de_garage_b1

I've put about 20 hours into this map, over the course of a month I'd
say, and that include learning time. It's a fairly medium sized
map, suitable for anywhere from 5 to 20+ players.

For a better description and more info, as well as screens check out the map page: http://www.snarkpit.net/maps.php?map=2238

I'm basically looking for people willing to try it out on their server
or something, play around with a bunch of people and see how it
goes. Bots can be a problem as they all immediately gravitate
down into the car garage, the Ts not liking to take the alternate route
inside, and the CTs not taking the vents at all. Bot play is
possible, but doesn't show what can be done with the level.

If you get a server up please post the ip so I can join in if possible.

Obviously leave any suggestions here, but remember what problems I have already outlines on the map page.

Thanks for your support/criticism!

Looks Damn nice to me. It feels like a real office building.

The main thing you need to work on is lighting. There is nothing terribly wrong with the character of it, but many of your light sources just look odd. I'm not sure how you've constructed them or how you might want to fix them, that's just what I see. I'd also suggest more variation in the landscape outside. Most business don't settle for a flat lawn, and you shouldn't either. Try a big corporate sign with a fish pond and various other landscaping features!

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Some people are like slinkys...

They aren?t really good for anything, but you can't help but laugh when one tumbles down the stairs.

I'm assuming for the lighting you're talking about the lights
inside? I was trying to mimic those in office, but I can see what
you mean when you say they look odd. In the 3rd picture, I
noticed how one of them is bright around the ceiling and the other
isn't... so yeah, I'll look into that.

If you're referring to those in the room with the projector, they
should be exactly the same as in the official cs_office, I don't know
why they look so out of place. They do appear to be glowing
though, just not giving off light. I'll look into that as well

As for landscaping, That's a good idea, and I'll do my best to make it
more creative out there for the future. What do you think about
the grass texture? Should I lose the one with all the little
sprouts? At first I thought it look alright, and added depth, but
it doesn't really fit in with the setting. Not many offices would
have weeds and long grass growing in the front yard.

EDIT - I tried making some fountain thing in the front yard, but to me, it just looked tacky, like I was <span style="font-style: italic;">trying</span>
to fancy it up, and it just looked bad. I think I'm gonna leave
that how it is, or perhaps add a corporate sign or something like you
said.

A very good-looking first map, that is.

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:: Forceflow.be :: Nuclear Dawn developer

Yup, you've got my meaning in terms of the lighting. There also seems to be a light in the last screen which has no source... bad.

In terms of the landscaping:

Yes, I think the tufts of grass look out of place, but you might go for an abandoned look which would also enable you to have more fun with the interior lighting. I.e. lots of broken light fixtures allowing you to get good light/dark contrast in areas you might not otherwise.

Most companies in suburban America have berms that front the streets to cut down on noise, and the corporate sign is usually a massive concrete thing which is situated on it's own little artificial hill with flowers, bushes etc. surrounding it. These things are indeed tacky as hell, but it would be realistic! If you go for the abandoned look, you could have the sign cracked, with dead bushes and weeds everywhere. Maybe a dry fish-pond with lots of debris in it... I dono.

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Some people are like slinkys...

They aren?t really good for anything, but you can't help but laugh when one tumbles down the stairs.

Ok, well I've fixed a few things even since puting this up.
First, that light your talking about was part of my unfinished lighting
on the first floor. It was just there so you could see. I
just finished actually doing the lighting down there, so their are now
lights in the ceiling and everything.

I'm listing the changes in the description so you can see what I've done differently.

Very nice first effort, congratulations :smile: Along with other people's
comments, I suggest you do something with the ceiling in the
underground car park. Its too flat and featureless - something you
might get away with inside the office complex, but it stands out here.
Try putting in support beams, indents with pipes and things running
through them, etc... This will also give you some opportunity to play
around with more interesting light fixture locations.

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

Alright, I think I've taken care of most things, except for maybe a
sign out front. I'll look into the underground ceiling, maybe I
can spice things up. If you're going off just the screens,
there's actually more to it that a flat plane, but I can mix it up even
more :biggrin: .

Please check the map page itself to see the list of changes I've incorporated already.

Pretty darn good for a first try. I like the architecture and the layout--it looks great for facilitating gameplay. The outdoor and indoor areas are connected with windows, and that's perfect for good sniping. :smile:

You have lots of models, but some overlays would enhance the map even more.

Too bad that I don't play CS, otherwise I think I'll enjoy this map very much.

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"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge

Yeah, I spent the time planning the layout before I even started
mapping. I've got a few pages of graph paper with crude
blueprints, and I actually deleted the entire first and second floors a
while back and redid them because I felt it wasn't balanced.

Gameplay's definitely my main focus.

Looks pretty sweet buddy, keep up the good work. I agree with
some of the other comments... some of the lighting could be tweaked and
certain details adjusted, but honestly I can see that a lot of planning
went into this one. :smile:

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My maps are stupid.

Looks really great for a first attempt, you should be proud of yourself..

My first map looked like... Erhm lets not talk about that, ok? =).

I would try to use more detailed textures if possible and try to make the lighting look a bit more interesting.

I would make the lighting look like dawn or night, simply because it is
alot more easier to create a cool atmosphere during that period of the
day.

Ok, I think I'm pretty much ready to put up the new beta... should I
just do it now? Or do you think people should get more time to
point out mistakes with the version up here?

Thanks for your time guys.

Bump?

Still looking for advice on this.

Cool, thanks for he help guys O_o.

lol.

Judgin' by the screenshots, it looks pretty nice. I'll go through them one by one and tell you what I think.

Screen 1:
Looks pretty nice. Architecture seems quite good. Only a couple things which I think need work. The terrain is really flat, and it comes accross as pretty boring. The fence down the end looks fairly simple and boring too, it could do with some extra detail.

Screen 2:
Meh. It's alright, but the lighting is awfully boring and repetitive and the shot doesn't seem too interesting. Your architecture seems a little strange too. I've never quite seen anything similar to it in real life. Also, it could do with some.... stuff. It seems really empty and boring. Bomb sites should be interesting.

Screen 3:
Looks nice. Apart from the fact that it's filled with props. A little extra brushwork detail rather than relying on props would be good. Also, one side of the stairs has a fence, the other doesn't. It looks a bit odd. Perhaps the floor next to the stairs needs a little trim texture (like on the stairs themselves) or maybe you could fence it off like the other side. Apart from that, it looks great.

Screen 4:
Most obvious thing is the purple checkerboard. Somebody is missing a texture! :smile: What stands out to me is the lack of stuff. This time there isn't ENOUGH props, or anything to make the area interesting. As I said with screen 1, some terrain variation and fence detail would be good.... and add some props!

Screen 5:
Looks nice, I guess. Once again, you are relying on props for detail. I guess it doesn't matter too much though, since it's a nice clean office theme, and you haven't overloaded the place with props.

Overall, it seems pretty decent. It needs a little work to make it an excellent map, but it IS pretty good right now.

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I seem to have done toilet on your floor

Hey thanks! :smile:

Ideas are always welcome. I've compiled another beta, so perhaps I'll switch up the links and post new screens soon.

It still needs more variation out front, but I think the insides are much improved.

I'll take your ideas into consideration next time I boot up hammer.