[map] CS_Cabaret

This is a a discussion topic for the map "CS_Cabaret" by alexroyce which can be found here

Map description:

[color=white]Cs_Cabaret, Hostage Rescue.
Author: alexroyce (contact: polskiskin@hotmail.com)
Website: www.AlexRoyce.com[/color]

Maximum players: 40
Recommended players: 6-32
Map Size: Medium

Background Story: Terrorists have taken control of the Uptown Cabaret gentlemens club in the commercial district. While most of the clients got out safely during the initial chaos, 3 civilians remain inside. Its up to the Counter-Terrorists to safely extract the hostages to safety using lethal force against the terrorists if need be.

Installation:
-Follow the instructions in the ReadMe.txt and youll be fine.

Known Issues:
-Because of a bspzip problem (wav's dont bspzip properly), the custom sounds for the map must be installed manually in order to work. Just install the folders according to the readme.

-If you want to run this map on your server and have clients download it, you need to download the .bz2 file. Put the entire .bz2 (dont extract anything) into the cstrike/maps folder on the server. Clients will download a compressed version of the map instead of the full .bsp file. Its even faster if you have an http redirect linking to it. The .bz2 is neccessary if you want clients to download the map off the server.

SERVER ADMINS: Get the bz2 at http://www.alexroyce.com/maps/cs_cabaret.bsp.bz2

-Players who download this map off a server will most likely be missing the custom sounds.

-Using bloom instead of HDR might cause the map to look really bright.

Map screenshots:

Let me explain a few things here:
1) I was pissed off because I was forced to move in the rain and it reflected in my posts, for that I feel badly but, you are/were acting like an asshole and deserved it a bit.
2) I trust Omegaslayer and SnowForSkate is relatively new so his judgment is iffy at best but putting that aside, there are very,very few 10/10 maps so I am justifiably concerned that this map is one.
3) I was ONLY able to see just the one image that you posted on the front page. ITS HUGE nature precluded me looking further, so I reserved my comment to the one image. I still believe it is a box with stuff inside it. There are ways of building maps without doing this.
4) Do not ignore my advice simply because my previous work is purely Half-Life 1 in origin. "Just HL1 stuff" will get you into big trouble thinking that way.
5) Snarkpit has a deserved reputation of taking "ANY" mapper and improving him/her. If that mapper has it within themselves to improve that is.
6) If I had a nickel for every new member who comes here with notions of self awareness I'd be rich beyond compare. Snarkpit doesn't care one bit what other sites think of "YOU". We only care what you do or how you act while you are here and thus far, you haven't impressed me one bit. You may not care what I think, but several here do and you might just piss off the collective lot of us in your nonchalant attitude.
7) Snarkpit promotes "Architecture" above all other concerns. We do not like people who make boxes and expect the props to "Bring it together".. We expect mappers to build architecture to suit the map, then hope that the props fill in the necessary holes one inadvertently creates in the style they chose. A map dealing with a theater for instance, is more than a box with seats in it. Same holds true with any theme. Architecture 1st... Remember that when commenting to us.
8) Learn who I am, I am a force to be reckoned with, at least around here. And I suspect, with many other sites as I am fairly well known for the prick I am.

Some of the screens are still to large.
http://www.snarkpit.net/editing.php?page=tutorials&game=HL2&id=158
Read the tutorial please.

Screen #1: A box with stuff inside.
Screen #2: Nice architecture on the building in center, but its a skybox, with stuff inside.
Screen #3: Another box, yes with stuff inside.
Screen #4: another angle of screen 1. A box with a walkway inside.
Screen #5: A hallway/box with stuff inside.

Don't hand me that "real world" crap. There is some interesting architecture out in the real world. In a game environment where you can literally build the entire map and balance it upon a pin, you do not have to restrict yourself to recreating square rooms with stuff inside.

If you have trouble with your framnerates, you have trouble with your mapping style, not its theme. In other words, you haven't been trained properly yet and Snarkpit specializes in mappers just like you and their improvement.

Anyone can be taught, even you.

Orph and alex: Calm down.

We're here to discuss maps, not egos.

Has anyone here actually played the map? Well, I have, and here's my input:

Nicely done. The rooms are definitely NOT boxes filled with models. Good job with the navigation, too - the models that were there didn't impede movement. I also like that the placement of the hostages isn't so 'grab and go' like in traditional maps. Good touch with the moving cars.

The problems I noticed were the texturing at the end of the booths int he main room - the 'cushion' texture just stops and the wood begins.. perhaps some sort of border would prevent this from looking silly? Next, by the CT start, there is an area it looks like you can walk into (behind the building) but there is an invisible wall preventing you.. it just takes away from the realism, and I dont see any reason why you couldnt open up that area. Additionally, the rear wall by the CT start feels like it needs a 'top'. There seems to be a shadow hanging down, but nothing casting it.

I like the architecture, and while I did not play it with others, I could envision some quality firefights. The numerous enterances are also a welcome change, and the detail and lighting are well done indeed. I am convinced that this could be a staple in the CSS community, EXCEPT: the gratutious nudity and propogation of 'Balls Out Games'. The gaming community isn't to the point of accepting these things yet, and while this is an appropriate environment for strippers, the excessive use of 'Balls Out' everywhere, and the fact that you chose naked strippers over strippers in lingere means it wont be taken up as widely as it could be otherwise. It is your license to choose to include these things, it just has consequences for how this map is recieved.

I would give this map a 10/10, but the Balls Out is just over the top, the map is a bit confusing initially, and the minor bugs I mentioned above.

Can no one seem to grasp that my CS is still updating after more than 100 megs?

I must reserve my comments to the images alone, if thats not good enough,to bad. I am the one who has to deal with 56k, the least you can do is acknowledge the shortfalls of being on it.

As for my ego, stuff it. I am harder on myself than anyone else could ever be.. If you think its ego, you know very little about me. I judge everyone compared to myself. If you cannot handle the heat, at least respect those who can.

The screenshots show, boxes with stuff inside... Stop arguing!

I was right, and wrong.
Its definitely not 10/10 material, buts not exactly a box with stuff inside either. You really need to learn how to present yourself. This "I am grand" attitude won't fly around here.

I grudgingly admit its better than I thought.
Took me well over 2 hours to download this thing. Accept my score. Don't contend it.

At least I tried it out.

[EDIT] Its a crying ass shame you had to be such an ass. I just looked at your website, and one of your DM maps was one of my all time favorites for HL2. In fact, I fragged it very often. I was even asked once if I was "The Orpheus".. He said "Cool" and we fragged some more. It was great.

Never mind. You made an HL2DM map I liked a lot. I was happier not knowing you.

Next time you post a map here, follow the rules/guidelines and, you'll have no complaints from me.

I helped establish the rules/guidelines. They are a touchy point with me and one that will land any new member in hot water. Any new member.

/nuff said about.. This map.

Alex: Excellent work on the map. This is one of the nicest looking custom maps I've seen. A couple of my friends have actually been to this place, and they say it looks identical. We speculated it was an employee there or something that made the map. You say it was just made from reference photos? Good job keeping it realistic yet maneuverable. Do you live in the Charlotte area?

Orpheus: I probably shouldn't get involved in this, but 6/10? Since it's a scale of 1 to 10, that's about 56%. That wouldn't even be a passing grade in most schools. Way to let your personality conflicts cloud your judgment. You're supposed to be rating the quality of the map, not the person who made it. The map is better than that, and you know it.

So maybe Alex did come off sounding a bit condescending, but then again, so did you with your statements along the lines of, "it's just a box with stuff inside" and, "I contribute more to the community than you."

I was curious what rules/guidelines Alex might have violated, but I couldn't really find anything. If they are so important to you, you should probably put them in a more prominent location. The only things I found were simple things like don't post test maps or maps that aren't yours.