Oh. My. God.
Gadzuko
Join Date: 2002-12-26 Member: 11556Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2002-12-26 Member: 11556Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">Maps... so... good...</div> I'd just like to throw a massive WOW in the direction of all the guys behind the new maps. They definitely look like you guys put a ton of time and effort into them, and it paid off majorly. They look incredible, and I can't wait to play on them.
Edit: And from what I can tell the older, facelifted maps look WOW as well...
Edit: And from what I can tell the older, facelifted maps look WOW as well...
Comments
:D
There were diagrams of lerks, and other hints that it seemed like some sort of Kharaa research lab. Maybe the name origin = origin of the kharaa species <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
alrite imagination getting out of control there <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->.
Mineshaft: could it be they tweaked it to support some level of virtical commanding?... or is it mearly a mine-themed horizontal?...
Veil: seems to have the Fronteirsmen symbol... don't recall seeing it in any other maps... so could this one be in a base of theirs?
Lost: Space Station... quite obviously... looks awsome... not much else I can think of...
Origin: ooooo.... such a suggestive name... appears to have an outside area... or at least a brightly lit green-house with sky-blue windows <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> Hmm...
As before, just wow... good job people.
Oh my...
To be able to see the glass walkway from that angle is soooo cool.
*my GOD, we have a quote feature for a REASON you know*
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I've been working on this map for a while now, but I've resisted the temptation to post about it before, as I wasn't sure if I could ever finish it; it's given me no end of trouble, and I think I've hit every sort of limit and error message it's possible to get over the course of making it. However, I've finally got a playable version of it complete and working, albeit with some fairly major aesthetic compromises. Anyway, the map is now complete (the first beta at least...I'm sure it'll need further revisions, I just don't want to think about that just yet ), I've sent the map itself off to the NS devs, and I'm posting a few screenies here so you guys can tell me what you like/hate, so I have some idea of what to alter in future versions.
The setting is a colonial outpost on a distant moon; the complex is divided into three distinct sectors, colour coded to aid area recognition and to (hopefully) make the learning curve less steep. The sectors are: Science (blue lighting; lots of computers; metal textures), Industrial (green lighting; grimy textures; machinery) and Mining (red lighting; lava theme; bare rock textures).
As you can see from the layout, the main routes to each hive are fairly linear, with webs of vents and corridors linking the main routes; I hope this will mean that, despite the rather large size of the map, it won't be too hard to learn. There are also signs in there at appropriate places, telling you which sector you're heading into. I hope this, along with the lighting/texturing prompts, will mean that people should always know whereabouts they are in the map.
At the time of this compile, I'm currently on 99.4% of available planes, so adding any more detail at this time is absolutely impossible unless I scrap something major. This unfortunately means that the map has a lot less detail than I would ideally like in many areas, but particularly infestation. I wanted to have lots of cool creeping brushwork in the hives themselves, and things like infestation breaking through walls/floors/roofs on the approach to the hives, but these plans have had to be curtailed for now. If I can optimise the map further, I will add more infestation.
For those of you on 56k, and waiting for the screens to download, here's the backstory to the map. Scroll down if you don't care and just want to see the piccies
"Although the origin of the Kharaa is shrouded in mystery, one of the very first human colonies to succumb to the alien scourge was a mining facility on a moon known as Freya IV. Perhaps the miners dug a little too deep, and released the Kharaa from their ancient sleep; none shall ever know, for those unlucky miners never lived to tell their tales. This lonely outpost became enshrined in TSA literature as "Colony Zero", the epidemiological epi-centre of the alien plague which soon ensued, as a result of bacterial contagion caused by the rash evacuation of the miners without due quarantine controls.
Within weeks, six other planets and moons in the same quadrant as Freya IV became contaminated by the Kharaa; facing the serious possibility of uncontrollable bacterial spread, the TSA unwillingly placed a cordon sanitaire around the affected planets. No-one in, no-one out. The inhabitants of these accursed colonies were condemned to infested tombs.
On year on, unmanned probes, sent in by the TSA to monitor the situation, found something extremely strange - with the human "threat" vanquished, the Kharaa had apparently disappeared - no trace of them, other than organic infestation remains, could be found. Tentatively sending in a human scouting party, the TSA soon realised that the Kharaa were not gone, merely dormant; in the presence of humans, the Kharaa once again awoke. Reporting "chuckling creatures, skulking in the shadows", the scouting party beat a hasty retreat.
For the next 50 years, Freya IV was a strict no-go area. in the intervening time, however, the TSA had not been idle. Having identified the Bacterium as the basis for the Kharaa life-form, the TSA developed a bio-chemical weapon to combat it, dubbed "Nano-Penicillin". This weapon worked on the principle of destroying the Bacterium, and hence the Kharaa. In a symbolic act, Freya IV was chosen as the first infestation site to be cleansed with Nano-Penicillin, blanket-dropped upon the site by aerial probes. The mission was a success - the TSA's monitoring equipment could detect no signs of Bacterium.
As part of the TSA's ongoing Kharaa research, Freya IV became manned once more, as part of efforts to unravel the secrets of the Kharaa by investigating the source. A new science annex was constructed to study the Kharaa and Bacterium under laboratory conditions, safe in the knowledge that Nano-Penicillin could always be used in emergency situations.
Things did not go according to plan, however...
A hive, specially cultivated in the biodome, began giving birth to immense numbers of the gargantuan Onos Kharaa, whose angry roars echoed about the entire station. En masse, they began charging at the containment doors, denting it, buckling it, straining it to its limits. Panicking, the scientists manning the biodome released Nano-Penicillin into the biodome...to no effect. The Bacterium had evolved once more, and had become resistant. At last, the containment doors gave way, and the corridors of the complex on Freya IV seethed with angry Kharaa...
Once more, Freya IV was over-run. The TSA vowed never again to be so foolhardy and reckless as to believe they could confine and contain the Kharaa on human terms. Nevertheless, the scientists on Freya IV made unprecedented headway in Kharaa research, but this research stood to be lost if it could not be retrieved from Freya IV. One last foray was needed - one last journey to the origin of species, this time with a clear objective: search and destroy."<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
PS I did the plant models you can see briefly at the beginning of the clip
<!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> Can't wait!
<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
ECLIPSE
<!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Theres screenshots of new Hera marine start in the mapping forum. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Vent Hive was pretty awesome right now...cant wait to see the newer and somehow BETTER one.
<!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Theres screenshots of new Hera marine start in the mapping forum. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Vent Hive was pretty awesome right now...cant wait to see the newer and somehow BETTER one. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
yup those are looking stunning
There were diagrams of lerks, and other hints that it seemed like some sort of Kharaa research lab. Maybe the name origin = origin of the kharaa species <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
alrite imagination getting out of control there <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
If you look closely in the beginning part of origin, you can see some strange alien plants. Must be the Kharaa planet with the Marines researching them?
EDIT - Forget it,found it and DLing right now <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
the new levels look very dark, kinda gigeresque... i like i like..
any news on when the revamped levels are being shown or is that reserved for launch day?
anyway I got to see it,and all I've got to say is WOW!
the only thing I see lacking is an Onos hologram ,but heck great maps,GJ to all you official NS mappers <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Edit: Nevermind, found it. Now excuse me while I resume my uncontrolled drooling.