A concrete and steel serenity park nestled in a downtown area adjacent to a closed subway station. Lots of art/architecture, and teleporters to help with connectivity and layout. Hope you enjoy!
Juim
Well as you can see I am resurrecting this thread to let you know I have'nt stopped working on this map. I feel like running this map through the snarkpit ringer as much as necessary to have a better mapping experience than my first release for HL2. Hopefully this one will actually get some play as I feel it's a much better map than waterwerx. If you check the maps profile I noted that among the things left to do aside from the basics, is opening up the subway on either side and have trains run in each direction randomly. I am also considering having one or more of the elevators actually function, although I am hesitant for some reason.
Keep in mind that this is an alpha, no weaponry, and basically lit. The screenshots are updated, and there is a download now. Your input is greatly appreciated.
I've only stopped complaining about file sizes. I have NOT stop noticing them. Please cut this old man some slack.
As to the content, I am going to reserve judgment until I can go in and look myself. Pictures really aren't that good a medium to judge but, from the aspect you have illustrated, it looks like a box with stuff inside. High quality stuff, but still stuff. Have you got a really neato skybox planned to break up that box feel yet?
It would be kinda neat if you made it look like a city was teleported unto an asteroid or something. Having a barren landscape all about would look real nice.
whispers
If all goes well, I leave for LA on Sunday. :wink:
Heres an overview so far. I am going to try and get started on the basics of the subway station beneath the map this weekend.(although I am working saturday, so sunday is my only hope).
You know Juim, I like how your level have a unique look to them. I don't quite know how to explain them, but there's a slight touch of surreal to your architecture and setting. I hope you don't take that as a knock against your work (if you were attempting for 100% realistic recreation of an area) but rather as a compliment, because I see your level as potentially standing out from the generic.
Also, I like the z-axis stuff I'm seeing, especially in the 3rd shot.
Well, I am still working on this, albeit in little chunks on weekends. Today I changed the lighting, trying to creat a more early morning feel to the map. Heres todays work.
The lighting is very rough, but the new awning thingy has a nice feel to it. I was inspired by a resturaunt I drove by on the way to work the other day. I will keep posting weekly, but forgive me for the slow progress. I intend to also add some kiosks and a few other ground based items to provide cover from the higher levels.
Here are some more screenies depicting this mornings work. I think I am going for early morning. That time between darkness and light when the sky is almost blue and the street lights have'nt turned off yet. Before the bustle of people clogs the streets.(My favorite time of day).
I am almost ready to move on to the underground part of the map. Still nowhere near finished with detailing the upper areas, but I want to keep moving forward with the basic architecture.
Some refreshing forms and shapes. I thought I'd get a bit picky about the not-so-obvious theme but ultimately I figured I don't care. Looks interesting. That's all I need for now. Themes are for CS anyway :biggrin:
The cylinder-shaped building in the middle looks a bit unstable. Maybe because of the thin walls and the thin colums that hold it.
I'm not sure about the shiny white tiles texture on the walls? It distracts a bit too much from the other (much more interesting) architecture. I don't know if it would be better to change it or to add more detail to establish the part more as a background.
Initially, I was going for one of those outdoor malls like you see all over the downtown areas. The three main arches (not depicted too well in the screenshots) are the entrance/exit to a subway station. The area outside of the tall metal arches is the exit to the street and an industrial area. Behind that will be a pier, (I hope) , and that should be it. It started out as an experiment to see if i could create a box map, but one with some play value and eye candy. Since I missed the contest deadline, I figured I would go ahead with the other main areas.
Note: I am thinking of putting a sign outside of the park area
Juim, it looks like an interesting start. I like the fact that you are pushing shapes and trying to create some interesting architecture. I know it's a very early version, so I won't nitpick the details. My biggest question is, what exactly is your theme? At the moment, it seems like you are going to town with interesting shapes and layout, but not really trying to focus the 'what' of the map, if you get me. So what is this place? What type of environment are you trying to sculpt here?
