Maps That Tash The Ns Theme !
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Join Date: 2002-11-04 Member: 6944Members
Join Date: 2002-11-04 Member: 6944Members
<div class="IPBDescription">(maps that don't even look like NS)</div> Hi, I thought I would check on your opinions guys.
In all games's mods, there is a theme or a look that just by looking at a screenshot, you can tell what's the MOD. The majority of maps are made by the community who wanted to do theire own version of maps for these mods. But have you notced that there is always some folks that create a map that has thrown away the MOD theme out the window just to make it look like another MOD or like a WTH ?
I mean, take the NS maps from the community. I've seen screenshots of maps that either were a conversion of a map from another mod (Counter Strike for example), HL maps converted for NS, and other ...
Now I understand that these guys love the other MOD so much that they though "Hey why not bring in this map from that MOD into NS. That would be so cool !" or "I wanna bring my own ideas of what an NS map would look like in a different look". They have theire own ideas and beleifs. They would most probably learn the maping ways because they are most likely newbie mapers (an experienced maper would never do that, right <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->).
Personnaly, I think some of those maps are a bit stupid as they are so far away form the NS look that I wonder even why the NS community is bottering to put up links to them in theire own map list.
I thought that since there were some basic rules in the NS guides, that people would stick more to it, that the MODers would be stricker on them. But then again, there will always be some odd ball guy who thinks differently and believes he can make a positive impact to the MOD.
I too want to create an NS map. I've got the general idea in my head and it sticks to the NS guide but trying to make it a bit more real on the structure side (while staying true to the theme and MOD). Unfortunetly, I don't have time to do it. Maybe when I'll clear up those other projects, then I'll sit down and do it.
I know there are some fun maps too but they generaly stick to the NS theme (well, sort of !). I even played on a few and they were kind of fun (not very challenging but fun). But those that don't even look like NS ? C'mon !
I think that those maps will eventualy die after a few weeks as no one will want to play with them.
So in the mean time, what do you guys think about those odd ball maps that sort of kill the NS theme ?
In all games's mods, there is a theme or a look that just by looking at a screenshot, you can tell what's the MOD. The majority of maps are made by the community who wanted to do theire own version of maps for these mods. But have you notced that there is always some folks that create a map that has thrown away the MOD theme out the window just to make it look like another MOD or like a WTH ?
I mean, take the NS maps from the community. I've seen screenshots of maps that either were a conversion of a map from another mod (Counter Strike for example), HL maps converted for NS, and other ...
Now I understand that these guys love the other MOD so much that they though "Hey why not bring in this map from that MOD into NS. That would be so cool !" or "I wanna bring my own ideas of what an NS map would look like in a different look". They have theire own ideas and beleifs. They would most probably learn the maping ways because they are most likely newbie mapers (an experienced maper would never do that, right <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->).
Personnaly, I think some of those maps are a bit stupid as they are so far away form the NS look that I wonder even why the NS community is bottering to put up links to them in theire own map list.
I thought that since there were some basic rules in the NS guides, that people would stick more to it, that the MODers would be stricker on them. But then again, there will always be some odd ball guy who thinks differently and believes he can make a positive impact to the MOD.
I too want to create an NS map. I've got the general idea in my head and it sticks to the NS guide but trying to make it a bit more real on the structure side (while staying true to the theme and MOD). Unfortunetly, I don't have time to do it. Maybe when I'll clear up those other projects, then I'll sit down and do it.
I know there are some fun maps too but they generaly stick to the NS theme (well, sort of !). I even played on a few and they were kind of fun (not very challenging but fun). But those that don't even look like NS ? C'mon !
I think that those maps will eventualy die after a few weeks as no one will want to play with them.
So in the mean time, what do you guys think about those odd ball maps that sort of kill the NS theme ?
Comments
I think that making and playing maps that stretch the boundries of the NS world are good for the mod and good for the gaming community. Let your imagination run wild! Crash a ship on a planet full of water, underwater map. Have the Kara infest a small mining community on a Desert planet, an outside map. A proccesing ship that has a long conveyer and looks like a tube, vertical map!
Most of us are here because we LOVE the look, feel and gameplay of NS. Change is the only consistent thing in real life. From what I can understand on this forum big changes are comming with the new NS release. Just because something is different dosent mean its bad. Open up a little, try new maps. Who knows where it will lead you. You might find a few you like!
1.) The "professional" maps:
This kind of map is fits perfectly into the NS universe and could be a perfect candidate for the next release to become an official map.
Both feeling and balance are good and almost every point of the official mapping guidelines were taken into account.
2.) The "semi-professional" maps:
This kind of map has very good attempts, but just needs some more work.
Most of the time the difference between a professional map and a semi-professional map lies in the balancing or official limits like 800 w_poly max.
3.) The "no so good" maps:
These maps lack balancing as well as ambience.
This can be because the mapper is inexperienced or just doesn't have the "feel" for NS.
Also there are some "kiddies" out there, who spent a few days making a quick map jsut to say "Hey guys, I made a map".
4.) The "fun" maps:
THis kind of map is normaly aimed at fast heavy action and very few tactical gaming.
You can get resources and upgrades very fast and then head for some "team deathmatch".
Another type of "fun maps" would be conversions of other MOD's maps wich normally just don't fit into NS.
On our server we currently are running only the official maps and a few "professional" maps (one of them becoming official with 1.1).
I also use the server to playtest my own map, but this doesn't count.
There were some requests for fun maps, but this was rejected after some discussion... we wanted NS to be about tactics not about deathmatch.
Personally I think you can't tell the community not to make fun maps. They will do it anyway, and there are people out there that like to play on them.
It's the same thing as arguing about gameplay-affecting plugins like healing armory, storing health packs and ammo, and so on... personally I don't really like them, but a lot of people seem to do... just look at the player counts of Voogru's servers.
I try to make my map as professional as possible... sticking to the official limits (although I think some of them might be a bit higher) and trying to create an ambience that fits to NS.
Creating an own unique style without violating the guidelines seems to be the biggest problem.
Some people try to adept to that situation, others just say "fsck it, I'm making a fun map"...
I think in the end the only thing that counts is how the community thinks about the maps... and server ops putting them into the mapcycle.
-my2cent-
Hyper
I am curious to find out what the NS guys think about this.