More widow.

Zazi · August 2002

<div class="IPBDescription">After a hiatus, i have continued work!</div>After a month or two of neglecting to work on Widow, I have finally started back up again. Attached are four screenshots. The first one depicts Observations. Where residents, scientists, whoever on board this beast of a ship can go to look into space. The sky is made by the ever so sexy Chal. The second shot depicts a hallway leading away from Observations with a window of course in the side. In case the glass were to shatter in Observations, the place is sealed off by two air tight doors. Thought you wanted to know... hehe... The third shot shows the entrance hallway into Hangar Bravo One. Name is derived from the ship. This all takes place on deck Bravo, and it is the first hangar on the deck. So there. I'll show shots of the hangar once it is complete. Actually, Manah is helping me with it since I've redone the stupid thing countless times. And it just ###### me off. Anyways, the fourth shot is more of Observations and showing off that sexy sky. Give me feedback. Yes, I am aware that Observations is a tad bright right now, but that'll change in about thirty minutes... hehe... Anyways, what do you guys think of it so far?

Zazi · August 2002

Zazi · August 2002

Zazi · August 2002

Zazi · August 2002

infi · August 2002

looks nice... but pic 1 2 and 4 are too bright fot my taste <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

MonsieurEvil · August 2002

Very, very nice. I'm sure people will harp on the general brightness and lighting uniformity, but we really do like portions of a map to be colorful and well lit. Nice design!

Hicks · August 2002

Great job essay!
if those are shots of the alien sector then i suggest you tone down the lighting and do some structure-damage if the r-speeds are ok

Right_Behind_You · August 2002

It reminds me of final fantasy <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

BloodyHarry · August 2002

Very nice, but i think it's too bright <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Kidzelda · August 2002

Well, you'd think <b>Observations</b> would bright so they can actually <b>see what they're doing</b> <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

manah · August 2002

You know what I think already <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
But heres a quick refresher ...

I think you should extend this room if possible ... the multi-level-ness could make for some interesting battles, especially with a resource node to lure players down there.

And then theirs the brightness issue ... just a little darker and I think it’ll be fine.

[edit]
I just noticed in the green corridor (#2) are the grates to the side of the walkway need to be made transparent.
[/edit]

JediYoshi · August 2002

Nice, really good work. Keep it up.

Scythe · August 2002

Lookin very nice, you've got a shiny look going which is a bit of a break from the norm of NS maps. In the first pic there is a handrail leading directly into the glass, it looks a bit weird. Those computer terminals look good. That green hallway looks simply spifftacular. In the fourth pic that texture you have on the wall with the door in it, it looks a little cut short with the door.

--Scythe--
<a href="mailto:the_only_scythe@subdimension.com">the_only_scythe@subdimension.com</a>

P.S: No you don't.

BioHaz · August 2002

Lookin very cool <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
Would love to see some of these shots when the lighting is rendered too.

Flayra · August 2002

Zazi, very impressive and unique. Your brushwork, texturing and overall vision are really fantastic. What you really need to work on though, is your lighting. If you can get together with another mapper (in person) who is great at lighting, you might be able to learn a lot really quickly. If not, maybe you could just spend time testing different lighting techniques and really trying to crank up the contrast and add nice shadows. That's all your work really needs. Keep it up, I see great work coming from you in the future!

KungFuSquirrel · August 2002

I don't think brightness in this case is so much of an issue as is the color of the shots... There's some blends that just don't really seem to complement each other as well as they could. Bright is fine. Bright with poorly mixing colors isn't as fine. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Agreed with Flay, the architecture looks great, but lighting could use some retooling.

gutterclutch · August 2002

Very very good looking. A map with this structure almost feels like it has to be bright...ceiling high windows, half glass-sided corridors...it's a nice change from dark and spooky too. AND it looks very good

I'm agreed about the lighting, although it's very well done in pic 3 (spots of light coming through the ceiling in the dark corridor)

realityisdead · August 2002

I'm absolutely in love with the architecture (and lighting) in that third shot. I'd like to see it with some more interesting texturing on the walls there though. The flat texture distracts from the nice geometry. Now that I think about it, the constant green lighting up there is a bit flat feeling as well. Perhaps a more detailed texture and some shadows up on the walls there would really make this hallway shine. Some spot lights above the pipes angled towards the walls might make some interesting shadows. Then again, it might not. Experimentation is essential though.

Regardless of the overbright lighting in the rest, you've got a wonderful start here. Keep at it, and thanks for resparking my fading interest in level design. I've been totally drained and uninterested in doing anything mapping related lately, but seeing that uber cool hallway and thinking on how to further improve it really got me going again. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Zazi · August 2002

Hey guys, thanks for the comments! There's a reason why Observations is somewhat bright. The sky, size, etc... I had a good reason a bit ago but I forgot... heh... Anyways, I've toned down the lighting quite a bit, but I have not worked on any dramatic lighting in this area yet. Soon though. Soon... yess... heheheeee... Anyhow, Flay: Y'know, that'd be great and all, but there is NO ONE that lives in Minnesota... Seriously... I haven't met one person from the NS community that lives near me. Gr. So hey if you, or anyone, know of anyone who lives in Minnesota, let me know, eh? Hopefully I'll post some updated shots once I dramatize the light. Maybe I should infest some of the pipes? Who knows... hehe... That is all. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[edit]
Oh, Ken... Thanks for the comments! <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
[/edit]

KungFuSquirrel · August 2002

Minnesota, eh? Nebraska isn't -that- far off, but ah... /me looks in ken's direction

Zazi · August 2002

Yeah, I just checked Ken's info... hehe... Ken, what city are you from again? Or did I already ask you? lol

Eos · August 2002

I like it, nice a bright so no Aliens can go stealth.

Black_Wolf · August 2002

Eos: thats probably a bad thing, if there is really no hiding places for aliens. I think it looks good, but lighting definitely needs a bit of work

oh, and Zazi, you dont need to physically live near someone to get advice from them, you could get in touch over the internet.

Zazi · August 2002

Think I'm an idiot, Wolf? cause thats what that came off as to me...

Battousaix · August 2002

theres no need for that zazi <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
wolf.... its hella lot easier to learn from somebody that is next to u talkin and explaining and showing u how to do something........ if somebody is just typing and readin ur explanations of the things that go wrong, first of all, its gonna take a lot more time, and, sometimes u wont get the lesson and u wont make a good map...... coz i don have any mappin friends on my country i had to learn how to map by experimenting on maps.... its been like 1 year and a half and got over 200 experiments and none came out alive <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>.... he has talent, if somebody teaches him how to use his gift, he can make awesome maps in less than a week..... but if there isnt nobody near him he will take a lot more......
THATS WHY HES SEARCHIN FOR A GOOD MAPPER NEAR HIM......
remember this fellas, internet is fascinating and u can meet a lot of ppl, but.... a real friend that lives next to ur house is 10 times better and harder to get....

gutterclutch · August 2002

Actually it might be nice for the alien stealth advantage to be removed for a change

ICha0sI · August 2002

stop critisizing about being to bright u dont know where that sector of the map is for all we know it can be the marine start

realityisdead · August 2002

nukem, people here give constructive criticism for the sake and benefit of the guy on the other end. Not to pointlessly cut them down. Regardless of the location of the room, I'd still say that most of the shots are far too bright. Not because they don't give aliens anywhere to hide... but because they could all look so much better with slightly dimmer, yet still vibrant, lighting. There's nothing I'd hate to see happen more to this map than for Zazi to turn all the lights off and make it pitch black with a few little lights here and there. I want to SEE the detail here. But regardless, I still feel that dimmer and more dramatic lighting (as opposed to a constant level of light) could really add to the drama and atmosphere. It's ultimately up to the author on what's going to happen to the level, but there's <i>nothing</i> that makes me more irate than being told to lay off when giving this kind of feedback on shots.

Zazi, Two Harbors. Up on the lake. Not a place you want to go, considering the general attitude and mindset of the erm... people... here. They literally chase you away if you didn't grow up here.

Seriously!

"WHERE'S MY <b>CABNET?!?!</b>"

Zazi · August 2002

I remember... Must've been the thousanth time you've told me where you live... lol... Anyways, drive down here then and give me some advice. Hell, we can teach each other! Hehehe... not to mention have one kick ### LAN here... <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

Infinity · August 2002

looks overall nice and clean, but i dislike some of the textures uve mixed together, looks odd.

Btw, is that white wall texture from System shock 2 ?

More widow.

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