Caged - Vent Porn

meatmachine

Now ns2_caged is fully detailed and official and released and stuff, I'm sure plenty of you have taken the time to really explore the map and appreciate just how much effort and consideration has gone into practically every nook and cranny of this map.

From the ceilings riddled with potentially alien-infested alcoves to clever use of lighting throughout, the rooms and corridors really are a sight to behold and push the boundaries of architectural quality within NS2; perhaps within gaming as a whole. But they are not what this topic is about, oh no. This is about the vents.

Presented below are a few screenshots I have carefully hand-picked for your enjoyment. It's time to break out the kleenex, everybody.

Because what would an NS2 map be without lights behind operational ventilation fans? Motion sickness for some, I've heard, but pretty for the rest of us.

Something prevalent in many of caged's vents is the headroom afforded to marines- it feels more comfortable for marines but ensures they are not without cover for advancing life forms.

Doesn't that just make you bite your lip and need a quick bathroom visit?
The location! It's not just a vent entrance stuck into a flat wall like a weeping fissure that needs attention; it's got cover! It's got pipes! There's even a freaking ladder for marines. So thoughtful.

Technically one could say the puri-ventilation corridor is a huge vent, and a beaut it is at that!

Good at making vents, Flaterectomy is, but a plumber he is not.

Vent shapes breaking rules you didn't even realise existed. Ohhh baby.

This vent exits just above the computer terminal; clearly to keep the operator's forehead cool and sweat-free as his finger hovers unsteadily over the 'Nuke From Orbit?' Button.

Oh boy, what a pretty room! And that pipe, so long and girthy... But wait! Where does it lead?

DAAYYYUM Flater, back at it again with the sexy vent entrances!

It really is astonishing how one man had the patience to put so much detail into each square foot of vent.

More cool use of space and lighting. And pipe.

And this is it, the coup-de-grace and my personal favourite, reeking of Alien horror movie vibes- really sends a chill down my spine:

Aaaand that's it. I'm gonna go clean up, thanks for reading

troops

I have to agree! The vents are so immersive, i just love crawling in them and not just seeing "generic vent one." Good job @Flaterectomy and good job Meat for showing it off

Kouji_San

Too damn awesome!

IeptBarakat

What I love the most about the vents in Caged is they're all fairly unique and not just the same repeating texture or prop set in each one.

Vetinari

I've always liked the vents in caged, and cozy little hidey spots in general, but a few weeks ago flat added my favorite spot in an ns2 map ever, which you can see in screenshot 3. And you can even get there as a marine!
I like to hang out there pregame.

Kasharic

Couldn't agree with this more. Flats ability to make each vent feel totally unique, totally justified in its placement and appearance, and breathtaking in its detail is something I hope to eventually be able to come close to as a mapper. For any mapper, it should be something to aspire to and for everyone else it is something to admire. It truly is astounding work.

CCTEE

low-and-slow-cooking !

Flaterectomy

Aww shucks you guise. I did make an effort to make them unique. Vents are fun to get creative with, as you have a nice size restriction to focus your energies on, and you can kinda get away with not having a clear function for them---moving air from A to B and/or some kind of maintenance access shaft, and there you go.

DC_Darkling

I agree with all comments. It is truly well done.
The time you invest in every map can not be underestimated, but the end results are beyond compare at the moment.