Author Topic: Maps are getting boring. (Read 40129 times)

Plague Bringer · « **on:** December 25, 2007, 06:08:44 am »

Mappers these days...

They always stick to the safe side of mapping. There's no more experimenting.

No more Hamunaptras, Labyrinths, Ancient Remains, it's all just a bursh based tremor clone. Where's the excitement that came with the unexpected quakes and eruptions in volcano? What about the beautiful architecture in PoM? What about the nausea inducing ameplay alternatives such as in Pulse_102 with the locking doors.

Well, that's my rant. Expect (while at the same time avoid expecting) a new, fresh, map from me sometime in the near (give or take) future.

Survivor · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:36:55 am »

Most people do not understand the possibilities of the triggers included nor the gameplay tactics they can employ. They come up with outrageous ideas which trem can't do while avoiding the possibilities it does have. And gameplay is key to having a map remain fun to play. Also a factor is that many people just map and don't have at least a theme in mind. The mapping comp at least gives some direction and the Jan-March one even is actually quite restrictive in theme, but open in execution.

On the other hand you can't expect tremulous to have the quantity of high-quality mappers q3 enjoys. It just isn't that well known and some have moved on to newer games, although I must admit that many mappers are flip-flopping between q3 and the newer games. I know that dichtfux/spirit at least has checked out tremulous, but I don't know about any of the others.

n.o.s.brain · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2007, 06:05:19 pm »

ummm, so noobs making goofy maps dont count? darn......

your face · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2007, 06:09:55 pm »

Quote from: Plague Bringer on December 25, 2007, 06:08:44 am

There's no more experimenting.

ORLY?

Plague Bringer · « **Reply #4 on:** December 25, 2007, 06:33:42 pm »

your face and brain, I respect and look up to you guys for the new concepts you're bringing back into the mapping community, but to be honest, you guys aren't very well known as mappers. Lava made a map a while back, Sokolov, and it was a layout experimentation from my perspective. It was a small change from the normal maps, but it made a big difference. That's what we should be looking for. Not your average cargoship with some elevators and a maze of vents, but your average cargoship with airlocks, patches of alien creep at their bases, locking doors., docking rooms with a forcefield leading to the void of space which, when down, kills everyone inside. While many of these ideas may seem gimmicky, it's these features that I find make games that much more interesting.

ShadowNinjaDudeMan · « **Reply #5 on:** December 25, 2007, 09:56:33 pm »

I always want to make something new, but I have no good ideas, and a good base from whihc to add cool features takes me ages, by which time I am out of steam.

For example, my map, [dunnowhattocall] was a space ship, and it was going to all be placed at an angle, as if hanging damaged in space, with green goo collecting at the bottom, but I ran outta steam, and we shall never play the map.

Ideas + Time + Will + Skill == AwesomeCoolRadMap

Plague Bringer · « **Reply #6 on:** December 25, 2007, 10:09:40 pm »

I'm working on a map that resembles the Predator temple from AvP, in the way that every x number of minutes, it reconfigures itself to block or unblock certain passages and routes.

Knowitall66 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 26, 2007, 01:07:07 am »

The are some interesting maps out there, just people aren't willing to release them. By looking at what is posted here, they just expect the map to be shunned.

n.o.s.brain · « **Reply #8 on:** December 26, 2007, 02:14:28 am »

well, for us newbies, releasing a map is..... a bad experience!

which, in a way, makes us strive to improve....... a good thing, i guess.

Johnpp · « **Reply #9 on:** December 26, 2007, 07:02:18 am »

Quote from: Knowitall66 on December 26, 2007, 01:07:07 am

The are some interesting maps out there, just people aren't willing to release them. By looking at what is posted here, they just expect the map to be shunned.

I agree, the JA mapping community was once thriving. Now, all the mappers are afraid to release maps under threat of flame.

I once started a map, with booby traps and falling pits and trigger_hurt spikes, but I've since ditched it for more serious projects. Maybe I shouldn't have.

X-20 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 01, 2008, 02:19:04 am »

Quote from: Johnpp on December 26, 2007, 07:02:18 am

Quote from: Knowitall66 on December 26, 2007, 01:07:07 am
The are some interesting maps out there, just people aren't willing to release them. By looking at what is posted here, they just expect the map to be shunned.
I agree, the JA mapping community was once thriving. Now, all the mappers are afraid to release maps under threat of flame.

I once started a map, with booby traps and falling pits and trigger_hurt spikes, but I've since ditched it for more serious projects. Maybe I shouldn't have.

thats what im working on right now, not for gameplay or novelty form, but for general puzzle like theme to it to solve.

n.o.s.brain · « **Reply #11 on:** January 01, 2008, 03:20:37 am »

mebe a puzzle that aliens hav just as much trouble solving as humans?

UniqPhoeniX · « **Reply #12 on:** January 01, 2008, 07:55:11 pm »

In my case:
Ideas + Time + Will - Skill

I haven't made much in 3D and still got lots to learn before I can make a map worth releasing. But definitely, this forum has probably discouraged MANY newbie-mappers, instead of trying a map and giving constructive criticism, we see flames about every detail on every screenie. Not a good start for new mappers.

your face · « **Reply #13 on:** January 01, 2008, 09:05:24 pm »

AYE!

ShadowNinjaDudeMan · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2008, 11:16:09 pm »

though tbh the community is improving, slightly, but improving.
Face it guys.

your face · « **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2008, 12:40:50 am »

am i proof yet?

Lava Croft · « **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2008, 12:00:06 pm »

The best solution to not liking the maps you are presented is to try to do better yourself. That sets the best example you can think of.

your face · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2008, 08:22:15 pm »

you dont realize how hard it is to map until you actually start making cool maps yourself.

Plague Bringer · « **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2008, 09:50:33 pm »

Quote from: Lava Croft on January 11, 2008, 12:00:06 pm

The best solution to not liking the maps you are presented is to try to do better yourself. That sets the best example you can think of.

Doing so.. slowly. New trend with my friends, Soldier Front and eXteel, so I'm kind of busy with other games.

Lava Croft · « **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2008, 02:15:39 pm »

Quote from: Plague Bringer on January 12, 2008, 09:50:33 pm

Quote from: Lava Croft on January 11, 2008, 12:00:06 pm
The best solution to not liking the maps you are presented is to try to do better yourself. That sets the best example you can think of.
Doing so.. slowly. New trend with my friends, Soldier Front and eXteel, so I'm kind of busy with other games.

You should have posted a picture of your map in progress to strengthen your words

WaxyChicken · « **Reply #20 on:** January 02, 2009, 11:06:28 pm »

I'm posting from my phone again so plz forgive my formatting. Plauge Bringer- i too am working on a AvP temple style map (suggested to me by kor pbhead). I've made great progress with the changing maze but the problem i'm having is with asthetics and playability. hidden triggers in one area of the map can trigger a wall on the other part of the map to open up or close. the map is mid size but feels huge with all the twist and turns. I still have box-map style corradors that i hope to reshape for a better look and feel. but my worry is: would a map like this be popular when players are constantly getting lost and cant find their base or the enemy base? Or will that just kill off the map's chances of a fair review by the players?

Archangel · « **Reply #21 on:** January 02, 2009, 11:39:34 pm »

Actually, this is a decent necro. I think with the advent of Station13, and face's maps, the mapping community is getting the idea. Nubcake's maps are pretty decent looking, and the rain he is using is REALLY original, it adds a whole other level of gameplay.

amz181 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 03, 2009, 12:07:35 am »

Id bloody try and make interesting maps IF I DIDNT GET SO MANY BLOODY ERRORS!

WaxyChicken · « **Reply #23 on:** January 03, 2009, 01:28:34 am »

Necro theread? Bummer. And sry. Thread Dates dont show up for us cell phone surfers.

fleash eater · « **Reply #24 on:** January 03, 2009, 10:16:44 pm »

i always try to do something out of the box, but almost every time i lose my steam like shadow and just stop.........i have 23 maps in my WiP folder.. but im not sure i want to release any because none of them are properly done or uncomplete and i just want to try something new, so i am going to find a project i like and stick to it. which is most likely the one i posted in random dev shots.

-ƒlesh

Plague Bringer · « **Reply #25 on:** January 04, 2009, 05:27:00 am »

Haha, Waxy, I started a map like that a while ago, too. The only problem I found with it was timing all of the func_trains properly. Other than that, it was pretty simple (mind you it's a very small map). Personally, I loved the map, Pulse. You may, or may not, have played it. It featured a system of doors that could be locked, requiring one to take the long way around the map. A lot of people complained, but I found my way through the map my first two or three times playing it, and have known it like the back of my hand ever since. It was a fantastically fun map. It featured outdoors that would hurt players. Humans that spawned outdoors and had to walk to the inside to begin their base, the locking doors that I mentioned, and an array of other gimmicks (cameras, elevators) that added a lot to the gameplay.

TL;DR: While a lot of people will complain about getting lost, if the map is well built, it'll still be awesome fun.

E-Mxp · « **Reply #26 on:** January 04, 2009, 04:33:42 pm »

The problem is, is that if someone releases a map, almost no server will play it. And if a "new" map is call voted, people disconnect because they are too lazy to download the map and connect with a server that plays ATCS.

There are so many great maps out there and yet almost no server plays them, the default maps are getting boring because they get played to much.

Samurai.mac · « **Reply #27 on:** January 04, 2009, 04:52:00 pm »

Here's a fun idea, which may or may not end well:

Everyone who wishes to take part, spend two weeks or so on creating a small section of a map, establish a theme and a basis for continuation. Then after those two weeks, everyone sends their map to the next person who then spends two weeks continuing the map and so on until all the maps are "complete". You can make alterations to existing pieces of the map, but they have to be small alterations (Rather than tearing down someone else's work and starting again).

Not only might it produce some interesting maps, but it would be a useful learning process for some mappers, who may not yet have the skills to continue what someone else has started.

Archangel · « **Reply #28 on:** January 04, 2009, 05:09:32 pm »

every project attempting this has failed greatly

Samurai.mac · « **Reply #29 on:** January 04, 2009, 07:30:20 pm »

I've known groups of people attempting a build a map together, Orbital Station 42 for example, which appears to have drifted out of orbit and into the vast void of unmonitored space, but that's not exactly what I'm suggesting. As far as I know (although correct me if I'm wrong) nothing quite like this has been done before.

News:

Author Topic: Maps are getting boring. (Read 40129 times)

Lava Croft

Lava Croft

Archangel

Archangel