Inspiration

Mouse

<div class="IPBDescription">Where do you get it from?</div> Right now I'm in a bit of a rut in regard to creating good architechture for my maps. With all of my usual sources of inspiration proving to be ineffective, I'm on the look out for a new source or two.

My usual sources of inspiration include:

Listening to music (I try to have a different playlist for each map I do)
and assorted drawings which are mainly from <a href='http://www.artbyfeng.com/' target='_blank'>Art By Feng</a>

Kuroneko

I get mine from watching TV/Anime/Movies and the like

quazilin

I get some insipiration to ns mapping by watching sci-fi movies like matrix aliens starwars etc.
Another thing is playing sci-fi based games and influenced by them. Other good thing could be reading some sci-fi based books and now I am gonna go look those totally awesome pics by Feng.

blueman

mmm i do draw in paper whatever i have in mind whenever it comes to me. I also usually look for inspiration on other pples maps (hey not a copy, just ideas!!) , like....i see a room named "cargo bay" and say, ....mmmthis doesnt look as the cargo bay I WOULD DO so i get out the game, a pencil and draw what i have in mind. It works alot and i get many ideas from this. I also love getting ideas from films, like Aliens (all the 4) and any kind of Sci-fi films. Lately, i like to play some Ut2k3 as its levels are highly inspiring to me.

btw Mouse this Art by Feng is....AMAZING.

DEADscott

Set the map aside and play NS for a few hours.

Lt_Gravity

to create an exiting map I would suggest NOT TO PLAY NS. for one cause: you will finding yourself copy aspects so your map will be similar to existing maps. if anyone says "looks similar to eclipse" you have done something wrong. that doesnt mean that eclipse is a bda map. its one of the most atmospheric maps out there. but developr your own style.
I usually hear different music and fill my brain with all related stuff I can. when Im waking up in the morning sometimes I take a piece of paper an draw a little hallway.
to the feng page: this first picture is enough for me to construct a map out of it <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> however, Im terrible in creating locations but building different ways between them is my skill! not taken too serious <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

Kuroneko

<!--QuoteBegin--Jobabob+Jun 8 2003, 06:26 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jobabob @ Jun 8 2003, 06:26 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> do something else, listen to the radio, create a dm map ill never finish, then go back to whatever im working on <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Explains why I have some 200 (not including seperate versions) different maps/bits'n'bobs .rmf's lying around! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I do that alot too



...I should combine them all into a mish-mash map...hrmmm

chubbysteve

Inspiration is like... you musn't force it. It's just something that works with you. Change of surroundings is good, you should always give your self a chance to see a new environment and then come back refreshed. If you can't find inspiration in relaxation (I know I do) then trying the opposite, filling your time up with things to do. In both cases you can allow your mind to wonder into an inspirational place.
Getting to bed early helps. Your dreams can be inspiring.
Hmm. There's my two cents I suppose.

Obliterater

In some boring class at school I just sit draw pictures and think of what would look really good ingame. Also I find that just walking around looking at buildings and stuff will occasionaly give me a good idea or two. Movies also are a great source of ideas.

Evil_bOb1

a dream...

but i take longer to do maps for i dont dream ns often <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

Otherwise do a lot of looking at other maps, not just ns, in other mods and games, stuff like that,... i completed ut 2 talking screens of all over the place when it inspired me.

Gimpy_Doodly_Doo

I just go for it. I picture what I want the environment to be like. My map that I am working on is in a jungle so I have allot of skylights and windows and such. I also make things that are not flat and boring. I really like pipes too.

goosetickler

Watch all the Aliens movies; do some google image searches for old 80's machinery. The old techie machines are great, they’re all big and over exaggerated, and have numerous knobs that dont do a thing.

I also like looking at photo source libraries of ruins, industrial areas, and art deco buildings. Sci-Fi movie set concept art/story boards also have some good designs. Other artists such as Fheng Zhu <a href='http://www.artbyfeng.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.artbyfeng.com/</a>, Gieger, and then some concept artwork forums. Its also good to take a digital camera and take pictures of real world architecture and then sci-fi it up.

marcos

Music. It helps my mind to start spinning around.

"Way Out West" is good when your stuck and want to listen to some nice tunes <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Mendasp

The way I map (for ns) is pretty strange... I get inspired in... an object or little structure (not even a room) then, when I've finished the main concept, I don't know how, but I know how to fill the rest of the room... when I haven't inspiration, it's easy to notice... I finish deleting entire rooms and having like 30 rmfs of the same map. With not-so-sci-fi maps is different, since I just have to take a walk to get inspired <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

Well, I don't have a clear inspiration, so sometimes my map (the one that I'm currently doing) looks like lots of different maps... :\ When I finish this one I plan on doing a better planned one... <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

amckern

i get mine by sitting on the dunny

or mowing the grass

any place that can get (shite) boring <<< Hope not sensored like 1ee7 turns into "elite" (aughs)

amckern

(btw feng has sweet as artwork)

aegix

Other maps.