DM_Motel

Looks like it might be an interesting map - you've got some tex-alignment issues in the last pic though.

Seems a bit dirty to be a motel to me, even a sleazy one, but if you're going for the abandoned-motel look then I suppose you've got it nailed.

Oh mai, look at the amount of graffiti in there! I think any would be
occupants of that place would have died from all the paint fumes that
probably still haunt those corridors :biggrin: Looks nice for a first time
effort in the editor, I'm guessing you have experience in another?

Looks nice, but I think you know that. The issue here is realism: we have a hotel with no fire damage, no collapsed areas, and still retains power though it appears totall decayed, but there's so much garbage it looks like a trash dump. Make a lot of it destroyed/burned down, it would be much more believable to have all that junk around; people don't walk into semiabandoned motels to throw away their beer bottles.

Also, explosive barrels would be fairly useless when the roofs are so low.

Impressive for a first map. Architectural detail seems to be lacking in
places, especially the ceilings. Granted, a motel is hardly the most
interesting of places, but it really needs more detail to stand out.
Monkey already noted some of the texture issues which need to be
cleaned up. Keep us updated on its progress as it's quite promising.

resize the screens to 800x600 and to within 75k or less.. the 275k variety is unacceptable.

Xat's jpg optimizer is calling to you.

You can add some destroyed walls with prop_statics, just look in prop_debris for some suitable destroyed walls and such.

Good luck with your map :smile:

Now that I look at the level again, the garbage really isn't so gratuitous. It still needs some more substantial stuff to fill it up - say, more interesting lighting. Once again, if the place is long abandoned, why are all the lights still on and functioning perfectly?

Orpheus is a mod in spirit, really ... and he's right. Our community is quite uptight about screenshots with large file sizes (I've taken quite a bit of flak about this myself) and with the program Orpheus reccomended it shouldn't take you more than a minute to resize them.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting MysticSiva</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
Last, no offense to Orpheus(are you a moderator or something?) but I don't plan to resize the screenshots. I don't see why it matters since they aren't posted right in the middle of this thread. If they are taking to long to load for someone then he/she doesn't have to look at them. I already have irfanview.

</DIV></DIV>

you wouldn't want me to be i assure you, the links would have been removed without a second thought.

my advice is friendly, BUT passionate. the fact that you don't see a reason has absolutely no baring on this topic. the file sizes are way to large. the program you use, is substandard when it comes to optimization of screenshots. don't try to argue, you will lose, i have been on this crusade for a while now and always came out victorious on who's program whips ass.

the file sizes really need to be under 100k, i prefer them under 50k but acknowledge that some shots wont survive well at that level.

you may decide to keep your current course and post large files, i will keep mine and point them out in each case. eventually people will stop looking at them.

please resize any future screens.
/ 2 cents.

Don't bother reoptimizing your images, just reduce the damn resolution. I'm not blind, so I don't need 1280x1024 screenshots to see your level.

Anyways, I'd say you went slightly overboard with the trash and spraypaint. And as Cass said earlier, a building with that much crap in/on it would be much more structurally dilapidated, with walls sagging, carpet pulled up, wallpaper coming down, missing floorboards, holes in the ceilings, exposed pipes, water leaks, you hopefully get the idea here...

Because I don't think the arguing is necessary, I like the map, and I don't want to lose one of the few genuinely promising HL2 maps shown here so early, I have taken the liberty of resizing the screenshots myself.

http://www.snarkpit.com/pits/cassius/screens/

Cass, don't bother, he is infantile. everything he said was "Me,Me,Me" :rolleyes:

sooner or later he would begin telling us how his awesome judgment doesn't need our input anylonger.

it takes what? 6 or 7 seconds to optimize the screens so the 56k people can view them? but those 56k people, f**k them, they are inconsequential. 7 seconds, big whoopee damn.

snarkpit has enough new people, we do NOT need them ALL.. people like this, can just go away.

if he thought i was asking to much, damn me, i could have asked him to do more, like.. grow up.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Orpheus</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>snarkpit has enough new people, we do NOT need them ALL.. people like this, can just go away.</DIV></DIV>

Perhaps Snarkpit has enough of the old people, stuck in the same old s**t.
Personally I think youre being a total jerk here Orph. Im sure he did not do them this way to offend you, or to make all the 56k'ers sad. Just live with it, Im sure he can learn until next time if its such a big deal to you.

I think you should calm down and stop being so inflammatory Orph. If
Lep has a problem with a member, then let him or one of the other
admins deal with it. The Snarkpit is a community resource, treat it
like so.

Take a look at the way you word your replies, they're far from understanding. Try to persuade people rather than order them.

Looking good, I like the feel and I assume that you are going to allow people to fire those saw blades at each other?!

Good riddance. If he doesn't have the common sense to post decent sized images, gets all uppity and offended when it's suggested that they are too large, and decides to leave because of one post, then there is no reason to expect him to have listened to negative critiques or to have been a decent member.

Besides, just look at what he said: "After looking at this thread again and several other threads concerning maps from new mappers it would seem that far too many of the regular posters are like Orpheus." Yes, we need more whiny dips**ts who make incorrect snap judgements about people on the forums. No loss.

You all should stop blindly defending everybody from Orph when it's pretty obvious that he's not always wrong.

The more the merrier I say - we're not a closed community and we
shouldn't be scaring people away like this. As cass said, the map looks
promising and its a shame to see talent turned away from the place. Its
especially sad when its over a matter as trivial as screenshot file
size :rolleyes:

Orph, I completely agree that the screenshots needn't be so large, but
I think you could have handled the situation a little better. If people
don't take note when you suggest they lower their screenshot file size,
AFTER you have given them sufficient reason to (eg. We still have some
56k people around, locally hosted ones will eat up bandwidth, etc...),
then just ignore the post and don't give feedback.

Hmm. Well, I sure didn't see any breakable furniture :razz: Try replacing some of the garbage with breakable furniture, consider hiding some weapons (or even monsters?) behind them. Lastly, consider putting a few secret rooms in, which are accessible only by destroying the furniture. :smile:

This is pathetic. There are no 'poor old 56Kers' in this situation. Anybody who doesn't want to wait for the images will obviously not comment on the map, so this really doesn't affect anybody except the new guy. If he doesn't want to decrease the size, then it's only his loss when he doesn't get comments from anybody on 56K.

What the f**k is the point in having an arguement about it?

I have a prediction in my head...



:biggrin:

If he doesn't have the common sense to post decent sized images,
gets all uppity and offended when it's suggested that they are too
large,

He was ordered to resize them, it wasn't suggested.

You all should stop blindly defending everybody from Orph when it's pretty obvious that he's not always wrong.

I know the screenshots could have been made smaller, that wasn't the problem. It was the way he handled it.

Fellas, lets not argue over general Snarkpit policy for two pages in a Maps thread; take it to the Suggestions.

Maybe the hotel isn't all trashed as a result of years of gradual decay. Maybe, there was a big party the night before that got out of hand, or a recent riot that was quelled right before any serious damage (like fire) was done.

Those are the kind of excuses I would use to explain why my map doesn't have the realism it would if I was more experienced :wink:

Edit: Forgot to mention the map looks pretty cool so far.

Several months ago Orpheus had an argument, cried, gave an exhausting speech and left claiming never to return. Well he is back and still the same OLD Orpheus. Hey Orph... SHUT THE f**k UP!!!

-WhiteLegion

Flies round dung?

Please, trolling the thread isn't helping anyone -

Fellas, lets not argue over general Snarkpit policy for two pages in a Maps thread; take it to the Suggestions.

Both parties are just as equal for the blame, but i'm not locking the
thread. I just don't want any more have a go heroes and cheap shots
flying over something that is in essence, really quite trivial

LOL i came on this thread to see wot the motel map was ....

Lemme ask something : how many 56k plays online hl2 ?

all there is to say.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting whiteLegion</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Several months ago Orpheus had an argument, cried, gave an exhausting speech and left claiming never to return. Well he is back and still the same OLD Orpheus. Hey Orph... SHUT THE f**k UP!!!

-WhiteLegion

</DIV></DIV>

you.. are a nobody.. get back to me when your position changes for the better.
the rest of you, kiss my butt.

I re-read this entire thread three times now, and we have 4 distinct camps.

1) the new people
2) the cry babies
3) the old timers whom can't tolerate over sized images
4) the old timers whom can.

1) its basically this.. they cannot show good judgment, and someone has to inform them when and where they went wrong.. how its handled can be important, BUT molly coddling is not essential.
2) this group, i cannot fathom. they have nothing constructive to add, one way or the other.. they just cry endlessly.
3) why should we tolerate them, can someone explain it maturely?
4) its your fault this topic never gets resolved!! if we stood united, the problem would never escalate to anger. i blame YOU, not the new people.

listen guys, for all your claimed intelligence, and such, most of you still lack the basics when is comes to locating where and when a problem becomes an issue. to you, it was the person whom cried "FIRE" when it should have been the person whom set the house ablaze.

i am not going to name, names.. you know which group you fall into and i am sure you will continue to remain within that group, because most of you have no inclination to change for the better. :sad:

i would like to stress, how i handled the new person may or may NOT have been wrong, but how you handled ME in front of them was as important, if not MORE SO.

you, any of you could have continued my thoughts, in a more constructive manner, but most of you took it upon yourselves to be even more childish than you claimed i was being.. damned few of you can be proud of yourselves, and this finger pointing really needs to end. it in particular shows the new people that if we cannot get along as old timers, how will they?

each and every one of you, whom did not go to any extent to show this person where they went wrong, are at fault. ALL OF YOU.

shakes head and sighs

yup, you made us look like a bunch of old women at a bitch fest.. shame on you. you had an opportunity, and you wasted it. i can honestly say, i am extremely disappointed in a few of you.

what remains to be seen is, do you feel as ashamed of yourselves, or will you continue to berate me for crying "FIRE".

myself? i think it will be the latter.

orpheus ... no offense buddy but I didn't even read all of your last
post. seriously, just take a step back and think - you just re read the
thread 3 times ... why ? does this trivial arguement really mean so
much to you that you'd spend 15 minutes re-reading it and forumulating
a reply which you hoppe will change the attitude of someone sitting at a computer halfway across the world?

seriously - you don't need to justify yourself in an online forum...
sure, it's a "close" community etc. but in the end a lot of the posts
here (and the arguements) are trivial things. I think you should make
yourself spend less time here, reading posts, disciplining newbies and
reprimanding crybabies. spend more time in the real world with things
that actually matter instead of screenshot sizes and who's right and
who's wrong.

I think people
should stop making such a big deal about other people. you don't HAVE to be
married to everyone here at the snarkpit orph - just take it easy and
let the newbies be crap and the crybabies cry .. in the end how does it affect you ?

peace.

edit: that was worded very poorly - excuse my syntax and grammar, it's quite late, but I hope you get the message

i appreciate your words 2D, but.. i cannot explain it.

in the end though... you are right. perhaps its best if the rest of you take up the gauntlet. most of you have not the sense of it yet, and as long as people like me retain it, you never will.

those of you whom think i handle things poorly, try it a while, its not as easy as you seem to think it is.

try walking in my shoes a while, then.. we can talk as peers. you may think, "what an arrogant ass" but whom is judging who?

I'd rather not 'walk in your shoes' ... I frankly don't give a s**t
what size ppl make their screenies lol, and I can't find the time to
reprimand everyone here on all their mistakes

just let it go, man. spend time with ur family, the people who actually
matter to you, not a bunch of randoms you will never meet and whose
lives you probably don't value over a dustbin ...

that, is a very sad way to view this forum, but one i can at least comprehend.

thanx.

/me votes for option 1

nice start Mystic, but as 56k is the standard connection for hl2 users, then it would be good if you could optimize any screenies a bit better.

ta

Wow, that looks a heap load better. I love the car park, and theres not
a lot more you can realistically (ie stay in theme with a motel) do to
the architecture.

I think you should stick some graffiti tags on the outside walls in the car park, and remove some from inside.

And possibly add roof access to the building - to give tjhe combat a
vertical plane to fight on. also you need some kind of paying
desk/booking desk - all the US motels i've seen on films have a
reception jobby area then all the units slightly separate.

edit: can there not be some more cover outside? it looks a little TOO
open. perhaps stick some dumpsters/bins in the corner of the yard to
provide cover for anyone who jhappens to be fighting outside.

Wow. I think this is the custom map with the closest style to the official ones that I've yet seen. Still needs a few more physics props outside.

I actually don't care for the exterior too much, but the interiors are
looking great. Reminds me a lot of Max Payne, which is a good thing :smile:

What an improvement! Keep it up.

The lighting you have fits the atmosphere very well. Such as the blue hue you have in the laundry room and the orange lighting from the fire in the areas where there is blown up concrete.

I do fear that if all that junk is grav-gunable a server playing on the map will lagg up real fast.

Besides that it looks fine, but the hotel does need wrecking a bit.

The outdoor area looks great! :smile: I like the shape of the motel building from the outside -- very... uh, motelish.

I like the two new screens featuring the motel on fire -- it looks good, but something in my mind likes the old run-down style you had earlier (before it was on fire). Only thing I can suggest, is that it appears that you have a lot of concrete in screens 1 - 2. Try replacing it with some wood debris, I doubt a motel like that had enough money to have concrete walls! :smile:

edit/ just looked at the screens again. Is that concrete debris, or is that wood debris?

There should just be a filesize implemented for the screenshots...say
250KB or something...then there'd be no arguing. I'm sure there's a way
to throttle or limit even remote links.

There should just be a filesize implemented for the screenshots...say
250KB or something...then there'd be no arguing. I'm sure there's a way
to throttle or limit even remote links.

Yes, many. It'd be very simple to add
some php code to check the size of an image when being added to a
thread (not every time it's viewed.)

Obviously, it would help
tremendously for people who add pictures to the map area in the
snarkpit database. Obviously, this is the only area you can control.
Not really sure why Lep hasn't implemented anything like this.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting MysticSiva</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Glad to see that this thread was cleaned up. Thank you for posting about the map Orpheus, but I already knew what your opinion of it would be.</DIV></DIV>

you haven't a damned clue what my opinion is about this map, i haven't looked at it yet.

just because you're narrow minded, don't put me in that group with you. i can and often do critique maps, and have a reputation for 100% unbiased views.

keep your opinions about me to yourself until AFTER i post my critique.
post a damned link so people don't have to tolerate your rude screenshots. :rolleyes:

No more off topic replies, they WILL be deleted.

The first two pictures look great, the third looks good, and the last two look pretty bad. I really like the destroyed interior and it looks much improved from the last pictures I saw. However, the laundry room doesn't look realistic, and the outdoors just looks crappy. From what I can see in the pictures the outdoors looks amateurish while the insides look really solid. Either cut the outdoors or improve it.

Also, it really looks nothing like a motel, in any way. A motel is a cheap ass one or two story building with exposed hallways and an interior lobby. The rooms all have windows and doors that overlook the parking lot, which surrounds the building. The interior you have with the center columns in the hallway would fit perfectly if you were making a swank hotel, but not if you're trying to recreate the local Days Inn. The exterior looks like a nursing home or something as well. I'd suggest either renaming your map or looking at pictures of real motels/cheap hotels and redoing sections of the map. If you're not really looking for realism then by all means please ignore this last paragraph. :razz: