Alternate Maps - [EBP Help Contents]

A game map of the USA is included free with EBP; the map contains 51 cities and 26 load types. Because EBP is an "open system" you can play on other game maps as well, and create your own maps. Alternate maps can be a fun, new challenge.

OBTAINING MORE MAPS

Alternate game maps can be downloaded from our Web site, or ordered from us when you register EBP. Some maps are free and others available for a small fee. Visit http://www.railgamefans.com for an up-to-date list.

TO PLAY ON AN ALTERNATE MAP

From the game's File pull-down menu, choose Load Map. Select a map from the list. Please note that to play on an alternate map you must first register your copy of EBP.

To learn about a new map before playing on it, from the Information menu choose Map Details, then the various menu items there. When ready to play, use the Game, Start menu item.

MISSING MAPS?

The set of files that make up an alternate map must be placed in the same directory / folder as your EBP.EXE game program. If you download a map in ZIP form, uncompress it and put the resulting files in the same directory / folder as your EBP.EXE game program.

Map files have file name extensions of .EBM. Map background images are named xxxBGND* (usually .JPG), for example USABGND.JPG. Load icons are named xxxICON* (usually .GIF). Put all these files in the same directory / folder as your EBP.EXE game program.

CREATING ALTERNATE MAPS

EBPEdit is our visual map editor software. EBPEdit lets you modify existing maps as well as create new ones. You visually create the dots, regions, cities, railroads and borders that constitute a map. Download a trial copy from RailGameFans.com.

VERSIONING

For map testing during development, map names may be extended from their usual three-character base names by the addition of two more characters. For example, a map named USA77MAP.EBM is intended as a test version of the USA map. To learn how to use versioning, see the help system of the EBPEdit map editor.

RESERVING A MAP NAME

Maps are uniquely identified by the first three characters in the name of their files. To avoid creating a map with a name already in use by someone else's map, contact us to reserve a map name. There is a small fee associated with reserving a name.

OWNERSHIP

Please note that while some alternate maps are considered freeware, others are shareware, and still others are copyrighted and may not be redistributed without permission. View Information, Map Details to check.