Ns map idea

digz · September 2002

ok, so everyone keeps saying how an "outdoor" map wouldn't work because of *wall walking aliens* and the *commander mode nano tech*
but i have an idea (if this has already been posted or thought of, flame me&#33<img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> ) what if the "out door" enviroment where in a space colony (man made kind floating around in space). An artificial enviroment enclosed on itself (so you'd look up and see land, not sky. OR, like something cigar shaped with an artificial sky but glassed in.). Sort of like an inside-out planet with artificial light and all that great stuff. There would be alot of organic mixed in with mechanical devices built into the colony itself.

or maybe i should just learn to map...

realityisdead · September 2002

Sweet idea. Really creative.

It would still be a big outdoors area though. While the wall walking alien and commander mode issues are definitely some of the reasons that outdoors areas are not recommended in NS... they aren't necessarily the only, or primary reasons. The two biggest problems with outdoors areas (and they would still be issues with an enclosed planet type thing) are balance and atmosphere issues. Balance as in, it would start to sway the balance of the two teams, considering that the game was designed for indoor combat. And atmosphere as in, big lush outdoors areas just don't fit in with the theme or environment style of the game. Keeping a consistent atmosphere in this particular game is a lot more important that it was for say, the developers of Unreal Tournament. It's just in the design of the game. <i>(Note: Look for an article on environmental consistency in games at TALD soon. Why it is needed in some games, and not in others.)</i>

Again, while I think your inverted planet idea is just sweet in concept, I don't think it's something for this particular game. A game can't have anything and everything in it, and outdoors areas is something NS just can't have. At least not in current design.

digz · September 2002

Ah, well, it was worth a shot <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> . And you just gave me a better idea anyways.

coil · September 2002

Here are a few ideas for you people who want an open area in your maps:

1) USS_Darkstar (SP episode for HL) included a specimen lab with several artificial enclosures for various Xen organisms. You could include a "terrarium" like this, or a greenhouse, suitably run-down by infestation (perhaps the "artificial sun" has lost power, rendering it a dark and eerie place).

2) A glass tunnel, like the one outside Hera's landing pad, winding through a short outdoor section or a terrarium/greenhouse area.

4) An observation tower - a possible place for the marines to start, with an expansive view - then they hit the elevator button, and descend into the artificial depths.

5) An enclosed tram or similar transport travelling between two adjacent buildings; I can see a scene rather like the LV-426 arrival in "Aliens."

Rival · September 2002

What about a ruined station type facility on a alien infested planet, with some rooms that have ceilings caved in to show a creepy sky, and plant life growing around with a thin layer of mud in certain rooms, and fog in others... if it would work, maybe I should make a map.. hmmm..

Zcaliber · September 2002

Y'know... Actualy... A Xen map would be kinda cool. ^^;;

I mean... Think about it: A buncha dead Alien slaves and grunts and (Etc.). Make it a indoor complex of caves and some Black Mesa outposts.

I dunno... Maybe kinda spiffy...

TychoCelchuuu · September 2002

It's been done before, someone made an AWESOME looking mini-outdoor area, pretty small but very neat. The map faded into obscurity though, never to be heard from again.

realityisdead · September 2002

Right, there were some shots a while back of outdoors areas people were making in their levels. Of course it's physically possible to make an outdoors map that will work (run) in NS... but that doesn't mean it would have worked with the NS gameplay. Or succeeded anyway.

People undoubtedly will make outdoors maps for NS. Although it's highly discouraged, no one is stopping them. But, if these people want their map to either (a) become and official level down the road somewhere, or (b) become a well played and popular level... they're going to want to reconsider their design ideas. Outdoors areas are sweet, but not for NS. If the map is so out of whack balance-wise that one team is always winning, or if it looks totally out of place against the rest of the levels... I can't imagine it become a well played level. Regardless of how nice it looks.

If someone must absolutely have an outdoors area in their level (hey, I'm tempted to)... Rival has the right idea, as does coil in most of his suggestions. You basically just don't let the players out there. I can't see how that would affect things negatively that way. Granted that the outdoors area actually fits in with the NS atmosphere in general.

<b>Edit:</b> This coming from a guy who has a huge ### hive room in his level. Talk about balance sway. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> In other words, while there's a million arguments against outdoors areas for NS... which are all valid and important... the biggest points that make it a real no-no are the atmosphere and consistent-environment issues.

Or at least that's what I like to think. Yeah.

Freemantle · September 2002

NS tribes had pretty outdoor scenery. Where did that do?

Ns map idea

Comments