The real story behind the fate of eclipse...
KungFuSquirrel
Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
<div class="IPBDescription">Why i'm so evil + some screens</div>You may recall the "An Offer" thread where I declared that Eclipse was dead and being given away. That was true. The map was at a point where nothing else good was coming out of it and I really wanted nothing to do with it. I figured I'd do better if I killed it.
Once the map was 'dead,' though, a funny thing happened. I went back to work on it. I made changes. And they worked. There was no more pressure, no more expectations... Nothing to hinder my progress. So I started tweaking. I went back to Eclipse and toyed around with an unfinished area -- the area you see in the "And things get going again" thread. That's not a new map, that's the new Eclipse. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
Speaking of the new Eclipse... I was up all night working on an older, more familiar segment... After surviving 4 spontaneous resets by WC/Hammer (one of which cost me 3 hours of moronically unsaved work), say hello to the new and improved Triad:
<img src="http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/triad_5-25_1.jpg" border="0">
<img src="http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/triad_5-25_2.jpg " border="0">
<img src="http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/triad_5-25_3.jpg" border="0">
Once the map was 'dead,' though, a funny thing happened. I went back to work on it. I made changes. And they worked. There was no more pressure, no more expectations... Nothing to hinder my progress. So I started tweaking. I went back to Eclipse and toyed around with an unfinished area -- the area you see in the "And things get going again" thread. That's not a new map, that's the new Eclipse. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
Speaking of the new Eclipse... I was up all night working on an older, more familiar segment... After surviving 4 spontaneous resets by WC/Hammer (one of which cost me 3 hours of moronically unsaved work), say hello to the new and improved Triad:
<img src="http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/triad_5-25_1.jpg" border="0">
<img src="http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/triad_5-25_2.jpg " border="0">
<img src="http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/triad_5-25_3.jpg" border="0">
Comments
GOOGOGOGOGOGOG finsih ecilspse <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
nice pics KFS that blue light is nice.
It's really cool with those...what are they? Pipes? They're really cool. Interesting how vertical this room looks.
I'm really glad to hear you decided to work on eclipse again. That's really good news.
However, if you pull a stunt like that again, I'm going to drive out to Nebraska and break your little squirrel legs. I may run up to Boston first and see if Flayra or MonsE want to come along. <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
(j/k)
Actually don't bother paying attention to me. You keep doing whatever it is you're doing, <i> sans </i> presure, it seems to be working just fine!
Looks awesome, in other words. I'd say I can't wait to see the finished product, but I guess I can. NS_hera will do an adequate job of keeping me occupied between when the mod comes out and when eclipse comes out.
oh, and please update the screenshots/status bits about eclipse on ns world. That goes for all other mappers too.
so I guess I didn't win "the offer"? <!--emo&:(--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('><!--endemo-->
thats ok now Natural Selections game and players win. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
Speaking of KFS, what would you say to changing (if you haven't already_ that blue 'fade-ish' texture into a SCROLL_ blue 'fade-ish' texture? I think that would make it look much better than just having that white patch sit in the same spot all the time; make it look like the reactor is actually doing something.
2-nice work!
3-the triad generators now don't make me think to generators like the old version <!--emo&:(--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('><!--endemo-->
--Scythe--
the_only_scythe@subdimension.com
Also, the coolant pools at the base of each generator give off a nice bit of particle steam. I need to change the sprite, but it works out quite well.
Looking excellent too <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
I've got a .zip file of the most recent build as of right now, let me know if you want it (or if you have any feedback after you've seen it).
...
Yes.
and i wouldn't mind having that .zip either
Overuse of that wall texture: I know you are trying to give your map a unique and cohesive feel, but i felt it was a little -too- prominent. It made it difficult to distinguish one area from another, and with more of the level complete may make it easier to get lost. Maybe not even changing the texture would be necessary, just breaking up the walla with small details a little more. Either that or some slight variations could be made on this texture to give a slightly less samey feel to some areas.
The Hive: While i loved the feel of the hive in general, the fragments of glass left in the frame, the overall detail in the area, etc, it seemed a little to abrupt a transition from the surrounding area, i just kinda came around a corner and suddenly a walkway was infested, maybe infest the room just before hand slightly, or leave a small clean of infection area just inside the hive room. Maybe have a little bit of coloured lighting otuside, or a shadow or something, to give a transtition to the creepy hive area.
Particle Systems: While your placing of PS's was very well done, the sprite you have chosen doesnt really fit in either case. Maybe the Triad sprite could be left as is, as well as the particle system itself, the glory corridor PS just seems wrong for a burst of steam, i think a slightly rounder and puffy sprite would do the trick here, maybe a little larger too as the steam seems less of a burst or a stream of steam and more small puffs at irregular intervals, maybe the amount of sprites and timing of the PS could also fix this problem. Might i suggest a slightly slower speed for the particles and a slightly longer particle life.
Height: Just in one or two areas there was an archway that kinda seemed built for midgets, just kinda felt wrong to me being that shape, maybe make them a little higher (this is in the area with a resource node up on an elevated area and some computer consoles)
Overall the map is excellent. It has a clean, well-used feel, while still remaining dirty enough to fit into the NS theme. The brushwork was excellent and clean, the use of computer consoles added to the feel and seemed like they had a purpose. Just a few small issues and it will be perfect in my eyes (sorry to seem a little critical above, but feeedback is obviously what you want, feel free not to listen to me in any of the cases above)
And i must say, go teh Triad!
<!--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-->Overuse of that wall texture: I know you are trying to give your map a unique and cohesive feel, but i felt it was a little -too- prominent.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Unfortunately, there's only so many textures in the scheme I've chosen. And not enough, at that, heh... There will be at least one other general texture style as the map progresses towards the other 2 hives, but in these areas I have, if I want to keep the appearance as I feel it needs to be... Well, I'm stuck with about 3 options. <!--emo&???--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'><!--endemo-->
<!--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-->The Hive: While i loved the feel of the hive in general, the fragments of glass left in the frame, the overall detail in the area, etc, it seemed a little to abrupt a transition from the surrounding area, i just kinda came around a corner and suddenly a walkway was infested<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I can do clean, and I can apparently do infested, but I can't do transitions! hehe... Seriously, though, this has been brought up before. It's more a temporary issue than anything else. That hive is in fact next on the list of 'areas to virtually destroy and rebuild,' much like what I did to the Triad. Hopefully the new version (and the back corridor leading up to it) will allow for a bit smoother transition.
<!--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-->Particle Systems: While your placing of PS's was very well done, the sprite you have chosen doesnt really fit in either case.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It bothers me, too, and I've already changed the Triad sprite to haze.spr instead. I've also jacked up the number of particles and reduced the max alpha, which should hopefully give a much more, um... steamy experience there.
<!--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-->Height: Just in one or two areas there was an archway that kinda seemed built for midgets<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Actually, I think most of the other areas are just too tall... heh... No, I think I know which one you're talking about, and that area is being tweaked at the moment as well. I don't really like that entrance as-is anyway.
<!--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-->Overall the map is excellent.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Glad you like it!