Posts by JamesL

  • dm_archt FINAL [HL2DM]

    Great stuff. I like the overall style and the lighting has improved a hell of a lot since the first shots you posted. There is some great brushwork in there too.

    I'll add it to our lunchhour HLDM server to check out the gameplay. Nice one.

  • Now playing

    Bit late but just recently started playing Company of Heroes.

    Wow much better than I expected, I enjoyed Battle for Middle Earth when that came out, but this is better. Great gameplay, control system and the pacing and balance is fantastic. Highly recommended if you've not tried it. Looks top on my new 24" Dell flatscreen too

  • Power Supplies, and video cards

    Dont scrimp money on a PSU it will only serve to make your system unstable and it will likely die 10 times faster than a decent one anyway.

    Personally I use antec psu's. Not overly expensive and good quality (stable) voltage output. Less than 100 quid.

  • WIP in WIP, post your level screenshots!

    Cheers all, its nice to get some positive feedback to keep the enthusiasm going. I realise there are masses of things that need attention in the two shots I posted, but the environment is just a sandbox for the models and materials at the moment, which as FMP points out are a bit rough.

    I'm learning all the time though, art is not my discipline so expect many more posts for help in smoothing out the rough edges

  • January US Console sales

    Aside from Mario and Metroid, which are both rumoured as Xmas '07 /Q1 '08 there's really not a great deal of excitement in that list. But then I don't want to pay £425 for a PS3 just to play MGS4/DMC4 either. Think I'll stick with the 360 & PC.

  • de_static *RC VERSION DL* - updated 16/02

    So here's the latest WIP version of the map. I wasn't sure if I wanted to release this version of it, since it's still needing a serious last layer of polish and fixing up. However I think the map needs a last round of feedback before I go for a final. (It was actually Hessi's harsh but fair post on dod_eidelweiss that persuaded me to release this).

    Known issues:

    Some texture alignment bugs.

    Model collisions.

    Some of the models need re-skinning (remaking possibly, I pretty much suck at modelling still).

    Totally unoptimised - FPS is shite in places.

    Nav mesh is rough and dirty with no place painting.

    You can escape from the map in some places.

    Some z-fighting where the tree shadow overlays hit displacements.

    Soundscapes appear broken in this build.

    Some of the overlays are a bit crap.

    All comments and crits appreciated. I am pretty much set on the layout now, I just want to concentrate on making it look nicer and fixing bugs.

    http://%7boption%7d

  • [REL] DoD_Edelweiß Beta 3

    Great first post.

    Pretty much agree with what's been said. The atmosphere is lovely but the map lacks the fine detail to lift it into the realms of greatness.

    Trims on arches, grime and dirt overlays, buffers at the end of those train tracks, more undulation in the floors, walls dirtied up. All that kinda detailing stuff would really help.

  • Tab or not?

    Ok thanks for all the advice folks. Since I am only really concerned with making environment textures, and since many of you guys seem to get great results with just a mouse (I got the same one as you Zaphod) I think I'll just get myself a fat ass new monitor instead.

    Lord knows these old eyes could do with a bigger screen.

    Cheers everyone.

  • Tab or not?

    One for all you talented 2D Mapcorians.

    Whilst I have been mapping for donkey's years now across all sorts of engines and apps, I've never really invested much (any) time in getting my 2D skills up to the level where I can knock out acceptable texures to use on my creations. Mainly I guess 'cause I have always had someone far more talented than myself to do the job for me.

    Anyways as part of trying to get better at creating my own 2D stuff I am thinking of investing in a wacom tab. However, I would like to know do you folks think this is either

    • An essential bit of kit,

      or

      Nice to have/pretty useful but not entirely essential.

    To quantify a bit, I am only really interested in making environment textures and textures for my models, not any digital painting or other of that kind of creative malarky.

    So whatya think folks, is it worth the £200 or should I just put the cash towards a bigger fatter monitor?

  • Game design ideas.

    This system of experience you describe is the basis of the CS1.6 Ultimate Warcraft 3 mod. The system is kind of unfair and does result in positive feedback loops for those players who are highly skilled and high level. However as you describe above, low level players killing high level players results in the low levels getting huge amounts of xp and the high levelers getting a penalty.

    It is very good fun to play and a system well worth investigating for yours and other mods imo.

    You should have a look at the mod if you are not aware of it, it's been about for quite a few years now and is very popular amongst those who know of it.

    http://%7boption%7d

  • de_industry_b2

    Personally I kinda like the fog. Yes it does change the gameplay, but at the same time it makes for a slightly different kind of map, you have to take account of the reduced visibility in your tactics.

    *Votes to keep fog*

  • 3d Studio vs Maya (for game development)

    I always thought that Max was the standard games dev 3D package. However in my 6 years in the industry across Climax, Kuju and Sony, all have predominantly used Maya.

    Edit: Dunno if its true or not but one of the artists here just told me that Max was traditionally used because it was more easily warez'd.