SP Level Design Blog

Hi All

Feel like Im pounding these forums at the moment but want to share my level design blog with others...

This blog is focussed on SP mapping and is pretty much just my thoughts and experiences on the SP mapping process along with links to other resources.
I find theres a lot of focus on how Hammer works but very little on bringing it all together into an enjoyable player experience.

Blog needs more pictures, vids etc but I hope you like whats there so far and find it useful.

Please comment on posts with your own thoughts...

http://fpsleveldesign.blogspot.com/

Aazell said:
Hi All

Feel like Im pounding these forums at the moment but want to share my level design blog with others...

This blog is focussed on SP mapping and is pretty much just my thoughts and experiences on the SP mapping process along with links to other resources.
I find theres a lot of focus on how Hammer works but very little on bringing it all together into an enjoyable player experience.

Blog needs more pictures, vids etc but I hope you like whats there so far and find it useful.

Please comment on posts with your own thoughts...

http://fpsleveldesign.blogspot.com/

You're not pounding the forums at all, in fact, it's what we need at the moment

I like the blog, I must say it includes some interesting topics!

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Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nibgames

Oh, cool, I'll need to start from the beginning on the blog.

update Read the first 10 entries and it seems to me like you've had a bit of experience in all of this. reads SnarkPit profile

Oh, 10 years eh? Is level design still a hobby for you? -Or do you plan to take it to the next step? What is it about SP mapping that you love so much? And are you a regular on other mapping/gaming sites?

I'll be sure to read everything on that blog btw

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Blogger is annoying in that posts can only be arranged in chronological order. I may port it over to different blog site where I can add a little more of a cohesive structure.

So to answer questions...

10 years yes....

Started on HL1 way back then moved on to Operation Flashpoint, Jedi Outcast, Soldier Of Fortune 2, Return To Castle Wolfenstien, a little Unreal Tournament (the original), Tribes 2 and finally the HL2 games with a focus on HL2, Alien Swarm and Left 4 Dead.

I had released Alien Swarm SP mod (http://alienswarmsp.blogspot.com/ or http://www.moddb.com/mods/alien-swarmsp with an intention to release a number of maps to accomodate single marine maps and play however due to the huge drop off in player numbers and interest I moved on to HL2:EP2 mapping. I would still love to go back and complete some ideas around this though. The combination of top down shooter plus the game being free to all seemed like a great opportunity however it really didn't seem to take off.

Mapping is a hobby and will always be. I have no illusions that my maps are anything other than just a bit of fun and have always suffered with a tragically short attention span when it comes to finishing my work to a professional standard. To quote the Joker.."I'm like a dog chasing cars"...
Think Homer... "Oooh that dog has a puffy tail! hee hee hee" runs off and chases dog round tree.

As I mentioned above, it's purely my thoughts from a personal perspective and should be taken or left as the reader chooses.

I've moved through a huge number of mapping sites depending on the game I'm focussing on at the time. Right now I'm a regular on Interlopers, Steam Forums and here. Previously I've been through Swarm Armory, L4D Maps, Mapcraft (for JK2) and many others.

Interestingly, it's only recently that I think I've really discovered the key to overcoming that problem with not finishing work which is the test map method I describe on the blog.

By keeping building to a set of small and simple test maps I can get the structure of a map together without getting stuck on what is going to occur round the next corner.

Updated blog with a groovy post about player gating methods.

Methods of preventing the player from moving forward until you are ready for them to do so.

Niborius said:
You're not pounding the forums at all, in fact, it's what we need at the moment

I concur. In spite of my dim views of SP mapping, Snarkpit needs the activity. If you take the time to sift through the back posts you will notice that SP has never really gotten the time due it here. Mapping is mapping. How we reach our goals is the ONLY important thing. Competition between MP and SP is not.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Aww I loves yoos too Orph...

No you don't, and I expect you never will but Snarkpit needs you. Or more precisely, more active people like you.

I don't have to like you to recognize that.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

I'm going to luv you anyway... have decided.. xx

New post!

What does the player want?

http://fpsleveldesign.blogspot.com/