LT Space Deathmatch Ultimate (03/04/2009)

DTurboKiller LT | 2009-03-31 19:06

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points ]

(4 votes)

Blurb NOW WITH BOT SUPPORT! Tweaked to perfection, inspected for any flaws. Currently for SVN only until next release.

Screenshot LT Space Deathmatch Ultimate (03/04/2009)

Get original file (45KB)

Detailed description

A map by D-Turbokiller (LT)
Ultimate Version (03/04/2009)
Starred Content! (eXpanded Finale version, see notes below)

====
INFO
====
Some of you probably know this map, made in the middle of December 2007. In my excitement I constantly released tons of new versions of the map over the time, with most done on small spaces of time. But, after seeing this turned into a featured map when I returned in late July, I decided to tweak this map until it was completely finished. And so it happened, and I released my supposedly final release of it. But I still felt bad about it, because it wasn't quite as perfect as I wanted, as some of the gameplay was faulty and unbalanced, and the level wasn't exactly symmetrical as I found out, not to mention some of the entities were missing without my notice, but the biggest fault was in CTF, where the blue flag was way too easy to catch. After so much time I returned yet again and grabbed the map, tweaking it to Ultimate perfection. Hence the new version name, and hopefully the last.
Now about the map. It's a fairly large map for at least 5 players (I recommend more than 8 though), and made for all game modes (obviously some feel better than others here). Graphically it looks very nice (in my opinion), and it's completely symmetrical, so it should work great for most modes. CTF is definitely a great option, since it's been much improved, especially in the Ultimate version. Also Capture mode has a better layout overall, and should offer some interesting matches.
A changelog is included.

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Ultimate version changelog
==========================
-Exchanged the gate at the very top with a platform and a roof above it. There are two jumppads at each side that allow you to reach either the flag or the Quad Damage.
-Getting the blue flag now takes longer, it's no longer an easy catch
-Put Yellow Armor to the tunnel at the middle of the map, replacing the Quad Damage
-Added Health Boost at the top platform, replacing the Yellow Armor
-Fixed symmetry at one of the outer side platforms, it was 1 block forward than it should be
-Finally fixed the blocky style at the outer platforms
-Fixed the bases. Made them stay on the ground instead of floating. Removed the bases from each of the outer platforms, but there're still bases in each outer side platform. Moved a base to the very top platform, where the flag is. There is now one less base, for a total of 5. The new layout should prove interesting.
-Made players aware that the jump tubes are divided.
-Replaced clip with glass for the lava, it doesn't look weird walking on it now and the ragdolls don't fall into it anymore

UPDATE 1
-BOT SUPPORT! Just type /addbot on your favorite gamemode and watch them play! Guaranteed low suicide rate!
-Lowered the blue flag to the platform, only the quad is on the "roof" now.
-Another symmetry fix. Moved one of the side center platform fences forward.

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Final words
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This map is very much done now, I am completely satisfied with the way I tweaked it, though I put it in "Evolving" status just in case.
With that said, I'm still thinking of moving on to other maps if I manage to have the time, though I doubt that will be possible right now as most of my time is occupied because of school.
So, I hope you enjoy this map. I would certainly appreciate any comments and ratings. If you think there's ANYTHING wrong at all, do tell; I definitely need your opinion on this map. But what I really hope is that this map gets its deserved attention from the developers; lets hope so.
Well have fun (if you have the SVN, that is). Maybe, just maybe, I'll finally see it in the next Sauerbraten release! *crosses fingers*

NOTE: I still have the older version of the map for the CTF edition, you can get it here: http://www.quadropolis.us/node/1570

Map file lt_sd.zip (4.85 MB)

Rating

points

(4 votes)

Comments

DTurboKiller LT | 2009-04-01 08:34

Well this is interesting. Both my map and "Aard3C: Night Edition" got a 1 out of 5 rating almost at the same time?
I guess someone is angry for not having the SVN, lol.

On a related note, congrats to the Cube 2 developers for reaching revision 1000! It's looking good so far.

EDIT: I understood that "Aard3C: Night Edition" had garbage on it that made it unplayable. I still don't understand my map's rating though. I downloaded it to check and it runs fine.

rocknrol | 2009-04-01 10:48

Lol, i have SVN. And i wasn't able to open the other map...hence the 1/5 rating, which is still too high for a map that can't be opened at all.

Suicizer | 2009-04-01 10:06

kill that noob that is giving this map a 1 :P.

I dont got svn yet, but as far as I can c from ur other edition and when I look 2 the screenshot, it doesnt looks bad :D.

Only 1 thing: I think the map is a bit 2 much bright, or is that cause I most times make dark maps?

anyway, nice map :D.

4/5

rocknrol | 2009-04-01 10:41

Lol sorry, but i never give platform maps high ratings...Drakas once made a very good playable platform map, and i spent some time helping him...anyways i rated it just 1/5 later because it was nothing too special;)

On your map, you used 427 (!) particle ents, and 220 lights...now i know why the filesize is 4.81 MB :) It shouldn't have more than 1 MB MAX.

About the particles: most of them (and most of the lights too) are UNDER the map, so you just see them when falling off the map. A waste imo. All these particles and the lava just slow down your map on slower computers.

The layout is very simple: A ring with some platforms in the center. At least you worked on your map and made it look a bit more interesting. But really, even if this map would be perfectly playable and looking awesome (which platform maps usually never do), i wouldn't rate it higher than 3/5. Just my personal taste ;)

Also, there are way too many spots where you can fall off the map. Maybe you don't, because you already work for a loooong time with this map. Look, in this latest change you added some particles with clip as boundaries...very good, but players will depend on it, and then fall off the map anyways, when strafing.

There is not much gameplay on this map. Basically, you are just running around and use the jumppads. No need to make rifle- grenade- or rocketjumps at all...shouldn't that be one of the main aspects when playing a platform map ? Also, when standing on the 2nd platform from below (in the center) and jumping into that hole, i just touch the jumppad and jump up again ? There is a YA beneath it, and i can't grab it when jumping down...

Why not trying a new map ? Because i really don't think that this map can be improved any further...because of the layout. There are even not many textures to look at...another disadvantage when making a platform map with "thin" platforms. Also, you could try to make some rounded platforms too...would make the whole map look more interesting ;)

Sorry, seeing all these issues, i still just rate it 1/5. At least though you made some improvements ;) I'm still missing e.G. some teleports too, and more possibilities to walk or jump to. A good platform map should have plenty of opportunities where to go to next and what to do when someone is trying to escape from you or is hunting you.

DTurboKiller LT | 2009-04-01 11:20

"kill that noob that is giving this map a 1 :P."
So you're the noob, I must kill you now :P

But seriously, I have to thank you anyways. At least you commented on it, unlike most people. At least I know what's wrong with it ;)
Yep I pretty much can't do anything with it now, the way it's done. It wasn't actually meant to be a plaform map, but more of an arena with lots of space to go, hence the Space Deathmatch theme.
The map itself is actually 690 KB in size, but the skybox made the zip file much bigger ;)
Most of the particles are visible, but they're under the platforms to serve as jets. It was kinda tough to decide on this, since I couldn't find anything else that was fitting. So I went in, "particle whore" style :P You can see most of them when playing, the only exception being those 20 lightning particles in the lowest platform. Oh well, art has its prices :P
Yep, I kept the layout like that ever since the first ever version and been improving on it ever since. I thought it would work pretty well at the time. I still think it does, because it seems to work well in team-based gamemodes. Then again it's your personal taste, so I won't argue with that :)
I really tried to make people to fall as few times as possible, and make the clip obvious. I even made the division is the jump tubes obvious. I actually tried with a few people online using the older version. Aside from the jump tubes which I fixed, none of them fell to their doom. The only times you might fall would be on the middle platforms, but usually you're saved by the lower platform :D
I got inspired by the Quake 3 space arenas, so I used a lot of jumppads. Also I like to fly around and get crazy heights, which I think I succeeded, especially with the huge jumppads :D I never really try rifle, grenade or rocket jumps in-game, unless it's really necessary. It's not good for your healh, you know :P And yes, you are right, I thought I fixed the Yellow Armor, you can still grab it but you have to be right above it, I'll upload a fixed version soon :/
Yes, I must definitely try to make a new map. I already have some cool ideas in my mind, but I'll keep them secret ;) And yes, rounded platforms, noted, though I don't think I could place them on this map...
Teleports wouldn't work very well here I'm afraid. I think there is a lot of opportunites as well... the jump pipes, the ramps, the tunnels, the huge ramps, the middle platforms... I think they offer a lot of opportunities to dodge :) And yay, I'm improving :D
With that said, thank you for your honest comment ;)

Suicizer | 2009-04-01 11:00

wouldnt it be less radical if u would rate is like, 2?

cause i think, 1 is ment to maps that are unfinished and this map isnt missing lights or geometry...

rocknrol | 2009-04-01 11:22

...maybe you're right, should rate it 2/5. Though i don't really see that this would change anything. This map already has been on quad for like...a year now ? And the only things that have changed are some particles, the "roofs" on the slopes, and some map boundaries. Lighting still is bad (looks fullbright, no shadows at all) etc. (don't wanna repeat myself now).

I just wanted to set something like a "sign" by rating it 1/5, you know ;)

So...2/5 xD

DTurboKiller LT | 2009-04-01 11:56

1 more star, yay :P
I still consider my map as a masterpiece, so I kept working on it every once in a while. Yep, not much has changed, but I think the lighting is better. At least I see some shadow now, it's pretty evident there're shadows in the screenshot ;) Lol, suicizer01 thinks it's too dark, you think it's fullbright... strange no?

Also, I've uploaded the fixed version of the map, you can get the Yellow Armor for sure now :)

Suicizer | 2009-04-01 20:53

why u actualy putted as requirments the svn version?

u wuold only get rates from people that got that version then.

if u wanna reach all people, isnt it better 2 use ctf_edition then?

SheeEttin | 2009-04-01 21:12

The release of the next version should be sometime soon, so why not use SVN until then?

Suicizer | 2009-04-02 11:38

could u tell me then, where 2 get svn version :P.

DTurboKiller LT | 2009-04-03 21:27

I updated the map. Not only I fixed some final bugs, but I added BOT SUPPORT!
If you want to try it out, load the map on your favorite gamemode and type /addbot to add a bot. I made sure they would suicide as little as possible, and it does work well indeed!
This means it's probably the only map on Quadropolis with bot support right now. So give it a try!