Journals

Another year, another journal entry.

Got out of military.
Have begun studies in English language and literature.
Aiming to minimize time spent at computers.

So I log on to check this place out again, to see what has become of it. Ah the old theme's still here, the messy forums and all of the fun stuff.
I've received a fancy award for tutorials? How come, all of my tutorials have been obsolete since Steam was introduced. Ah well, thanks anyways, brings a smile.

Also noticed I've got 2 messages from god knows how long ago? I truly hope no one has lost any sleep waiting for my response. Better reply then.

And kids, do not play too much computer games now.

Maybe it's about time I write another entry.

I don't map anymore.
I don't have time for it.
I'm in the army.
I intend to study after I get out.

Thanks for reading, but don't pay too much attention to the ramblings of an old man.

Forums haven't changed a bit during 8 months. We're still the community where the lazy, arrogant and new folks just go straight to the forums with a new topic. Seriously: I knew more advanced map editing than most of the new guys around here when I didn't even have access to the internet. I wonder how many that has actually looked in the help file that came with Hammer.

So what if the answer isn't in the help?
The answer is simple. Perform an online search for tutorials. And to stick to them until the basics and the intermediate has been learned. It takes patience, and I've been really frustrated at hammer on several occasions. I can imagine how certain people feel when their dreams, of the greatest map in HL history, gets crushed for something as useless as a vertex manipulation error or a leak.

Something people tend to fear today, especially new mappers, is the will to experiment. Everything has to be taught and this is a shame. The things you learn by yourself, are the things you'll remember. Worthy of mentioning is also the lack of planning. Sketch out a map on a piece of paper, put out notes, scribble down some ideas along the side. Things will get so much easier when there is written information to refer back to.

What I definitively can't understand is the fact that many posters detail their topic with ":P", "lol" and ":D". What the... People want to avoid such things and just skip the topic. Which is exactly what the poster didn't want. He/ She wants help but instead sort of chase the repliers off. Use plain english to the best of your ability. Get your mom and dad to help you if you don't know how to properly spell a certain difficult word.

Enough ranting for now...

To people wondering who I am a little further:

-I'm the 81:th user here. Guess that makes me an oldbie.

-I've written two tutorials for mod-makers. Check them out.

-I don't map for HL anymore because I don't like the game. It's been played too much. This includes every mod there in existence too.

-I should return when HL2 comes out. But this year isn't over yet and I have tough real-life issues to deal with at home. Therefor my time is limited.

Steinin

As my experience in JA grows, so does my mapping skills. The fog caused hall-of-mirrors effect because it was a structural brush. You can add light to textures by writing a shader script. The skies can get really messed up etc. I really should clean up among my journal entries. Now I'm supposed to make this special map along with a friend of mine. Well let's get mapping!!!

Rising in the ranks. I just got promoted from Student to Padawan. What's next? Knight... Could take a while.

And now back to Real life.

Although I said I haven't mapped for HL. Must admit: Created some fun lasers yesterday.

Haven't mapped for HL for ages. Not for JA either. Guess I'm too busy playing JA online. Official student of www.thejediacademy.net you see.

Finally got that goddamn Fog to render properly...

Ok so I got DSL finally... 4 years of modem... Arg... But it's in the past now.

I LOVE DANCING!!!

So the nightmare is finally over. Every test is over, Finally I can get back to JA mapping again. Now those shaders are troubling me again.

I never get rid of my problems.

Progress: I managed to build near-perfect complex water and fog. But the fog has severe texture errors.

Well let's see about that exam...

-2 Swedish essay:s to write.
-1 Finnish test to accomplish + essay.
-1 Mathematical test. (Differential Calculus if it's spelled that way.)
-1 test in social issues how the whole finnish government system.

Here I go... Starting on Monday, 1 test every day until Friday.