This is the spiritual successor to my first HLDM map Torque and also my competition entry. The layout is basically the same but of course it looks radically different. I'm very pleased with the way I managed to keep to the original design so well while still updating it to look alot better.
The theme is pretty simple. We've got a section of City 17 that's been fought over by the resistance and the Combine for quite some time. The connectivity and flow was always my favorite aspect of Torque, and I think I did a pretty good job of recapturing that for this map. There's plenty of pathways to get to where you need to go and some nice vertical play. The map is probably large enough to handle 20 or so players, but due to the compact and open nature of the map it could provide a good game with even 4 players. I'd suggest 12.
Discussion
Posted by Agent Smith on
Tue Mar 8th 2005 at 3:02am
Yak, after playing it on the Snarkpit server I was mightily impressed. It played great and looked great. I don't what it is with those screenshots, but they don't do the map justice. The only problem I was having was with that pink/black chequers appearing on props and models, but it might have been my PC. Excellent work.
Pretty awesome level! We had a great time playing it on the snarkpit server tonight, its a very worthy addition to the map cycle. The main outside area looks great and has loads of gameplay potential. The RPG roof proves a great hub for the level and pulls players torwards each other, yet despite this the RPG doesn't dominate and ruin gameplay due to the abundance of cover. My one main gripe with the level would be that there are a tad too many corridors, and many look the same, but as the map plays nicely with them there (plenty of melee opportunities!), i guess not really a valid complaint. Excellent job, and ideal for the server since it works great with 4-16 players
This map (intentionally or unintentionally) borrows elements from dm_overwatch, but extends these elements to accommodate a larger server and better balance.
It takes place in a war torn city-block, complete with rubble and surrounding buildings. Citadel walls devour the surrounding area, sirens are going off, and smoke bellows out of ruined buildings. Yep, this is the war torn City 17 we have all grown to love. Unfortunately, some awkward architecture and texturing somewhat offsets the immersion, mostly concerning the ruined apartment courtyard area. Minor framerate issues also crept up, mostly due to the open nature of the map, but are very tolerable.
Now the connectivity! Wow. While still maintaining the structure of a city-block, areas seamlessly flow into each other. Well, a nearly seamless flow - there are a few mundane hallways that are used to connect some of the outlying areas and make it difficult to pinpoint where exactly the player's location is. Which leads to another minor problem: The interiors of the surrounding buildings (unfortunately) borrow a bit from Half-Life 2, with little variation in the interiors and a spartan level of detail. Thus, the lack of landmarks increases the learning curve of this map a little; still, nothing fatal.
Weapon placement is also done well - most of the weapon locations are easily distinguished, and the rocket launcher at the top "draws players in" (to quote a fellow Snarkpitter) and seems to promote conflict. Overall, an impressive accomplishment that the author should be proud of, despite any minor imperfections. Whatever dm_torque does well, it does very, VERY well. An easy recommendation into any server rotation.
Design
Gameplay
Verdict
A spicy, zesty City 17 map with great flow.
Pros
Very good connectivity and it looks pretty much like City 17.
Design
Awkward architectural and texturing choices, lack of landmarks, hallway-itis.
This map (intentionally or unintentionally) borrows elements from dm_overwatch, but extends these elements to accommodate a larger server and better balance.
It takes place in a war torn city-block, complete with rubble and surrounding buildings. Citadel walls devour the surrounding area, sirens are going off, and smoke bellows out of ruined buildings. Yep, this is the war torn City 17 we have all grown to love. Unfortunately, some awkward architecture and texturing somewhat offsets the immersion, mostly concerning the ruined apartment courtyard area. Minor framerate issues also crept up, mostly due to the open nature of the map, but are very tolerable.
Now the connectivity! Wow. While still maintaining the structure of a city-block, areas seamlessly flow into each other. Well, a nearly seamless flow - there are a few mundane hallways that are used to connect some of the outlying areas and make it difficult to pinpoint where exactly the player's location is. Which leads to another minor problem: The interiors of the surrounding buildings (unfortunately) borrow a bit from Half-Life 2, with little variation in the interiors and a spartan level of detail. Thus, the lack of landmarks increases the learning curve of this map a little; still, nothing fatal.
Weapon placement is also done well - most of the weapon locations are easily distinguished, and the rocket launcher at the top "draws players in" (to quote a fellow Snarkpitter) and seems to promote conflict. Overall, an impressive accomplishment that the author should be proud of, despite any minor imperfections. Whatever dm_torque does well, it does very, VERY well. An easy recommendation into any server rotation.
This is my kind of map! I was a bit aprehensive when I first spawned, but then I started exploring and imagining frantic and very dynamic DM battles going on. Can't wait to play this one with others!
Ermmm... haven't actually played it with others yet... as it stands, I'd give it a 10. I don't expect that rating to change much after trying it online. Nice work!
-- EDIT --
Ok... I ran it on my test server (DM) for a bit and had some other players hook-up. It really calls for four players or more... much larger than immediately appears (not a bad thing at all). Had a really good time!
Posted by Yak_Fighter on
Fri Jan 21st 2005 at 7:51pm
[Author]
Yep, that's me. Thanks for taking a look at the map!
Quite impressive. I like the layout...multi-tier, good connectivity, with no overly long routes. Like others have stated though, there are a lot of right angles. Unlike a lot of other levels I've seen, the performance is pretty good too.
One comment last would be that pickup and dynamic prop placement needs work. Some of the pickups seem randomly strewn around in the middle of a room etc. And as for the dynamic props, in places there are 2-3 identical ones right beside each other. I particularly remember 3 combine balls clumped together in a corner when just 1 of them would have sufficed.
p.s. are you the yak_fighter who used to do HL1 prefabs? If so, I remember using some of them in my own HL1 levels.
Posted by Yak_Fighter on
Fri Jan 21st 2005 at 7:02pm
[Author]
hmm, actually that sounds like a definite possibility. Stupid me. Thanks for catching it.
More on the cubemaps. The cubemaps in the bsp I downloaded from
punkassfraggers were not built. Once I built them it looked
fine. Maybe you copied it out of the mapsrc instead of hl2mp/maps
or something?
Posted by Nickelplate on
Thu Jan 20th 2005 at 1:12am
Because that's the only got-dang textures they gave us!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR!
I am trying to make a Medieval Castle and I have about 3 textures to Choose from.
