THE WEAPONS I USE IN THIS VIDEO ARE NOT MINE. I CLAIM NO CREDIT FOR MAKING THEM WHATSOEVER. I HAVE NOT YET GAINED PERMISSION TO INCLUDE THEM, THOUGH I HAVE CONTACTED THEIR CREATORS.
That said, there has been little activity in the past couple months on their pages. Hopefully they will check, and if not in the next 7 days I will make further efforts to contact them.
Now, onto the video. The lighting will be tweaked in some areas, and the HUD will be moved to the left and lowered so it does not block any view of the in-game overlays, which will flesh out much of the story. The overlays will also get some touching up, mainly the green strips in the background will be given a circuit-board style pattern, and they will be clarified a little, making them easier to read.
The AI still needs some tweaking, some of which will be done via code, some of which will be done with more nodes and scripted_sequences. At one point you can see an open door leads to a void - the level is only about 50% complete. What is shown is only a small portion of what is complete. (keeping the file size of the vid down - it got up to almost 3 gigs when I quit)
This video is mainly to show what type of ambience I am going for in this particular map. Almost everything you see will end up getting some type of revision, so suggestions are encouraged.
The text, for me, would be hard to read :)
Yes, that will definitely be fixed in the future :)
Looks pretty good, I agree to an extent with sgccode9's comment about the text. I could read it but it wasn't exactly easy on the eye. Only other thing I would say is that custom some sfx would be cool but that's just me being very nit-picky, there's nothing wrong with using the default HL2 sfx.
Okay, interior and that smg look good, now get a hand on the effects, the shotgun, the enemys and there AI.
Very well, I will keep on tracking this.
Ah, and why don't you just make the filed of the tablet grey so you get a contrast to read the text better?
Custom sound FX will be added, for everything from weapon sounds to buttons to item pickups :) I am just focusing on the mapping ATM, but be assured everything will be 100% custom in the end. I want to avoid using anything HL2, besides maybe the blood and burn decals.
So far the enemies are operating on Metrocop AI, but thats not too sharp apparently. I think the Combine are a little smarter, but I may have to add some stuff to the code...grrrr. First, I will try more nodes and triggers and sequences.
Thank you all for tracking, and I will make sure that everything is quality in the end. Perhaps my next update will show the changes...it kinda depends on what I get into over the next week. I'd like to say I'll do this or that, but when I sit down in front of the PC, I just do whatever it is I will enjoy doing at that moment. Sometimes I just make textures for hours, sometimes I map, sometimes I work on models, etc.
I want the tablet to stay in the format you'll see displayed on the computer screens throughout the Mod, but I will definitely change the color to something that doesnt make one eye pop out trying to read it, and the other explode. (thats no fun)
Crap somehow that got out of order. The tablet was supposed to be paragraph #2 lol :\
WoW looks really scary and cool can't wait for a release!
As far as the map goes, the layout and structure looks fine, but it could use a little more work on the lighting to really make it come to life. Everything just looks a little bland with the current lighting.
I'm actually really fond of the simplistic appearance of most of the textures.
you are doing very well, have been tracking this for quit some time now and i like the progress in development.
some very small minor issues;
i do agree with that the text is a bit hard to read, (and maybe a bit much text, but that is just me probably, am not such a reader in games, lol). but you already comment on the text issue.
GiffE already mentioned the lightning, and with that i have to agree to. the use of light_spot entities can do a whole lot for the environment.
and last but not least, i recognised the amb Hl2 sound that is playing. great sound, but it does remind very strongly about HL2. and because you go for the total conversion mod you maybe want to look in to using some 'new' sounds, ambs, but also music. music can do so much for a game experience, and a lot of mappers/modders don't add much music.
on line there are a lot of good music and sound files where you can download tons of sounds and music files from, for free.
keep developing, i will keep tracking!
leon
Thank you :)
Ok, Ive been working on the lights some. I'm making it a little darker, using spotlights, and possibly some flashind red 'alert/lockdown' lights to add to the atmosphere.
I really like that amb sound from HL2 but I dont want anything in the mod to make people think of HL2, so it must go :)
As far as music, I am slowly composing my own when Im not in Hammer or GIMP or working on models. I play guitar IRL, and I pretty much make all my own stuff up - no cover songs for me. Its a lot different sing software to compose, so its kinda last on the list ATM as I learn how to use the software. It will definitely have some music to add to the emotion of any given moment though :)
Love the atmosphere!
Ive changed it a little; the lights are just a touch dimmer, but Ive added blinking red emergency lights along the main corridors. Not only does it add to the urgency of this particular level, but it really makes the bumpmapping 'pop' for some reason. I'll get a new vid up ASAP; but my wifi has died and Im just going to suck it up and get some cable-interwebs. For now, Im using my phone most of the time to post :)
It'll get a little better still - Ive been working on the atmosphere a lot latey, trying to get it juuuust right.
Thank you for your support! I will be doing my best to provide a high quality mod :)