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Mappers in the Real World
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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by DrGlass on Mon Nov 7th at 8:48am 2005

I met another mapper once, in a McDonnleds/gas station...

he was cool, whinned too much about not being able to shoot dead bodies out of the RPG in HL2 like you could in the good-ol-days of HL1.


Its alot like art, artist just look at the world in a diffrent way.

mappers look at the world in a very... very diffrent way.




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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Naklajat on Mon Nov 7th at 8:50am 2005

? quote:
Id rather be out partying then in adark room filled with computers and geeks.

I'd consider that a party... as long as there was beer. Otherwise it would be a forum of like-minded individuals, without beer.

Edit:
I'm in a beery mood.



=o



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by wil5on on Mon Nov 7th at 9:00am 2005

? quoting DrGlass
he was cool, whinned too much about not being able to shoot dead bodies out of the RPG in HL2 like you could in the good-ol-days of HL1/quote]

Where theres a Wil5on, and a pirate copy of .NET, theres a way xD

Has anyone ever talked about mapping to girls? I've impressed a couple of girls by sending them screenshots of my school maps... it hasnt worked yet, meh. Mapping schools has been fun for lan parties, I've had randoms join my games and say "hey, I used to go to this school, awesome map dude". Thats what its all about.




"If you talk at all during this lesson, you have detention. Do you understand?"
- My yr11 Economics teacher



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by KungFuSquirrel on Mon Nov 7th at 2:35pm 2005

A lot of girls I met in college thought it was really cool, as does my wife now. I never won any over with it (nor did I try, mind <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif"> ), but even if they didn't understand it they thought it was pretty impressive.

I met a guy my freshman year of college who did some dabbling in worldcraft here and there and even lived something like 20 miles from me during high school; he e-mailed me after being told by another frequenter of the Valve ERC IRC channel that we were both attending the same school. Turns out he even lived in the dorm right across from me and we had some classes together second semester. He was the first guy to hear of the idea for Nightwatch and also watched me draw the original layout for Eclipse in the boring bits of our calc class. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

As for knowing people in person, I know like 20. Pfft, get with the program :P

(yes, that's a joke)


<A HREF="http://www.button-masher.net" TARGET="_blank">www.button-masher.net</A>



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by MisterBister on Mon Nov 7th at 4:14pm 2005

I have met about 20-30 leveldesigners throughout my life.

I hapened to get into the crew of swedens biggest (and only?) Leveldesign community a few years ago. During those days, many people where interested in having a leveldesign-LAN but no one took the idea seriously since nobody knew how to get money or a place to arrange the LAN.

However my dad owns a big house which had a big empty space just under the roof where you store stuff (dont know what its called), where we could arrange the LAN.
Luckily enough, the administrator of the site did live in the same city as I do aswell as a few others in the crew, so we desided to meet and take a look at the place and discuss wether it was a good idea or not to arrange a LAN.

After some discussion we decided to give it a go, however we still needed money to get some LAN equippment such as Switches and stuff.
This was a bit trickier, but after some research we got aware of a swedish association that, with support from EU and the goverment, gave finacial support to small LAN and roleplaying groups. We submitted a request for some money to our Leveldesign-LAN, and actually was granted ~250 dollars. We bought switches and stuff and arranged the LAN.

Almost all the 24 places where taken and half of the "group" had been traveling
more than 2 hours to get to the LAN, some of them had been traveling for 5 hours. We all had a great time and I got lots of new friends during the LAN.
Since then we have arranged four more Leveldesign-LAN's, where most of the oldies returned and brought their friends.

The leveldesign-LAN's have been the funniest events of my life and I have gotten friends for life.




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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by satchmo on Mon Nov 7th at 5:00pm 2005

MrBister, that sounds great. I wish I were there.

Girls in general, from my experience, have absolutely no interest in computer games. When I first started mapping, I was so excited to show my wife my maps. But after a few chilly receptions, I gave up on showing her. She's nice enough to play along, but I know that she really has no interest in these maps (or any maps).

The only time she was impressed was when she looked over my shoulder when I was playing Half-Life 2, during the metal bridge frame level. She's fascinated with the idea of combat underneath the bridge. I thought that was one of the greatest levels in HL2.



"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by ReNo on Mon Nov 7th at 5:16pm 2005

I loved that level too, very novel situation <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

When I first got into level design I had a mate that would often come over and watch while I was building stuff, or sometimes have shots himself. He would always slag me off for having no creativity... hell he still does! I've shown my stuff to quite a few people over the years, once to a girl who SEEMED impressed but was most likely just being nice <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif"> When I told my mum I'd won a contest here a while back she insisted on me printing out anything of the sort that I'd done (eg. PHL level of the week awards <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif">), but I think that was more motherly pride than actual care for the work!

Now that I'm at uni on a games course, quite a lot of people around me have tinkered with mapping but I think I'm the only one in my year who is particularly interested in the area. It is a programming course so it's not a great surprise. My flatmate has played about with mapping for HL1/source but not very seriously, though he has just bought an editing book for Unreal that he seems interested in using to further his skills.




Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Mephs on Mon Nov 7th at 5:22pm 2005

Satch, I've noticed the same thing. All the ladies I've ever shown something on the computer besides peniscut or tubgirl etc I get either indifference or fake enthusiasm/politeness. It makes me feel like a three year old showing off what done did painted at school today, so I don't bother. That said, I don't really think I like the idea of a woman TOO enthusiastic about anything computery; they already go through your pockets, best leave the folders alone <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif">




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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by MisterBister on Mon Nov 7th at 5:53pm 2005

Digging into some Ld-lan forum threads i found an old group picture from LD-lan #3, not sure if everyone was present though.

http://home.no/lmhost/ldlan3/gruppnamn.jpg




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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by BlisTer on Mon Nov 7th at 5:55pm 2005

? quoting satchmo

Girls in general, from my experience, have absolutely no interest in computer games.

true in most cases. But my ex liked playing doom2 dm against me. and zoo tycoon.

as a matter of fact, I showed my current gf Black & White 2 today. As i expected, she was enthusiastic about the creature and the graphics (landscape). Apart from that she got bored after 5 minutes, and i got the feeling Mephs so accurately described.

i met a guy, a friend of my bro, who attempted some mapping but he didnt feel good enough / bothered to learn.

i think i was at the same Lan party as ForceFlow once, but i didnt know him at that time.




These words are my diaries screaming out loud



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Pvt.Scythe on Mon Nov 7th at 6:17pm 2005

I know quite many girls who play computer games. They're playing the same games like us males, they just don't keep much noise about it.

A number of my male friends wanted to learn mapping at one point so I offered to help them. Everyone of them learned the basics, but once they understood how much of a work it is to actually finish a map they gave up. Thus I don't know anyone in person who happens to be intrested in map making...



''Everyone wades in s**t until they're competent enough to walk on it. Jesus style.''
Dystopia - Empires



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by satchmo on Mon Nov 7th at 8:20pm 2005

I truly believe that a different type of blood flows through our veins compared to the average/normal person. It takes a special devotion and perseverance to be a good mapper, or even a decent one. Most gamers have too short of an attention span to complete a reasonable map.

Since most of the members at the Pit are in the teens, I wonder how many of us are going to grow up and become someone very important in the computer or gaming industry. Who knows, one of us might become the next Bill Gates in ten years.

And there are a few exceptions to the rule that girls have no interest in gaming. I personally know a friend from high school who plays games on a daily basis. In fact, she probably spend more time playing WoW than doing other leisure activities. But she's married to a game designer, and she's unusually smart. She finished Calculus by the time she's fifteen.

I'm not saying that girls who aren't into gaming are not smart. For one, my wife's is extremely smart, she's a computer programmer. But she can't garner enough interest to spend more than a few minutes with any game, even with my encouragement.




"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Crono on Mon Nov 7th at 8:27pm 2005

Satch, would you agree it's the same reason why games are easier and shorter now?

I find it odd that your wife is a programmer and doesn't like games. That's weird. Seriously. What is her field? (Software Engineering, AI, Languages ... etc)

Finishing Calculus doesn't make someone smart. Knowing Math doesn't prove someone is smart either. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif"> (Especially something as backwards as Calculus)
For all we know her parents could have taught her basic math at a younger age, and kept it up through her teen years. That's not too difficult. The problem is most schools go too slow. (They have to, so everyone can stay at the same pace, it's too fast for some people, but too slow for others)


Blame it on Microsoft, God does.



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Captain P on Mon Nov 7th at 9:10pm 2005

I think all this talk about girls not being interested in games is nonsense. I know several girls that play games, some play games like Rollercoaster Tycoon and the Sims, but some others play fps just like 'us'. I do think there's less girls who play and that they have some different tastes in games in general but it's not that they're so rare to come across.

Anyway, yeah, a mapping-LAN always sounded interested to me and we really have to organize something with a few other Dutch guys, but so far finding a suitable location and transport is the biggest problem...



Create-ivity - a game development blog



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Agent Smith on Mon Nov 7th at 10:00pm 2005

I recently had an interview for a level design job here in Australia, and it involved discussing mapping in general and my levels in particular with the Head Designer and one of the mapping team. It's been ages since I've actually spoken (not including internet) about mapping to anyone, and not have to explain it before hand. It was great, we discussed the trends in mapping communities, some recent games, noobs, and the rest. The best thing was these guys were really cool, the kind of people you want to work with.

I'm dreading having to look for work in the Graphic Design industry, its so cut-throat and the Art Directors and Studio managers are often style Nazi's who shoot you down in the interview. Not much fun <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/sad.gif">.



Ham and Jam Contributor
http://www.hamandjam.org

'Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!'



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Campaignjunkie on Mon Nov 7th at 10:25pm 2005

I purposely avoid talking about game design with my "real-life" friends. If I do my job properly, they don't even know I play Half-Life 2. I'm not really sure why this is the case, but I think it's a combination of hubris and embarassment on my part.




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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Dark_Kilauea on Mon Nov 7th at 10:39pm 2005

I live in Iowa, and most people around here are interested in cars, girls, or farming. I guess I'm all alone. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

I've never met anymore who was interested in mapping. Kinda sucks, but that why I have you guys to talk to.





Dark_Kilauea
DVS Administration
http://www.dvstudio-production.com/



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Gorbachev on Mon Nov 7th at 11:35pm 2005

I've got my girlfriend hooked on most of my movies and games. She plays World of Warcraft with me, plays Guild Wars sometimes, watched me intently through Metal Gear Solid 3 and a few other games. I prefer girls who at least have a general sense of games. It's not that hard, I can grasp basics of chick stuff (whilst complaining to my girlfriend's enjoyment) so I at least in a relationship would like the same courtesy.

She's the one telling me to go for the headshot or spade in DoD right after she proclaims "That's gross."




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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by satchmo on Tue Nov 8th at 12:21am 2005

? quote:
I find it odd that your wife is a programmer and doesn't like games

Why is that so hard to accept? I dare to say that most programmers don't like playing games, and for sure most of them are not mappers.

And there are many girls who like games, but just not shooter games. There are very few exceptions from my personal experience.




"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge



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 Re: Mappers in the Real World
Posted by Crono on Tue Nov 8th at 12:28am 2005

Because, they're good examples for learning which are used throughout the field.

I said nothing about not accepting that as the truth, I just said it's odd. You should clarify what you mean by "programmer". Systems Programmer ... web programmer. Very different individuals for both. And I would argue that comment, "Most programmers don't like playing games." It's just bizarre since games are learning examples. You also have little basis for this, past, I imagine, what your wife tells you.

It'd be even more odd if she had any training in artificial intelligence, while it can be used for many things, games is the easiest way to explain and understand AI.

But, you didn't answer my question. :P


Blame it on Microsoft, God does.




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