![Base Maps 1 + 2 [Updated]](http://www.quadropolis.us/files/mapshot.jpg)
In the Readme:
"This map is designed to be used as a template for map designers.
You may edit all elements of this map and redistribute as your own without the need for credit.
Please do NOT redistribute this map if it has not been edited.
This map comes as geometry only.
All lighting, skyboxes, fog and textures are not set. This is for the owner of the map to do.
The map has been checked for bugs and smoothed so that it looks clean when lit,
but geometry may be buggy if you edit with a small grid size."
This map is aimed mainly at beginners who want their map to look natural and realistic. One of the main problems I have when designing a map is how to 'fence it in' without making the player feel trapped.
Novices can use this map as a base to create their own maps which they can then redistribute without needing to credit me.
I did make some 12x12 and even a 14x14 maps, but these took 10 minutes to render lighting and I thought them impractical to use for the moment.
This map is mainly to test the water and see what you all think of the idea, but if it gets approval I'll set to work creating some more detailed and interesting maps and upload them as a pack.
You'll be downloading an .OGZ file only. It's up to you to create a config file and change the settings. This map is simply a base to build on.
I've tried to keep a large amount of flat land to build on so that you're not forced into building into the hills. From my experience the height map tool can be very glitchy, but I've tried to smooth the geometry so that you don't get so many errors.
I hope this isn't considered a waste of space. I try to make sure my work is worth downloading before I upload anything.
Also, just a shameless plug. *whistles*
I'm currently working on a Silent-Hill based map, imaginatively called Sauer Hill which will be single player map. It'll be chock-full of new sounds effects, music and textures. So hopefully it'll be fairly engaging and interesting.
If anybody's interested, you can visit http://www.sauerhillproject.webs.com/
Any support would be greatly appreciated. :)
[EDIT]
I've just finished a larger and slightly more interesting template map to make downloading the file more worthwhile. It takes 30 seconds to render on my computer so it shouldn't be too much trouble.
There are two maps, both geometrically identical, the only difference being that one has a river and the other is left as a dry ditch.
Hopefully this one should feel less claustrophobic and more natural.
ummm.... this is a realy realy realy basic map i mean that i could have done this in like 5 min... second its not big enough to add to... realy seriously you should add to this map... it appears that you just added a brush tool to the make mountains and thats it... no offence but i have seen noobs do a better job...
chasester
But that... is what I've done. *shrugs* And it is a basic map.
It's a simple back drop to build on. I didn't want to add too much as it may encroach on people's creativity. But yes, it could probably do with some map models and more detailed texturing, although I didn't want to texture too much as I wanted the theme to be fairly flexible.
I agree that it's a little on the small size. A size 12 map takes a long time to render and I figured that people who are new to SB wouldn't want to be waiting up to 5 minutes every time they tweaked their lighting.
Using the height map tool can be quite confusing and tedious to first time mappers, but it can really sell a map if you use it well. If you're experienced you're probably better off doing it yourself as you know what you want and how to get it, but newbies may not, and that's who the map is aimed at.
Anyhoo, thanks for your input. I'm not expecting five stars and the front page, but if it makes building a little easier for newbies that'll do.
Thank you very much! I nearly fell off of my chair this morning when I saw it on the front page.
I'll make sure I use the outline display when I take a screen shot of any future projects. Hopefully the lighting gives a reasonable idea of the layout of the map, but it might be better to show more detail.
Give a fish to someone, he'll eat today. Teach him how to fish, he'll eat in his whole life.
It may be a noble effort to give an other map like canyon to the newbies, but it makes them childish. You should make a tutorial in order to teach how to do this kind of map. Or even to make a random heghfield generator, at least it would be reusable...
And, by the way, a map size 10 or 11 is enought space for most map... No noob would finish a bigger map. But they are very prone to start a too big for them...
In contrast, some people (myself included) learn more from the works/examples from others rather than from reading a bunch of monotonous text.
I've basically taught myself everything (programming, map design, collaboration) simply by just doing it. My opinion is; there should be more demo maps like these that people can use for inspiration and education. One day I just grabbed Sauerbraten and said "This looks cool.. nobody seems to be doing much with it." and started hacking.
With the site redesigns and more focus put on creating useful content, many more nodes are becoming starred than that in the past. I promote maps based on a variety of different things, including usefulness to the public.
Spend 10 years learning about all areas of development; I have learnt in that time - PHP, Javascript, Perl, CGI/C, C/C++, Turbo and Delphi Pascal, OpenGL, Cube 2. All from examining the work of other people or tutorials (there's very little help for Cube - you have to just dive into the code - but after 3 years I am considered an "expert" now). I never finished high school and I never went to college/university.
Now, once you get all those skills, join in on the community and actually offer to help do something productive. I am totally sick of all these people bitching and complaining when they're not even helping, I've been doing it for over three years now mostly by myself.
I have said many times Quadropolis and the rest of the Cube community is looking for development help, and I'm still yet to see one f***ing person offer real help instead of fanciful ideas and whinging.
If I seem a bit upset, it is because I am. I have done so much work in this community and I still get bloody abused by these people who think they know better. I don't care if you think this site is lame, if the community wants better they should get in and do something about it, this sort of comment is unproductive and sickens me to my stomach.
</end-rant>
Who cares what you've learned? These maps don't teach anyone anything. If someone is smart enough to make a map, then they can do it themselves. If not, then too bad. I spent countless hours on my maps, and I get nothing but a "MEH", so f*** you! Shut this f***ing piece of s*** site down if you recognize only s***.
Edit by Quin: Had to clean up the language, feel free to express yourself but please keep the language neutral and family-friendly.
That is like comparing apples to oranges. You are making maps for people to play on, and hence they are compared to other maps of the same type - of which yours probably did not measure up all too well.
This type of content is entirely different, it is for the purposes of education and not gameplay. I fully appreciate your right to express your opinion - as I do mine, but you seem to miss a key point in the argument - this map is not graded on the same curve as deathmatch maps!
There are quite a number of moderators on Quadropolis who are capable of starring content - not just me. It is ENTIRELY at their discretion which ones they see fit to promote to the front page.
I've spent a lot of time working on my maps too in the past, and when I've submitted them hoping for at least four stars I get a 3 and some complaints, but instead of throwing my rattle out of the pram and going into a rant I've dealt with it, taken the comments and tried to build a better map.
To be honest I wasn't expecting to be front paged, but the front page doesn't necessarily mean it's the best, it's just different. The maps themselves may not be superb, but obviously Quin likes the concept and thus wanted others to see and expand upon this concept.
If you're building maps for status and adoration you're doing it for the wrong reasons. If you're going to get upset because you didn't get five stars and a street parade you may as well stop building now and hide under a rock for the rest of your life for fear of having your ego dented.
If you've got constructive criticism which can help me an other mappers improve our work, then please share, but if all you've got is jealous rants and abusive language you can keep it to yourself.
It doesn't bother me. :) I'm pretty sure that there are a great deal of people who have the same attitude, so if it stops at least one person seeing mapping as a competition rather than an exhibition it'll be worth the hassle.
Following your comment on there not being enough support -which I've found myself- I'm knocking together a little light hearted site to explain basic mapping technique for novices to intermediates. Lots of bold text, clear titles and screen shots. I'm thinking of writing some tutorials to help develop skills and perhaps develop some maps which tie in to projects.
Any good?
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www.cubecreators.webs.com
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Maybe not overly professional, but certainly a decent primer. My only gripe would be how you're writing it like you would say it, rather than writing it more like an article.
Rather than setting up yet another site you might want to consider applying for edit access to the wiki, and maybe in time even the blog. I also officially handle the included documentation, and more recently the cube websites, so if you're really serious you might want to catch up with me on IRC or something.
Not a bad idea at all, if DarkStar and other people are interested I'd be willing to set it up.
DarkStar: If you are interested, you are welcome to come up with the rules for the competition, etc. If you feel you'd like to make another map for a competition "start kit", that would work too.
It's been a while since we've had one, as there hasn't really been any interest in them, and nobody has had any good ideas for starting one until now.