that work exactly like unit enters x and load map x saving characters or w.e?

 

[Xonok]

how would that work exactly like unit enters x and load map x saving characters or w.e?

Simply put the model path to something like "Local/Model.mdl"
If the model is in a folder inside the WC3 folder and it is named "Model" then it will work.

What if someone doesn't have it? - They simply won't see it. In most cases it won't desync for them.
When does it desync? Whenever the model itself is used for getting some data(unit height on bridges).

 

[Crystalknoct]

ah I get it now hopefully it doesnt come to that id prefer to keep it simple

 

[PurgeandFire]

If I remember correctly, ardent heroes was about 14 MB uncompressed and it went down to about 7 MB after compressions.

Just make sure you:

• Use MDX squisher on all imported models.
• Reduce the quality of textures that take up a lot of space.
• Run the optimizer.
• Compress or delete as many sound files as possible.

Bear in mind that I didn't have much code in the map at that point. So you can compress it down quite a bit.

 

[Crystalknoct]

thanks for the help good to know I dont have alot to worry about

 

[Radicool]

Yes, like PurgeandFire111 said, you have to compress the imports in your map to get the file size down.

A map optimizer usually decreases the file size of a map by deleting unneccicary and/or redundant code. It will not decrease the size of the imports of the map. Since your map is only roughly 20-400KB in size without imports (depending on map size and amount of triggers), an optimizer will only decrease the file size of that code.

To greatly decrease the size of the map, use compression methods on those large imported files such as models, textures and music.

 

[Crystalknoct]

ight ty +rep all gotta do some changes