The textures look nice. I have seen nice textures before and do not automatically assume that they will be utilized to their best ability. Can you show us th same textures used in a way that would show them in action?

The images you posted look nice but do not really say much. They are really to close. I mean, it looks as if I am inches away instead of feet where I should be when viewing them.

Thanks in advance.

Freakin' sweet!

These must take a long time...

Good suggestions Camp.

The wood in the last 2 textures doesn't seem low res ingame, because the texures are scaled down quite a bit. But I'm sure they could use some improvement. They do look somewhat burnt out in places... this hasn't bothered me ingame yet, but maybe it will now that you mention it.

The wall textures look pretty good ingame also. I try to break it up quite a bit, and since they are actually supposed to be some type of fancy wallpaper, I think the repetition actually works for it. Once again.. you'll get a much better sense of how these feel once I release a beta.

They definatley have plenty of room for improvement, though. ... oh and no, that's not the default canvas texture, although it doesn look like a common filter effect :razz:

Yowza. Great textures! Some thoughts / suggestions / ideas / blah:

o Wood portion on the last 3 textures is kind of low-resolution. Higher-res, the masses demand it!

o I think the paper-wall texture is the odd one out that needs
improvement. Why are some wood portions darker than others? Also,
consider making the paper a less bright and a little duller. In my
experience, bright stuff doesn't work too well in-game, especially
stuff that approaches the color white.... And is that the Photoshop
Canvas texture you used for the paper? If not, they look kind of
similar...

o To me, it seems like the deteriorated wall textures have too many
little details on them that would make repetition very blatant.

I didn't mean to start a s**t-storm here. I know how these threads can spin out of control and I don't want that to happen. Soo.. lets just steer this back to the topic.

One of the major things I'm doing with this map, is creating custom textures that fit the theme. I figured it might be nice to show you guys a few of them. Of course, I've made them small....so if anyone wants a high-res version, contact me and I would be glad to share. When I'm finished, I will put them all up for download.

Here's a trim texture I"m working on. It looks ok ingame, but I'm not happy with the snakeish pattern. I sort of just did it quickly as a test, and plan to go back, reworking it and creating a more interesting dragonish pattern.



This is a sort of deteriorated patterned wall texture. I've made a few variations of this one, as you will see further down. The cool thing about these textures (which you can't see here) is the way I'm using specularity. The greenish faded house pattern has a specularity map applied to it, giving it reflective qualities. This creates the illusion of the nice shiny, reflective bits that you see on alot of asian fabrics and patterns.



Same pattern, without the reflective qualities on the 'print' section. I've also made the pattern darker and more obvious.



This one works well, becuase I've applied specularity to only the flower pattern at the bottom of the texture. You would have to see it ingame to really appreciate it... makes it feel like fancy wallpaper.



Here's that specularity map I was talking about.



Here's another texture with a subtle shiny surface to it. It sort of gives the effect of a dull metal surface, or somewhat glossy material.



Now here's the wood trim texture that I use everywhere. It may look somewhat boring in this screenshot, but it works well ingame. This also has a slight specularity to it, which gives it that nice dark polished wood feeling that I could never get in Broken Palace 1.



Another fancy patterned wall, with subtle specularity on the gold leaves of the pattern.



Here's what I currently have for the lamp texture. This one is definately going to get refined a bit, but it has a lightmap channel which makes part of the texture illuminated. Works well as a lightsource, when you throw in some textured lighting and a nice sprite.



Lastly, this is my paperwall texure that you will see all througout the map. I grunged it up a little where the wood meets the paper, and it looks a little more antique and intersting.



All of these textures were created in photoshop. I've got a few gigs worth of reference pictures that I use for such occasions. What I generally do, is slice up photos and combine lots of different elements from different pics to acheive the look I want. I guess I should maybe do a quick tutorial on creating textures, as it's much easier than people might think. There are a few great photoshop tricks that I use which carry me very far in the process.

Underdog, you are Orpheus. I am not kidding at all when I say that.

Anyone know of any free writing analyzers on the internet?

Underdog said:
As I said, I am on 56k. I do not think that anyone whom posted 10 or 20 screens at a whack would like me much.

if you can recall, as you say, that an excessive amount of some peoples personal time went into giving finger feedback on a map that was in the making more than two years ago, then i'm sure you'd also recall that even though Orph posted lots of pics, he would also have been more than willing to supply smaller versions of them without hesitation.

I seem to stumble into things I guess. I asked you 4 or 5 days ago to post some smaller screens and then you post this thread without altering them. That sentence I quoted just irked me because it appeared as if you didn't care whether I ever saw the screens or not.

As I said, I am on 56k. I do not think that anyone whom posted 10 or 20 screens at a whack would like me much. If we are similar, its for reasons I cannot fathom since people only use him in a derogatory fashion when I am in the same posting.

I have no previous claims or concerns about the HL1 version, nor was I insinuating that you were not free with your praise or gratitude back then. I did read the text file that came with the map so I was aware of its origins and the people involved. Seriously though, I was inferring to myself.

I was just irked. You seem to care but then you also seemed to ignore my request.

I will shut up now before I say something else Orphenated. :sad:

Underdog, I reduced all of the screenshots to 50/60k'is just for you (and other 56k'ers) I do want to make these things as accessible as possible, and have no problem accommodating people on 56k... I just forgot to check file sizes on those pics when I first uploaded them. I think it's a valid request for people to be efficient with their screenies.

The 'orpheus' statement was more literal than you may have taken it. I have honestly wondered in the past whether you are actually Orpheus reborn. It wouldn't surprise me if the ole chap decided to participate in a somewhat covert way. I mean...where he hell did he dissapear to anyway? I don't mean that as an insult - it's just surreal how both of you share strikingly similar mannerisms, pet-peaves, and viewpoints. Also, your comment about 'people contributing to broken palace'.... orpheus offered alot great input on that map, so I would understand him wanting to be recognized as a participant in it's growth. I don't even know why you would care, though, since you had no part in that.

Anyway... no harm or discrimination intended. Back to the real purpose here, making a good map. I'm working on that rock tutorial this afternoon, and will try to get some solid work done on the map also.

Finger said:
Orpheus?

I've made the screens a little lighter.

Its rapidly reaching the point to where I won't even look anymore. I still fail to see the comparison. I really am on dialup dammit.

From what I have been able to ascertain, Orpheus used to post 10 or 20 screens all at once. I am betting that he and I would not get along at all as far as screenshots are concerned.

I am not asking for you to alter your current screens, just make some available for people with my problem.

I swear, its almost like pulling teeth. I seriously haven't even been in the maps forum for weeks. I only came here because of this map. Its very hard to work up any incentive anymore between the inconsiderate people giving me a hard time about screens and my own funk about my connection.

I do have to ask. Didn't Orpheus do anything good? The only time anyone calls me by his name is when they are either upset with me or using him as an example of being a dick.