So, what are you working on right now?

[ungoliant]

See these essays

 

"...the early days, where FPS players lept and bounded like strange, violent gazelles." LMAO total nostalgic memory trigger of where i learned to 'jump around like a fairy', as my friends said, in FPS games. It was quake 2, particularly the lithium mod w/ the laser grappling hooks, the last FPS i played actively in multiplayer. But even through fleeting interests like the Halo series and a couple others, i could not kick the habit of crouchjumping in random directions every time i got shot at . I'm happy to say that the thief series has shown me the error of my ways. although if the inventors guild starts making laser grappling hooks and rocket launchers, i might have a relapse.

[Mr Lemony Fresh]

Thanks for the kind words Melan I reckon i needed a compliment after all this trouble i'm having with my computer and my drawing tablet X(

 

As for the spaces, i wanted to make this part of the mission small because it's only the first third of the entire mission, and it'll need to render a fair bit of water that fades out quick enough. If that isn't enough, the island you need to go to is surrounded by water, so yeah, trying to be strategic . But i could probably upsize everything a little when i can. My mapper is currently working on it but he's only going to be doing the detail that can be established with 16 grid in quark then i'll have to see what i can do with it in dark radiant (although damn, I've never used it!) but he doesn't want to and i don't really want to do the whole thing myself :/

 

 

EDIT: unfortunately, my project will have to be put on hold for studies and band practice and the like. Didn't get a whole lot done on the holidays unfortunately because of computer problems.

If anyone wants to help, ask me via pm.

Edited April 10, 2010 by Mr Lemony Fresh

[stumpy]

figure 2 in the essays link is obviously garrett, as to the engine its a brown box with eyes.

[Tels]

"...the early days, where FPS players lept and bounded like strange, violent gazelles." LMAO total nostalgic memory trigger of where i learned to 'jump around like a fairy', as my friends said, in FPS games. It was quake 2, particularly the lithium mod w/ the laser grappling hooks, the last FPS i played actively in multiplayer. But even through fleeting interests like the Halo series and a couple others, i could not kick the habit of crouchjumping in random directions every time i got shot at . I'm happy to say that the thief series has shown me the error of my ways. although if the inventors guild starts making laser grappling hooks and rocket launchers, i might have a relapse.

 

Very interesting essaysm but they all focus on the "multiplayer-kill-zombies" games that seem to be currently quite popular. Designing a sneaking map would result in something completely different.

[Diego]

I was just thinking about that too. There are great insights in these reviews, but they're not meant to be applied blindly in every occasion. In Stealth experience we take much longer to cover areas and distances of a map, we prefer small places filled with obstacles and possible covers than open spaces, and we don't need space to maneuver our shotgun or antything like that. Of course, I only realized this after reading the article! That's the value of a good article.

[demagogue]

I've thought about it before when drawing out maps. Space is important in FPS generally, but the stealth mechanic is particularly sensitive to it, there's space that's "live" and "dead" like it isn't (exactly) in an FPS; you "use" the space a lot more than FPS; finding a path through it isn't just about passing through, but how you use it while going through (think about big areas with small shadows, or small areas with big shadows). There's just different things to think about which this article doesn't get into, although some of the same lessons would apply of course.

[Tels]

I was just thinking about that too. There are great insights in these reviews, but they're not meant to be applied blindly in every occasion. In Stealth experience we take much longer to cover areas and distances of a map, we prefer small places filled with obstacles and possible covers than open spaces, and we don't need space to maneuver our shotgun or antything like that. Of course, I only realized this after reading the article! That's the value of a good article.

 

True

 

Also, he talk alot about "friendly fire" and "making friends noclip", which also doesn't apply to stealth, but it shows important points. The "player is a refridgerator" and "player never looks up" (valve) apply and are interesting tho.

 

Although one could speculate that stealth players look up more often, but probably not always, e.g. only when they really search for something. I guess if you make an opening in a ceiling inside some rectangle of bars, most players would simply overlook it, even if they walk underneath it a thousand times.

[quakis]

Just messing around with Radiant, though far from anything solid right now;

 

Edited April 12, 2010 by quakis

[aidakeeley]

Kick ass, quakis.

[quakis]

Small update, since the last one was very early. Already have some ideas how to design the area with the grandfather clock. Edit: Shots are dark. Couldn't tell very well since I also had TDM and Radiant loaded. Sorry about that.

 

Edited April 12, 2010 by quakis

[Berny]

nice nice - good development!

[Springheel]

Pretty good for just messing around.

[Stardog]

I'm working on some modular assets like modular walls/arches, etc. When I figure out the smoothing groups issue I'm having I'll create some interesting stuff.

 

 

Edited April 15, 2010 by Stardog

[Diego]

I REALLY support the idea. A nice package of prefabs might boost the visual quality of the mod a hundred times.

[AluminumHaste]

I REALLY support the idea. A nice package of prefabs might boost the visual quality of the mod a hundred times.

 

Only problem with doing those in a 3D modeler such as 3DSMax etc, is that they can't be used to seal a room, IE they have to be 100% decorative.

[SneaksieDave]

I believe we still need to settle on an 'official' place to house prefabs, but I do hope that once the notion of prefabbing spreads more, we eventually see a repo of thousands of great things. Both modeled (which have the advantage of detail but disadvantages of being fixed and decorative as AH said) and mapped (for anyone not aware: Select, File | Save selected as prefab; File | Import Prefab). Even complex scripted objects can be prefabbed. Want to make something but can't fathom the idea of completing a whole map? Make prefabs!

 

Great job on those above. :thumb:

Edit: undecided about the brick bevels. They seem to wrap properly but it's a bit jarring. Might want to cover those sides with mortar instead.

[Neb]

I might try and make a canal lock prefab, since watery city areas need to be blocked off by something other than a wall or metal grating. I'm surprised the other Thief games never thought about them.

 

A wooden lock could be used as part of a puzzle to find rope arrows to progress. Metal ones to seal an area.

 

 

[stumpy]

a canal lift/lock object exists in the original thief assets, but got removed in the thief gold assets, and it looks like it was just made to view from a distance cos up close it looks wrong.

[Melan]

Woah, you learn something every day. Of course, that's something you'd never discover since Dromed only came with Thief Gold. Is there a screenshot of this object?

[stumpy]

I havent got a image of the object, but its based on this device, anderton boat lift.

 

http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/industrial/anderton_lift.htm

[Bikerdude]

just a update on my progress...

 

:-)

[Serpentine]

Those sewers look awesome BD; TDM makes some really nice underground atmosphere but that looks really great.

[Melan]

I see things are coming along nicely. Keep it up!

[7upMan]

Bikerdude, since you happen to be the only person here in the form who owns a HD5870, could you re-post your screenshots with 4xSS-AA enabled? I know your gc can handle this.

[Bikerdude]

Bikerdude, since you happen to be the only person here in the form who owns a HD5870, could you re-post your screenshots with 4xSS-AA enabled? I know your gc can handle this.

 

These screenies and previous were taken at 1680*1050 btw.

Edited April 26, 2010 by Bikerdude