Why do you make maps?

Me:

I like the fact you can build your own world

I enjoy it, for a reason I still haven't discovered yet.

What about you?

Originally a hobby, now I have come to want to work in the games industry. That and it's still fun :biggrin:

It's fun to do, basically. I also do it because I find it rewarding when people enjoy playing your map. That's pretty much it, I map for enjoyment really.

I'm an architect and mapping is an excellent exercise for my trade.

Being a great supporter of singleplayer rather than multiplayer games
(although that could change soon), I tend to map to extend the life of
my games. Once you've played a singleplayer game through several times
it gets rather tedious, so mapping for the game allows you to create
levels the way YOU want, with a vast number of variations.

Hmmmm....memoirs of a previous thread.

I have drifted away from mapping, in favor of critiquing others. It has almost as much rewards and makes you feel good when you find an author who can incorporate well.

I have so little time now to dedicate to a map. Critiquing is a great substitute.

Around snarkpit at least, I would venture that I have made at least as big a name in the field by critiquing as the best mappers we have at releasing top rate maps. Thats reward enough for me. Yup I set my sights lower than most :smile:

You don't need to be a full on computer nut over the age of 20 to know how to use it effectively (me = 13!)

I map because I like to make others happy!

I map cos I'm bored, dont fancy playing a game and carn't be arsed to do any work for college.

Mapping is like Crack. I'm on the wagon at the moment, but who knows when I might have a relapse? I'm still hanging around here after all.

I map for other people to play my maps, and enjoy them.

I map because there's a map out there I want to play... but I have to build it first. :/

I had this big insightful response thought out, but then I realized that I don't map anymore :sad:

I suck.

It's strange...

I started programming at 12, stopped it after a year. At 13 or 14 or
so, I started mapping for several games, at 15 for Half-Life. That got
me into texture arts, modelling and again, programming.

Nowadays I'm trying to program my own games, for which I'd also do
level design. Not that I'm that far with games programming, but it's
starting... :smile:

Strange how it all intersects...

I map and therefore I am.

Probably should say why I used to map, since I haven't been doing much for a long long time...

It was an easy way to create the sort of thing I would have wanted to
play at the time, since mapping for HL was a very WYSIWYG way of doing
things. Though since I stared Uni, i've been getting into other methods
of creating gameplay (namely programming), and since there's no longer
a drought of decent games I want to play, I no longer map. At
least, for HL. UnrealEd looks set to be a good contender for replacing
VHE in the months to come (Unreal is incredibly easy to mod for). :smile:

I map cos I'm bored, dont fancy playing a game and carn't be arsed to do any work for college.

same here

Mapping is like Crack.

Yeah, but fortunately I'm pretty much cured because my new PC can't run any 3D games. I think it's for the better.

Instead, I'll spend more time with my fiance and my family. And I
might even write a book in pediatrics. My time is much better
spent now.

That's my consolation for not being able to play games. :smile:

I've always like to create things and when I was 5 years old I wanted to become an architecht or an engineer. I didn't become an architecht, but mapping helps me to "release pressure". I've got a place in a polytechnic though so I'm on my way of becoming an engineer.

Games have also facinated me for a small eternity. I first tried programming at the age of 10, but due to the fact that I didn't know much of maths at that time it my intrest on the subject died.

Its a small (or big in some cases) hobby for me, really its the only
creative outlet for me (I suck at drawing), honestly its better than
watching TV or playing video games, since we are challenging our minds
to do be creative, rather than brainless TV watching.

I have a better question for you: why do people make paintings and make
sculptures? If you can answer that, you will have answered your own
question :smile: .

Mapping is like Crack.

Does this mean that one day I have to spend a good few months in rehab?

Mapping is like Crack.

Does this mean that one day I have to spend a good few months in rehab?

I know a few....none here though.

Why do we map? It's for the same reason why comedians enjoy their work. It's for the same reason why kids play with legos and building blocks.

We find pleasure when others derive joy from our creation. The act of building something completely your own is satisfying.

There are few things like it in real life. That's why it's so addictive.

Originally I started creating levels about 6 years ago for HL1 to get into the games industry. I was fortunate enough to get my chance. Shortly after starting work with a games developer (about 5 years ago) I drifted away from HL1 mapping because I'd done what I set out to achieve.

Though I'm still working in the industry I've returned to HL2 level creating for a totally different reason. Anyone else who has worked in the games industry will probably also tell you that ultimately you've got little control in how the games you're working on develop. All the important decisions are made by the publisher, upper management of your company, your producer and lead designer. In effect, someone else is the brain, you're just the hand that actually creates what they want. If they want a shark with frikkin laser beams on its head, no matter how daft an idea it seems, that's what you've gotta do because they pay your wages.

So, basically, I've personally returned to level creating with HL2 because it allows be to be in total control of what I'm creating. I don't need to ask the lead designer if he agrees, or schedule how long it's going to take or anything like that. I can just do whatever I want, whenever I want, which makes a refreshing change from my working day.

I want to be some sort of engineer when i grow up, so designing+ drawing something(either on CAD or hammer) is just fun for me.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Guessmyname</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>You don't need to be a full on computer nut over the age of 20 to know how to use it effectively (me = 13!)
</DIV></DIV>

/me looks at profile.. finds exactly what i suspected.
keep plugging away, by the time you are 20, you will see how funny your words were to us today

I map becuase I love the challange. There are so many little problems to over come.

I like to make something that is mine. There is no limits as far as what you can make.

I map because it's cheaper than drugs or alcohol. :razz:

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Orpheus</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Guessmyname</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>You don't need to be a full on computer nut over the age of 20 to know how to use it effectively (me = 13!)
</DIV></DIV>

/me looks at profile.. finds exactly what i suspected.
keep plugging away, by the time you are 20, you will see how funny your words were to us today

</DIV></DIV>

My thoughts exactly...

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<TD style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: gold" bgColor=black>? posted by satchmo</TD>
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<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quote:</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Mapping is like Crack. </DIV></DIV>

Yeah, but fortunately I'm pretty much cured because my new PC can't run any 3D games. I think it's for the better.

Instead, I'll spend more time with my fiance and my family. And I might even write a book in pediatrics. My time is much better spent now.

That's my consolation for not being able to play games. :smile:
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I am in essentially the same position. I like to pretend that I haven't been mapping or gaming much because I recognize that there are better more productive uses for my time. In reality it stems more from the fact that I am using a four-year old laptop that "runs" HL2 in the most minimal way imaginable.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Campaignjunkie</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>I map because it's cheaper than drugs or alcohol. :razz: </DIV></DIV>

that is just so CJesque..

i map because of the interesting people whom do the same thing.

i once thought, you had to be like minded to do it. i have since discovered just how erroneous that idea was.
for the most part, i like the people, and the camaraderie it generates.

I'm sure even after I've long stopped mapping, I'll still be an active member of the Pit. The online community has such a strong draw.

Before, the internet is just a place full of strangers. But now I see friends and familiar avatars in places I frequent. It's nothing less than a real-life community.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting satchmo</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>I'm sure even after I've long stopped mapping, I'll still be an active member of the Pit. The online community has such a strong draw.

Before, the internet is just a place full of strangers. But now I see friends and familiar avatars in places I frequent. It's nothing less than a real-life community.

</DIV></DIV>

you would be amazed satch.

before most of us old timers arrived here, we had never met. yet we all traveled the same circles. we all knew the same people, yet passed each other like ships in the night.
think where you will be 5 years from now, and that what we all asked ourselves 5 years ago :/

started mapping from the days of duke3d and it carried on from there

started mapping from the days of duke3d and it carried on from there

Oooh I mucked around in that editor, I'm 16 now so you can imagine I
was barely old enough to understand what the term 'mapping' was. Wasn't
that such a great editor? :biggrin:

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting thursday-</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>

Wasn't that such a great editor? :biggrin:
</DIV></DIV>

don't be to harsh. the build editor did things that still cannot be duplicated to this day by any engine.
imagine, an entire level 4 stories high, all contained within a 1 story map. i built one using the build editor.

It was the only game that allowed you to stick your fingers into an outlet, and I repsect that :biggrin: .

See double meaning, it was a great editor. Mwuha :biggrin:

Doom1 engine is something I respect. I've never seen curves done so nicely :biggrin: And levels so big!