New map,de_Dam with screen: Some idea&#3 Created 18 years ago2006-01-23 19:54:26 UTC by Xyos212

Also, If I had about 10 func_rotating entities by eachother about 100 units away from eachother, would I see performance problems?

Depends what system / connection you have, I would say dont do it, try to keep the lag down to a minimum.

The red lights are good, but they are too bright. Lower the brightness to about 75 - 100 and it would look much better, probably 75 I would say.

If you want moving parts for the generators try to keep it down to a minimum. Perhaps one generator with an exposed inside and 1 fan would be good (would be funny if somone walked into it aswell trying to hide.) otherwise I would say having 10 moving parts in a row is a bad idea, generators of such magnitude dont have exposed moving parts and it would be easy to sabotage them.

A teslacoil type area would be cool, not somwhere the players can accidently walk into and get killed by it (like suspended above a room or behind a protective glass screen or somthing).

This map is looking great, make sure you ask me to help when you do the play testing

Yes, I see what you mean about those func_rotatings. Ill lower the lighting, and try a lightspot, see what looks good.

Ive added much since my last post to the interior and outside. (Mainly the interior) What Ive done here is add details on the Dam, and mountains. The mountains are not done, just there for an idea of the shape. The dam, mountains, and water are all 3d skybox, so performance is great! Its still very far from being done, but its getting there......... Tell me what ya think I can add on the outside.........

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9839/dambig9td.jpg

Looks excellent, I know how hard Displacement mapping can be to get it to look good, but take your time and dont abuse the "noise" tool (just advice from what I have leanred).

Good luck.

Hey much better! Your outside is better than your inside...

OK, im ar a crossroad in my map. I see the whole thing in my mind, and see some errors I made. The tunnel I showed earlier really does not match to the level. It has a cool door opening 3 ways with a awsome sound, which then triggers 5 lights to turn on in 1 second intervals. Looks and sounds cool when you open the door, but it doesnt fit to the theme of the map. Should I remove it? I dont want to waste it though, but I really want to make a good map. I hate crap maps thrown together. There are screens of it earlier. Should I remove it?

Show us screens of what you mean and explain more clearly what it does. If its a cool effect, then edit the level plan to include it if you really want to keep it.

Ok, the BSP version is in uncomplete maps as Dam outside BETA. It is in very very early development so just try to see what it will be. Some of the walls are just there to seal the level, and will be removed later. Textures are not all right, since its very early in development. Tell me what ya think of it so far. (The inside isnt here, i split it into 2 for now)

Dont mean to double post, but I want to draw attention to this post so I can get some feedback on the Beta Dam outside map i posted in unfinished stuff in the map vault. GIVE ME FEED BACK PLZ

Wow that looks kickass. Ive always wanted to build a dam map myself.

Trying to recreate this? -I recognized it, but only because I know a lot about dams and am building the same thing ;P - I like the supports, they change from the reference but it's still recognizable. Don't forget the windows. Also, that platform should ideally be concrete - Change it to a wall portion instead of a hanging metal platform and then incorporate the canals models for the generators I'd say. Also, split up the back walls into different brushes (128x) for standard wall heights, maybe 256x for this scale. It makes the textures look better.

Why does the site still say BLACK MESA: SOURCE, then?

Noone has PSDs for the theme ;(

I found the inside shots to be very yellowish, not in a good way. You've used colored lighting too strong, try to tone it back somewhat to make it look more natural. The outside looks better, though that one is perhaps a bit too dark and it feels narrow in the meaning of limited - there seems to be nothing outside the rock wall boundary. Change the height of those rocks some more and add some stuff in the 3D skybox, like electricity poles (?) and generator housings at the top, for example. A few buildings or whatever is around those places should do.

Yes, I can see what you mean about the yellow lighting. I think Ill change it up a bit to look more like the screen given by Rabid Monkey. I was planning on adding more to the 3d skybox, but models are too big, and would look out of proportion. I know how to resize models, but dont feel like it now. Its not worth rescaling if its barely visible...or is it? I could be wrong. Anyway thanx for the honesty, now I must keep mapping this map. I really want to actaully finish a good map, but I got a loong ways to go Maybe when I get off for spring break I can finish it, maybe.......

Make the yellow light in the turbins room dimmer, it will make the red one more noticible in a wider range. Remove some of these yellow lights too, try one pair for two arches
It looks empty. Don't just add props and stuff, the artitecture needs to be spicened up a bit.

Edit:
Nahh the lightning is just bad. Try adding lights not only on the ceilling. On the three pillers at the bottom of each arch add a few long lights. It will look nicer. And add a source to that red light. Why not little red spotlights.

If I sound like a complete idiot to you then thats only because I'm a Hl1 mapper.

Edit #2:
There is a source to that red light! Red little spot lights on the floor will look better.

Just for a second there, I though that picture you posted, Rabid, was what you had mapped

Hmmm... pretty much everything I would say has been said, the skybox does need a little spicing up, perhaps some buildings?

Looking good, keep going.

This is what I ment by the long lights. Will look much better then always the same boring cilleing lightbulbs.

OK, I have completely took apart the interior and created a new one. Now the outside isnt complete, just put off so I can focus on the interior. This screen is simply a wall, columns, a turbine, windows, and color schemes. The lighting will change, since for the sake of compilng I boxed the level in (just to get the screen). Its not even close to being finished, but I think I got the colors right.........I really want this to be a 5 star map, so I appreciate all your feedback btw.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3060/revamp1tr.jpg

EDIT: gtg, got to sleep. 11 oclock here, and go college at 8. I shall return!!!1111

The new turbine room doesnt look very good. If you have CoD1 play the map with the dam and it has a great example of a turbine room. Heres some pics if you dont have the game.

First off, thanx J3r3my for the screens, they are very helpful.
Now, I have remade the generator room. Its about 1/15th complete, so bear that in mind while reviewing the screens. Final lighting will be totally different. Im wondering what cool little things I can add on the wall to make sense, and not look repetitive (like pillers, supports, computer towers) Walls here are not complete. Its just to show where its going........

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6061/dam17po.jpg

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4779/dam22yv.jpg

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/9003/dam30qa.jpg

Looking better

Whoa big improvement on this: http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3060/
revamp1tr.jpg

Looks good, keep it going. I wouls suggest not making the room quite so high and the machinery quite so big, Hydo-Damn's tend to have many small turbines rather than a few big ones. Of course its completly up to you. Personally I think a few big turbines looks better than many small ones. Ever though of lowering the roof and then letting the top of the turbine's fit into a large indent in the ceiling? Perhaps with some walkways to make an interesting sniper point.

Well, my 2nd semester in college is getting pretty beefy workwise, so Im gunna have to put off my mapping until like april, so you wont see a post here for an update for a while, but dont forget about it! What I have added is looking awsome, and what I plan to add will be awsome Ive got like 4 reports due in 2 weeks, so I want to finish this, but time is an unforgivable mistress..........So, c u in a few months......

Heh no rush! After all I am working on my own project but school comes first.

Work before fun...

Heh but that will change in March 28th...Don't ask.