Ns_cliffhanger
leifbj
Join Date: 2003-03-20 Member: 14733Members
Join Date: 2003-03-20 Member: 14733Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Release time</div> I'm releasing the map I've been working on for the past 4-5 months on and off.
The setting is an outpost situated near a cliff which provides natural resources through minerals in the earth. Across the cliff the Kharaa has infested a large area and is seeking to be able to control the entire region.
The main area of the map is the cliff, which hollds 3 resource nozzles. being able to hold that area will be hard, but also helpfull with the resource boost. It should also provide an interesting place for Lerks and Jetpackers to duke it out. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> Of course there is the problem of the skybox as always in an outdoor area, to accomodate for this, if someone flies over the cliff then they will be pushed down gradually.
Please not that this map does not meet the qualifications to be an official map.
Screenshots:
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/1.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/2.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/3.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/4.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/5.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/6.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/7.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/8.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/9.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And finally...
<a href='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/ns_cliffhanger.zip' target='_blank'>Download here</a>
Extract the zip file to your NS folder. Comes with minimap and RES file.
Please leave any comments you might have... this is my first NS map. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
The setting is an outpost situated near a cliff which provides natural resources through minerals in the earth. Across the cliff the Kharaa has infested a large area and is seeking to be able to control the entire region.
The main area of the map is the cliff, which hollds 3 resource nozzles. being able to hold that area will be hard, but also helpfull with the resource boost. It should also provide an interesting place for Lerks and Jetpackers to duke it out. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> Of course there is the problem of the skybox as always in an outdoor area, to accomodate for this, if someone flies over the cliff then they will be pushed down gradually.
Please not that this map does not meet the qualifications to be an official map.
Screenshots:
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/1.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/2.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/3.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/4.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/5.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/6.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/7.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/8.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/pics/9.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And finally...
<a href='http://www3.telus.net/bjornsta/ns_cliffhanger.zip' target='_blank'>Download here</a>
Extract the zip file to your NS folder. Comes with minimap and RES file.
Please leave any comments you might have... this is my first NS map. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
Comments
But how about the skybox?
Can lerks fly into it or skulks walk on it?
<b>The bad news first</b>:
Some of the texturing of the map was rather bland - as shown in this screen:
<img src='http://www.dodstudios.net/uploads/uploads/ns_cliffhanger0000.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Also, many areas of the map were horrendously dark. This screen was taken from a cave that leads from the large outdoor portion to the alien side of the map. Note that no photoshopping was done - it's nearly pitch-black ingame:
<img src='http://www.dodstudios.net/uploads/uploads/ns_cliffhanger0001.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Other than those two things, there are only two more gripes that I have found I have. The first is the tallness of the map. This map is so tall that the commander can see next to nothing that is on the ground. I had enough troouble finding my prototype lab and armory. I can only imagine how incredibly hard it would be to build a base outside <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo--> I realize that there is really no way to fix this - its just an engine flaw that's brought out by the map design.
Second, the alien side isn't as "infested" as I thought it could be. When I was there, I at first didn't know if I was going back towards the marine spawn or what.
<b>Now the good news</b>:
I think this map could be incredibly fun - it's a vein of acion yet-unseen in NS and I'm curious how it would play with other people. The architecture is rather nice, although it is more reminiscent of Half-Life than NS.
<b>Bottom Line</b>: This is a very interesting map that, despite its flaws, is still compelling enough for a try. Download it immediately <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Answer me.
Answer me. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I uh....I didn't try climbing on it as a skulk.
<i>Don't hurt me?</i>
Just wanted to know.
I'm very anti-skybox.
You havn't LIVED until you've tried the hyper-chute thingy!<img src='http://www.dodstudios.net/uploads/uploads/Holething.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
sorry, a bit confused. what about the map makes it unfinished? or not done properly?
sorry, a bit confused. what about the map makes it unfinished? or not done properly? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
The hives are all in one room, and has "fun-map" type qualities.
Heck, with 2.0 jetpacks they can barely make it <i>up</i> there, anyways <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
sprites/minimaps/ns_cliffhanger.spr
But thanks for trying on the .res
I put it that you downloaded the BSP in the sprites folder... <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo-->
I guess I accidently put ns_cliffhanger.bsp instead ns_cliffhanger.spr...
Thanks for catching that <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
I'll go update the zip file.
hera seems to be fine.
-[OldF]North_Wolf
<!--emo&::marine::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif'><!--endemo--> "All clear Commander, there isnt a single alien RT out there"
(meanwhile at the start hive)
<!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo--> (chorus) "I'm saving for Onos!"
- OldF Powa!
However, I've got a few comments...
North Landing (MS): It just looks nice all around. But, where would ships enter the station to land? There's a landing pad right in the middle of the room, but the top of the room certainly doesn't look like it would open to allow shuttles to enter. Also, if you fly up to the rafters near the skybox, you can look down *through* the roof, which makes a whole mess of visual problems. Maybe put glass in the empty area between the rafters (like eclipse) or make it some sort of shuttle hatch?
Great Hall: Again, nice room. I especially love the water underneath the grate in the middle, and the way it shines in the middle. But why are the lights on the side if it shines in the middle? The walkways underneath the Hall are also very blandly textured, and the last step leading out of the walkways is a pain to get over as a marine, fade, or onos (smaller life forms have no problem with it, though.)
East Reception: The vent leading to/from this is also very bland.
East Cave: Like the MS, you can walk up into the sky, this time on top of one of the rockfaces. (the one on the left, coming from east reception)
Cliff: The lift in this area has a whole mess of problems. First, the lift moves completely through the bottom button attached to the pillar. Second, the top button attached to the pillar *swings* out like it's a door when you press it. Finally, the way Half-Life deals with the railings also makes some visual problems. Since I don't have any space to upload pictures the best way I can describe the problem is to sit on one of the corners of the railing facing the button the pillar and look down. You can see directly through the railing, so it looks like it's hovering on air, and you can also see side of the bottom of the list underneath it, and the pillar below. (Err, you have to see it in game, I can't describe it very well.)
North Lift Entrance: Very nice looking, especially with the blue lights placed well under the lift, however... I don't understand why the lift is far off the ground as it is so that you have to climb a ladder to get on it.
Atmospheric Generation: This is one of the areas I totally don't understand. It doesn't *feel* like atmospheric generation, it's just a bend in the cooridoor with some leaky pipes. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
West Cave: Nice little area, I like the broken part of the roof.
Maintenance Access: Feels very bland, and the large area above the grate makes it seem even more desolate.
Cargo Access Cooridoor:(The Vent) The railing blocking the pipes doesn't 'draw' from far enough away, so from one end of the cooridor, the other end doesn't look blocked. Also, Cargo Access doesn't seem to lead to any cargo bay, unless the hive area is the cargo bay. If it is, it doesn't look like a cargo bay at all.
The Hives/The Rest of Cargo Access/Western Access: Look good, some nice hiding places as skulk, the same architecture as the rest of the map. It seems a bit repitive and monotonous, though. Something to spice it up would be nice. The grating covering the fan above the Middle Hive isn't solid. Also, the whole area lacks infestation, especially since there are 3 hives in one concentrated area. Also, what's the point behind the 'vent' behind the hives? It seems to be pitch black and only accessable by /nocliping. Oh, and, except for the Cargo Access vent, all the vents around the area seem very bland.
Finally, though I haven't played the map in a real game, the long cooridors and large open outdoor areas seem like they'd favor the 'rines, until the aliens got higher lifeforms and attacks, which might be hard with marines dominating. All the areas also seem very tall, *too* tall, as do the vents. I mean, an onos could walk around in those vents, which seems kind of odd in my opinion. The commander view is hell with the map being so tall, as well. In conclusion, I'd say that despite some minor visual problems, the main things that really irked me were lack of infestation, large, bland vents, and the entire area seeming like it was built by a 12 foot tall man. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
Whew, this post got longer than I meant it to... Hope you don't think I hate your map or anything, just needs some tweaking and it'll be teh pwn. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
I'm not sure how to spice up a vent though...
Maybe if there is enough interest in the map I'll make an improved version of it. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
LONG TIME NO SEE!
And it's not that the vents need to be amazing or anything, but, for example, the great hall vents are badly textured and it just looks bad. :/ You could add lights in the vents, too.
Just curious, do you think you'll make a 'serious' NS map?