Ns_phobia screens

Mendasp · August 2002

Well, i finally gave a name to my map and had clear ideas on my head, so i started mapping and atm i have this:

<img src="http://www.iespana.es/mendasp/ns_phobia1.jpg" border="0">
<img src="http://www.iespana.es/mendasp/ns_phobia2.jpg" border="0">

<img src="http://www.iespana.es/mendasp/ns_phobia3.jpg" border="0">
<img src="http://www.iespana.es/mendasp/ns_phobia4.jpg" border="0">

<img src="http://www.iespana.es/mendasp/ns_phobia5.jpg" border="0">
<img src="http://www.iespana.es/mendasp/ns_phobia6.jpg" border="0">

any comments? suggestions? <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

JediYoshi · August 2002

Actually I'm thinking some contrast would look nice, something to stick out. Some infestation around the hole. Actually you can make that whole ground infestation and for the top just Mariney.

dragonsblade · August 2002

yay another cool map just wish ns was out so i cuold play them

realityisdead · August 2002

Are you using the env_gamma in your level? And if so, are these shots gamma adjusted to compensate for the ingame brightness? Because I'm finding it incredibly difficult to make anything out. I'd suggest more brighter (spot) lights and perhaps try playing around with the env_gamma.

Nice concept for the alien join portal. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Mendasp · August 2002

i havent put the env_gamma yet <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
i still have to test which valor should i put it :/

realityisdead · August 2002

Oh, by the way, you can test out and adjust the env_gamma setting within the game itself. Just load up your level and type "setgamma XX" in the console. XX being a value between 1 and 2 (for best results). Most people use something around 1.8. Once you find the setting you like (and do this early on in the level's development) just go back to the level in VHE and add an env_gamma with your desired value.

Yamazaki · August 2002

What's the phobia for fear of the dark?

Frankly, I can't see anything in these screenshots except for a few light sources and the brushwork immediately around them. This is worthy of my 'Too Damn Dark' award.

doctopepa · August 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Yamazaki @ Aug. 28 2002,16:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What's the phobia for fear of the dark?

Frankly, I can't see anything in these screenshots except for a few light sources and the brushwork immediately around them. This is worthy of my 'Too Damn Dark' award.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
That's because your screen-brightness is set to 0 <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

to Mendasp: Add some interesting machinery or something.

btw thanx ken, i did not know that comm.

gutterclutch · August 2002

I like the alien portal. I also like the darkness of it all...maybe it's a bit too dark, but if the floor lights are boosted that will give it a very nice atmosphere. I like the architecture and the textures though. Very very nice

coil · August 2002

Toooooooooooooo dark, especially if you're going to use an env_gamma. You need to adjust your screenshots if you want accurate feedback.

pielemuis · August 2002

looks like a good start, lighting needs some tweaking s:)I like your architecture , but try finding something else than pipes as ceiling detail, i know detailing ceilings is hard, but alot of NS maps use pipes. I'd like to see a more detailed readyroom and some more varried lighting, btw that last shot is that close to marine spawn ? it looks almost impossible to wallclimb in that pic (tho i'm not a PTer so what do i know ? s:) )heh i like your alien join, maybe put a railing around it so players don't accidently fall in and join aliens ? (did you get your alienjoin idea from the doom2 exits? phobia ~=phobos? s;) )

Windelkron · August 2002

I like the 4th screenshot. I can imagine a Bo -- skulk hiding behind one of those little arches <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

also, in the readyroom, you might want to make a railing around the alien pit or something, because it looks like somebody coud push you in accidentally or intentionally <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>

dragonsblade · August 2002

the new ready rooms that are being desighned are cool <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

C0nan_The_Librarian · August 2002

*edit lol i didnt even see that ignore my post!

gutterclutch · August 2002

Well how well you see the map depends on how bright your surroundings are as well...try drawing your curtains. I play like that and I see most maps just fine

TRANCEBOY · August 2002

Looking good!

Yamazaki · August 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (doctopepa @ Aug. 28 2002,13:52)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Yamazaki @ Aug. 28 2002,16:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What's the phobia for fear of the dark?

Frankly, I can't see anything in these screenshots except for a few light sources and the brushwork immediately around them. This is worthy of my 'Too Damn Dark' award.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
That's because your screen-brightness is set to 0 <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

to Mendasp: Add some interesting machinery or something.

btw thanx ken, i did not know that comm.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
No, my screen brightness is just fine. Look at the screenshots for Bast and Hera, they look much much brighter and are official quality maps.

Aliens vs Predator 2 had maps as dark as this one, and it was a major pain in the ### to be forced to use the flashlight/nightvision/vision-modes every step of the way. Not to mention the aliens don't have a flashlight at all, so they'll be bumping into walls all the time.

Not to mention not all monitors are equal. Some are dimmer than mine (I have brightness and contrast at max), so they'll see even less when rooms get dim.

Aim for making bright spots with dark shadows on the edges to conceal aliens. Don't make it uniformly pitch black. Besides, it isn't the shadows which will be concealing the aliens, its the architecture. Perches, ledges, obstructions... all these will make an alien's life far more easier than insufficient light.

Mendasp · August 2002

Yamazaki, i dont like your "too damn dark" award, so better keep it with you, its not necesary to say things that way.

I can see everything perfectly on my monitor, i dont know how people will see it, so first i adjust it to my monitor brightness, im not god and i dont know everything... ¬¬

I'll stop mapping, i think you will be happy with this

Edit: oh i almost forgot, you're right interfect0r, phobia - phobos ^^

blueman · August 2002

i also have that problem, i put gamma at my map at 1.4 but when i take screenshots, the pics come too dark so i put a 15% or 20% of brightness, etc.. on Photoshop.

Yamazaki · August 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Mendasp @ Aug. 29 2002,14:52)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'll stop mapping, i think you will be happy with this</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I'm giving you some advice. It's not a personal attack on you or your ability to map. Sheesh.

realityisdead · August 2002

Heh. Yamazaki's monitor brightness is calibrated to the exact brightness people are going to be (or should be) playing your level in. It's a step in the game installation. Considering it looks dark to me as well (My monitor is fine. I actually had to adjust the brightness <i>up</i>.), I would find it hard to believe that his is out of whack.

A lot of people tend to think NS lighting is all about darkness. It isn't. It's about creating a <i>feeling</i> of darkness. Basically lots of really dark shadows in a brightly lit level. Lots... of shadows.

This creates quite a dramatic feeling level. An overall dreary dim atmosphere isn't very dramatic though.

I think you've got a really good start here, but it's simply too dark.

blueman · August 2002

yeah i think youre right Ken, the map ,at least, needs some more general lighting, and id add some light spots. IMO the best way to make the map look scary, etc... (if you want to make it like that) is putting some light spots over the walls and floor. I dont know why but having a room with light and dark parts scares a LOT!.

As someone told me some time ago ( ;P ) put the light spot intensity at about 250 and also just in big areas, put a normal entiti light in the middle of the room with a nice 100 or 75 of intens. cause that way all the room can, at least, be seen a bit.

I dont like dark maps in general, but theres a difference between a scary area and a dark area, its just that not always an area has to be dark to be scary. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Mouse · August 2002

well can someone tell us exactly how bright us mappers should have our monitors?

Some of you may remember my first NS map ns_frigid which was notoriously dark, that turned out to be because I had my HL brightness too high.

TinMan · August 2002

An interesting question.

I would 'calibrate' it that way:
*Open a screenie of ns_bast or any other 'official' screenshot.
*Adjust your monitor's brightness to make it look good (Black areas stay black, dark areas are different from total black).
*Now take a shot of your map.
*Open the screenie for adjustig the gamma. If your level has an env_gamma with a gamma ramp of, let's say, 1.7, you'll have to make the creenshots brighter to fit reality in-game again. I use values around 1.4 in Corel Photopaint, as 1.7 is not 1.7 (to make things easier...)

And by the way: I like what I've seen from your level!

sharpsword6 · August 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (dragonsblade @ Aug. 28 2002,11:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">yay another cool map just wish ns was out so i cuold play them</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Please Dragonsblade check your spelling and grammer. A lot more people understand what you are trying to say. I dont believe you wrote something like this. Make sure you checked your spelling before posting or it makes no sense unfortuanatly <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> .(I'm not sure if I spelled that right). Let me continue go look under Natural-Selection Forum and read Scythe's article you might finally understand what to do. He has a well organized topic about what he hates and so do I. Grammer, punctuation, spelling, and other things related to that topic. One post sentences that is a waste of space. If you are going to post make sure it's not one sentence, but at least a paragraph or 4 sentences. You should all read this what I am writing you are just a big waste basket if you put one sentence into something, also you sound like a baby 3 year old trying to write a sentence not even 2 words. Example: Cool Map. Come on!!! Write wow thats a nice map and tell him what you think about it, what he should change, give complaments,(In paragraphs) and at least try to make your post good enough that it equals one paragraph, grammer, punctuation, spelling, etc has been checked!!!

Thank you and have a great day <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Dunsby · August 2002

is the first few shots of the readyroom?

Mendasp · August 2002

i just adjusted to make it look good to me, i'll wait for NS to be released and i'll continue with the map (just to compare lighting), so, atm i've stopped mapping for NS (that's what i meant in my last post <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>)

Ns_phobia screens

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