Terrain Generator for Windows

User Reviews

• No need to draw contours or learn code!

  tomysshadowFebruary 27, 2014

  Pros

  -The UI is simple and I learned the basics in about 10 minutes -allows export to relatively common Wavefront OBJ files, now you're speaking my language -Also exports to MAP files for Half Life, apparently -can add water -easy to navigate -textures are easy to apply with the paintbrush and allows for texture layers -can generate random noise for little bumps to add realism -can export heightmaps -allows for import of JPG, BMP, or TGA format images (and another one that I've never heard of, called WAD) -the ability to view a wireframe version and also antialiasing is an option -you can change the skydome

  Cons

  -default camera is a little slow (this can be changed, though) -importing textures is a little weird, using an entire folder at once -despite the large amount of formats it can write, the only one it can both read and write are TGM files (but then again, for good reason) -OBJ files are exported with the wrong axis up; they are sideways when I import them into other softwares (but you could just rotate it) -importing an unsupported format of texture crashes the program -Flatten tool is slow, this can be fixed by changing the "Smart Threshold" in the settings to off

  Summary

  Although Nem's Terrain Generator has a couple weird traits, they don't distract from the productivity too much. I was easily able to get started. The controls felt similar to Vue, although not nearly as realistic. But it's a solid free tool. Much better than Sketchup anyways IMO where you have to draw the contour lines. I could simply tug at the landscape and it went up/down. I totally recommend it for your terrain modeling.

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• Good tool - wish it could import/overlay, though

  mmagliaroJuly 27, 2011

  Pros

  Intuitive, easy to create a simple grid terrain and push/pull to create mountains, valleys, etc.

  Cons

  The radius/grid controls could be more fine-grained. It is not easy to grab single small areas and modify them. Also don't see a way to import bitmaps or other pictures into the scene. Moving the camera around to get different perspective

  Summary

  Handy, useful terrain editor. I wish you could get finer-grained control, and have a mechanism to import bitmap images and superimpose them on the terrain before raising/lowering it.

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