? quoting UnholyGemini
Has Snarkpit died? Where are the god-damn uptight map critics!?
Someone rang? I can't download the map or even get CSS to run at this juncture but I'll comment on the pics.
1. Big old square room with a ton of crate props thrown inside, hardly original, interesting, or fun to play in I'd imagine.
2. I'll assume this is a starting area. The architecture is plain and doesn't really jump out at you.
3. Texture alignment issues on the ceiling and walls, not enough cover for players, and sewers suck, especially in CS where one awper can lock it down.
4. There is an illegal number of crates in this room and you should be fined for it. Crates suck, they are the worst form of detail possible. I realize most props in CSS are crates/boxy type things, but that doesn't mean you should dump a truck trailer full in your map. Flat ceiling could really use some skylights or windows, anything to break up that texture and the squareness of the room.
5. I don't know what the f**k is supposed to be happening on that ceiling or even what this room is supposed to be. More crates, more sparse detailing outside of props, more blandness.
Overall theres very little color variation or architecture beyond the box. Everything is brown, red, or gray; you desperately need some additional textures in there. Room construction looks very plain and uninspired. There's too many crates and props are relied upon too greatly for detail. You have no visible theme outside of 'warehouse' which is frankly the worst possible theme as well as the most overplayed. I can only cringe at the layout, from the looks of the map I can't imagine it'll be very good. Can't really comment on the map performance, but pic 4 worries me given the half-cylinder supports along the wall
I can see that you have gotten the mapping basics down, and that's good! You can place props, have generally clean usage of textures, lighting that works even though its bland as hell, and brushwork that from what I can tell is fine. However, I would suggest that you chalk this up as a learning experience and move on. Note what worked/doesn't work and apply those lessons to your next project. Unless you have some sort of genius layout there's no reason to continue working on this map. There's no shame in this, every beginning mapper goes through many maps before he creates something worth finishing to completion or releasing. Incremental steps is where its at.
