DM map/props

[aftas]

hi guys. first post here!!
this is my wip MP map/prop models for the game sauerbraten, its a regular small arena one with cartoon like style.
still full of place holders and temp textures...


the thing is that i'm having a really hard time putting this design together...something is wrong but i just can't find it and fix it....things are not "glued" together visually.
color scheme maybe?

anyway, i would apreciate any advise and criticism...

(i don't know if this is the right place to post it, since most threads are 3dmodels wip related, but it is game design related....so is it ok, right? i hope so...)

[sarge mat]

Yea another mapper. Its looking like a good map so far mate keep it up just make sure everything flows well if you have not all ready add a few bots in to test it out, that helped me loads with my current map.

My only real critic is a few of the textures are too bright and clean even for a cartoon theme. I think its mostly just that yellow stripe one in a few places. Is this for UT2004 or what. I would also say some parts look a lot more like a cartoon than others. The red pipe for example.

[aftas]

Originally Posted by sarge mat

Yea another mapper. Its looking like a good map so far mate keep it up just make sure everything flows well if you have not all ready add a few bots in to test it out, that helped me loads with my current map.

My only real critic is a few of the textures are too bright and clean even for a cartoon theme. I think its mostly just that yellow stripe one in a few places. Is this for UT2004 or what. I would also say some parts look a lot more like a cartoon than others. The red pipe for example.

thanks for the reply, mate!
the game is sauerbraten Sauerbraten / Cube 2
the gameplay itself goes quite ok. i think the flow is nicelly balanced:
floors, jumppads and theleports


the visuals is the real issue...what do you mean by too clean for cartoon? can you give me some examples?

[sarge mat]

Most textures have some sort of damage or dirt on them even in cartoon games like TF2. Thats the best example I can think of that has a theme thats the same. If you look at the different textures on the objects in that game they are simple but still have bits of damage and/or dirt on them.

I think its just that screen in the bottom right that you posted that made me think that TBH.

[Dregs]

I agree with Sarge Mat that the continuity of materials are not consistent (grunge/distress). I would suggest that there is definitely a difference in distress between outdoor and indoor materials (especially in an industrial environment).

I have to admit that I have not developed materials for a "cartoon-like style" before except for a current Gearbox title (unannounced) where the saturation is pushed rather high and contrast is very deep. The final material looks mostly "real", but appears somewhat cartoon like. Not particularly my preference, but, whatever!

As for theme color consistency/balance, you have a lot going on and is pretty busy (in my opinion). Most plants I've seen are rather bland/neutral and not as colorful as the current build... but maybe this is what you are wanting? dunno. Hourences has some written some description about map texturing and lighting that may be helpful in your decision making. My preference would be making the outdoor red pipe rusty brown, loose the green wall to dirty concrete, loose the blue cart to a rusty brown cart and ultra distress the chevron yellow/black.

[aftas]

well, after your replies and a little article-reading marathon, i've come to these changes:



it seems my previous mistakes,(the ones i coundn't even identify!) were:

1 structure too "alien" weird...i'm removing the funky edges and adding some real fundations.
them brains "sees" them better.

2 too much color ...and badly choosen.

didn't touch the lights yet, just added a sunlight. after retexturing the whole thing will tweak them.

any coments?

many thanks for the help!

[snah]

yessss thats looking so much better know. It was the lighting, i was thinking to myself it was the lighting that made it look dull before. MUCH better now good work but id suggest maybe playing with the textures a bit more, especially that brick texture, i think it stands out too much.

[aftas]

update!
i'm pretty much done texturing...just started retouching the mapmodels...
still no light or small detail work yet!









cheers!

[sarge mat]

You have done a great job everything looks a LOT better now. I am sure you can get some deeper feedback on the textures from the others.