Backsteingotik is a single player map for Quake 1. I wanted this map to feel tall, to have walls of brick stretching upwards into darkness and to feel like they could support the world. This is monolithic Gothic, there are no curved archways, no round windows, just simple timeless shapes and mountains of bricks!
Often maps use teleporters to solve logistical design problems because they are quick and easy to implement. This map is designed to use wind as the primary form of travel between areas, there are no teleporters, just a consistent theme and continuous experience.
For further details on this map check the following web page:
Simonoc.com
One of my favourite Quake map is the "Wind Tunnels", a dark metallic pipe infested underground area flooded with water. The map is famous for its unique game play mechanic, the use of wind to transport the player around the map.
Unfortunately the original map does not have much in the way of architecture and is mostly flat metal walls and pipes. So I decided to take the idea of wind and push it in a new direction. Gone are the cold wet metal walls and pits of water, instead there are towering monolithic brick structures soaked in hot yellow lighting!
I have always been a great fan of brick architecture and especially German Gothic brick designs like this gorgeous example in Budapest. When designing the map Backsteingotik I wanted it to feel tall, to have brick walls stretching upwards into darkness and the structures to feel like they could support the world. This is monolithic Gothic, there are no curved archways, no round windows, just simple timeless shapes and mountains of bricks!