Level Design - Page 3

Froofy-D · 11-02-2008, 10:13 PM

Looks like some nice work man. Although, despite the superior graphics of the others, I have to admit the Extinction mod looks like the most fun to play and design levels for.

Zarcath · 11-05-2008, 05:13 PM

good read splok. Can the Haven map be loaded into U3 Ed or do I need to use the GoW version? Will check it out when I get home.

How close are you to grad?

splok · 11-05-2008, 10:21 PM

I'm about a month away. I've never tried opening a Gears map in another version of the editor, but I wouldn't think it would work. Also, this is the cooked version, so I'm not sure if you can open it in the editor at all (I've never tried.) Whenever I can get the full version of the map posted, I'll post the uncooked file too. I'll eventually get some videos up too to make it easier to check things out without having to bother loading up a map.

Zarcath · 11-05-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by splok

I'm about a month away. I've never tried opening a Gears map in another version of the editor, but I wouldn't think it would work. Also, this is the cooked version, so I'm not sure if you can open it in the editor at all (I've never tried.) Whenever I can get the full version of the map posted, I'll post the uncooked file too. I'll eventually get some videos up too to make it easier to check things out without having to bother loading up a map.

So what's your plans post-grad? Can't remember which school you said you were at (wasn't digipen was it?). Any placement programs or are you looking on your own?

splok · 11-06-2008, 11:22 AM

I'm at the Guildhall. They have a really great placement program here. Today is our career fair actually (quite a few interviews lined up

), but that's really just a starting point for contacting companies. The game industry being what it is, you still have to do a huge amount of work on your own to make things happen. The school basically helps you get a foot in the door with the studios that they work with, but the rest is up to you. Of course, after going through the program, you're pretty well prepared to do the things you need to do, so their historic placement rate is pretty amazing.

Zarcath · 11-24-2008, 08:37 PM

Going to try my hand at map making again. Will try the Hammer editor, in preparation for the upcoming release of the L4D SDK. Anyone else interested in doing something? A few of us could get together and put together a small FoH map pack.

Kharza-kzad · 01-01-2009, 08:40 PM

Hammer is really growing on me. Love the clip tool, the views, the vert manipulation. It's all good.

Plus it's got export to dxf, which I haven't tried yet, but hopefully it works. I'm rethinking the way my game engine works, going from in game levels generated by my map building tool from .map files (QERadiant) to a two stage approach with hammer, where I build what is essentially a collision hull in hammer, then export to max and have a real artist build it out to match the raw blocked out geometry.

splok · 04-02-2009, 10:54 AM

Ok, so I finally got around to getting some videos uploaded:

niteflyx · 04-02-2009, 12:53 PM

Nice! Especially Dissonance, looks pretty good, dude.

Feeling motivated from the GDC, me and my team are thinking about going for the IGF next year. Still in the design phase, not sure which engine we're gonna go with, but we shall see. I'll check back here for more thoughts when that time comes

Grave · 04-10-2009, 09:27 AM

What editor would you guys recommend for simply creating a concept of what a level/area would look like? What I mean is, I have flat 2d maps created of dungeons and zones, etc, but I want to create a 3d version to be able to sit down and actually show someone what it would be like, and show how the player is guided to certain places. Obviously it wouldn't need to have all of the assets and look perfectly like I envisioned, I just need to be able to lay out the area properly.

Any recommendations for someone who hasn't messed around with the programs at all? Any easier to pick up and use than others?

Faille · 04-10-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grave

What editor would you guys recommend for simply creating a concept of what a level/area would look like? What I mean is, I have flat 2d maps created of dungeons and zones, etc, but I want to create a 3d version to be able to sit down and actually show someone what it would be like, and show how the player is guided to certain places. Obviously it wouldn't need to have all of the assets and look perfectly like I envisioned, I just need to be able to lay out the area properly.

Any recommendations for someone who hasn't messed around with the programs at all? Any easier to pick up and use than others?

unreal3 or torque would be my choices.

splok · 04-10-2009, 05:59 PM

Another option if you're just wanting to get a quick visual representation up, is Google's SketchUp.

Grave · 04-10-2009, 06:20 PM

Alright, thanks. Is the Oblivion editor any good at all? I know that's not a "real" editing tool, but I thought about trying it for dungeon layout.

splok · 04-11-2009, 11:17 AM

If you want to make something that looks just like Oblivion, then it's good, otherwise it's pretty limiting. The meshes are pretty much purpose built, and there's no bsp editor. Having said that, if you're ok with basically working with Oblivion legos, then you can get something decent looking up and running quite fast.

Camerous · 04-11-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grave

What editor would you guys recommend for simply creating a concept of what a level/area would look like? What I mean is, I have flat 2d maps created of dungeons and zones, etc, but I want to create a 3d version to be able to sit down and actually show someone what it would be like, and show how the player is guided to certain places. Obviously it wouldn't need to have all of the assets and look perfectly like I envisioned, I just need to be able to lay out the area properly.

Any recommendations for someone who hasn't messed around with the programs at all? Any easier to pick up and use than others?

If you don't care about having OH WOW! graphics then just use the NWNs tool set... it's pretty good for the money.

11-05-2008, 05:13 PM	#32 (permalink)
Zarcath is a little tea pot. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 6,465 +75 Internets	good read splok. Can the Haven map be loaded into U3 Ed or do I need to use the GoW version? Will check it out when I get home. How close are you to grad? __________________

11-24-2008, 08:37 PM	#36 (permalink)
Zarcath is a little tea pot. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 6,465 +75 Internets	Going to try my hand at map making again. Will try the Hammer editor, in preparation for the upcoming release of the L4D SDK. Anyone else interested in doing something? A few of us could get together and put together a small FoH map pack. __________________

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11-02-2008, 10:13 PM	#31 (permalink)
Froofy-D upper management material Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,195 +17 Internets	Looks like some nice work man. Although, despite the superior graphics of the others, I have to admit the Extinction mod looks like the most fun to play and design levels for.

11-05-2008, 10:21 PM	#33 (permalink)
splok Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Oslo Posts: 527 +2 Internets	I'm about a month away. I've never tried opening a Gears map in another version of the editor, but I wouldn't think it would work. Also, this is the cooked version, so I'm not sure if you can open it in the editor at all (I've never tried.) Whenever I can get the full version of the map posted, I'll post the uncooked file too. I'll eventually get some videos up too to make it easier to check things out without having to bother loading up a map.

11-06-2008, 11:22 AM	#35 (permalink)
splok Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Oslo Posts: 527 +2 Internets	I'm at the Guildhall. They have a really great placement program here. Today is our career fair actually (quite a few interviews lined up ), but that's really just a starting point for contacting companies. The game industry being what it is, you still have to do a huge amount of work on your own to make things happen. The school basically helps you get a foot in the door with the studios that they work with, but the rest is up to you. Of course, after going through the program, you're pretty well prepared to do the things you need to do, so their historic placement rate is pretty amazing.

01-01-2009, 08:40 PM	#37 (permalink)
Kharza-kzad Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 268 +3 Internets	Hammer is really growing on me. Love the clip tool, the views, the vert manipulation. It's all good. Plus it's got export to dxf, which I haven't tried yet, but hopefully it works. I'm rethinking the way my game engine works, going from in game levels generated by my map building tool from .map files (QERadiant) to a two stage approach with hammer, where I build what is essentially a collision hull in hammer, then export to max and have a real artist build it out to match the raw blocked out geometry.

04-02-2009, 10:54 AM	#38 (permalink)
splok Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Oslo Posts: 527 +2 Internets	Ok, so I finally got around to getting some videos uploaded:

04-02-2009, 12:53 PM	#39 (permalink)
niteflyx Fuckin' 07er Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philly Posts: 750 +11 Internets	Nice! Especially Dissonance, looks pretty good, dude. Feeling motivated from the GDC, me and my team are thinking about going for the IGF next year. Still in the design phase, not sure which engine we're gonna go with, but we shall see. I'll check back here for more thoughts when that time comes

04-10-2009, 09:27 AM	#40 (permalink)
Grave Slightly OP Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,136 +38 Internets	What editor would you guys recommend for simply creating a concept of what a level/area would look like? What I mean is, I have flat 2d maps created of dungeons and zones, etc, but I want to create a 3d version to be able to sit down and actually show someone what it would be like, and show how the player is guided to certain places. Obviously it wouldn't need to have all of the assets and look perfectly like I envisioned, I just need to be able to lay out the area properly. Any recommendations for someone who hasn't messed around with the programs at all? Any easier to pick up and use than others?

04-10-2009, 05:59 PM	#42 (permalink)
splok Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Oslo Posts: 527 +2 Internets	Another option if you're just wanting to get a quick visual representation up, is Google's SketchUp.

04-10-2009, 06:20 PM	#43 (permalink)
Grave Slightly OP Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,136 +38 Internets	Alright, thanks. Is the Oblivion editor any good at all? I know that's not a "real" editing tool, but I thought about trying it for dungeon layout.

04-11-2009, 11:17 AM	#44 (permalink)
splok Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Oslo Posts: 527 +2 Internets	If you want to make something that looks just like Oblivion, then it's good, otherwise it's pretty limiting. The meshes are pretty much purpose built, and there's no bsp editor. Having said that, if you're ok with basically working with Oblivion legos, then you can get something decent looking up and running quite fast.