[WIP] Dm_cloudcity (updated 2006-09-05) (Final beta)

Progress:

Ive been working on elevators and elevator shafts today, aswell as texturing here and there. As far as I can see, the beta should'nt be to far away. However dont expect it to be released this week or something like that...

I dont want to make something hasty =).

Progress:

I planned to release a Beta this weekend but during a last minute test with some friends i quickly realized that i have to brighten the map up. Everyone with CRT monitors had a real hard time playing the map because of the darkness. Ill focus on improving the lighting and release a beta next weekend.

Quote from MJ

status?

Currently doing very well, the lighting has been fixed and works good on both TFT and CRT monitors. Im doing some finishing touches at the moment.

There will be a beta available on friday, or in the weekend.

Quote from JAL

misterbister what's your fps on the map?And what are your pc specs.

I hope the whole map isn't rendered at one time, it would certainly kill my pc

The whole map isnt rendered at one time .

Specs:

3000+ (1,8ghz)

1 gigg RAM

Radeon X800XL

I play with ALL the settings on MAX and in absolute worst case scenario get 30 FPS in the outdoor scene, looking in a certain direction.

The map is quite demanding though, im pretty sure of that.

The school keeps me from uploading the Beta today, ill release it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

I have now tested the beta with some friends and made sure that it works as it should.

You can download it here:

http://www.home.no/misterbister/maps/dm ... tyBETA.rar

The fundamental layout of the map will not be changed very much at this point, however im open to all crits you can give me.

Please test the map with some friends if you can and tell me what you think. I would greatly appreciate that.

Heres a list of things that i WILL change/add with the final version:

Sounds (Ambients and stuff, everywhere)

Throwable objects

Materials (Ill replace some of the materials, aswell as make new ones)

3D-sky (will probably remade quite alot)

Weapons (Probably change their position aswell as add some where they are needed)

Teamplay (Ill add specific spawnpoints for teamplay)

Ads (Ill completely remake all the ads)

Here's some images of Dm_cloudcity BETA:

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740008.jpg]

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740009.jpg]

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740010.jpg]

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740012.jpg]

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740013.jpg]

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740014.jpg]

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740016.jpg]

Again, the map can be downloaded here:

http://www.home.no/misterbister/maps/dm ... tyBETA.rar

Feedback is appreciated.

Sorry for not answering for two weeks, but ive had an hell at school and been sick aswell.

I also wanted to hear what everyone had to say before rolling out my plans.

Thanks for the feedback BlueCoatKarma. Ill fix all the issues you noticed.

Aight, off to my plans.

Optimization

Lots of effort will be put into optimizing the map. First off ill try out the skybox suggestion. Secondly ill remove some of the reflective materials aswell. Heres some specific examples of what i will change:

This particular area really gives me an headache. First off theres way more polygons than needed right here. Secondly the opening is made so that the engine is forced to render everything behind it from almost all angles in the open area. Ill add a wall here so that this wont happen. I think this will do alot for the FPS since theres so much being rendered without any need of it.

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740018.jpg]

This whole building i completely retarded, pulling all of the resources away and being uggly at the same time. Ill probably remake it from the ground up.

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740026.jpg]

In this area ill remove the opening.

Gameplay

One big thing that i noticed during gameplay, and ive had feedback about it aswell, is that the weapon placement simply doesnt work as intended. Players avoid some areas completely and some areas are far to rewarding. Im planning on making a total remake of this.

Instead of putting all the good stuff concentrated, ill spread them out. Ive been thinking about making "routes" for different types of players which they can take to get the weapons and equipment they like.

Im planning to add explodable barrels in the final version, simply because they are so much fun. Dangerous and unpredictable. What do you think about them?

The map also contains lots of areas where theres very poor gameplay because of the lack of cover and "small stuff". One of the greatest example of this is this:

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740021.jpg]

Any suggestions on improvement?

Another area that totally lacks of small stuff is this one, how should i make it better without boxes?

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740028.jpg]

Im very unsure about theese holes in the street. Do they really add as much as they take in performance? I made them because i thought it would be fun to shoot people out on the holes and watch them fall down and because i wanted the place to feel like a battleground. However this doesnt happen very much.. Whats your thoughts about them?

[Blocked Image: http://www.home.no/misterbister/Bilder/dm_cloudcity/dm_cloudcity_a740027.jpg]