[map] Boot Camp (HL2 Pro Mod)

This is a a discussion topic for the map "Boot Camp (HL2 Pro Mod)" by keved which can be found here

Map description:

This is an official level for the HL2DM Pro mod.

Installation

Download and install the HL2DM Pro mod.

Credits

The original brushwork is from Valve's legendary boot_camp level for Half-Life 1. All brushwork cleanup and optimisation (a massive task in itself), texturing, lighting and everything else was done by me.

The creators of the HL2DM Pro mod, Raticide and J@nek.

XGibbousX for his normal map creation scripts.

Textures

New normal map versions of a number of the standard HL2 Valve textures have been used in this level. All new textures have been included in the bsp for ease of distribution.

Map screenshots:

Nice enough work in places, but I can't help but feel you could do better. I appreciate the context of this map and so the need to keep it pretty "empty" for the sake of gameplay, but the basic architecture is, well, a bit TOO basic in places. The last screenshot in particular is really bland - wasn't the bridge in the original more interesting than that? I'd also say that the use of the same dark brick texture on multiple layers of the buildings leads to a very repetitive look, and indeed the texture itself seems a bit out of place to me - too dark and imposing for some reason.

All in all though, its nice to see Boot Camp return. I'll have to check out HL2DM Pro sometime.

Thanks for your comments, Reno.

Yeah, the aim was to stay 100% faithful to the original and not have any extra brushwork to get in the way of bunnyhopping or make gauss wall kills too easy. I actually had a lot more brushwork in there but was asked to remove it (for example, all rooms had columns to help break up the interior space, but people were getting gauss kills through them very easily.) Plus, the file weighs in 33mb as it stands (when I had the extra brushwork it was 47mb.)

No, the original bridge was like that - it's actually based on the decompiled geometry.

Hmm, perhaps make a "noncompetitive" version with extra detail? Right now it borders on absolutely spartan. Get some props in there!

I have always had mixed emotions about an "Exact" recreation of an existing map. If it played well with an older engine, what benefit, if any, is there in recreating it for a bigger/better one?
I played this map (like the whole world did I suppose) TO DEATH. I cannot imagine it getting any better play wise by recreating it brick for brick.
I will simply need to give this some more thought.
About the screens (the map is simply to large for my paltry connection) Why in the world would you chose such boring textures? Recreating the architecture is one thing. Recreating the repetitive textures is....

"If it played well with an older engine, what benefit, if any, is there in recreating it for a bigger/better one?"

So people can play it again in the 'bigger/better' engine, perhaps?

Perhaps but somehow I doubt thats enough. If it were not for your name attached to this map, it would fade away just like all the other "brick for brick" recreations.

Perhaps we'll see if you have enough of a name to keep it afloat.

Seems to be doing ok so far. http://www.hl2dmpro.com/hlstats/hlstats.php?mode=maps&game=hl2dmpro