dm_zakks_house
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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by midkay on Mon May 16th at 4:50am 2005


Almost finished with it now. Let the feedback begin. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

Also, considering adding another staircase in a different area, to provide different ways to get around... input?




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by BlisTer on Mon May 16th at 8:07pm 2005


you have some very large almost empty rooms - feels cold, brr <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif">


These words are my diaries screaming out loud



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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Addicted to Morphine on Mon May 16th at 8:20pm 2005


I agree. Also, because your rooms are so large the ceilings look low. Only the last picture looks decently scaled.




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by midkay on Mon May 16th at 11:06pm 2005


BlisTer: Good thing I added some heathaze coming out of the vents. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif"> I do agree.. the whole map seems a bit cold.. I guess it depends on the conditions in which you play it. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

Addicted to Morphine: That's a good point.. perhaps I'll raise the ceilings a bit - upstairs. Downstairs I can just lower the floor. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif">




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Addicted to Morphine on Tue May 17th at 3:20am 2005


Either that, or make the rooms smaller in general. It just seems really really far from one side of the room to another.




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by midkay on Tue May 17th at 5:29am 2005


At "normal speed" (that is, not sprinting, and not crouched) you could walk the width of the room in picture #5 in about two, two and a half seconds. Seems small enough for me. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif"> The larger den or living room area could be walked across in perhaps 5 seconds.




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by midkay on Thu May 19th at 5:06am 2005


Final version will probably be released tomorrow or friday... updates:

*Slight performance improvements (brush updates)
*Additional stairway, making the map less "linear"
*Higher ceilings
*All-new weapon placement
*Most ungrabbables have been removed for performance improvements

Any other suggestions?

-edit-
It's now confirmed. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif"> Ceilings will be higher. Map looks a lot nicer in a bit better proportion, thanks for the suggestion, guys. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif"> With higher ceilings and the extra staircase I hope to fit more players in at once...




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by midkay on Sat May 28th at 5:15am 2005


Sorry for the delay guys... my internet went out last week for two days, though, and I was able to get some good work done. Added a few more 'features', improved some random things.... just sort of adding to it.. Don't hold me to it, but Monday sounds like a fine day to release it. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Agent Smith on Sat May 28th at 5:48am 2005


Nice place, lots of room <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif">.



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

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



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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Gwil on Sat May 28th at 5:48am 2005


Doors need doorframes? Unless you dig the whole open plan living thing... - SHot #2

Aside from that it seems to be very horizontal, there's no vertical gameplay at all in what I can glean from the screenshots (can't test, no HL2 in net cafes). Try maybe just adding a fictional main hall that has stairs and multi floor fighting, just for variation.

Other than that it seems solid enough, maybe relying a little too much on props as opposed to creative brushwork.





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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by midkay on Sat May 28th at 6:48am 2005


Thanks for the tips.

About doorframes.. I kind of had some before, but removed them. I'd like to come up with some that won't intrude on gameplay and movement.... I'll keep it in mind.

As for vertical gameplay, you won't find much here. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif"> I'm not sure what you mean about a main hall... there are two floors with two sets of stairs, that's all. (An attic area might be cool, hmm...)

Brushwork - don't look for much here, either. My next map should have some nice brushwork, but this one's got little more than anything really basic... walls, floor, ceiling.. that's about it. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif"> Props are very important here, yeah.




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Orpheus on Sat May 28th at 10:58am 2005


? quoting Agent Smith
Nice place, lots of room .

You... are much to kind.

I firmly believe that we all need confidence boosters. It can go a long ways toward improving ones works. I also feel honesty is always the best course of action as well.

This map, (based on the screens alone) is not releasable material. It is obvious you put a lot of work into its creation but it should be consigned to the hidden places of your hard drive designated for "teaching tools"

Do not release this, you may regret it later.

But then again, look at my earlier works. I am not a good example, or am I? I did release 9 pieces of s**t after all.





The best things in life, aren't things.



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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Addicted to Morphine on Sat May 28th at 1:52pm 2005


The first real thing I ever tried to map was my own house by memory. It's on my profile, but I never even considered releasing it. I treated it as a way to gain experience. I would have to agree with Orph. I mean -- this map is carried by props. And while it's probably really cool to run around your friend's house in HL2, I doubt anyone who didn't know zakk would enjoy playing it. Time to think about the things you've learned during this map, and then apply your new knowledge to a more ambitious project. Perhaps a true DM map, with an original location, and a layout specifically designed for DM.

I mean, you can go ahead and release it, but don't expect it to be played by many or in any servers.

I'm still interested in seeing updated screenshots reflecting the changes you've made to the house.

Good luck with your next project.




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Spartan on Sat May 28th at 2:49pm 2005


Why are there deli display fridges in the living room???




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by midkay on Sun May 29th at 1:39am 2005


You mean those "shelves" in the "computer room"?

I will release it... agreed, some may not enjoy it... but I wouldn't like to waste so much time working on it... if one person plays and enjoys it, that's good enough for me. I also agree with this sort of being a test map; I started on it VERY early on, and thus had to redo many sections where I screwed up. But in making this I learned a ton about Hammer, and I'll be glad to put that new knowledge to use on my next map. Again, thanks for the input.




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by fishy on Sun May 29th at 1:42am 2005


and we want to see doorframes next time <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif">




i eat paint



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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Spartan on Sun May 29th at 2:18am 2005


? quote:
You mean those "shelves" in the "computer room"?


If I meant "shelves" I would've wrote the word "shelves". They are deli display fridges. I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about. They also look pretty stupid being in a computer room. As does your whole map.




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Orpheus on Sun May 29th at 2:24am 2005


? quoting Spartan

As does your whole map.

Honesty is one thing bud, bashing is another.

So far, this guy has been stand up decent.

I don't mind bashing when the author is being a prick but... I think you overstepped yourself this once.

course.. who am I, but the worse example of "good judgment calls"





The best things in life, aren't things.



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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by Addicted to Morphine on Sun May 29th at 2:54am 2005


? quote:
But in making this I learned a ton about Hammer, and I'll be glad to put that new knowledge to use on my next map. Again, thanks for the input.


That's the right attitude. Keep it up.




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Re: dm_zakks_house
Posted by midkay on Sun May 29th at 6:16am 2005


? quote:
If I meant "shelves" I would've wrote the word "shelves". They are deli display fridges. I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about. They also look pretty stupid being in a computer room. As does your whole map.

Whoa... calm down. Ever hear of a "wink" before? It looks sorta like this: <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif"> It means something like "I'm kidding". Here's the kicker... I used one in my previous post. Also.. double check that definition. Last I checked, plastic display shelves were not fridges.

@ Orpheus:
Thanks, appreciated. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

@ AtM:
I shall, thank you.

I actually can't think of anything else I've got to add. I'll compile it fully and see how it looks... do a careful search for any bugs that need resolving, or things that should be moved.... and that should be it. Might come out tomorrow.





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