What exactly is the new Heightmaps addition?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Just did a check for updates for Gal Civ 2 and Dark Avatar and there was something new, Heightmaps. Took quite a while to d/l so I suspect it was rather large file. Problem is there is no info on what it really is or how to use it.
7,004 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Provides vastly increased variety to planet surfaces on the planet screen, at the expense of putting some labor on your graphics sub-system and processor. Should be cool on any adequate gaming rig of the last 2+ years though, and it is throttle-able on the Options screen / Video tab.

drrider
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Oh, and once it is d/l by SDC, you just have to toggle it on in Options and set a slider. If you've got a good rig, start at 100% and back off as needed if things are dragging going to / from planets.

drrider
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for the info.
Just upgraded my 4 year old machine with a new vid card (Visiontek X1950 pro AGP) and a new monitor (Gateway 24" 1920x1200) So far I have been able to push things up quite a bit. The rest of the machine was cutting edge when new and still rock solid after 4 years. Other games have been pushing the graphics up to the edge with very little problems.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
They run OK at 100% on my stock 2-year old Inspirion, with 6800 class graphics (well, on rare galaxy settings). Any newer graphics rig should be calm.

drrider
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Not exactly, drrider,

This is CariElf's explaination in a different thread:

GalCiv2: Dread Lords and Dark Avatar will both attempt to find pre-generated heightmaps for a given class (and type) of planet. If it can't find one, then it will generate one randomly. So just by downloading the heightmaps module, you will be reducing load time and the amount of memory used because the game will not have to randomly generate as many maps.

The Planet Surface variety slider on the Video Tab of the Options Menu will further reduce the number of heightmaps that are used. If it is at 100%, it randomly chooses between all the heightmaps available for that class and type. If it is at 50%, it will only choose among the first half of the heightmaps available for that class and type. So you may find that just downloading the heightmaps module is enough, but if you're still having memory issues on gigantic galaxies, try turning down the Planet Surface variety.