Posts by KungFuSquirrel

  • The role of the level-designer

    Quote from Minotauro

    Dunno, but I'd rather work as an environment artist, seems a lot nicer than just planning levels all the day

    We get to do both We get a lot of trust put into us. We document our own levels from start to finish (coming up with most of the ideas ourselves, aside of basic plot points and specific scenes, and the construction of those is still entirely up to us). Using Radiant is another plus here - with patch meshes, we can also build most of what we want to build without touching Lightwave. We do model terrain manually, which I feel gives much stronger control than any heightmap terrain does, but it can be a little tedious at first.

    We do use modeled props, most of which are concepted up, built, and textured in the art department. However, some of our designers also do their own textures and map objects - we can build a quick low or high poly model in LW, clean it up, and let the artists take over. Or we can build the normal maps for a texture, render it out, plop a grey swatch over it, and leave it to the artists to paint. Generally we just let them do the prop work, as they have it scheduled and we don't.

    Scripters curently do all event scripting, though a couple designers can do some scripting as well. They're also doing stuff like monster, item, and trigger placement right now, too, as a time consideration (that's stuff they can easily do while we work on construction for another map). Eventually we'll have more of a hand in this and learn basic scripting all-around. They'll still be doing the really crazy scripted stuff, though, as most of us designers don't have much of a background in programming. I do hope to learn a lot about this and over time do more and more of my own scripting (but not enough they bump me out of design, heh), and I'd recommend you guys looking for jobs in the future dabble in scripting for unreal or doom3 or something.

    We pass maps around a lot, too. Sometimes it's because the person who originally made it is busy with something else, sometimes it's just to get another set of hands on it. We also steal from each other all the time. Load up a map, take a section you like, adjust and re-texture, and poof! It's just another thing that helps efficiency as well as consistency within the game world.

  • Raven hiring Level Designers for unannounced project

    The Company:

    Raven Software is an award-winning computer game software developer based in Madison, Wisconsin. Our focus is on graphic excellence and superb gameplay. As avid gamers, we build the kind of games we enjoy playing: games that are visually engaging and enjoyable with high-level, intense playability. We remain dedicated to pushing ahead the level of quality in electronic gaming.

    Job Type: Full Time

    The Position:

    Level Designer

    Responsibilities:

    Raven is looking for an experienced level designer for a game built using the DOOM3 engine. The applicant will be responsible for various aspects of design: creating a concept of a level on paper, building in Radiant, lighting, enemy placement, and some scripting. The applicant must work on site and be a team player.

    Qualifications:

    • Previous level design experience preferred but if you’ve made your own great levels, we’ll take a look

    • Familiarity with Radiant a must

    • Familiarity with Lightwave a plus

    • Experience with scripting a plus

    Posted from the new Gamasutra entry. Contact info available there, or PM me and I'll give you the appropriate e-mail address/addresses.

    As I mentioned in the previous thread, my short time at Raven has been absolutely incredible. Whether you like Raven games or not, Raven offers one of what many of us feel (most with much more experience than me ) is one of the best jobs in the industry. Security is good as an Activision-owned studio and the average length of employment is something like 6 years. You only have something to lose if you don't apply, so if you're even remotely thinking about it, give it a shot.

  • Half Life 2 Chapters Deleted?

    Content is deleted from/changed in games all the time. There's tons of stuff I remember seeing in original Half-Life shots that never made the cut into the final game (as well as the unused AI models). Look at how Ravenholm evolved from the TrapTown E3 demo into what it is now, for instance.

    Schmung and Jynx make a good point - some of the content may have been not good enough, but other bits may just have taken too much time to do. They have the content already, so provided none of it sucked (which is also entirely possible - no one's perfect ), they could easily fix it up and use it for an expansion. I really would like to see that boat level/chapter...

  • de_Porterhouse (CS:S)

    You and your broked stuff.

    Looks nice I think you could do a lot more with the lighting outside, though. Obviously you need to keep it bright enough to let players see each other, but maybe experiment with more types of light sources combined with a darker sky light.

  • Raven Openings

    Quote from st0lve

    X-Men legends sounds fun.

    It is.

    So is working at Raven, by the way. Really cool place, and just getting better

    I had a friend do an art test for the spot and he said that he was asked to do it in Max. I think the LW/Maya bit may be a botched copy/paste from a D3 engine posting. I could be wrong, though. But no harm trying!

  • "Anticitizen Zero" Bank from HL2

    Quote from Zeta

    i dont personally bother with the 'orange mode'. For me its faster to apply nodraw to every brush and go straight into texturing for real on the faces that need it.

    ...which is the same thing. There is no such thing as 'orange mode;' whether you're using nodraw or a concrete base texture or a purple or pink or plaid with polka dots texture, it's the same concept - rough in your map's layout, basic form, and gameplay before you waste time detailing it. It's not like Valve invented some crazy revolution with a few orange textures or anything.

  • It's SNOWING!!!!!!

    I saw snow today. We went to a pizza place in Verona for dinner and a car had parked there prior to us after driving through the snow. Kinda depressing (and weird) for the first snow I see of the year to be little piles that fell off a car in a parking lot... I think the edge of the snow front was just south of Madison.

  • Raven Openings

    Just wanted to bring to light a couple openings on Raven's staff. The programming one I doubt would apply to anyone here, but you might know someone who fits the criteria and is searching for a new home. Here's the info, as well as a link to each gamasutra posting with proper contact info:

    2D/3D Texture and World Model Artist Position for X-Men Legends Title

    Raven Software is looking for a 2D/3D artist to concept, build, and paint complex textures and world models for an X-Men Legends title. We prefer an artist with experience working in the PC gaming industry, with an understanding of creating textures and world models, but with very strong drawing, concepting, and painting skills. A more realistic artistic style is preferred. An ability to create game art for different genres - such as Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror - is a definite plus, but a strong background in drawing and painting realistically is a must. The position will also require an understanding of or a willingness to learn 3D hi-poly and lo-poly model building in Lightwave or Maya.

    Responsibilities:

    - Concept and create complex textures and world models for an X-Men Legends title.

    Requirements:

    - Strong 2D drawing, concepting, and painting skills.

    - Experience creating textures and world models for PC games.

    - Experience creating UV maps from 3D models.

    - Experience building hi-poly and lo-poly 3D models in Lightwave or Maya or have experience with another 3D package and be willing to switch.

    - Experience using Photoshop.

    - Self-motivated, with a strong artistic vision that allows them to complete tasks without supervision.

    - Relocation to Madison, Wisconsin

    http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/jobs_d ... ob_id=4691

    Console Tech Programmer

    Raven Software is seeking a talented programmer to play an important role in a triple-A console title currently in development... X-Men: Legends. We are looking for an experienced technology guru who can integrate with a capable development team and make a great game even better. Responsibilities include working with technology designed to work cross-platform for the Playstation 2, Gamecube and Xbox.

    The ideal candidate would have:

    • Minimum of five years of programming experience in game development or real-time graphics applications, with at least two shipped products.

    • Full mastery of C++ and working with as well as creating object-oriented systems.

    • Excellent oral and written communications skills.

    • Proven technical expertise with at least one console platform such as Playstation 2, Xbox or Gamecube.

    Additional strong assets:

    • Bachelor's Degree or better in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics.

    • Experience and comfort with low-level assembly and hardware API's.

    • Skills with cutting-edge graphics work such as advanced rendering techniques, animation, or optimization.

    • Previous experience with developing a cross-platform product.

    • Experience with game-oriented graphics technology such as Renderware, Intrinsic Alchemy, or NetImmerse.

    http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/jobs_d ... ob_id=4690

  • [Q3]NoNameYet

    I'll make the same comment here I did on the Snark pit... I'd love to see more curves included in this. It'd also help your glowy fluid thing by giving you perfect texture alignment. All the angles are really sweet, and would be even sweeter pulled around a curve here and there.

    But it's really nice architecture regardless, and a nice smooth lighting style. Keep up the good work!