My Departure From Ns Mapping.
realityisdead
Employed by Raven Software after making ns_nothing Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 94Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Employed by Raven Software after making ns_nothing Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 94Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
<div class="IPBDescription">Ns_nothing's future, among other things.</div>Good news: As mentioned in a previous post a while back, I've recently been hired by Raven Software, as a designer on the Quake 4 team! I'm thrilled beyond words about this (and can't even begin to try to find those words).
Bad news: Unfortunately, as a result, I will no longer be able to contribute to or work on any "outside projects" under employment of Activision/Raven. Despite my strong passion for Natural Selection, and multiple claims that I'd always continue to contribute in any way I can... I am no longer able to create levels for NS, nor would I be able to continue to update and revise my currently released level <i>ns_nothing</i>.
Andrew Weldon, aka KungFuSquirrel (creator of ns_eclipse, veil), has generously agreed to sort of take over the level for me, and make future revisions or modifications if necessary. It's very comforting to know the level will be in good hands, and not left to wither away. I really can't thank him enough for that.
Any further level suggestions should probably be directed towards KFS. It's pretty hard having to just leave the map (and NS mapping as a whole) behind, but I have no doubt that the level will become a better one in his hands.
While I'm no longer able to make NS levels, I still intend to stick around the community as much as possible. I really feel like I owe a lot to the core community and development team for any sort of progression through the fields here, and can't imagine just leaving. While I haven't been as vocal or active lately, this community really has taken over my life the past couple years, helping motivate me towards my dreams. Thank you for that. :)
Bad news: Unfortunately, as a result, I will no longer be able to contribute to or work on any "outside projects" under employment of Activision/Raven. Despite my strong passion for Natural Selection, and multiple claims that I'd always continue to contribute in any way I can... I am no longer able to create levels for NS, nor would I be able to continue to update and revise my currently released level <i>ns_nothing</i>.
Andrew Weldon, aka KungFuSquirrel (creator of ns_eclipse, veil), has generously agreed to sort of take over the level for me, and make future revisions or modifications if necessary. It's very comforting to know the level will be in good hands, and not left to wither away. I really can't thank him enough for that.
Any further level suggestions should probably be directed towards KFS. It's pretty hard having to just leave the map (and NS mapping as a whole) behind, but I have no doubt that the level will become a better one in his hands.
While I'm no longer able to make NS levels, I still intend to stick around the community as much as possible. I really feel like I owe a lot to the core community and development team for any sort of progression through the fields here, and can't imagine just leaving. While I haven't been as vocal or active lately, this community really has taken over my life the past couple years, helping motivate me towards my dreams. Thank you for that. :)
Comments
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Basically, my goals are as follows:
1) Remedy existing map bugs and issues to the best of my abilities and with minimal reconstruction.
2) Optimize whatever can be optimized limit-wise (info_locations alone will make a large difference)
3) Use what available resources remain (if any) to re-touch areas previously "forgotten" due to compile limit issues and/or time constraints.
4) Maintain the map as necessary for future versions of NS.
I don't want to step in and just start shredding things to my liking, and I want to make sure you know that. Ken and I have talked a lot about this, and I haven't received the file from him yet, but when I do what changes I do make will be, as much as possible, run past him first. I don't want to step on any toes or try to steal any attention, I just want to a) make sure this map stays alive and b) do what I can to finish what Ken had hoped to do with it prior to his employment.
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Anyway, if you do have concerns about ns_nothing, this is not the thread for them. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> E-mail me, or perhaps we can start a thread for feedback on what may need changing. The tricky part about this is me coming in to an unfamiliar level and having to figure out things that I would instinctively know in any other level I've done. This will be a challenge, but I'm up to it. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> Wish it didn't have to be, of course, but I'd rather it pass on to me or someone else than just shrivel up and die.
And if you haven't yet, now would be a good time to congratulate Ken on his new position! You're living our dreams with yours, my friend. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Did you get the job because of your work on nothing in particular, or work with other maps?
And good luck Andrew with ns_nothing!
You should definetly start new thread for changes coming to ns_nothing.
I would love to help, give comments or/and beta test etc!
Best of luck at Raven, see you around!
I have a question: Is your inability to work on outside projects due simply to your new lack of time, or are there other complications with the requirements of Raven? From what you said, it sounds like the latter is the case.
Oh yeah...what's going on with Powerhouse? Even if you've already torn it up and haven't gotten to putting it back together, you should find some way to release it, like with the help of a different mapper. It just looked too cool, at least what I saw a while ago.
BTW, don't forget to put a bottomless pit (or two) somewhere in Q4 while yer at it!
And KFS, good luck with your future mapping too.
Hope i'll see you around Ken.
As I already said, congrats, congrats, <i>congrats</i>, Ken, you really deserve it. You leaving the mapping field will be hard for the game, but I'm sure Andrew will be able to take over.
I won't wish you good luck in your new job, you don't need luck, and will simply keep it at "See you in Ariane.".
Whilst I'm dissapointed that we won't get to see anymore of Powerhouse, I'm glad to see that Nothing is in very capable hands.
But seriously, congratulations on your new job. Although I am kind of dissapointed that one of the most talented mappers in the community won't be producing any more NS maps in the forseeable future...
I'm thinking of getting into mapping and yer map ns_nothing is one of the best inspirations I have to get into mapping among others.
I will say this although you can't do anymore NS levels,here's the kicker,
"I personally believe you will always have the juice n power to do it" <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
But i do have a question: How come you, out of all the other mappers involved in NS, got picked? Have you done some stuff outside of NS or something? I dont mean any offence, ns_nothing is probably the best map, but picking nothing from eclipse or tanith is a close one (for me at least).
Why is it always me who changes the mood of posts? Good luck anyway, and i hope to be fragging in some of your maps as soon as it's released
Feel free to stop by and tell us what the engine can do better than half-life... if it is ok. Hey it is promotion! Raven can not be against that <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Oh... before I forget: Looking at Matrix - the game, have some colorful spots in your levels.
---Scythe--
I watched ns_nothing grow over the months before 1.0 was released, and watching all you guys map was always one of the greatest aspects of the development of this mod, IMO. I know that ns_nothing will be in very, very capable hands with KFS.
*Looking forward even more to Quake 4*
Good luck!
Questions:
<i>Fortuna Wolf:</i>
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Did you get the job because of your work on nothing in particular, or work with other maps? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It apparently wasn't ns_nothing by itself, but also the work I had done on <a href='http://www.hl-nightwatch.net/' target='_blank'>Nightwatch</a>.
<i>Vyvn:</i>
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Is your inability to work on outside projects due simply to your new lack of time, or are there other complications with the requirements of Raven? From what you said, it sounds like the latter is the case.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Correct, it is against the company policy to work on games or mods outside of Raven. If it was just an issue of not having enough time, I'd rearrange my day to <i>make</i> there be enough time! :)
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Oh yeah...what's going on with Powerhouse?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Powerhouse doesn't have enough actual content down to be finished by someone else, unfortunately.
<i>BigDXLT:</i>
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->BTW, don't forget to put a bottomless pit (or two) somewhere in Q4 while yer at it! <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hehe, noted. :)
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And again, a huge thanks to everyone for the kind words and motivation posted here. Some of the comments are just ubelievable... incredibly motivating. Thanks! :)
This sucks.. more money for me to waste.
Well, by sucks, I mean for my wallet.. Its cool to hear that the maker of possibly the coolest map ever is now employed so that his maps can be spread globally.
Raven sounds.. Evil. Mappers should be able to keep mapping as a hobby and still have it as a job, even if after a while chances are the last thing they'll want to see is a map. Someone should start a pention like the "Raven should allow for their employees to still have hobbies" type thing. I mean, people who work for game magazines play games for a living, but they aren't restricted to only play games while at work.
Well, I guess thats just how things work...
As far as I'm aware, it's not totally Raven's decision to not allow outside projects, but more of a publisher (Activision) issue. The lead desinger on Quake 4 and Design Services Director at Raven actually told me they really have no issue with it, but it's unfortunately against some policies along the line somewhere.
No petitions! :) That would only hurt things for me, I do <i>not</i> want to push the issue with them. Besides, I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't think it was worth it. :)
Again, despite my passion for everything and anything NS... I've decided that Raven is the absolute coolest place I could ever hope to work at. Their goals, structure, views, work atmosphere, everything. It's <i>perfect</i>. :)
maybe you can give the completed stuff of powerhouse to another mapper as well. Personally, I'd think that manah would be the person you should send your stuff to, as it always struck me that caged is sort of the same "style" as nothing. another stylistic pair is Eclipse and Hera, or Hera and Bast. (tanith and nancy are kind of all separate in their styles.)
maybe it's just the textures? but for some reason I can't envision KFS doing Nothing. I don't mean to disparage KFS, I'm just saying he has a sort of "cleaner" style; on the other hand, manah's got the gritty-industrial thing goin' on.
Stay strong and don't let the corporate world change you too much (unless it's for the better <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> )
Heh heh huh... sorry, I just had to. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
Anyway i heard level designers can get up to 60 000 a year.
Good luck at raven!