Beta Mapping

[Magus]

Is there still the possibility of the dev team taking on more beta mappers. I would be quite interested.

[Mr Mike]

I can tell you that they're going to want to hear a bit about you, and see some work you've done before, preferably with doom 3, as a minimum. So it's a good idea to get working on that if you haven't already done so

[sparhawk]

Mr.Mike is right. Can you provide some work to show us what you already did?

[Komag]

To answer you more directly, yes, they are looking for more beta-mappers, but not just anyone. You have to give some good evidence that you can get something worthwhile done, and the best evidence for that is past finished work.

[Magus]

OK, I can provide some evidence of Thief 3 and Thief 2 missions though neither are entirely completed. I'm also close to completing a small Doom 3 mission. Where should I post files and images?

 

Edit: Oh, I probably should mention the fact that from the 15th July to the 15th August i'll be away (in Peru!) which gives me about 2 1/2 weeks when I can work pretty much 24/7. After Peru, with the exception of about 5 days at the end of August, i'll have about 3 years to work on maps (which i'm sure will suffice), possibly longer if I stay on at Uni for longer. Anyway I hope none of the above will be an issue. The previous question still stands..

Edited June 28, 2007 by Magus

[New Horizon]

OK, I can provide some evidence of Thief 3 and Thief 2 missions though neither are entirely completed. I'm also close to completing a small Doom 3 mission. Where should I post files and images?

 

Edit: Oh, I probably should mention the fact that from the 15th July to the 15th August i'll be away (in Peru!) which gives me about 2 1/2 weeks when I can work pretty much 24/7. After Peru, with the exception of about 5 days at the end of August, i'll have about 3 years to work on maps (which i'm sure will suffice), possibly longer if I stay on at Uni for longer. Anyway I hope none of the above will be an issue. The previous question still stands..

 

I'll set you up as an applicant, then you can post your samples in our private forums.

[Magus]

I apologize for the delay. I'm afraid I only have screenshots at the moment. If you require more, I may have a completed short Doom 3 mission by the end of the weekend which i'll host on filefront.

 

Thief 2 pics (these are pretty old and are from a mission that I created largely as a result of Komag's tutorial so you may wish to ignore them): -

 

http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t...17480057jc2.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t...17460843sj1.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t...17451100zp5.jpg

 

Thief 3 images: -

 

http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t...17401854sp2.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t...17391209lz1.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t...17365350aj6.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t...17344700gt2.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t...17343637ed4.jpg

 

My first Doom 3 mission. I've had the game since Tuesday so I have a lot more work to do on this map, but its only small so a beta will hopefully be completed by Monday.It is considerably bigger than the one area shown in the screenshots, but this area is the only one worth looking at for the moment: -

 

http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d...01033208cl0.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d...01033000jr3.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d...01031351dp5.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d...01031013bb8.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d...01030295st4.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d...01030220zp4.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d...01030072oz8.jpg

 

(Those red lights flash by the way).

 

Anyway, have a look and tell me what you think!

[greebo]

I like the Thief DS screens best, especially the street shots.

[Springheel]

Looks like you know what you're doing.

[Magus]

Looks like you know what you're doing.

 

That's a promising response!

[Nyarlathotep]

I'm kind of "meh" at the D3 shots, but the T:DS screens definitely show you know what you are doing.

[PinkDot]

I like those TDS screenshots too!

 

BTW: I didn't notice that TDS book had that interesting normal map...

[Magus]

Wow, I wasn't expecting such a positive response to the TDS shots. I haven't worked on that mission for well over a month, but I think I might revisit it. How do you think I could improve the Doom map. "Meh" doesn't sound too reassuring.

[PinkDot]

How do you think I could improve the Doom map. "Meh" doesn't sound too reassuring.

Just by practicing... Good looking maps take months or at least weeks to finish... Not from Tuesday to Monday...

[Magus]

Heh, that's pretty good advice. Maybe i'll have something better by Wednesday!

[Nyarlathotep]

Well, in the Doom 3 shots I noticed texture issues and model issues (with the big pipe). Also, I could not discern any sense of the purpose of the shown spaces, e.g., a vehicle with no room to move (outside, not in a garage). Also disconcerting is your use of damaged models (again, the big pipes) in an otherwise pristine environment. The coke cans and styrofoam containers help the "shit went down here" feel, but they aren't corroborated by bullet holes or plasma burns (flip the vehicle over and you almost don't have to explain how it got there).

 

As for more general advice, Pinkdot is right. I'd also like to point out that the first map or two you build in a new engine are almost always going to have to be throwaways--at least, not without a serious salvaging effort. Don't worry about it too much; after all, you've only had D3 since Tuesday.

[Magus]

Well, in the Doom 3 shots I noticed texture issues and model issues (with the big pipe). Also, I could not discern any sense of the purpose of the shown spaces, e.g., a vehicle with no room to move (outside, not in a garage). Also disconcerting is your use of damaged models (again, the big pipes) in an otherwise pristine environment. The coke cans and styrofoam containers help the "shit went down here" feel, but they aren't corroborated by bullet holes or plasma burns (flip the vehicle over and you almost don't have to explain how it got there).

 

As for more general advice, Pinkdot is right. I'd also like to point out that the first map or two you build in a new engine are almost always going to have to be throwaways--at least, not without a serious salvaging effort. Don't worry about it too much; after all, you've only had D3 since Tuesday.

 

Now you've drawn my attention to those issues they're really quite noticable. I hadn't really appreciated how much the various elements of that scene conflicted with one another so cheers for pointing them out. I think the main issue is that I didn't approach it with a clear plan of action. I'm still in the process of learning the ropes so I was more intent on implementing things I'd learnt, such as the skybox and the windows. Evidently I have a lot more to learn and I guess it will be a while before I stand a chance of becoming a beta-mapper. I'll continue posting screenshots though, so keep the comments coming. Its much appreciated.

[Nyarlathotep]

Don't be so denigrating of your abilities! As far as I'm concerned, you've already demonstrated your ability to map in your T:DS screens. After all, you yourself have pointed out that the map was more for learning purposes than for presentation.

[Magus]

Don't be so denigrating of your abilities! As far as I'm concerned, you've already demonstrated your ability to map in your T:DS screens. After all, you yourself have pointed out that the map was more for learning purposes than for presentation.

 

I suppose so. Well, if the dev team is willing to accept me as a beta mapper i'll be over the moon. But as I said I do have a lot of practice to do.

[sparhawk]

Well, I like most of the shots, that I have seen so far. But I'm not a mapper, so I can judge them only based on personal opinion, and not so much for their mapping skills. Still, I also liked the ambience in many of your shots. Shows that can create atmosphere.

 

So if there are no objections from the others, I would say NH can set you up as a betamapper.

[Magus]

That's great news. Thanks very much, I promise I won't disappoint. I already have a number of ideas for a map, and hopefully by Peruvian adventure should provide plenty of inspiration. Once again thankyou, you've made my day!

[sparhawk]

Well, the major hope we have that at least one (good) map will be completed. We definitely should have some finished and playable maps, when we release. Even if they may not be top quality, it's better to have some few, then none.

[Magus]

Thanks for setting everything up for me. I'm sure i'll be adble to finish at least one mission. However a slight issue has arisen, which I probably shoul have mentioned earlier. I currently use the family computer for the internet and anything I download goes straight onto a USB and then onto my computer. My parents don't take an interest in my gaming habits so there's no risk of any info related to the mod leaking. However i've only just realised that to obtain the Darkmod I have to set up that TortoiseSVN. Is there any chance of being able to download it normally. I apologise if this is a problem.

[greebo]

Currently, there's no way around SVN, although you might be able to use another client that you might be able to run from your pendrive. The svn command line client could be such a client or RapidSVN, you'd have to check that out.

 

I can help you with the svn shell commands if you choose the svn command line client.

[Magus]

Ok, cheers. I'll download the SVN onto my pendrive and see what I can do.