Common Sense In Level Design

[CSN NewsBot]

David Johnston, or more widely known as DaveJ (CS-Nation exclusive interview), has written a 6 page article about CS level design. He goes over several ideas to ponder while mapping for those aspiring to do so. The article is informative to every skill of mapper, be it newbie or seasoned veteran, you'll find something informative to read. Here's a sample slice:

Level design allows for two very easy paths - a very simple level, and a very elaborate, complex one. It's very easy to steer to one extreme without even realising it. Maybe the designer just has thousands of clever ideas and wants to add them all, or maybe they have none, or don't know where and how to apply them. Either way, the player will get respectively a) bored and aggravated, or b) lost, confused and aggravated. You can work out if a level is too simple or complex by simply getting someone to play it over a period of around 15 minutes (it really depends on the game).

Interested? Want more? Then click here. Maybe the next "DaveJ" is lurking in our viewers, or maybe we'd be more likely to have the next "creator of fy_iceworld."

[lockhart]

me likey davej. also, hammer is a giant beyotch to use.

[BeaMeR]

[FLeK0]

Once I created two rooms with some items, with hammer, but I messed it up with teh door; half of it was inside teh wall :/.

[thor2488]

Nice article. It helped me. I like that.

[rsg_6100]

so i guess making a map using nothing but nerf(TM) like material would be outta the question

[RaptorRage]

Actually with the Source Engine for HL2 you could probably make a room like that, or at least have a bunch of Nerf sponge covering the walls...

[Blankster]

its a true strat i use too, like ill use Militia as a example, the front yard isnt really complex, its just hard to get past all those damn terrs with awps. The sewers tho, is longer, and can be owned with 2 colts, and a hell lotta nades. it also has 2 exits, giving you a more happy-stealth-cantkillme feeling by the enemy not knowing where you will pop up at, with still the anger of them popping some awp rounds in you right when you pop out.

rsg_6100 wrote..

so i guess making a map using nothing but nerf(TM) like material would be outta the question

Oh yes, you are a retard if you use only one set of textures (unless its like awp_map or iceworld which really could use details)



Look for my next map, DE_THEUNDERWORLD, which is based in hell. Yes, hell, and if its popular enough on all those loveable custom map servers, ill make one based in heaven, and waste 2 weeks trying to get a good cloud affect

lockhart wrote..

me likey davej. also, hammer is a giant beyotch to use.

Yes, never use hammer or any thing else made by valve cept the game engine, which was actully based on quake, so valve is just cheap.

[Agent 00Shoe]

[mouth]

[rsg_6100]

Blankster wrote..

Oh yes, you are a retard if you use only one set of textures (unless its like awp_map or iceworld which really could use details)

But what could be more fun than boucing around a orange world where no matter how far you fall you only bounce around more.

[cheetarah654]

Edited by [user="13219"] @ [time="1053483349"]

i attempted to map for a bit, even made a few (they were horrible) and it seems it just came down to patience. a lot of free time is needed, especially to just learn the damn program, then once you get it down the little tricks to reduce lag and r_speeds (the devil) come next



nice article davej, i CANT WAIT to get my grubby paws on the hammer for HL2. then i can make more horrible maps that will at least look cool!

[Serious Sam]

Great read.

[Gpig]

I think he should make a popular map before he writes a 6 page article on how to make better maps. What gives him the right!?

[Lestat]

[CSN]rH.-Gpig20[CSR] wrote..

I think he should make a popular map before he writes a 6 page article on how to make better maps. What gives him the right!?

sarcasm, oh what a wonderfull tool it is....