Ugly is the New Pretty

The commercial HL2 levels and the default textures all encourage Source
mappers to design these grungy maps (City 17 and Ravenholm come to
mind). Now, there's nothing wrong with the look, as I am a fan of
these decrepit architecture myself. But I also want to see more
maps that sport something from a city with a decent budget.

Perhaps this will no longer be the case once people have mroe time to
develop their custom textures. I look forward to the first wave
of "nice-looking" maps in the future.

Textures need to be dark and grungy to disguise lighting problems. Going with clean textures is a huge challenge.

if i can get my son out of my mapping PC long enough, my map will be rusty/grungy. it will also be wet, is water considered ugly :biggrin:

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Orpheus</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>if i can get my son out of my mapping PC long enough, my map will be rusty/grungy. it will also be wet, is water considered ugly :biggrin: </DIV></DIV>

Mainly depends on the kind of water (HL2 has multiple as you know :wink: )and the placement of it really.
As far as I know, the only way you can have clean/slash stuff-with-a-budget textures, is by setting all the lighting in a manner that casts no or few shadows. Extending off of what Cass said :smile:

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting G.Ballblue</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
(HL2 has multiple as you know :wink: )

</DIV></DIV>

no, i don't.

sadly, a whole plethora of things have kept me away from HL2.

right now, its exhaustion.. 5 days driving from here to oregon and back.. i can't seem to wake up.
perhaps tonight.

I wish that the VALVe mapping contest allowed textures that were not included in the game... THAT would ecopurage me to make some new ones.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Orpheus</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>i can't seem to wake up.</DIV></DIV>
I'll fix you up a good double-double :razz:

Of course there'll be "nice" custom textures out one day. HL1 was all labs and deserts, but with Counter Strike etc. we were introduced lots of residential textures to play with.

Personally, I'd like to see more sci-fi textures as the Combine ones are a bit lacking :/

Real-life isn't clean.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Gorbachev</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Real-life isn't clean.
</DIV></DIV>
i'll have you know, the only thing on me is my wif*thwacks ensue*

I wish that the VALVe mapping contest allowed textures that were
not included in the game... THAT would ecopurage me to make some new
ones.

They want Halflife 2 themed maps so it's quite understandable that they didn't allow custom textures.

Counter-Life had a mix of hl and cs textures didnt it?

If you really are a good mapper, then you should be able to make something cool and original even without custom textures/custom models.

If you really are a good mapper, then you should be able to make something cool and original even without custom textures/custom models.

This is what I am attempting to achieve with my latest map,
Justice. It's definitely styled differently from the grungy look
of most HL2 maps. As for how successful my meager attempt will
be, I'll have to wait until I finish the map and let the people at
SnarkPit be the judge.

Hey, JUSTICE looks awesome.

I think it takes more time and effort to make a building with holes in it than to make a straight wall though, you see what i mean?