WIP / Concept Area Screenshots

I feel like i havent been doing any real map designing lately

Becuase im working in quake wanting to get something finished for once.

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Why Do we all have to wear these ridiculous ties

First non-work stuff I've made in a long while, so I thought I'd throw up an early WIP. It's for Mapcore's 1024 unit contest - the idea is to build a fully playable HL2DM map inside a 1024 cube. Mine's a bit abstract, as I just started throwing down some brushes to see where it would take me. Turned out to have quite a clash of styles - so I've got a real world industrial building up the top, UT deathmatch arena stylings in the mid-level, and some trees for, you know, decoration :biggrin: Might try and bring things together into a more coherent end product - scrapping the top level as it exists right now would be a good start!



Deadline is Monday, so I dunno if I'll end up finishing it, but hey, that's what this thread is for :wink:

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Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

That industrial/metal buildings at the top are wild! Combined with the almost Chinese-temple style lower part. I'd settle for one style.

It's awesome to see you still mapping for good old HL2. :biggrin:

1024 Unit contests... why can't we think of something like this here :/

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Why snark works.

Well instead of settling for one style, I've now got a third - sewers :biggrin: Going for all the old cliches! Removed the trees from the middle floor however (replaced them with some dead looking shrubs), so it no longer looks much like a chinese temple. Not really sure WHAT it looks like to be honest, but I like to think that it does look pretty cool, so that'll do me :wink:

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Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

i'm undecided between the grey and black top. Can you guys give me your opinion?

http://users.pandora.be/storage_dv/arktekt680000.jpg

http://users.pandora.be/storage_dv/arktekt680002.jpg

Black :smile: Looks so much better, fits with the theme nicely. The grey looks to washed out/patchy

Black.

This base looks like an alienware PC. :biggrin: I'm undecided whether that's a good or a bad thing.

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Why snark works.

Black all the way Blister. It makes it look very stylish, and portrays that idea of the evil villain base. I love the design.

I actually totally forgot about this thread altogether. But now I shall utilize it.

Behold!:





This was supposed to be part of my competition entry for round 2 of the "map from base" competition, but due to certain events and regardless of the week extension, I was unable to finish it :sad: . However, I do plan to complete it; for I have some interesting ideas to include in it, so now that some of these events are out of the way, I may continue to complete this map as planned, just a week or two overdue.

What do you think I could do to better up that "core?"

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon

:eek: this is friggn' sweet.

I'm not a big fan of combine architecture, but vistas like this always remind me what awesome stuff you can make with it if you stay focused. The ceiling bit in pic 2 looks a bit like it was put on top of a simpler ceiling just to have something there. That's not bad but it's a bit obvious. Maybe try something more assymetric/alien/combiney?

As for the core: I'd try a (more intense?) refraction effect for the sphere. You could use the water shader and do something crazy with it, if you don't find an existing material. Custom shaders are pretty simple to play around with and don't need recompiles to test/change, so I'd look into this.

Keep this for round 3!

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Why snark works.

Well, that "ceiling" is actually the underside of a bridge, so those are trusses holding it up over the canal. It is a human scene with Combine architecture overlaid on top. I think what I'm going for here, if I don't leave this scene "as is," is a purpose for existence that portrays a Combine scene under construction. We always saw in HL2 all these Combine structures that were just there! Well after playing EP1 you could see while in the citadel, that these aren't just solid walls of metal. They have pipes and wires within them and they can burn, and blow up! So, it may be that these structures could (and have according to what I've read) just appear out of nowhere, but I would like to show the player a Combine structure "under construction."

The detail isn't ripe enough yet to portray that idea within these pictures, but if I have the drive (and the time) I'd like to give purpose to this scene. Otherwise I guess it just looks like another cool Combine "place"

I have read tutorials on those cool refraction shader effects. Never tried it mind you, but I could understand what they were doing. But you're right, Now could never be a better time to learn!

Thanks for the feedback reaper! :smile:

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon

These huge, transparent "cylinders of doom" in the citadel levels have a shader effect around them that is close to what I described. Maybe you can find it somewhere.

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Why snark works.

I'm currently redoing my old dm_vienna map into something different. Likely a Zombie master map, so it's a bit more evil and underground but maybe there will be a DM version as well. 90% of the architecture is done from scratch but I'm using a lot of bits and pieces from the old map which speeds things up. A first release could be ready within a week or so, but you know how it is with those release dates :wink:

Current name is "zm_underworld" (working title).

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Why snark works.

Wow, that first screenie is so juicy and realistic! I love the suspended light, that's a cool idea.

Looks like you made it easy for the ZM to make his way around the small rooms and corridors in that second pic.

I'm glad you took the time to detail the windows by insetting them within the building, nice!

In the last pic, the variation in ceiling height is a good idea. With ceilings that high, I think it draws to player to check to make sure whether they're inside a building or not, and detailing those ceilings either by making them arches or vaulting them, the detail on ceilings is always important. Most people overlook them, but here you have achieved the detail very nicely. Not too detailed, but just enough to draw my attention away from the floor, and lead my eyes to follow the silhouette of the arches down the corridor, a very cool effect!

Nicely done!

(For a name, how about: "zm_midtown"? I think it has a nice ring to it, and fits the setting.)

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon

Well, I got the "core" shader effect worked out, and I built a new model for it. Unfortunately I am not allowed to post a screenshot for it because it's part of my competition entry for the MFB round 3. But the refraction shader is super cool! It was definitely worth the effort to get it working though. Thanks again for the idea reaper!

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon

NP, thanks for your nice reply, also. I prepared an answer but didn't get to post it (duh').

And I didn't know there's a no-screenshot rule for the MFB!

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Why snark works.

Testing that my attempt to unlock this thread worked...

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Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

Now that the MFB round 3 competition is closed, I'd like to get some feedback on my progress. Without revealing too much, here are the general areas that the player will traverse following the events in Finger's round 2 map:

• Combine Depot
• Combine Core scene in the canals of City #teen
• Continuation of the canals leading from the "Core"
• Abandoned metal works & coal mining factory
• Gondola leading to the Mountain Mines.

Here are some pictures of the areas under construction. Each shot should give you a general idea of the theme for each section.

[*] The Combine Depot:


[*] The Combine Core scene (with updated core model and shader):


[*] Abandoned Factory (in-Hammer shot, not fully compiled yet):


The canals are still in too much of a WIP to show, and the gondola scene has yet to be built. What do you guys think (on color scheme and architecture?)

</LI>

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon

Just bumping this so it becomes usable again - damn auto-locking threads :S

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Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

Thanks ReNo :smile:

Nothing special but this is my first source work, its only about 90 minutes of work and I was mainly messing around with the physics settings and the air boat.

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Aaron's Stuff

Here is my first source map. The theme of the map is a small dam in some jungle in the present day. Depending on how the frame rate and compile times turn out, I plan to extend the map to make it more suitable for multiplayer, but for now, this map is mainly for gaining some experience.



I found some nice tree models from Highlander's (aka Vaalbera or something like that :razz: ) map pack, but I plan to replace them with the tree models from episode 2 once I figure out how to get them working.

Here (excuse the messy handwriting) is the original (unexpanded) design for the map.

Anyway, please offer your opinions, again, this is my first source map and I need some guidance.

Thanks :smile:

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Aaron's Stuff

Nice start Aaron.
I'm puzzled by your theme description a bit, you mean "mountain forest" instead of "jungle"? Unless you plan on replacing the vegetation to subtropical rainforest items.

Also careful with that water, for multiplayer source water is a dog on performance when the action is going.

Having fun with displacements I see. One thing you might be falling for here is the sometimes-unavoidable "I need vis-blocking here, put a cliff in" design mechanic. You see it so much in maps especially multiplayer, it really has to be done with a lot of forethought to look natural and unique. When do you see concrete poured directly onto rock ( without footings )? Never in RL, though it seems very common in maps.

haymaker said:
you mean "mountain forest" instead of "jungle"?

hehe, well I was planning for the map to have a subtropical jungle theme but it I can't find enough suitable tree and plant models, I think I might have to stick to this alpine forest theme.

haymaker said:
One thing you might be falling for here is the sometimes-unavoidable "I need vis-blocking here, put a cliff in" design mechanic. You see it so much in maps especially multiplayer, it really has to be done with a lot of forethought to look natural and unique. When do you see concrete poured directly onto rock ( without footings )? Never in RL, though it seems very common in maps.

Yeah, I see this alot to, and I will do my best to try and make this map look as natural as possible because making a realistic looking environment is the real focus, not level design and flow for a multiplayer map.

And thanks for the advice! :smile:

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Aaron's Stuff

Or you could stop being a douche and ask your brother to make some tree models for you. :razz:

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Crono said:
Or you could stop being a douche and ask your brother to make some tree models for you. :razz:

:eek: He isn't really good at making models and he probably won't be interested anyway.

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Aaron's Stuff

Study in Streamline Moderne





A rainy Saturday challenge. Probably unsuitable for MP due to brush count

Very nice. You got that into a 128 unit grid for floor heights?

I see less problems with performance than the usual "squeeze gameplay into one bit of concept art" issue. My studies (read: me torturing the engine to its very limits) show that polycount, especially clean on-grid polies like curves, etc, have surprisingly little impact on performance. It's almost entirely a shader-problem. Or very bad vis-blocking. But I'm sure you could have this building in a high-performance map, no problem.

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Why snark works.

That looks pretty accurate, in terms of geometry. :smile:

In terms of lighting and texture usage, it reminds me of blastwavecomic.com. Yellowish concrete, bright sunlight... and a post-apocaliptic, abandoned, ravaged world. I think it's the lack of windows and doors, the open nature of that building.

Oh well, just what it made me think of. Heh. :smile:

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Create-ivity - a game development blog

Thanks guys... Actually i forget what the walls worked out to inside, but there is enough room for floor sections with headroom to spare.

The gameplay thing I had fooled around with a layout, which I actually like, but got lazy with the other buildings as usual. As of now performance is max of course; the thing is a hunka hunka func_detail and would stay that way unless I blacked in the windows. I'm leaning towards having minimal models these days so it probably could work... do you guys know why func_lod is supposed to be so bad on the engine? That's what i hear anyway...

Never heard of blastwave, looks pretty well-thought-out. And hl2-ish in the post-apocalyptic sense too. Part of me really wants to keep those windows intact, which is ill-fitting for a destroyed building...

I wouldn't destroy it. It looks rather awesome and post-apocalyptic the way it is now. A mighty fine job for duplication's sake.

You say you might add it to an mp map eh?

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon

one thatI've been toiling over for a few weeks now





I'll post this in it's own thread once I've got a beta version ready. Maybe a week or so.

http://www.invalid-brush.com/images/tf/wpwc1.jpg

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i eat paint

Heh, looks like alot of fun. Did you model the cows?

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Aaron's Stuff

Nice shots; looks like you're staying true to the tf2 theme!

-Isn't there already a wildly popular version of Warpath already online?

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon

There is but it looks like a pile of massive turd (no offence to whoever made it should they read this)

Some of my works. :biggrin:

looks nice. What game is it? Looks like it would play well too.

your sewer cap is on top your dirt displacement.

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Reality has become a commodity.

looks nice. What game is it? Looks like it would play well too.

your sewer cap is on top your dirt displacement.

It's made for Episode 2. Still trying to keep the map well optimized as possible. And thank for telling me that. Didn't notice it until you point it out.

It sort of reminds me of Gears of War, but then again it doesn't. Looks quite cool. What is this, single/multiplayer?

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Aaron's Stuff

It's singleplayer. Utilizing the latest Source Engine and Episode 2 contents. :biggrin:
Trying to make a defend point map. It's a small map but I'm hoping to make this small map into a suitable close quarter combat between the Resistances and the Synths.

Any C&C?

Edited: I've noticed a hole in a displacement on the fourth screenshot and the breakable glasses not fit in the window frame in the last screenshot. Will fix that.

Nice, consider making a thread for this map. I like the third screenshot the best, followed by the second screenshot.

Whats with the bright orange lighting anyway, its pretty damn bright, you got any HDR in the map?

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Aaron's Stuff

Nice, consider making a thread for this map. I like the third screenshot the best, followed by the second screenshot.

Whats with the bright orange lighting anyway, its pretty damn bright, you got any HDR in the map?

Thank. I think the bright orange lighting in the backgruond has to do with the HDR and the fog as well as the dustcloud (maybe?) working together to cause that kind of lighting glow.

I'll start a seperate thread the moment I get up. :smile:

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OPBM Map & Texture Designer | Prototstar's Portfolio

A singleplayer thing I have been working on.




What do you guys think of the map so far? I'm thinking its a bit linear.

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Aaron's Stuff

I'm not sure what that place is supposed to be, it's a bit dark but it looks interesting.

It's difficult to judge a map like that from screenshots, as we're not actually exploring your level.

I'm also working on a singleplayer mappack/mod with friends which is based in Black Mesa, here are some shots.

Executive Hallway

Crate Room

Generic Tunnel

Bumpmapping on Hl1 textures

The Central Transit Hub:
Departure Lounge (WIP)

Meeting Room (WIP)

Management

Maintenance access

Pipe room

The half life 1 textures and assets in these shots will be remade from scratch, with bump and specular maps, the current ones are just placeholders. I am new to mapping with hammer, so these shots might not look great.

Aaron, I like the feel, but it's way to dark. I have trouble making out most of the parts. Might get a little technical, but... if this isn't HDR (doesn't look like it >_<) you only have 255 brightness levels per color with 0 being pitch black and 255 being bright white. Your pictures only uses the lower 1/4 of that range. Just like in a good photograph, you generally want to use a balanced spectrum, with equal distribution between dark and bright pixels. Even for night scenes. Especially the floor area, which usually makes up about 50% of your screen, should be in the brighter range for good navigation.

Here are the levels of your screenshot in Photoshop. You hardly make use of brightnesses over ~64. This also means a lack of contrast since you're not making full use of the available spectrum. Enforcer, those screens look interesting. Are those screenshots in Goldsource?

It's for half life: source/half-life 2, as I said, the textures which you see will be remade (some already are) with bump and specular maps.

ah, finally a mod for half-life source! (a reason to buy it now :P)

When you say the textures will be remade from scratch with bump and specular, does that mean you will be creating an all new texture pallet for this mod? or just bump and specular versions of the existing (huge) texture pallet? either way that's a lot of work! Good luck!

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon

Well, since it wouldn't be legal to use half life textures in a Half-Life 2 mod, we have to actually remake them, but that's fine, because we can have higher resolution textures.

It's not so much work, we will only remake the textures that we use, and have new ones also.

So this mod will be available for both Half-life 2 and Half-life: Source. And thanks!

"Enforcer" said:
Well, since it wouldn't be legal to use half life textures in a Half-Life 2 mod, we have to actually remake them, but that's fine, because we can have higher resolution textures.

Yes you can use them,but you can't use them for a commercial project.

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Never think about bad things!
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Are you sure? I was told otherwise by someone else.

Surely they would need to own Half-life or half-life source if content from our mod contains half-life textures/enemies/weapons?

I was typing a reply to this thread but I was at school and the computer I was working on got the blue screen of death so I'm going to write the post again briefly in point form:

• I don't remember this thread or posting those screenshots.
• Thanks for that reaper, I'll keep it in mind.

• Enforcer, I don't like the lighting. You have great contrast in your lighting (pitch black ceilings in supposedly bright rooms for example), it's unrealistic and not attractive imo. Light your spaces more diffusely, stop using spot lights for every light seemingly or increase light bounce.

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Aaron's Stuff

Oh yea, I meant to comment on enforcer's pictures as well...

Most of the shots have good lighting. I can tell you've given it a lot of attention, but in other areas I think it must just boil down to taste. These scenes: IMO, those shots don't look nice with the spot_lighting. for one it looks distractingly unrealistic the way they cut hard shadows that should otherwise bounce around to the rest of the room, not focus like a cone as if it were pitch black around them. You can keep the spots, but you definitely need to add some point lights to fake the bounce effect they should be having with the ceiling. Unless this is the particular look you're going for? -Like I said, it boils down to taste methinks.

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon