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Courtyard
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 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Sun Apr 15th at 1:33pm 2007

Hi, here is a little project I have been working on.

The "Combine staging area" was a great idea but I had nothing to base it on so I decided to use a theme that I can't go wrong with: buildings

I have created this map using a revolutionary new tactic in which I make the buildings first and then add the floor and sky etc, as apposed to making boxes of various sizes and then populating them.

Sealing the map off does lead to some inefficient space wastage, but I am pleased with the results none the less.

A thing with my earlier maps is that they haven't been populated with debris etc, so I have crammed this map full of 'em.

If you think the skybox is ugly then tell me to get shot of it and (preferably) tell me what to replace it with.

There are still alot of things wrong with this map I can say for sure (it is impossible to make a perfect map in one go) so please point them out to me

I had alot of other things I wanted to say but I went against my better judgement and didn't compile a list of them so I have forgotten alot of stuff and useful info etc




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Stadric on Sun Apr 15th at 7:45pm 2007

Needs cubemaps.


Also change the texture of the dock. Docks are rarely tile. -Facepunch
As I Lay Dying



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Sun Apr 15th at 8:08pm 2007

Download with cubemaps.




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Orpheus on Sun Apr 15th at 8:10pm 2007

? quoting Flynn
Download with cubemaps.

Zip it, with cubemaps. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif">





The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Stadric on Sun Apr 15th at 8:11pm 2007

Ok, you just moved the map up a notch. Don't release a map without built cubemaps again. Also, people prefer to download smaller zip or rar files, rather than a bsp.


Also change the texture of the dock. Docks are rarely tile. -Facepunch
As I Lay Dying



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Sun Apr 15th at 9:02pm 2007

Moved the map up a notch? What are you talking about Stadric?

Uploaded, in Winzip, with cubemaps




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Stadric on Sun Apr 15th at 9:11pm 2007

Here are my comments thus far.

Firstly, while you had cubemaps, you didn't build them before releasing the map. Just type buildcubemaps into the console and the data is automatically stored in the bsp.

That looping wind sound is annoying, repetitive, and loud. Turn it down and add some randomly playing sounds or a soundscape for some variance.

The texture of the central displacement was missing.

Now the pics.
image
The blue texture you use for the bottom part of this building is meant to be used more like windows that as a wall. Add some more brushes as lining for the blue texture.

Also, the balcony/overhang could have more detail, like pipes.

image
All around this building, the window texture tiles too far down. I suggest adding some cement around the base of the building to hide this.

image
Fill this empty space with something. You had time to add boxes cannisters and trash in the playable area, you have time to add some of the same to this empty space.

image
The skybox buildings are low-res, try to keep them in the distance so that the player can't see them that clearly.

image
The block hanging out of the roof of this building is just that, a block. Give it some angles and a roof.

Also, the broken windows texture you used on this building tiles very evidently. I would use a non-broken window texture.

image
Most swing sets and slides aren't on pavement. Put some dirt of sand in there.
Also, the low-res skybox prop.

image
Only a small complaint here. Those smoke stacks could be set back a bit more.

Most of the buildings in the map have flat roofs. Add some angles to 'em.


Also change the texture of the dock. Docks are rarely tile. -Facepunch
As I Lay Dying



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Sun Apr 15th at 10:19pm 2007

Hey thanks Stadric. I know I can always count on you to come trough I'll definately deal with those issues. Thanks for being so reliable




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Orpheus on Sun Apr 15th at 10:40pm 2007

/me looks at Flynn's profile.

Now I remember....





The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by fishy on Mon Apr 16th at 12:51am 2007

Is it true that memory prompts are useful when you get old?




i eat paint



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Orpheus on Mon Apr 16th at 12:58am 2007

? quoting fishy
Is it true that memory prompts are useful when you get old?

Sure.

For instance: A wet pair of pants means that you missed your chance to go to the bathroom by a little while.





The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Mon Apr 16th at 11:27am 2007

? quoting Stadric
That looping wind sound is annoying, repetitive, and loud. Turn it down and add some randomly playing sounds or a soundscape for some variance.

The texture of the central displacement was missing.

Okay, the looping wind sound.

This time around I forgot to change it, but in the next update hopefully I shall remember.

How do I make random ambients, btw?

The reason I am not changing it this time is because compiling, embedding files, zipping and uploading is quite a hassle.

If I was allowed to update just the .bsp then I might have been able to change it;) The texture of the central displacement is now present.

? quoting Stadric
The blue texture you use for the bottom part of this building is meant to be used more like windows that as a wall. Add some more brushes as lining for the blue texture.

You are wrong, a building had this texture in City-17. So I will leave that as it is

? quoting Stadric
All around this building, the window texture tiles too far down. I suggest adding some cement around the base of the building to hide this.

image

? quoting Stadric
Fill this empty space with something. You had time to add boxes cannisters and trash in the playable area, you have time to add some of the same to this empty space.

image

? quoting Stadric
Most swing sets and slides aren't on pavement. Put some dirt of sand in there.

image

[quote =Stadric]Only a small complaint here. Those smoke stacks could be set back a bit more.

? quote:

I did and now you can't see them

? quoting Stadric
Most of the buildings in the map have flat roofs. Add some angles to 'em.

Again, I haven't noticed this.

? quoting Stadric
Also, the broken windows texture you used on this building tiles very evidently. I would use a non-broken window texture.

No idea what you mean here, but changed them anyway.




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Wed Apr 18th at 10:57am 2007

Okay, I have made some updates here mainly spawned by comments on V.E.R.C. forums:

Download link: http://www.fast-files.com/getfile.aspx?file=2266

Image of a building:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r233/Flynn_bucket/courtyard0006.jpg




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by ReNo on Wed Apr 18th at 12:01pm 2007

You should put a trim between the top "layer" of the building and the roof. At the moment the transition is just a sharp and sudden edge. Break it up with a thin (8/16 unit) trim that extrudes out from the building face and maybe leans outward on its top edge, and then start the roof from set back behind it.



Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Wed Apr 18th at 7:07pm 2007

Haha. Knew there was something weird about that. Try this:

image




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Juim on Wed Apr 18th at 7:42pm 2007

The trim you added seems ungainly. I would look for something texture based as there does'nt seem to be any reason for the brick tghings you added (unless they're balconies or something). Also, there are too many of the windows below that. Does'nt seem natural that there would be so many across the front.



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Thu Apr 19th at 12:00pm 2007

image

Happy now?




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Sun Apr 22nd at 8:09am 2007

Okay, I have added benches. I have also made the blocked off street look dark and forboding with Combine lights:

image

Obtain the updated map here:

http://www.fast-files.com/getfile.aspx?file=2981




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Flynn on Sun Jun 17th at 9:09pm 2007

I am now in the finishing stages of this map (Thank hell), and know this: It took me a weekend to make the brush based world of this map, plus the relevant environmental entities. The other couple months I have been fighting tooth and nail to get N.P.C. type entities working properly. Now to all you multiplayer mapping naysayers: Entities aren't binary, it is not a case of "If you set them up correctly they will work". This is simply not true. They are completely non-linear in their operating. They have wasted me countless hours slaving away at the computer. I won't give any examples because inevitably ppl will say "Did you try this..." and I can't be arsed to put every single workaround I tried in here. But I got everything working moderately well. Now this is the fun bit- I am asking you to play the level! Yes, that's right. I have decided that the best way to test balance is for a few ppl to play the map. As this is a computer gaming website, I am sure that won't be a problem

There is a custom texture included in the .bsp file (I zipped it in with pakrat)

http://s24.quicksharing.com/v/9669366/Courtyard.rar.html

Warning: You need WinRar to open this one.

And for those of you who don't want the hassle of WInRar:

http://upload2.net/page/download/imPXvjJs423WkMY/CourtYard.bsp.html




Just Kidding

Just Kidding



Quote
 Re: Courtyard
Posted by Beetle on Mon Jun 18th at 12:39am 2007

I just downloaded the newest version, and that middle texture with the tree is missing for me. If that's your custom texture then its not showing up for me. If its hl2 then that explains it because i only have ep1.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3/tfcbeetle/misc/hl2error.jpg





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