dm_plato

I happened to notice during the last Server update some chatter
about SDK being supposedly fixed again. So I started playing
around with Hammer and cranked this out in the last couple days.

It's going to be a very small enclosed frag-friendly multi-level map
with a simple layout and eye-pleasing design. My focus will be on
fun and very balanced weapons placement and game flow... in the
spirit of my dm_playground_deluxe map.

At this point basic geometry is done, weapons placement (no RPG)
and some experimental textures and lighting. By far quite a bit
to do yet, no optimization of any kind done at all at this point, but
it is playable on the server even with the worst framerates dipping
into the 50's on my mediocre client gaming system. No real eye
candy or dress-up bits yet. I'll move on to that once I'm sure
that this first version plays well and is optimized.

If you just download this and walk around it, expect to be pretty
bored. It has to be played with two or a few friends to really
appreciate the thought process in it's development.

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Map: dm_plato_beta1
Map Type: deathmatch (small)
Rel: Some time in November '06
Author: Mike Jones - [EM] Moike_the_Squid
Email: Moike_the_Squid@yahoo.com
Spawns: 6
Size: 2.53 megs zipped ~ 5.41 megs expanded

• Download

http://moike.net/dm_plato/dm_plato_beta1.zip

• Server with the map in rotation

70.91.205.205 / moto-games.squick.net

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Orph, please don't bother... it's a 'box with stuff in it'.

Thanks,
-Mike-

Some rather small filesize screens... to give more of a feel for the map.

I had a quick run and the layout feels very classic but fun. I only got stuck in the stair area in the middle a couple of times. It's rather small compared to the spacious ramps and corridors around it.

I like the windows with the bullet proof glass. It allows some strategies by seeing whats in or outside wile still being protected by the glass.

I'm not sure about the rounded columns. The columns and shape of the windows looks interesting but somehow they don't fit with the rest of the rather right-angled floors and ceilings. They can also produce a heap of polygons (although I had no performance troubles). Also in parts like in the top of this pic the texture isn't 100% right aligned with the brush (should be a light angle). You can try the alt-right click trick to align them with the top texture. The mini-tiles texture doesn't fit with the rest of the textures also. The shiny cubemap effect is nice but maybe a simpler texture choice would fit better. The same is true for the outer corridors with the water(?) beneath them. I'm not a theme-nazi but the transparent texture on top of it looks out of place for an environment like this one. Maybe a metal grid