Arena Map Lab

[Xpiredperson]

Okay here is my second attempt at a Map.

Since my game takes screenshots in a funny format which i cant change into JPEG there isnt any screenshots. But basicly its Corridor fighting in a Lab Setting
There is a Hidden Health Powerup

http://www.filefactory.com/dlf/f/bbcecd/b/7/h/4906b10c8b8c30c2

*Updated*
Layout has been modified so frunts dont hang around the center area as much they come after you
Secrets have been changed to Ammo Cache and HealthMega.

*Updated* I've removed and added some new corridors so its not as spaced out before. I've changed where the Megahealth is but the ammo spot stays the same. Also i fixed all the leaks.

Updated bla bla

Play it and tell me about any bugs or things i can change/fix to make it better to play please Post here

[UTWarden]

looks good thus far, keep it up! though the containers look odd.

[Shallow]

This has a much more solid and coherent feel than your last map.

I think as far as the layout goes, things might be a bit too spread out. It felt like I was spending all my time bounding down passageways towards my next kill, which is a shame as some of the rooms have interesting height variations and cover in them. Maybe generally shortening the corridors would help this.

A more interesting exercise in layout tinkering might be stacking up some bits of your map so you can have some more vertical connections between different areas, make navigation more varied. Aim for it to feels like you've got rooms on well-connected two floors rather than one floor that meanders up and down a bit - I'm not suggesting one tall pile! For example moving the lab area with the windows so it is underneath the section with the single long bench and then rebuilding the connecting bits, with a connection to the doodiehead graffitti room from the window lab, etc. (That doesn't entirely make sense without pictures I know, but don't worry, have a think about how these things could fit together, I bet you can come up with a more interesting and more densely packed layout than that quick suggestion anyway). Maybe some stairs as well as all the slopes?

There seems to be a problem with the game often wanting to fill the passage junction just outside the doodiehead graffitti room with lots of enemies - maybe it thinks it's a fairly nearby point wherever you are in the map (I got the buildup when I was bunnyhopping all around the outer circuit and wondering where the dudes had gone). But if there's a lot of spawners around there you might want to spread them out more.

Not sure if two megahealth secrets is a bit much, maybe convert one of them into an ammo cache? Probably the one with the blobs, it seems slightly easier to find.

Maybe for the lab entrance you could have some (bulletproof) glass doors and windows and show a little yard outside with a bit of vegetation as a break from the industrial stuff.

Keep at it, it looks promising.

[Xpiredperson]

Okay thanks, I'll give it a whirl.

[IronPigeon]

It seemed that the spawns were cluttered in one spot of the map while some parts of the map didn't have any. On your next map maybe try to keep them more evenly spaced throughout the level. Unless if that was your goal. Kind of a "oh my god" when you turn the corner and there is 7 guys standing there.

[Xpiredperson]

Hehehe Alritey Try the update.

[Shallow]

It feels a lot more interesting to move around the overall space now as there are more places where you get a choice of different areas to move into, but I still think you have quite a lot of 'dead space', sections of the map that aren't really doing much.

Guys still seem to bunch up in certain areas rather than being spread more evenly. You can circle the map and stop in the biggest lab and literally wait as long as you like while you reload etc., no-one will come to bother you. (A particular shame with that room which looks like a good combat environment) Do you have big groups of spawners in some areas that need to be more spread out to other parts of the map? Better overall though.

This seems to be a leaked compile? I normally noclip outside maps after the first play to give me a better idea of the layout, but here I found I was staring at unlit exterior faces of brushes. You must always fix leaks, leaked compiles don't get vised so their performance will be shabby because the whole level will get drawn rather than just the stuff you can actually see. Arena maps can get a bit chuggy towards the end of a round in the best of circumstances because of the sheer number of dropped ammo clips etc. that will be lying around, I did wonder why I was getting so much chop while playing. If it's leaked it's also a big part of why your BSP size is so much bigger than the first beta, all the lightmap data gets stored as textures inside the BSP, and all the black outsides of walls adds a fair bit to this.

In the small lab with the Do not ingest chemicals sign, it looks like you might have two tank props in the same place? There's some weird z-fighting or something going on on the glass bit anyway.

The redesigned megahealth secret area is much cooler I think. Some good use of decals/overlays to break up your surfaces too.

[Xpiredperson]

In the small lab with the Do not ingest chemicals sign, it looks like you might have two tank props in the same place? There's some weird z-fighting or something going on on the glass bit anyway.

Ive Taken a look but i cant see anything on the Mutant Containers or the Stemcell. Could you post a screen maybe?

Also i've found the Leak, it was where the Mega Health and the Fanboy its Just above before you enter.

Anyway im trying to find a way to bring combat more into the Main Lab but cant think of any ways to do it. Any Ideas?
Much Appericated.

[Sparda]

Nice map indeed, Did you add enemy finders?
God knows where the mega heaths are!

[Xpiredperson]

Nice map indeed, Did you add enemy finders?
God knows where the mega heaths are!

Thats easy,

With the fanboy!

Its near the end of the Right corridor. Look for the wall that its differently coloured to the rest of the wall.
The ammo cache is with the Graffiti.

[Shallow]

Sorry for the delay in replying, been kinda busy and forgot about it. Link because the pic is too wide for the forum:

http://www.bad-apple.net/mappery/betas/arena_lab0000.jpg

You can see all the sort of scan-line effects on it where it's got that z-fighting thing going on. It looks like it's got orangey and blue versions of the tank's glass-filled liquid effects both being rendered together. No idea why this would be but I know when I see the same prop in the U4 Labs it doesn't look like that.

[Xpiredperson]

This is strange, its not like that on mine. :\

[MadMax]

Can't download the map... no link on the site...

[Xpiredperson]

Ah, Just give me a minute and ill post a new link

Lol the Link is just under the Adds, Check it again it'll say
"Here are you download Options"
:)

[MadMax]

Oh my god, that was really hard to find!

[Xpiredperson]

Okay i've edited it. Please comment

[David_Grove]

How about a few screen shots?

[Xpiredperson]

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7408/sinjpegqh4.png

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9139/sin2tk8.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/5728/sin3aa7.jpg

[MadMax]

The map is a bit empty and enemies are swarming in from all sides after a while. Also, fighting little mutants just isn't the same Arena like fighting grunts. ;)

Otherwise, it's a good approach and it looks rather nice.

[Xpiredperson]

Uhhh Mutants? Are you sure?
O_o

[Xpiredperson]

Woohooo Over 400 Views!
Anyway I've been negelicting this but now i've added some stuff to make it look nicer. So give it a try.
Links Up Top
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9931/arenalab0001an2.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6070/arenalab0003cs4.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/9674/arenalab0005fn8.jpg

[Xenogenetic]

Align Your Textures!