Google maps app, differnt image

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gaogier
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Google maps app, differnt image

Post by gaogier »

Hello

I dont know if this is the right place, but, here is what im asking.

I want a google image style map, but i wouldnot have a clue how to start it off.

What im asking, how easy would it be?
How easy would it be to ask for users to keep it updated?


I will be coding all this by myself.

I dont want this to hold the Earth, or Mars, but a map, for a game, which gets updated all the time.

this is the image, what will be the main map. http://www.runescape.com/img/files/rsmap-18june07.jpg

let me know, if this is possable, if not, what lanuage will it be possable in? Would i have to pay for someone to make it? How much should i spend?
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Post by nickvd »

I remember seeing one using that map... meaning that it's been done :)

As for your answers, if you need to ask what it would take to accomplish, then I doubt you are ready for the work it will take.
gaogier
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Post by gaogier »

but if i know what needs to be done, i can research up, on that part of programming, and get it done quicker
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Post by maggoteer »

I think what he wants something that a rival site has. http://www.runehq.com has this. The link to it is: http://runehq.com/RHQMoreMapsView.php?id=00689 .
gaogier
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Post by gaogier »

no, something that will allow users to add data.

so, if you want to look up, bronze pickaxe in varrock, you type in, varrock, bronze pickaxe and where the users have added the data, the site will show all where the bronze pickaxes are
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superdezign
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Post by superdezign »

So, you want to one-up them? :P Don't deny it.. There's no shame in it.

Jest so you know, there's an easy way (well, easiER way), and there's a good way (usability wise). The easy way would be to break the map up into portions (sort of like RuneScape already does), and then break all of those portions in portions all the way down to the tiles of the game (it is still tile-based, right?) if you need to go that far. Then, assign properties to each tile/section.

Setting it up is easy, but setting it up to be easily updated is not.

You could do it server-side or client-side. Client-side is more usable, but server-side is easier. Pick your choice.
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Post by gaogier »

What are the real benifits of both?

I know you said, that one is easier, and went on about cutting the image up into squares?

What i need, is something, more like this... http://www.rsbandb.com/interactive_rune ... categories

But, I yeah, I want to go up maybe 5 times up than them, something hundreds of thousands of people can use, but, keep up2date via the users. I want it completely like, http://www.google.com/maps .: then click on My Maps, then create new map, then you can add data to the map. Just like what i want for the users to be able to do.


I hope that helps a little better.
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superdezign
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Post by superdezign »

Well regardless of what you want to do with it, it's still no easy task. You can explain it to us all you like, but more detail won't result in any more of an answer. Sorry.

What you want to do isn't something that most of us have already done, so there's not much advice that we can give to you. I can tell you the process you'll want to follow in order to make it though.

  • Design it with updatability in mind.
  • Don't hand code any of the data. Insert it using your system.
  • Start with the actual updating forms, then build around them.
  • Don't think too far ahead. Move at a steady pace.
  • Keep it organized or you'll get discouraged.
  • Put out a beta early on to get feedback.
gaogier
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Post by gaogier »

What do i need to look up, and research to enable me to make this work?
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superdezign
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Post by superdezign »

It's not really something you can just research. This is more logic than technique. In all reality, the only thing you may need to study is databasing and security for user input, but all of that is stuff that anyone who would be willing to tackle this project should already be familiar with. If not, you're probably not at a point where making it would be a good idea, because it's bound to end up unorganized.

Then entire project is about organization, visually and on the back-end. You'll want the database tables to be neat, you'll want the usres to be able to update without frustration, and you'll want to be able to fix bugs and glitches.

But you have to start off right.


So no, there's nothing you really need to research. I'd suggest you design the interface, then give functions to the design, then make everything communicate well, then allow input, etc.
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Post by gaogier »

If i get the design done, in photoshop, would you be able to give me tips on how to impove, make it user friendly?

Im told that Ajax scripting would be best for this... any advise?
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superdezign
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Post by superdezign »

Of course. The whole forum will be happy to give you advice after you've already gotten started. :D

And like I said earlier, AJAX is what you're after if you want it to be easily usable without page reloads and such. Google Maps are made with AJAX, so if that's what your after, you want AJAX.
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onion2k
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Post by onion2k »

Actually Google Maps are more than AJAX. It's a VML application that scrolls a tile map, dynamically adding tiles to canvas as you move it around. It's incredibly complicated. However, you can probably ignore the tile streaming aspect if your map isn't that big. Just download all the tiles to the user when the application loads.

Your best bet is to use Excanvas. https://sourceforge.net/projects/excanvas/ ... Unfortunately, while it works to get things working in IE, it's slow.

Or alternatively write a Canvas version for FF and a pure VML version for IE.

An image tiler/loader thing is on my list of "wouldn't it be cool to write..." apps, so one day I might get around to building such a thing. Don't hold your breath though, my list of ideas is rather long and this thing isn't at the top.
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onion2k
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Post by onion2k »

Well, I was bored...

http://www.ooer.com/canvastile/

Works brilliantly in Firefox, it's ok in Opera, and it's working but really slow in IE6. I'm pretty sure it's something to do with the event listener code. I'd need to spend a lot more time on it really, the code there only took an hour (and it shows if you look at the source :) ).
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Post by gaogier »

how to i get to add info to a point? (pixel?)

I am going to search all of hotscripts, and see what i can make out of that.
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