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dm_3006
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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Fri Nov 17th at 7:58pm 2006

Thanks Ballblue... (ball blue... I always read ballude! image )

The upper parts (screen 3) are very basic yet. Very blocky. Also there is a lack of props (light-fixtures) ect. Lighting needs variation. HDR shots look incredibly dark in the shadows in screenshots, even more than in the game, which probably causes some of the extreme Quake 1/pitch black look.

Anti-confusion/landmark/texturing tweaks are on my list and screen two hasn't changed so far. image

__________________________________________________

I carved my way through large blocks that were never meant to be hollow in order to add an additional staircase to the upper level. And I couldn't resist taking a screenshot. image It's nothing but a teaser that wont mean much if anything to people who haven't played the map already but I post it anyway: The catwalk now connects two stairsways that go from the bottom to the very top parts of the map. This is a little outlook:

image

See anything? Didn't think so. Anyway, now I have at least a screenshot in this chapter image


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by oskutin on Tue Nov 21st at 7:28am 2006

Under kilometer high city? Maybe city builders destroy old building before start build the skycapers.And skycapers weight can crash the old building and city destroys."Sunlight falls in small chasms but mostly stays a glow in the distance"
But maybe builders build walk ways and foliage between skycapers enterances.
But this is good map.


R?l? se kohta paisteataan...



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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Tue Nov 21st at 11:24am 2006

Neither this map or films like the fifth element (which is a huge inspiration) will win any logic award, I just like the scale and monstrosity of the idea.

But thanks for having a look, anyway! <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by Naklajat on Tue Nov 21st at 4:15pm 2006

I think it's a good decision to give the player somewhere else to go from that catwalk. I remember getting to that spot and then thinking "now where?"

Looking forward to the next release.


=o



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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by Gwil on Mon Nov 27th at 11:27am 2006

We want more!




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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by Forceflow on Mon Nov 27th at 11:09pm 2006

Mistery++

Me likey.


:: Forceflow.be :: Nuclear Dawn developer



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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Mon Dec 4th at 5:12pm 2006

You want more? You'll get more!

I've spend a large portion of my Sunday finishing at least basic brushwork and layout for the new underground part. The random water/darkness/blue-light column area has been replaced completely. It should get a run-down shopping/fast-food/xxx area with neon signs and blinking lights. Right now it's only default storefront textures with some colorful lighting. I plan to flood the place with puddles of water like the outside area but it's still dry yet.

Everything still suffers from still-too-darkitis as well as chronical dummy-texturosis. But it's there. So here are a few screens:

image
A view of the main area with the x-bow. The catwalk now serves as a connection for stairs that lead all the way up. Some changes to lights that make the place hopefully brighter. Brightness balance isn't done yet.

image
The same place, only that you see less new. I like the POV, though <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

image
A little more purpose and lighting for this originally rather random spot.

image
Those with good eyes see a little vent in the background. This is the shaft leading to the RPG. You can't get out to the area behind the grate, though, just a visual connection.

image
alright, the shopping district. Not much to see, except for the (yet again very basic) underground skybox in the background. This I added yesterday and should change heavily before the map leaves the alpha stages. But it's already a nice view.

image
The nice view. Well, at least it's better than the black brush that was here before <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/heee.gif">


So... No real magic but the most basic changes are done. If you manage to read anything out of the shots I'm thankful for comments. If not it's OK.

I guess, once I've build the opposite part of the underground with some half-way clean brushwork and got the lighting to acceptable brightness I'll release this as "Alpha 2". I hope to have no more excuses for not working on the finer eyecandy then. That'll be a lot of work <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif">


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by Kasperg_JM on Wed Dec 6th at 9:35am 2006

Keep it up, lighting is looking better each time!!
Having played the alpha1 version, my only concern is that this map will need a lot of players to provide a decent fragfest, since some areas felt very far away from the others. Maybe it was just an optical effect and the layout actually works, I can't really tell.
Anyway, if you ever decide to make a SP map based on this setting, I also think It could turn out absolutely stunning.




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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by G.Ballblue on Wed Dec 6th at 4:13pm 2006

Here are my thoughts on the screens (I apologize if my thoughts seem a bit repetitive. I've got 2 minutes before class begins, so I have to bash this out rather quick.)

You've definitely got the architecture down, but there doesn't seem to be any trim in many of those concrete indoor areas. I realise that the HL2 materials pack has very little trim, but try to whip up something, since the constant generic-tileless concrete seems a bit used. To some extent, this "building" or structure that the map takes place in looks like something out of star wars, molded purely out of concrete :P

That 5th shot, specifically; the brown concrete is just being run into the ground with that cieling! :P Also, that center beam would look nice with some kind HL1-styled Silo trim around the tope, and the underside of it, where the blue lights are shining out, could use something other than concrete :P (at least, that what it looks like.)

I also noticed that there doesn't seem to be much of anything inside the map, other that archtecture and random metal planks. Pipes? Light fixtures? Seats? Signs of people using the place? What would normally "belong" in this structure?

Last shot: Very pretty, in my opinion. The blinding light on top of the harsh shadows actually looks real nice there <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">


Breaking the laws of mapping since 2003 and doing a damn fine job at it



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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Wed Dec 6th at 10:30pm 2006

Thanks for the thoughts!

The lack of trim textures is indeed concerning. :/ Many of the textures, especially in the shots here I only used with the idea of replacing them by something better in the future. I'd like to have more metal in here, more trims. And it's always good to have people reminding me because you get used to these dummy textures way too quickly.

Pipes and props should make their way into the level but with the underground section and other parts being constantly rebuild I don't want to fiddle around with all the prop details yet. Also many parts would require custom models which I cannot get done within any sane timeframe.

And Kasperg, thanks, I never though of the map as a singleplayer map image I hope with the new layout changes people will instinctively try to get to the top parts and meet on the way. But maybe that's only something I like doing in maps myself... I start to feel like this could be the case. We'll see. It is pretty big. I can't think of much more to better connect the map right now. I'm quite happy with the way it feels in the current state. I'm looking forward to test the next version with some more players and see how it turns out!


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Sun Dec 10th at 11:18am 2006

I developed a little "darkness test" to look at the map in worst condition and compare it to others that I consider bright enough. Well, albeit I added all the extra lamps the thing is still terribly dark. I'll try and fix that.

Otherwise it's finished. If the mapping gods agree I'll release alpha2 next week.


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by Captain P on Sun Dec 10th at 1:18pm 2006

I ran through the last alpha version today, and I must say, it's pretty athmospheric. It's too dark, yes, and there were some connectivity problems, but the main shaft area works well to keep the level together.

I'd change the elevator buttons if I were you, though, because they're hard to notice (a green or red glow would be sufficient I think). I'd also add some more ways to get up and down in the vertical shaft area, because the elevator currently is the only way (that I found :P) to get up there. I liked how you placed a grenade in an alcove there bytheway. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

I also found some area's to feel a bit linear, some of the water area's especially. The one with the small bridge wasn't too easy to move around in, too, due to the small canal there.
Oh, and I think that this unaccessible area, the one with the dim green lighting, attracts too much attention, compared to the much darker, but playable, area next to it. Personally I like to make important things brighter, for example to guide the player were to walk or to attract him to important places. You could distract players with lighting too, but I don't think that fits in here very well. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the layout changes. This map looks promising. It may not be that super-detailed, but it gets the setting across nicely. Keep it up. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">


Create-ivity - a game development blog



Quote
 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Sun Dec 10th at 2:24pm 2006

? quote:
I'd change the elevator buttons if I were you, though, because they're hard to notice (a green or red glow would be sufficient I think).


already done! <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

? quote:
I'd also add some more ways to get up and down in the vertical shaft area, because the elevator currently is the only way (that I found :P) to get up there.


done, too!

? quote:

I also found some area's to feel a bit linear, some of the water area's especially. The one with the small bridge wasn't too easy to move around in, too, due to the small canal there.


errr... it's pretty much gone and replaced by what should later be replaced by stores and fast-food places. This needs some custom work to look good but the layout changes are done.

Thanks, Captain.

The LOD is rather low, still. That's the reason I prefer calling the next version an alpha, also. It's pretty tedious to work outside the Eastern European city theme with HL2. However, I won't accept this as an excuse to not come up with a bit of custom work and detailing for the next releases.

I'm adding some of the last chunks of brushwork right now. Let's see how much more polishing it will need then for the release.


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Tue Dec 12th at 3:56pm 2006

The current build should be the next release. I only need a final compile. Also some HDR/LDR lighting checks are due. But all the architecture and entity work is finished for Alpha 2.

Here are some more screens. image

image

image

image

image

image

image


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by Captain P on Tue Dec 12th at 6:32pm 2006

Looks better lit now, me likes. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">
The 1st and 4th shot feature some rather empy-looking floors though, which is probably more obvious now that they're better lit. How about some extra grates in there, or some more materials to divide it up somewhat?

I forgot to mention the lack of light sources in the last alpha bytheway. Did you add light fixtures already? I can't see any in these shots.


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Sat Dec 16th at 4:58pm 2006

Captain P, you're touching the map's Achilles? heel there. But all together it takes too long. Honestly, I tried spicing up all the parts that I felt absolutely need it but that already took a good part of the past weeks. If I start working on any more details (and if it's just the light fixtures) one thing may lead to the next and I'll be tinkering around with them till February.

I want to release alpha2 today. And the zip file's just uploading <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif">

The changes in this version are almost entirely about gameplay.


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Sat Dec 16th at 6:08pm 2006

This post marks the official release for Alpha2. Please post feedback on playing the map from here instead of judging the (slightly outdated) pre-release screenshots.

If you can provide any kind of help regarding a playtest (hosting it on a server, having a run through it with me) please post here also or send me a PM.

If something's missing in the ZIP alert me asap so I can do some damage control.

Have fun! <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by Captain P on Sat Dec 16th at 6:10pm 2006

Ah, ok. I'd reckon that a few light fixtures shouldn't take much more than an hour or so, but spicing up the floors and such, well, I can see why you decide to stop right there. The map in general could do with some more detail but I think keeping it 'lite' on detail works well too. It's just that those surfaces are so large and empty-feeling that it's a bit hard to ignore.
Oh well, HL2 maps easily take too long... I thought my map took long but I just saw another one that took over a year. If you can avoid that, then do it. image

EDIT: I'll run through it once I get home. As for a playtest, I might know someone who's willing to host a few maps. I'll keep you up-to-date on that, as I'm looking for a playtest for Mudanchee soon anyway. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">


Create-ivity - a game development blog



Quote
 Re: dm_3006
Posted by reaper47 on Sat Dec 16th at 6:21pm 2006

If you know a host that'd be awesome.

Call me crazy but those light fixtures are a pain to add. Really. Maybe it's something psychological but I feel deep inside it was the right decision to leave them out so far. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif">


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 Re: dm_3006
Posted by Captain P on Sat Dec 16th at 10:16pm 2006

What's so hard about adding them then? I just want to know. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

Anyway, I just ran through it. Looks better indeed now. The flow is better, more easily, and I like the scenic area's you put in there. Much more athmospheric now. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">
The battery charger next to the crossbow didn't work though. I also got a crapload of 'Updating physics on object in hierarchy func_physbox' errors, continually flooding the console. Don't know which object caused that and it doesn't look like it caused anything serious, but still.
Anyway, there's still a few small 'deadends', such as a lit door just below the staircase that leads to the crossbow, that aren't very long or dead-endy, but not very good for fluiding movement and navigation either. Oh, and the elevator buttons are better now (though a bit dim at a distance still) but there's no audio feedback when pressing them. Makes me think I didn't press it correctly every time. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">


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