dm_echo

    Quote from JynxDaddy

    ...no HL2DM has realistic enviroments, the two current maps are taken right out of the SP game.

    Quote from Crackerjack

    Times have changed my friend....and I would suggest moving along with it.

    Those maps suck. Valves isnt looking for community maps to get the same boring rushed maps they put in themselves. The gameplay isnt good right now, and there is nothing wrong with colorcoding stuff or moving platforms. Halflife singpleplayer didnt have colorcoded weaponplacements, but the multiplayer was filled with it.

    merging with the old times and what everyone thinks the new time is about would be the solution in my opinion. Color coding doesn't have to be blatantly obvious, however subtle. Enough to get the point across, but not enough to totaly ruin any realism like in HL1. As I see it, people are going to fail in their projects for two reasons/obssessions: 1.) Displacement Maps 2.) Props. They're everywhere and everyone seems to think that without massing them everywhere, your map will blow.

    Half-Life multiplayer wasn't filled with moving platforms - about the only ones I can think of are the lifts seen in a few maps and the train in subtransit. I wouldn't say I plan on colour coding ("oooh green means its a magnum over here!") but I will try and make weapon spawn points obvious to the players by tactful use of lighting and effects.

    Ferret, think about what Valve is promoting HL2DM as - deathmatch with physics combat. Not only does the slash screen show it, but their maps encourage it and their press release blatantly gloats about it. Is it the perfect deathmatch game? Far from it. But its what Valve are putting this out as, and I think for maps to be in with a chance of winning then physics props will need to play a large part of it. I can't imagine that maps with little to no use of physics props will place favourably to be honest - its going against what Valve has made HL2DM into. I'm not claiming to have struck a good balance myself - only testing will identify that - but I don't think the more spartan levels will be chosen. That said, I am prepared to eat my words if proven wrong

    It looks nice, I'm finding it hard to comment on things though, seeing as I've yet to play HL2 at all so I don't know what the overall emphasis on the level design (except for looks)...

    I'm not saying that you need to make spartan maps. Rather smart"an" maps lol. Place physics objects outside where it takes more skill to kill someone rather than all inside where it takes little or no skill to smash your mouse buttons. Better placement is also essential. By no means should you have no physics props in your maps.

    Your point about clever placement is a good one - there is little skill involved in using physics props if you are in a tight environment. However, I reckon in my tunnel area there is plenty of room for dodging, and not only that but there is a wealth of cover in there too, making it far from skill-less in this scenario. The amount of props could mean surrounding tighter areas (such as the vent corridor screenshot) become too easily defendable I guess, but provided rooms have multiple entry points it shouldn't be the uber-horrible dead end affair of dm_overwatch's roof.

    To be honest, until I get some proper testing done on the thing, I think our disagreements over any of these matters are just wasted breath. If testing shows it to be too physics heavy, I'll lighten the load.

    Gonna be really tight to finish this, really ought to be sending it tomorrow morning at the latest, and I'd say I have 70% of the LAYOUT complete, let alone detailing, optimisation, and weapon placement. Will I get sleep tonight? Doubtful!

    Quote from ReNo

    Gonna be really tight to finish this, really ought to be sending it tomorrow morning at the latest, and I'd say I have 70% of the LAYOUT complete, let alone detailing, optimisation, and weapon placement. Will I get sleep tonight? Doubtful!

    Haha, welcome to my world dude. I'm like 95% done, but I still have some detailing and polishing to do. Hrmm...feels like my throat is acting up...maybe I should stay home from work tomorrow :E

    Argh I give up Still got about 20% of the map left to build, let alone detailing those areas, and polishing and optimising the whole thing. I'll release this in a few weeks probably. Best of luck to all the other entrants

    Maybe you could submit an unfinished version just for the hell of it, and complete the map and release it to the community when it's totally finished.

    5000 dollars would be nice, but there was no way I could get it into winning (or placing) shape by this morning, which was the latest I could have sent it. I'll continue to work on it and release it at some point however.

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