Do you want to create a map, but don't know how? If you said yes, this tutorial is for you. Attached is a zip with a template for a map, and directions to get you started. You can read the directions here, but they are included in the zip file. Spoiler: Directions Things you will need for this tutorial: - Notepad++ This tutorial is based on the east coast usa map, but stripped down. So you can start from a blank canvas, but still have all the assets from the east coast usa map like buildings and textures. Step 1: -Navigate to documents\BeamNG.drive -If there is a folder called levels here, proceed to the next step. -Create a folder called levels. Step 2: -Go into the levels folder. -Put the CHANGE_ME folder that came with this tutorial into the levels folder. -Change the name of the CHANGE_ME folder to the name of your map. **Do not use capital letters or spaces Example: sunny_island Step 3: -Open Notepad++ and hit CTRL f -Click on the "find in files" tab at the top of the dialog box. -On the "find what" line, type CHANGE_ME -On the "replace with" line, type the name of your map **Do not use capital letters or spaces Example: sunny_island -On the "Directory" line hit the little box with three dots "..." and find your maps folder It should be something like C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\BeamNG.drive\levels\MAP_NAME_FROM_STEP_2 -Then click the "Replace in Files" button -After it finishes loading, quit Notepad++ Step 4: -Go into your maps folder and open the file called info.json with Notepad++ -Fill in all the fields like the title and descriptions. Leave the previews area alone for now. Step 5: -Start BeamNG.Drive and load up your map. *It wont have any preview pictures yet. -When loaded you will see a small grassy terrain. If you want to use this blank canvas, skip to Step 8. If you want to create a new custom terrain, go to Step 6. Step 6: -If there is currently a vehicle in the level, remove it. -Press F11 to open the level editor -On the right, you will see a folder called MissionGroup -Drop down the MissionGroup folder and delete my_terrain -Go to file and save the level. **Make it a habbit to frequently save the level, because the level editor crashes frequently -Go to file and click create blank terrain, give it a name, choose the size, and choose flat for a flat map or noise for a hilly map. **For advanced users you can import a custom terrain heightmap instead of creating a blank terrain -Once you see your terrain show up, save the level. Step 7: -Quit BeamNG.drive -Go to the levels folder we have been working in and you will see 2 new terrain files. **If there are more than 2, delete the older ones -Leave the 2 new terrain files alone for now, we will deal with them in a minute. -Go into your maps folder and delete any existing terrain files. You should see 3 of them. -Now, go back to the levels folder where the 2 new terrain files are located. -Drag those 2 files into your maps folder. -Open Notepad++ and press CTRL f -Click on the "find in files" tab at the top of the dialog box. -On the "find what" line, type levels/terrain -On the "replace with" line, type levels/YOUR_MAPS_FOLDER_NAME/terrain -On the "Directory" line hit the little box with three dots "..." and find your maps folder It should be something like C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\BeamNG.drive\levels\MAP_NAME -Then click the "Replace in Files" button -After it finishes loading, quit Notepad++ Step 8: -You can now start working on your map. -Delete any vehicles from the map before working on it to prevent you acidentally save the vehicle to the map. -Everything you need is right in the level editor (F11) -if you want to add the assets from east coast usa, go to the scene tree on the right, click the library tab, go to art_v2, then shapes. From there you will see different folders with different objects you can add to the map. Just double click on them to add them. **Dont forget to save frequently! Step 9: -When you are done with your map, you can take screenshots for the preview pictures. for steam users, its F12 to take a screenshot. -Go to your maps folder and open the info.json file with Notepad++ -Make sure the screenshots you took have the same name as the ones in the preview section of the info.json file -Make sure to put the screenshots into your maps folder. -Now when you load your map, you will see preview pictures on the level picker. e
thanks so much for this. I would like to make a follow up question that I have not seen answered anywhere: - what do you do to make a decent navigation map? (for the navigation ui app)
