Maps Are Too Dark

HighnoHighno Join Date: 2004-01-29 Member: 25706Members
The new Maps in B5 and some of the maps created recently are way to dark in my opinion.
Ok darkness is atmosphere in NS but some of these maps are so dark that it becomes horrible for both teams.
I mean just compare the recent maps with tanith veil or any other map that runs on most of the servers.
I dont like maps where you fight in closecombat and dont see anything and the luck is the only thing that sepparates winner from looser.
I think there are other ways to to have atmosphere in maps
then just to make everything dark, darkblue or lightning reduced to floorlight.
Has this something to do with the release of Doom 3?
Just keep in mind that in NS the aliens are humans too.
«1

Comments

  • Foxtrot_UniformFoxtrot_Uniform Join Date: 2003-06-12 Member: 17328Members
    i disagree completely. i like them to be dark.
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    Thankyou for your overgeneralized statement. Now if you wouldn't mind giving us some specific examples and maybe some suggestions to change these things, then this thread might have a purpose. As it stands now you're just complaining.
  • HighnoHighno Join Date: 2004-01-29 Member: 25706Members
    See ns_altair this map is dark at all with some brighter spots.
    see all the other official ns-maps they are bright with some dark places.

    or co_sava which is darkblue at all and only rinestart is brighter
    Again all other maps are brighter.then thisone

    i don't know but for me it aint no fun to fight in completely dark areas as i lose my orientation completely.
    Which is very bad for fighting

    I saw ns_achio and it was a map dark as altair.
    So it might be the intention of mappers to create something doomlike which i really dislike for NS

    and yes it is somekind of complaining
  • MendaspMendasp I touch maps in inappropriate places Valencia, Spain Join Date: 2002-07-05 Member: 884Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Gold, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Retired Community Developer
    I have a dark monitor and I can see VERY WELL on my own map... and it's a quite clear blue, not dark-blue.
  • GrizzlyGrizzly Join Date: 2003-10-27 Member: 22025Members
    Skulks NEED darkness to hide, get a brighter screen
  • JaneJane Seriously!? Join Date: 2003-07-01 Member: 17835Members, Constellation
    edited September 2004
    I don't know map names but these are the maps I played that drove me insane due to darkness.

    1. The combat map where you used to be able to hit the alien hive from down a long hallway, but now there are rafters blocking this from happening. (It is the one where the ms has two openings, the cc got moved back so you can't slip behind it, and there is a large up ramp outside of the ms leading to the hallway that leads to the hive. In side that hive, the very front and very back are so dark I can't see at all, and I'm sure other people have the same prob.

    2. The combat map where the "top way" leads through two small rooms, and then down a large ladder that normally equates to death. because if you live going down the ladder there will just be an alien around the corner, or hiding behind a box later down the hallway. That is not the dark part. but the backway os completely dark.

    3. there was a map where I couldn't even see in the rr, and was told that inside the map was even darker, so I didn' bother playing it. It was the one where jumping on a box leads you to the secret room. (new map - not sure if it was combat or regular)

    Some of this was fixed after I turned the setings all the bright on my monitor, but it's still really hard to see. I don't blame the mappers though, it just sucks that they locked lightgamma.

    p.s. about the above comment, marines have flashlights, aliens do not, skulks can hide all they want, but if they can't see to attack it's still kind of pointless.
  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi! Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Grizzly+Sep 14 2004, 08:11 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Grizzly @ Sep 14 2004, 08:11 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Skulks NEED darkness to hide, get a brighter screen <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Could have said it better myself, although remember, you can change your gamma via Powerstrip etc.
  • JaneJane Seriously&#33;? Join Date: 2003-07-01 Member: 17835Members, Constellation
    Explain this 'powerstrip' thing, pls.
  • MendaspMendasp I touch maps in inappropriate places Valencia, Spain Join Date: 2002-07-05 Member: 884Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Gold, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Retired Community Developer
    Two comments about sava being TOO DARK, how come noone posted that in the feedback thread? I didn't even know about it... as I said, I can see everything just fine... and I have a hard time in other maps...
  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Mendasp+Sep 14 2004, 08:39 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mendasp @ Sep 14 2004, 08:39 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Two comments about sava being TOO DARK, how come noone posted that in the feedback thread? I didn't even know about it... as I said, I can see everything just fine... and I have a hard time in other maps... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Mendasp it so is not too dark, whoever thinks that needs to turn up their gamma and brightness.
  • AlienCowAlienCow Join Date: 2003-09-20 Member: 21040Members
    edited September 2004
    Darkness is my friend. The light, oh, how it burns.













    And I agree with the whole aliens hiding thing. Its also more fun to not be able to see anything and be petrified. I think.
  • the_x5the_x5 the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Highno+Sep 14 2004, 12:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Highno @ Sep 14 2004, 12:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The new Maps in B5 and some of the maps created recently are way to dark in my opinion.
    Ok darkness is atmosphere in NS but some of these maps are so dark that it becomes horrible for both teams.
    I mean just compare the recent maps with tanith veil or any other map that runs on most of the servers.
    Has this something to do with the release of Doom 3?
    Just keep in mind that in NS the aliens are humans too. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Sure, in my opinion tho I like darkness with a bunch of varied lighting. Not totally dark everywhere. Not totally well lit everywhere. Contrast.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I dont like maps where you fight in closecombat and dont see anything and the luck is the only thing that sepparates winner from looser.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Um, sound is critical in NS. Get a good sound card or a surround speaker system and your NS play will increase. Some n00bs wonder why I perodically want everyone in the squad to hold perfectly still. It is so I can listen. Cloaked aliens rarely sneak up on me unless they have silence 3.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think there are other ways to to have atmosphere in maps
    then just to make everything dark, darkblue or lightning reduced to floorlight.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Indeed. I agree.
  • NetBentNetBent Join Date: 2003-05-16 Member: 16386Members
    Sava is a bit dim, but not dark. At least you have the best looking co map. Core is good too.
  • TuppertinaTuppertina Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5173Members
    As a general on-topic comment to make to mappers: whenever a new release of ns comes out that has new maps included, I usually have to crank up the gamma for the darker areas of those new maps. While heightened gamma settings and a very bright LCD screen certainly make these new maps playable, it makes the old maps look way too bright/washed out/ugly. Whatever charming little dark spots they once had are now gone. Please don't prolong this by treating it as a 'darkness race' in which every new map has to be darker (and by some failed logic scarier) than the previous one. It even says in the mapping faq that dark areas should be avoided, and dramatic high-contrast lighting should be used instead.
  • aegixaegix Join Date: 2002-08-31 Member: 1256Members, NS1 Playtester
    Gameplay over Aesthetics. <b>ALWAYS</b>

    Getting killed by something you cannot see IS NOT FUN.
  • moultanomoultano Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
    I'd have to agree about altair and sava, and even the remade bast. If I'm playing at night everything is fine, but if my monitor has to contend with light from outside, it becomes a real pain. Sava is better than altair in this regard, but I still think it could use some brightening up. (It looks damn sexy though)

    It seems like something changed in the compile settings from the original bast to the remake with regards to the lighting. Does anyone have more information on this?
  • StueStue Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6017Members
    I agree 100% with the original poster.

    I just played ns_nothing (the one with cargo bay, power silo and great viaduct?) and i instantly thought "didnt i just turn my brightness and contrast up? ... jepp...hmmm". I first thought my NS settings were all messed up because most walls just appeared almost plain blackish to me.

    I dont like dark maps at all. It becomes pure luck if you hit someone before he hits you. And it goes both ways. Aliens have the same problems identifying marines on the dark ground. When i skulk i just jump into the croud going berserk. Having my eyes in my mouth (...duh) while biting and everything around me being black i have no chance seeing where my target IS or where it has gone. So i mainly use my speakers to tell me from which side "marine sounds" are coming and turn that way. And its the same for marines against aliens of course.

    I just want to state that i surely am no fan of these darkening changes. This all makes me more and more want beta4 back <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • Lt_GravityLt_Gravity Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15909Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-@egis+Sep 14 2004, 11:13 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (@egis @ Sep 14 2004, 11:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Gameplay over Aesthetics. <b>ALWAYS</b>

    Getting killed by something you cannot see IS NOT FUN. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    thats why its called "natural selection". deal with the style or play another mod. because ns is meant to be more atmospheric as typical "daylight" mods like dod.

    and btw: you dont need to SEE the enemy, till you can HEAR it, you know?
    and I think maps like the pre-1.0-eclipse are way too bright.
  • GrizzlyGrizzly Join Date: 2003-10-27 Member: 22025Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-@egis+Sep 14 2004, 11:13 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (@egis @ Sep 14 2004, 11:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Gameplay over Aesthetics. <b>ALWAYS</b>

    Getting killed by something you cannot see IS NOT FUN. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    i never get killd by things i do not see.

    most ns mapps are bright enough, there is never anny spot where you can't see

    stop the wining allready, brighting mapps ruins the feeling about them


    THEY... ARE... FINE.
  • KesterKester Join Date: 2004-02-21 Member: 26770Members, Constellation
    i personally prefer a darker map, the brighter maps annoy me

    And from a mappers point of view, when ur making a map it always makes ur work look better with darker contrasting lights, than having everywhere light
  • oOTOooOTOo Join Date: 2003-04-11 Member: 15401Members
    A real problem about dark maps is that when you are a rine you go very slowly, in order to listen ennemies approaching or to localize them ambushing you. So you waste time, seconds then minutes while not running straight to destroy aliens' Rts and build yours, etc. And it means that 5 minutes later you will mechanicaly get a Fade punching your teeth while your will not get enough ress to buy 2 SGs.

    And the problem when you are an alien is that you can't light on your torch ^^ so you are completely blind and focused toward bright entrances of the room you wait in.

    Another trouble with dark maps is that people highen their gamma settings, so you think that you are the hunter ambushing ennemies in a dark place but in fact you are like a new born baby waiting to be killed at the first second the ennemy enters the room ^^
  • MendaspMendasp I touch maps in inappropriate places Valencia, Spain Join Date: 2002-07-05 Member: 884Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Gold, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Retired Community Developer
    I might make sava a bit brighter for beta 6 (changing -gamma from .8 to .75 or something like that) and see if that makes everyone happy <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    And, moultano, the problem with bast is that we didn't have the compile parameters for RAD (we didn't have the .rad file either), so we had to "improvise".
  • JaneJane Seriously&#33;? Join Date: 2003-07-01 Member: 17835Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Lt.Gravity+Sep 15 2004, 04:54 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Lt.Gravity @ Sep 15 2004, 04:54 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-@egis+Sep 14 2004, 11:13 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (@egis @ Sep 14 2004, 11:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Gameplay over Aesthetics. <b>ALWAYS</b>

    Getting killed by something you cannot see IS NOT FUN. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    thats why its called "natural selection". deal with the style or play another mod. because ns is meant to be more atmospheric as typical "daylight" mods like dod.

    and btw: you dont need to SEE the enemy, till you can HEAR it, you know?
    and I think maps like the pre-1.0-eclipse are way too bright. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Boy, now that's a great attitude. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> Maybe <i>your </i>monitor doesn't suck, but when somone makes a valid comment you don't need to flame them.
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    edited September 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Jane+Sep 15 2004, 06:44 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jane @ Sep 15 2004, 06:44 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Lt.Gravity+Sep 15 2004, 04:54 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Lt.Gravity @ Sep 15 2004, 04:54 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-@egis+Sep 14 2004, 11:13 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (@egis @ Sep 14 2004, 11:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Gameplay over Aesthetics. <b>ALWAYS</b>

    Getting killed by something you cannot see IS NOT FUN. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    thats why its called "natural selection". deal with the style or play another mod. because ns is meant to be more atmospheric as typical "daylight" mods like dod.

    and btw: you dont need to SEE the enemy, till you can HEAR it, you know?
    and I think maps like the pre-1.0-eclipse are way too bright. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Boy, now that's a great attitude. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> Maybe <i>your </i>monitor doesn't suck, but when somone makes a valid comment you don't need to flame them. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Yeah but we can't necessarily see what everyone else can see. A map can look just fine on the computer it was made on, and several other peoples computer but those few people complaining about it being too dark really start to wear on the nerves since they just give overly generic/generalized comments. It makes it hard to fix things when we don't know what needs fixing. We need detailed, specific feedback. Not all this generic stuff we get so often.

    I also agree with Lt.Gravity, it's amazing how many people complain about things they can't seem to adjust to when the game is called Natural-Selection.
  • MendaspMendasp I touch maps in inappropriate places Valencia, Spain Join Date: 2002-07-05 Member: 884Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Gold, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Retired Community Developer
    edited September 2004
    Let's see... tell me which one you prefer...

    1.- Beta 5 (-gamma .8)
  • MendaspMendasp I touch maps in inappropriate places Valencia, Spain Join Date: 2002-07-05 Member: 884Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Gold, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Retired Community Developer
    edited September 2004
    2.- new lighting #1 (-gamma .75)
  • MendaspMendasp I touch maps in inappropriate places Valencia, Spain Join Date: 2002-07-05 Member: 884Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Gold, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Retired Community Developer
    edited September 2004
    3.- new lighting #2 (-gamma .7)
  • brute_forcebrute_force Join Date: 2003-10-04 Member: 21433Members, Constellation
    I somehow doubt *all* of the maps have been mystically made darker. I think this has way more to do with the locked lightgamma rather than the maps. Anyhow, I think rather than forcing mapmakers to overbright their maps, you should get a new monitor or get a program to increase your gamma or something.
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    I test my map on my pc and some of my friends and they all seem to have no problem with the darkness. The screenies I take are actually the way I see it ingame. This makes it very hard for us mapper to get the brightness right since our pc isnt everyones pc (or monitor fo that matter) :\
  • HighnoHighno Join Date: 2004-01-29 Member: 25706Members
    I think somebody misunderstood my postings

    I don't want to have anything fixed but i can see a tendency towards darker maps which i would dislike as I am not a fan of completely dark or darkened maps.

    I just saw some of the new maps posted here and they are somewhat doomlike dark and i just wanted to point out that for me playing NS is more fun on lightened maps like tanith, veil or pulse. Which seem to be the more often played maps at all (for the guy with the natural selection point).

    @ mendasp
    i liked the .7 version which seemed to be brighter then .8
Sign In or Register to comment.