So basically, construction was great, good attention to detail and whatnot, but I think the general layout should be better and not be about having a single room in a building that you can enter! (like in SP maps)
That's good advice. I was definitely rushed making it, so i shied away from making rooms with 1 way in, no way out. I'm not sure if that statement makes sense. Eh well. I will definitely put more thought into the layout of any future maps i make.
Posted by Leperous on Fri Jan 21st 2005 at 5:27pm
I thought it was a bit too 'unfocused'- there's too much empty space (yes I know it's an outdoor map, but you've got, for example, that town hall building with nothing going on and strange looking doors/windows, and that pointless garage?), and the interiors are strangely connected- more interconnected rooms, rather than single-corridor-or-ladder combo leading to small interiors would have been nicer!
So basically, construction was great, good attention to detail and whatnot, but I think the general layout should be better and not be about having a single room in a building that you can enter! (like in SP maps)
My first thought with the outdoor maps was that while hl was mostly indoor, and closed in, hl2 was more of an outdoor game, with vast sceneries and pretty stuff. So it would make sense to see more outdoor mp maps out there. And on this particular map, it seems to turn more into crossbow/rocket-fests than prop shooting-fests, especially on a team server where teams clump in the attic/office/tower. Probably more of a step sideways than anything else.
On the other hand, you could say they are popular for the same reason those killbox maps are so popular, big and open... in which case ill probably cry 
.
-Zeek
Posted by Orpheus on Fri Jan 21st 2005 at 2:33pm
I dissagree, tossable objects are a fundimental part of any level becuase the gravity gun needs ammo. I find maps that dont have a lot of physic objects are far less fun becuase with out them you only have the weak AR1 and the pistole.
I agree that a map full of junk isn't the best way to introduce ojbects to the player. There are so many props that can be used rather than barrels and radiators.
what exactly are you disagreeing with? my post was just a collection of loosely related concepts.
i think a map is more than its sum throwable parts. 
Posted by ReNo on Fri Jan 21st 2005 at 2:22pm
Plus all the guns the level designer SHOULD have scattered around the map DrGlass
I took part in an alpha playtest of a level some time
ago and it had only a small handful of physics props in place, and we
had a great game playing with effectively only the other weapons. Its
all about striking a nice balance between encouraging the use of
physics, but not the overuse.[addsig]
Posted by DrGlass on Fri Jan 21st 2005 at 2:10pm
it will be nice when this trend has run its course, and the novelty of tossing junk as ended.
personally, i am ready for some nice small HQ DM maps, these monstrosities have lost my interest ATM.
funny though, before the release of HL2, i would have guessed driving maps would have dominated, not large maps with a bunch of tossing junk :/
I dissagree, tossable objects are a fundimental part of any level becuase the gravity gun needs ammo. I find maps that dont have a lot of physic objects are far less fun becuase with out them you only have the weak AR1 and the pistole.
I agree that a map full of junk isn't the best way to introduce ojbects to the player. There are so many props that can be used rather than barrels and radiators.
Posted by Orpheus on Fri Jan 21st 2005 at 11:09am
if i had to hazard a guess, i would say "outside=longer throwing distances"
it will be nice when this trend has run its course, and the novelty of tossing junk as ended.
personally, i am ready for some nice small HQ DM maps, these monstrosities have lost my interest ATM.
funny though, before the release of HL2, i would have guessed driving maps would have dominated, not large maps with a bunch of tossing junk :/
[addsig]Posted by Leperous on Fri Jan 21st 2005 at 10:58am
I'm downloading it now and will let you know what I think later
Mikee, being a server kinda guy, are players right now loving the outdoor-map-banter? All the maps I've seen here with the most positive comments and server action seem to be set outside...
Posted by Mikee on Fri Jan 21st 2005 at 6:05am
Cool....where is the new one? (I'm assuming the link above...which I'm downloading now.)
I'm glad people like it. I made some changes based on your suggestions, so you probably want to replace the bsp on your server.
Thanks
-Zeek
