Imminent Danger - Speed Map

Sauce | 2011-12-19 14:37

[

points ]

(5 votes)

Blurb A speed map, that took 5 hours and 40 minutes to complete. It's great for duels, and it's very fun as well!

Screenshot Imminent Danger - Speed Map

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Detailed description

This is a small duel map, but can also support up to 6 players. Would also be fun in doubles (2 vs 2). Though, it works best with duels. This map was made yesterday and it was made in 5 hours and 40 minutes. It is a speedmap. I'd like to see others try the 6 hour speed map challenge and see what you come up with. The map was created when Superman joined Variable and myself in a game and we where making a layout together. Superman enlarged the map and started making a tiny layout. It looked interesting, but was very flawed, so Variable and myself started tweaking the layout like crazy, and it ended up being changed pretty significantly. Then everyone left and I liked the end result of our little layout that the 3 of us had made. The layout was made in 30 minutes.

Later on I messaged HeWho and asked him if he wanted to do a trak5 theme speed map of a really small layout and he said yes. Then others joined in a long the way. We all worked at it for 5:10 minutes straight(some worked for 4 or so) and finally got it done. It turned out really nicely and we all we enjoyed the result. I play tested it myself and it's fun as hell. I am really proud of it and it's my second map that is pretty much completed(this map is basically done, but could get tweaked). You're probably going to say the outside terrain sucks, but the rigid terrain suits the rock texture.

There really isn't much to say about the map, it plays in duel and it's made with trak5, that's about it. I tried to balance the pickups the best I could and I think they couldn't be better; this is a biest statement of course. I hope you all enjoy it, and when you critique it, keep in mind it had a time limit and we where rushing for a lot of it. So it can't really be held to the same standards as a regular map, but certainly close to the same standards. I know it's against a Quadropolis commandment to post a map that took less then 12 hours, but I feel it's worthy of being on Quadropolis regardless. I hope you all enjoy this map, have fun!

Authors:

Sauce
HeWho
Superman
Zoocata
Variable-X
potato
Neno

Map file Imminent Danger.zip (535.24 KB)

Rating

points

(5 votes)

Comments

Suicizer | 2011-12-19 21:05

Posting a map which has been made in less than 12 hours is a matter of how the map looks and which persons is posting it (as Nieb and some other mappers posts maps which has been made in like 2 or 3 hours also).

But about the map now,

The screenshot could be a bigger size, as it isn't providing a clear view in it's current state. Remember, the "screenshot-uploader" (couldn't pick another name for it) allows screenshots up to 640x480 pixels, not 128x128 (I rather use 640x400 often, as I use a 16:10 resolution).

Theme
The theme isn't really being clear actually. It looks like some futuristic office, but it's not. It's like if it wants to be something realistic, but isn't touching realism.

Texturing
The texturing is very boring, as it's all white and grey coloured textures which has been used (except the rock01 texture of nieb, which is only appearing in the centre, but for the rest of the halls, *yawn*). Be sure to add some contrast in it.
There is a surface of that shape (which is positioned vertical) under the broken part of the ceiling, which isn't containing the mech1_d texture of lunaran. Be sure to fix it.
There are some surfaces which are also appear to be incorrectly textured, as they can be seen in the next screenshot.

Be sure to check other walls too, as there are more of that around in the map.

Geometry
The geometry is pretty good.
There is a hole in 1 of the walls in the hallway which contains a long staircase. It doesn't looks like that hole should be there.

Lighting
The first feeling I had when I spawned was that I go hit the bed, instead of playing. The atmosphere isn't really great, as it's lacking contrast and colour, which provides that feeling. Be sure to improve that.

Detailing
The map contains some details, but there are plenty of hallways and rooms which just contains nothing actually. They only relay on the concrete-light texture on the walls, the concrete-dark texture on the ceiling and the floor01 texture on the floor. Come on man, you can't tell me you kept it that intentional. Be sure to post a map after it's out of the "layout-only" state.
I like the windows though.

Clipping/Noclipping
There could have been added some more noclip on certain places, as for example the trimmings on the floor (even they won't really bother the movement, it still looks more professional and finished).
There is floating unnecessary alpha-material in the hallway which only contains a long staircase.

Flow
The flow of the map seems to be fine, but you sometimes bump your head against ceilings when jumping. Take for example the entrances of the donut-shaped room.

Gameplay
The pickup placement isn't bad, but could be slightly better. As for example, you've putted 2 grenades at the bottom, while putting 2 riflerounds at the top.
What about replacing the shells in the donut-shaped room for riflerounds, while replacing 1 of the grenades for shells and replacing 1 of the riflerounds for grenades? This adds a "deeper" layer of gameplay in the map, as you can't use each weapon the most effective when you just stay near at it's spawn place (but will get effective when moving further). This makes the players always wants to move on, as it isn't logical to stay at the same place if you have picked up a weapon.
What about deleting 1 of the rockets which spawn on the same place (pillar) and put it on that balcony which is at the opposite side of the hall which contains 2 rifle rounds? That would lure player to put a risk of health (or even a frag) for something pretty useful.

Overall, I think the map isn't bad at gameplay and flow but lacks pretty much on the other points. I'll rate it 6/10 for now.

Windecker | 2011-12-19 22:13

Drop your ambient. Lower your skylight.
Use the skylight as makeshift radiosity and add a sunlight.
Lighting needs far more depth.

Sauce | 2011-12-19 22:14

Well that's fair enough Suicizer. A lot of it was rushed so we could make the time limit. Now that the speed map was accomplished, it can have a new updated version, to improve on it's flaws. I appreciate the in-depth review. Some of the mistakes I found I did not want to fix, because then it would be cheating the challenge. So eventually it can be improved. The reason I put shotgun in the circle room, is I figured it would work well there, because it's a confined space. The grenades are probably placed badly, but I don't really like grenades much. I put two rockets in one, because I figured it could be like the games quad sort of, and I made it central so you'd have to try and controle the map, to gain the power weapon. Later on I'll keep in mind what you said, and try to improve on these things. Thanks.

RaZgRiZ | 2011-12-19 22:19

You better be on IRC tomorrow, lots of shit that needs a touch from my awesome (yet filthy) hand of unlikely miracles.

Suicizer | 2011-12-20 18:55

I know it's made in a rush, that's why I also changed the position of pickups and playerstarts in a rush in the map, which is downloadable right here.

When placing those entities, I noticed most of them are just placed random with pretty random values (as the playerstarts for example). What about using entselsnap when placing pickups and/or playerstarts?

Also noticed after calclighting on SVN, the map is only 15k of wtr instead of the regular 23k! Not a bad thing huh?

Windecker | 2011-12-20 00:41

I got bored so I overhauled your lighting. -.- I'll show you some time.

Mmeaninglez | 2011-12-20 03:28

I sort of like the plain grey style, which would have been nicer actually without the brown at the bottom. If it wasn't intended to be shades of grey, add some more color. Maybe you could add a bit more scenery outside the map, too, unless you were going for the sparse look.

There's only one armor, which is ok normally, but it's a huge pain to reach.

I think that this map's ok overall, but could definitely use some touching up now that you're done speedmapping it. 5/10.

Sauce | 2011-12-21 21:22

Well I don't believe a map of this size, intended for a duel, needs an armour at all. I wouldn't add a gold amrour for any reason. So I figured one green armour, a little out of the way, is a perfect solution. I like how it is, because of these reasons, there for I wouldn't have it any other way.

Suicizer | 2011-12-21 22:26

What about checking out my "version" of the pickups (I was thinking about making screenshots, but well, this is way more effective)?
It's in another reply on this content.

I would like to note some things about it;

I've placed the grenades just on that ledge, so when you take it you would reveal your position to your opponent(s). Why such approach? As the grenades are pretty useful at locking in your opponent, as for example in the hallway which contains the long staircase, or the hallway which is at the opposite side of the map. If you would fire some grenades to both entrances, it's likely to hit your opponent.

I've putted an healthboost on that balcony, so you the effect of the GA will still be preserved. This is mainly because there is a fair chance to get shot when your up there, as you can be sighted from almost any place. So even if you take it, you still risk the chance of giving away a frag (which is often something unacceptable for the more experienced players).

I've placed the GA at the pillar just right in the centre of the map, so the placement of pickups will be more balanced. If the GA would still be at the same position, players could grab the GA first, then head to the healthboost. Now everyone has a pretty fair chance of getting some armour.
The old position of the GA was creating a gameplay which is actually too flat, as almost every weapon would kill anyone just in a split second or a very few at max. This shouldn't be the actual approach of playing FFA, as people could better play instantgib instead.

I've positioned the riflerounds in that donut shaped room as it would have more value when it would be used on more open and longer areas. This could cause the player to continue his journey for frags, weapons, armour and health(boosts).

I've placed a rocket on the balcony right under the healthboost, just on the same reason as the healthboost is placed.

Another rocket is positioned on the place where the GA was, since if you would take the rockets now, you risk to get a grenade or even a rifleround right into your face, as it's not the best spot to stay (even it is the highest position of the map, your very limited in your sight and you have no proper cover at all).

1 of the grenades on those boxes has been replaced for shells as it carries the same purpose as the riflerounds, use it when you need it.

A screenshot of most of the tweaks is just right under this line of text.

I hope this helped a bit as I assume you don't have SVN yet...

Sauce | 2011-12-21 22:47

Sorry Suicizer, at first I did not realize you posted again. When I went to edit the message, quadropolis started saying mysquil error and would not work for a few minutes. Seems fine now. The hole in the wall, is a bad thing that can happen in a speed map, nothing you can do when it's over. I was so tired I missed it. I have SVN. I appreciate the effort you put into this and you have very valid points. The weapon placement does look better then it did initially. I learned from this, so thanks.

vampirefrog | 2012-01-01 05:03

Cool map bro