Before you start making a game, there are some “ground rules”(pun intended) that need to be addressed.
The following includes :
- Size – When making a map you never want the player to feel too big.
- Experience – Exploring a map should feel rewarding, as if you’re better off for exploring it.
- Maneuverability – If a large portion of the map is ice or water, that portion should either be optional or tolerable to move in.
- Balance – Evenly distribute unique features to parts of the map; a desert should not have more features than a forest.
- Appeal – No part of a map should look particularly ugly, even if it looks grotesque and horrible, each part of a map should feel pleasing to look at.
A good rule of thumb is that you should divide your map into pieces; each one having something of value to the player. This is commonly referred to as “biomes” and usually contain different elements such as fire and ice.
With this comes the fact there are multiple types of maps, some more random than others, which will greatly affect how your game is played. This we be explored further in part 2.(Friday November Fourth 11:00am est)