Natural selection map - ns_vivid *update*
Angel
Join Date: 2002-07-09 Member: 902Members
Join Date: 2002-07-09 Member: 902Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Ns_vivid - map description</div><b>ns_vivid</b> <i>by Angel a.k.a. James Dethridge</i>
<i>Authors Note:</i> Natural Selection Map Description Of the future plans of the upcoming map - ns_vivid.
<b>W</b><i>ell, ns_vivid got under production today. I started on the ready room, it will consist of 3 floors. The middle floor is what I call the main "Gateway". This leads into the Alien, Marine, Spectator and Random spawn rooms. two ladders and two short vents will lead into the alien spawn(top floor), a kind of "shaft / manhole" will lead down into the marine spawn area on the bottom floor. The middle floor has a flow of lava underneath it while leading into a room where you can spectate or choose a random team.
At the moment 30% of the ready room has been made (Most of the middle floor) and it is looking like a nice map will turn out, even thought the 1.0 deadline has passed this will hopefully be a big hit in the NS community. Next update will show pictures of the middle floor and maybe even another spawn.</i>
<!--emo&:asrifle:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/asrifle.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':asrifle:'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:pudgy:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/pudgy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':pudgy:'><!--endemo-->
<i>Authors Note:</i> Natural Selection Map Description Of the future plans of the upcoming map - ns_vivid.
<b>W</b><i>ell, ns_vivid got under production today. I started on the ready room, it will consist of 3 floors. The middle floor is what I call the main "Gateway". This leads into the Alien, Marine, Spectator and Random spawn rooms. two ladders and two short vents will lead into the alien spawn(top floor), a kind of "shaft / manhole" will lead down into the marine spawn area on the bottom floor. The middle floor has a flow of lava underneath it while leading into a room where you can spectate or choose a random team.
At the moment 30% of the ready room has been made (Most of the middle floor) and it is looking like a nice map will turn out, even thought the 1.0 deadline has passed this will hopefully be a big hit in the NS community. Next update will show pictures of the middle floor and maybe even another spawn.</i>
<!--emo&:asrifle:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/asrifle.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':asrifle:'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:pudgy:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/pudgy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':pudgy:'><!--endemo-->
Comments
Beware of the <!--emo&:bob:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bob.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bob:'><!--endemo--> 's.
Also, NS World, I will register it their when the readyroom has been finished
Thirdly; ns_vivid ? I got it from writing a GCSE English story and I just wrote the two words 'Vivid Imagination'.
Finally, storyline, well, I was thinking about making this map more interactive with the engine, b ythis maybe getting new textures to make a sort of 'Artificially Created Enviroment'. Meaning In the middle of the map could be a dome full of hills and when you exit you find out your in a spacship. Or Maybe even exit the ship onto un uncharted beautifully landscaped naturistic surrounding. Who knows? Just I want to stretch and widen the ideas of newer NS Maps.
Noo...
NS is not about lush outdoors environments whether they're in a dome or not. uncharted beautifully landscaped naturistic surroundings are the last thing you want to do in NS. It's not your job to reform the NS mapping ideals, or to widen the horizons. There are mapping guidelines, and they are there for a reason. There is a set theme to the levels in NS, and the theme is to be respected and followed. Again, it's there for a reason... consistency is key. And if anyone says all the levels will look the same, I'll bite their heads off.
All this, is written assuming you'd want your level to have a chance at going official in a later release. If not, feel free to ignore me. <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
Welcome to the community, btw... sorry I had to start out on such a negative tone, but it's pretty important.
<!--EDIT|ken20banks|July 10 2002,19:19-->
*carotid spurt*
*carotid spurt*
I just don't want to see anyone upset when they put a bunch of effort into a beautiful vista type map for NS, and find out that there's no way in hell it'd be included as an official level. This way, you can't say nobody warned you. <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
Good luck...
* waves pointy stick to keep Ken20Banks at bay *
Look at the pic. Notice anything. Do you see the fact that it's outside. Did you notice that the Mapping Guideline strictly forbids the makking of outdoor maps or even outdoor areas. Can somone tell me why the map is still going to be most likely offical.
Is this going to become one of those eternal arguments, Quake vs Unreal, Console vs PC, NS vs Outdoor Environments?
Small outdoor areas as seen in Hera are not a problem but just not suggested or encouraged, however they are acceptable so long as they still adhere to the NS themes
<b>*slips into quote Ken mode*</b>
As in, shadows, steam, pipes, nail-biting-atmoshpere, etc.
<b>*end quote Ken mode*</b>
No-one can say that Hera doesn’t adhere to those, along with Bast it defines them.
More importantly the outdoor area in Hera isn’t freely accessible by the players, the only real option is to go back inside. Merkaba included the area more (I presume) as a way of setting the locale and atmosphere for Hera rather than as an area intended for actual gameplay.
Think of NS mapping as adding to a consistent set of maps, consistent in theme and execution like any good game should be. Would you criticise the various lab areas in HL for all seeming as though they are part of the same facility?
No because that’s the intention. Staying consistent to the NS themes and building maps that fit well with the NS world should be seen as the challenge not the limitation.
[/rant end]
<!--EDIT|manah|July 11 2002,06:50-->
in other words, one of the first thoughts that should go through your mind when your standing in an outdoor area of a ns map is " <!--emo&:0--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'><!--endemo--> this is amazing, i hope bob isn't hiding anywhere, ready to kill me" not " <!--emo&:0--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'><!--endemo--> this is pretty, i hope bambi isn't hiding anywhere, ready to rip out my jugular"
ns outdoor areas = epic looking
Outdoor areas are... discouraged, but not forbidden. The reason the NS team suggests indoor areas is because they are atmospheric, a little creepy, mildly claustrophobic, and promote the faster, up-close-and-personal gameplay that makes NS work. Having a map set up outside wouldn't work because you're killing one of the aliens' primary strengths - stealth. Not many places to hide outside.
The landing pad on Hera is a miniscule part of the map; very little fighting occurs there. Tanith (I believe) has a small outdoor section as well, but it is *small* and the fact that it's nighttime doesn't pull you too far out of the map.
In general... don't make outdoor areas. It's easier that way. If you do, don't let them escape the theme... make them small, make them atmospheric... and no happy little gardens or that ####.
And I don't know how many times I've gone over the fact that it's not the technical fact that something is *outside*... it's the atmosphere presented with it. Especially the stuff you'd see in Unreal2 or UP. It's cool and all, but it's not NS.
JediYoshi: Same. Read above.
I don't know. I wouldn't waste my time posting little warnings like that if it wasn't important. Guideline Nazi? Heh. Maybe it's more of a sign that I fully understand the guidelines and reasonings behind them, and care enough to share them with newer members. And if you thought my comment directing him towards the guidelines was rude (you made it out to look like I was mocking him or something), well... Think what you must.
It's a bit silly I have to get into this almost every time I share my opinion on this forum. Or am I just imagining things?
Do what you will, but be advised that outdoor areas are heavily discouraged -- I recall Merk even saying that he took heat from Flay for even the small segment in Hera.
Also, trying out new idea's to make NS spookier or kind of more atmospheric may even change their minds about things. If not, just change it to how they want it, in the end, the map will have the same atmosphere. Just the only thing is a bigger environment on one than the other.
I'm way too defensive right now, and no this is nothing special... happens every time someone brings the topic up.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you do Angel, but I highly doubt one person is going to change how the team looks at things, or change their minds on the issue. NS simply <b>is not designed</b> to work in large outdoors areas. The gameplay, balance, alien abilities, balance, gameeplay, balance, balance, etc. Even if you do manage to pull it off with a convincingly NS themed atmosphere. They aren't going to change the way the game works for one level.
And manah... very well put.
Sorry if I caused any hostility, confusion, or frustration. I just don't like to hear about people trying to push the guidelines out of the way and do what they want. That's not creativity, that's unwillingness to take on a challenge. Creating something that fits to the way the game is supposed to work, yet still making it unique... THAT's creativity.
Sorry, and Good luck.
<!--EDIT|ken20banks|July 11 2002,18:48-->
He could be the next Reborn.
We are not saying don't make outdoor maps to conform to our wishes, or to stifle your creativity, or anything like that. I personally think Flayra is the most creative, individualistic, damnable hippy programmer I've ever met. He would rather cut his own ear off than make you do something uncreative - look at this game; it's the most creative one on record, IMO. The issue is NS itself, and how it will react under the conditions of your map. NS_Hera, which has only the smallest of outdoor areas, still needed it cut way down when it was playtested for the reasons I mentioned.
I guess my point is, I hope you can learn from other people's experience. Making an NS map is about as hard as it gets. Our 2 mappers are very, very experienced and talented, and I think they will be tweaking their maps up until the night before we ship. They started 9 months ago!
<!--EDIT|MonsieurEvil|July 11 2002,20:41-->
jamesd ownz!........................................................................... NOT!!!!!