Dm Coast - Alpha release

Here it is at last, the ALPHA version of DM Coast!

I really have to point out that this is the un-optimised version, so everyone will have problems with frame rates. I get 35fps when looking over the whole map, which is terrible! The beta will hopefully be 60+ from the same position.

Known issues to be fixed for Beta release:

- NOT OPTIMISED - VERY BAD FRAME RATES UNLESS YOU HAVE A MONSTER PC!

- Cube map problems on one or two textures.

- Problems with Flashlight on a few brushes.

- Interior of Combine building not done.

Stills

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/dm_coast1.jpg

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/dm_coast2.jpg

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/dm_coast3.jpg

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/dm_coast4.jpg

Original artwork: http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast.jpg

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/dm_coast_alpha.zip

If you find any bugs let me know. Plus any ideas on what you'd like to see added or taken away.

Hope you enjoy the alpha release!...

Tom.

Thanks for the comments guys!

I haven't got round to texturing the building properly yet, I'm still working on the architecture. So far only the top of the bridge and the train lights are props, so that leaves me with a lot of brush work to do!

Hopefully the map will be finished next month (April) I'm working from the outside in so the interiors of the main buildings are empty at the moment. I've been doing a lot of testing, building machines and combine looking architecture, so you can trust me that the interior will look great when it's done!

Tom.

Back with some new screens, I've updated some of the textures on the outside of the building, added the interior to the outer building. Added a wooden building to the bridge, added seagulls, a sewer system, a small windmill and lots of other details.

I haven't done the interior to the main building yet, thats for next weekend. Once that's done I'll post an alpha of the map for people to playtest.

Right now my biggest problem is with several textures. As you can see in the pic below the sea texture has become corrupt over a third of it's surface. This extends into the building itself, and shows up as a black / shimmering effect on the brushes.

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/...exture_prob.jpg

I'm totally stumped as to what's causing it, I've spent a week deleting walls, details and changing brushes to detail brushes. Nothing has fixed it! If anyone knows of a fix or has had a similar problem let me know!

Anywho here are the new pics (original post also updated with them)...

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/coast1.jpg

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/coast2.jpg

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/coast3.jpg

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/coast_montage.jpg

Quote from skdr

I know what causes your problem. You're using textures that are used in static props (models). Make sure you dont have any textures used in Hammer that contains words "props_" or "model_" etc. These textures are located in ie. "props_combine/combinewall" etc.Concerning the map itself; Looks cool!

In this pic tho:

http://www.eliabramovich.com/coast/coast3.jpg

Use displacement maps for the broken walls and floors, cheaper and looks better.

I wish it was that simple! The problem affects a third of the map, and it covers all the brushes, not just the water. Never seen it before, I've discovered that when I turn a problem brush into func_detail, it's fixes the error. Two problems with that though, it kills frame rates by letting vis see through the wall, and it also stops the water / sea from appearing! Doh!

Would love to use displacements but they don't fit and have different textures. I'm using them for rubble and other little details, thanks for the suggestion though!

The damaged wall displacements have a concrete texture to the sides, if I included them to my existing walls which have a different texture they would look out of place.

As for them not fitting, the chances are I would need two or three displacements to fit the hole in the building. As there are only a few wall displacements, and a large number of damaged walls it would quickly become repetative.

I hope that makes sense!