ns_machina

[merkaba]

Hi all, I am new to mapcore as I have been fixated on my own devious conjurations for some time now, but I've recently finished my 'magnum opus' of mapping to date, and I figure this is the place to get some of the best feedback for it. I don't have much of a mapping history so I doubt many if anyone here knows me, but I also made ns_hera for NS, and a TFC skill map called concquest_r.

This map is for Natural Selection, which uses the Half-Life engine. Aside from some compile tool optimisations (increased planes and clipnodes), these are all pretty much vanilla HL with Cory Strader's excellent NS texture.

Machina is set on a mining spaceship, one that is owned and constructed by a society of humans of whom little is known about but have some rather impressive technology. The TSA marines are sent in to investigate their technology, but first they must clear it of the alien infestation that immobilised it and its crew.

To start off, here is the ship itself, as seen from the map's 'readyroom'. The readyroom is a feature of NS and is where players can chat & decide on which team to join, instead of having a GUI menu to decide. The ship you see is 3D rendered and is not a static picture, as are the moon and asteroids.

BTW, I am sorry if I do something wrong with the way I am linking these; this is my first post on mapcore so please be gentle!

In-map shots:

To play the map you must install the latest NS version (3.2), sorry about that! (although it is a fun game if you have the patience to learn it )

Thankyou for taking the time to look, and I hope I can find the time to make contributions to other people's threads from here on in.

[Dodger]

the ns map here is absolutely a winner.. but isn't ns outdated and old?

[merkaba]

I guess so, but AFAIK it is still the most played 3rd party MOD for Half-Life, and it is still being updated. Version 3.2 was only released last Friday. However, I personally plan on moving on from the Half-Life engine now, as I feel I've milked it for all I desire. More can still be done with it, but, I'd rather get good with some newer engines such as Source and Unreal.

Oh, I must mention that the ship above is designed by Cory Strader, and modelled/skinned by myself using his concept drawings as a guide.

[Sa74n]

this is really impressive work, merkaba. youre definitely not a nobody. i've admired your work on ns_hera already which was my favorite map in NS along with ns_bast by relic25. i love your use of shapes and creative use of the ns texture set. visually its probably as good as a hl1 engine based map can ever get. i just love what you can beat out of that old piece of code i wondered what ever happened to you after ns. i didnt follow ns any longer after hl2 was released so i had no idea you continued working on it.

i wonder what your skills would do to a source engine based game you should give it a shot!

edit: btw welcome to mapcore. hope youre gonna stick around!

[PhilipK]

Pretty much what satan said

Looking really hot merkaba. Will try it out asap.

[D3ads]

isn't ns outdated and old?

You know the next time someone makes a comment like that, I might just rip my face off...

Fantastic work right there btw

[General Vivi]

hey hey ! looking awsome man ^_^ congrats

[KungFuSquirrel]

merk!

Looks cool as I'm sure I've passed along already. Don't envy the time you must have spent on the eye, though

Welcome to mapcore!

[JamesL]

Fabulous stuff, I agree with Sa74n, I'd love to see what you could do with the Source engine.

[FrieChamp]

I think your pseudonym and work is better known among these ranks than you might think!

Loved ns_hera, this one is looking pretty sweet too! Welcome to MapCore!

[merkaba]

Aw shucks...thanks for the warm welcome and the comments!

In complete contrast to the day I entered #mapcore looking for a decompiler....ouch did I get burned, despite my good intentions.

*edit* And hi KFS and PhilipK

[FMPONE]

In complete contrast to the day I entered #mapcore looking for a decompiler....ouch did I get burned, despite my good intentions.

IRC... IRC never changes....

Welcome, nice map I especially like the first shot.

[PS_Mouse]

*waves to merk*

[e-freak]

absolute cool map - i would vote for spotlight (for best possible useage of an engine)

[merkaba]

Wow you are here too, Mouse? Nice avatar!