Blacktoe - Unreal Map

[sarge mat]

update: This map is finished, but not finished I have decided to leave it where it is, gameplay wise it has a few issues that really should have been fixed from the start.

Working on the next one.

Mat


For which Engine - Unreal 3 (UT3 Version)

Description of background information on piece
It’s been a long time coming but here is my next map. Some of you may remember the map subway I was working on well I ended up trying several designs with it and it did not work out at all. For the moment I want to focus on level design so I am using mesh’s and textures that shipped with the game.

Anyway I hope people can download it and give it a go. At the moment I would not try more than 5 bots and they tend to do silly stuff sometimes so there are issues that still need to be fixed there but I made some improvements just before posting this. I am now going to focus on the outside part of the map now, it needs filled out more and at the moment only has a basic atmosphere and I will be adding snow etc blowing in the wind. I am aware of a minor issue where the terrain does not meet the edge 100% and you can see though so that’s on the list to fix this week as well.

Also on one of the sides you can jump out behind the fence again that’s high on the list. So if people could post feedback on how they think it plays so far etc. Don't worry too much about the lights they are only basic at the moment. The graphics and detail will be getting another pass as well.

Thanks very much

ps: you see the floating ice bergs that you can jump pad to? Well I am trying something very cool with them. On that note when you hit the water you will just die and not go though it at the moment. I need to stop typeing now.

DM-Blacktoe beta – Download
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[doylle]

I gave it a quick test here, i don't have much time right now, but i looked at it in the editor quickly...

The thing i noticed is that the level itself is very open, and there's very little cover for deathmatch, Team deatchmatch etc... You have a solid theme (docks, harbor, etc), but there's allot more you can do with that i think... Think about drydocks, those old fashion dock buildings, sewers, etc. The mapname/shape is a nice idea, but i wouldn't hold on to it to much, you'll limit yourself allot.

maybe one other thing, if blacktoe is the original name, and the one you'll use till the end, then it's best to release beta versions with beta postfixes. (DM-BlackToe_Beta1 or whatever). This way different versions don't get mixed up, especially when you're thinking about putting it on an actual server...

I'll have another look when i come home tonight...

[sarge mat]

Thanks for the feedback I totally agree when I am running around I get the feeling it’s very open so I will have to sort that.

There are a lot of little issues that I need to sort out first like the lift has a problem with lights and the boat..... well you fall though it lol . That’s been a bitch to try and fix so far.

So I will get started when I get home.

[BJA]

Didn't have a chance to play this, but going by the screens I'd say you could add a few more stages to have more height variation in the layout of your map. It's pretty boring to only fight on one stage, especially in a game where you can do double/rocket jumps and whatsoever.
Lighting looks a bit bland and not very interesting, your lamps also don't seem to cast any light (screen 3 and7). Everything is very dark (most gamers don't like too dark maps) and the fog is a bit too heavy, imo. You could add some lightsources to indicate where weapons or special items are, so the player don't have to look for them in the dark.

[sarge mat]

Thanks for you feedback. I will be working on the lights a lot more in the coming days. What there at the moment is very basic.

[sarge mat]

Update time!

So I took on board what you guys said so far. The main focus over the last week or so was adding a dry dock to the docks. One of them is empty of water so you can jump down beneath the boat to run around. There is also a weapon pick up. One of the jump pads was removed so the player has to cross over the second boat. Ramps etc to it have been added.

No changes have been made to the inside area or the little outside area behind it. That’s what I will be doing now. The map is still quite open in several places so that what I really want to nail down next I have some nice ideas for that, as well as setting up spawn points better, redoing the AI paths and redoing some weapon spawns and adding new ones as well as amour etc. Because it’s all a bit of a mess.

For the dock that’s all most drained you can see the water begin pumped out of it. It’s not working right so the sound will keep playing but the water will stop pumping every so often. But it’s going to be a cool detail when I fix it. Lights got a bit better but I have not started to focus on that too much yet. In the notes with the map I note a few other things.

Download Beta 2

[doylle]

You're not going to believe this, but i'm working on a level myself where you can drive under a ship in a dry dock. So yea, the drydock works imo!

A few observations. The jumpPads have a controller called JumpTime (in the UTJumpPad Tab), you can controll the airtime with this. You might want to play with this setting a bit, especially with the jumppad in the drydock (Jumping out causes you damage).

You can look into the void. there's a small border around your entire...

ImageShack - Hosting :: voidde0.jpg
(don't mind the crazy colors on the floor, i had to rebuild your lightmaps and for some reason they are all messed up ingame)
What i usually do is take a second skydome and turn it upside down (so that your entire level is in a sphere) This way you're certain that no one can ever look into the void.

Hmm, and the water is a bit weird in your level. the fact that you lay on the water when you're dead is very odd imo. Why not ad actuall water, that "slowly" kills you instead? It'll be allot more realistic... just a thought...

Keep it up

J

[sarge mat]

Thanks for the feedback. The water is not even water at the moment really just BSP with a materail on it. I will start to replace that later today. Thanks for the tip on the border thats very useful and easy to do.

lol that dam jumpad. I think I may have to move it a bit more as it was getting stuck on stuff as well.

[sarge mat]

update: This map is finished, but not finished I have decided to leave it where it is, gameplay wise it has a few issues that really should have been fixed from the start.

Working on the next one.

Mat



Hey all

So beta 3 is here. Loads of stuff changed but I did not do as much to the lights as I would have liked. Sounds have been added but are NOT 100% working yet. A good bit more detail has been added but I still have more to go. I also added a new shelter type thing.

I am aware of a place where you can get out of the level and will be fixing that. Also the little ice islands, I am playing around with the idea of having them sink or a wave wash over them every so often. O I also found a site called Mapcore that a few people here use too, it should be a good source of feedback for me as well

Anyway enough with chat, here are some screens and a download link :-D

Let me know what you think, Thanks guys

Blacktoe beta 3 - DM-Blacktoe_Beta3.zip