OpenArena Message Boards

I guess I can spice things up a bit in the mapping front, as well as get motivation to some people. :P

Restrictions: (Everything else is allowed)

• GPLv2 compliance. You know, sources and license file. Especially for third-party assets.
  
  • Assets should be GPLv2-compliant. This is, Public Domain stuff and already GPL/GPLv2 stuff is allowed. Stuff made from scratch is allowed as well, as long as you provide the sources. Everything else (CC, copyrighted stuff -!-) is disallowed.
• Reasonable filesize.
  
• The map should work 100% into a vanilla OA folder. This means: no other requirements such as a compatibility texture package.

Choose the style you want, the layout you want, etc. If there's enough people, we can start the work.

For more info, refer to DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/OpenArena_Community_Mappack]the Wiki article (http://([b). Release dates, participants and the like can be seen there.

---

Final release - 13 maps: (http://www.onykage.com/files/armageddonman/!oacmp/oacmp-volume1-v2.zip) (84 MB)
- oa_akomctf1, by Akom74
- oa_akomdm1, by Akom74
- oa_akomdm2, by Akom74
- oa_akomdm3, by Akom74
- oa_akomdm4, by Akom74
- oa_akomdm5, by Akom74
- mx1ctf8_t1, by Moixie
- mx1dm5, by Moixie
- oajgctf1, by jangroothuijse and pelya
- oajgdm1, by jangroothuijse
- oajgdm2, by jangroothuijse
- oajgdm3, by jangroothuijse
- udestruction, by Gig

From now on, polish.

Release date: January 15th.

Maybe i can do something  ;D

....but i'm asking one thing: the GPLv2 restriction means that i can use only OA materials (sound, textures), right ?

Bye.
 ;)

You can use other materials, but remember to include the sources of said material (.blend files for models, .psd or .xcf for textures... check DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/DeveloperFAQ]this page on the wiki (http://([b) for info) and the license files as well. And your sources should be GPLv2 compliant (coming from Public Domain or other GPLv2 sources, for example).

Ok, i will do something for you  ;D

In case, you can tell me if i'm doing right ?  :P ;D

 ;)

I am in if the timeline fits my needs (maybe easter as deadline?).

Three with me. A good start. :P

It is possible to create a sub-session to place our alpha version of our work, and some screenshots ?
 Or we place all here ?

Other question: i've some Q3A maps made by me. Can i transform it for OA? with OA textures/sound i mean.

 ;)


EDIT: Wait a second..... You still have one of my map for OA, do you remember ?
http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4639.0

All of our progress should be posted here, otherwise we would have tons of threads about the same thing.

About your second question, well, the idea is to create something new and OA-exclusive, but if you want to do that, then do it. :P

Ehm, maybe i'm only a stupid mapper, but i'm thinging one thing: can we have a special texturepack dedicated to this OAforum to build this mappak ? 10 or 15 textures is ok i think......
This prevent texture issues or other copyrighted stuff.

Anyway i'm working with a DM map  ;D ;D

 ;)

I'd prefer mappers to choose if they want to stick with the game's textures or if they want to create/use other GPL texture sets. Or both.

Hi everyone.

This morning i've make and modified some textures and start to build the map.

I'm doing it with Q3Radiant for Q3A, but the map work well in OA, with the music this time :P

;)

EDIT: I've added one more shot :P
Do you like the handmade coffins ? :P

Well, since we're at it... :P

Here're the first screens of the first of my two contributions to OA: am_voltage, a FFA map, possibly DDOM, depending on how well it plays in that mode, as well.

Right now I'm playing a lot of Unreal Tournament and UT2004 in order to get more inspiration for the map. It's going to be set, like the name indicates, on a power station of some sort.

I would like to be in as well. In 2 week I'll get much time to spend, I actually have many ideas and unfinished projects, let's rock it !

Nice one. Welcome aboard!

This weekend I'll be able to do some more work on the FFA map.

About deadline (I've recently saw that line of yours, Peter)

Where we should set it? Easter, like Peter proposed? Before? After?

Easter maybe ok, but first we have to set how many levels we have to do for this community map pack.
And which type of map, i mean FFA DDM CTF and other OA modes.

;)

I thought of making an indoor CTF-Level.
I will use the textures i already used for god_speedy.
But as NK posted before: the only limit is GPL 2.
Is there a prob if i like to release as GPL 2 or later?

That's another thing I'd prefer to leave in mapper's hands, though for this I would set a limit of 5 maps per mapper. :P

No problem. In fact many CBP/CMP's I've seen for other games had maps released as a sort of "promotion" for the pack, so I suppose it's OK.

Sorry, another thing: the original .map file must be inserted in the PK3 ? I have seen some OA map online that contain the original .map file.

;)

The original .map file must be included, yes, that's a requirement for GPLv2 compliance.

However, where it's placed, well, that's another thing I'll leave the mappers to choice: inside of the PK3 or inside of the archive containing the pk3 and other files. Though, remember to include the COPYING or gplv2.txt file as well.

Unfortunately my map "The Crypt" as an orrible design :P
I remake it and put here a couple of screens.
.....stay tuned....

;)

Will this community mappack included in the next OA release? (maybe set as an optional dependence would be nice)

@Neon_knight: can you write a list of included maps (possibly with some screenshot or link) in the first post?

"Lists that require updates" and "latest version download" in the first posts are no more advisable in this forum, due to the fact now you cannot edit your posts older than x days (this has been done due to some people leaving the forum making all their posts empty, making those threads difficult to read).
So, now we have for example the first posts in the OAX thread or in the "binaries" thread, as well as in the "map lists" threads, that contain outdated infos.

To maintain such lists, it's better to use a page DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com]on the wiki (http://([b): this allows anyone to update the list.

@G One: The idea is to have something "official" released for OA players so to appease the anxiety for the next version, and to show that there's development in the game.

@Gig: fromhell has lifted up the restriction. Or so it seems. I've checked my sticky threads and I can edit them. Though at one point I had the idea of opening a page on the wiki.

@Neon_knight: great!
My suggestion is: release this pack as an optional dependency of the official package or directly in this so GNU/Linux distros will include it in official repositories.

A 1st look of a draw of the base in the upcoming map (working title "fight").

Hi everyone.

....work in progress.....

I hope i'm doing a good job.

;)

Moixie, IIRC there were some maps from yours almost ready, but that were not completed in time for the "new stuff lock" deadline for 0.8.8, and thus are not in 0.8.8. I don't remember if some of them were even posted into the SVN commit thread.
I think this may be their chance!

Also the "pul1ffa - hit the ground running" map was quite promising...
http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=3990.0
I'm going to send a PM to Pulchr, to inform him about this thread.

Akom: that looks promising (and a little creepy).
Of course, remember that those maps would need to do not require the Q3 texture compatibility pack (and that new textures from yours would need to be GPLv2 compiant -and not taken/modifed from uncertain/copyrighted sources-)... and it would be nice they would have DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Mapping_information_for_special_gametypes]support for OA gametypes (http://([b).

Yep, that's another thing to bear in mind: no special requirements outside of OA's assets such as that compatibility package. The mappack should work as it is once placed alone in a vanilla OA folder.

Ehm, what do you mean with OA gametypes ? I have to make a specify .arena file ?

;)

Well, OA has 3x the amount of gametypes the original Q3A has. (12 in total) For some of those gametypes, there's nothing else to do, the map will work as it is (LMS/Elimination for FFA/TeamDM oriented maps; CTF Elimination for CTF-based maps) and others require one or more special entities which are already included in the OA gamepacks (Domination/Double Domination/Harvester/Overload/One Flag CTF).

Though this isn't, of course, obligatory; if you don't want to include support for these gametypes, it's your choice. :P But make sure to remove the "gametype" entity from every spawn point, otherwise servers may crash.

I have modified this textures (separate in red and blue).
I have take it from an original OA textures.

(http://i10.servimg.com/u/f10/13/33/70/40/flags10.jpg)

Can it be used with an official map ?

;)

OA gametypes:
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Manual/Gamemodes
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Gametype

Important tips about OA mapping:
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Mapping
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Mapping_information_for_special_gametypes

More infos about mapping:
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Mapping_resources_%26_tutorials

A page one should take a look before creating "official" stuff for OA:
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/DeveloperFAQ

Can somebody write a guide about the setup of GtkRadiant 1.6.3 with OA?
I wanna help you with new maps.
Thanks.

Look at here: (DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Configure_GTKRadiant_for_OA

@Gig: thank you, i will follow your links to do my OA stuff.

;)

I suppose yes, but I'm not sure exactly what you have to include with it (maybe the original author has to be mentioned somewhere in a readme file?). What's the original file you took?

PS: about a map editor pre-configured for OA:
http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=2722.0 (I have no idea if that would need some update)

Moixie reminded me of something:

If possible, try not to bloat the map's size. A setting which does this AFAICR is -samplesize. Some maps still look good without it. Which should be the ideal size for a map? Below 10mb for small/medium maps?

That's my turn to tell to everybody, what I'm working on. At the moment, I don't try to create any kind of universe, or any kind of map's layout to optimize the gameplay. I'm working on 2 recent maps which were unfinished (recent like 1 year and a half ago).





Mx1mn2:

I made it in 4 or 5 hours, it was just a prototype when I made it. I wanted to make something really simple, symetrical, small and playable on any gametype (tournament, free for all, capture the flag, domination,...): it didn't work as planned at the beginning. there were problems with the sky, the weapons places, the flags in ctf (which didn't appear) and the plasma (which didn't appear too). Also, I used a texture which isn't under GplV2. Textures and spawns are already done and don't need to be changed, so the map itself doesn't need much work. the First thing I'll do, is to make it only playable on FFA, the layout is simple and much efficient for FFA but not really adapted to CTF. Then, I'll work on the others problem, the sky and the pushs. It doesn't need more than 2 hours of work I guess. I you need more datas about the map, because you are a pervert, an old man or have nothing to do, click here: http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4164.0 (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4164.0)




Mx1Ctf8:

When I made it, I thought it was the best map I have ever made, but it totally failed. I played it with people once done and I realized that it really didn't work. the first floor wasn't used at all, the captures were too frequent, the items were too many, the paths were too shorts,... It wasn't brutal like I wanted it to be, it was just unplayable. If teams were not well balanced, the game was finished on 2 minutes. There will be much more work than on the other map. The layout will naturally change a bit. I won't only make the corridors longer: I will make another rooms, to make it less fluid but more interesting. That way, fights will be able to happen on the midfielder (before people only died on bases and the attacker could take the flag and run until his own flag, before the defender fragged him). Secondly, the items need to be replaced. thirdly, the bases need to be much more distinguished: this time I'll use anther thing as light, the light were much better when they were neutral (yellow). This map would need something like 6 or 7 hours of work: I need to change the layout and this ask much work out of the editor, on paper, I woudn't like it to be still as unplayable as it is actually.

Those maps are going to be your contributions to the pack? Nice.

Hi all. Somethings are changed "a little"  :P

I have take a weapon spawn texture from Evil Lair.

Tha downstair floor it's really a little bit dark but who care ? :P

I hope you like the new handmade teleporter with my really ugly shader effect.....i'll fix it soon...

 ;)

That weapon spawn was in OA as well. :P
In fact, most of evillair's packages are in OA by way of being GPL'd for Nexuiz.

LAST(?) UPDATE !

I've modified the teleporter FX. This is good for me  :P

I'm near to release this first map but first of all i'll give you the PK3 to try it and tell me if is good or if it is some thing to change.

 ;)

Hello, I have bad news. I PM'd Pulchr and asked him hf he noticed this thread, and this is his answer:

 :(  :(

@Knight: Noticing you added Pul1ffa to the unofficial maps thread (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4075.msg45577#msg45577), did you use the latest version posted in these forums, of from the AfterShock forums?

@Akom... Maybe I lost a passage, what's the link between a map of yours and "Moixie was here"?

Nothing, it's only a joke :P :P
(MOIXIE don't kill me :P )

;)

@Gig: I've used Google to find that map.

@Akom: That would be a nice easter egg. :P Something like UT's DM-Codex famous secret would work?

News ! I have uploaded the final version of the map, tell me if you like it and if is good.

Now what i want to know is: The download link will be placed here or send via PM at Neon_Knight ? (or someone else ?)

Tell me.
;)

What about uploading it here, so we can test it for the pack? We have plenty of time, the pack is going to be released in Easter.

No problem, but everyone can download it if i post it here.
Ok, nevermind.
Here is the download link:

Download instruction here:

Enjoy ! I hope you like it and tell me if i have to change something.

EDIT: Another thing: i miss something, right ? The COPYING that i don't have, or better i have one dated 2006......XD.....

;)

I didn't test Akom's map yet, I download it once my post finished.

I worked a bit on the 2 maps I talked about some posts ago. I fixed many problems of the 1rst map, mxmn5 but there are still some problems  more... that I just discovered, it's almost finished. I worked much more on the other, the ctf. I added some screenshot so you can see how much it changed.


Well, I should be able to post both maps tomorrow, during the evening. I wanted to post them today but there were some complications and I couldn't.

Pretty cool, Moixie!

---

Well, the idea is for the rest of us to test the maps, so we can refine them when the pack is launched.

---

This week I'm going to post screens of my own maps, as I, fortunately, have a clear idea about how the maps should look.

Very good job Moixie !! Like it !

;)

Pretty cool, though you should use the new logo, you can find it in this thread (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=1748.msg14802#msg14802).

Seems that i am not the only 1 who prefers the old one :D

IMHO the new logo gives OA it's own identity rather than presenting it as just a Q3 clone.

;)

Yep, that way.

Im sorry, no one have tryed my map ? It's ok ? I have to change something ? Tell me or i start another one. :P

 ;D ;D

;)

I'll try it tonight. I've been a bit busy. :)

I tried it and liked it ! The map's layout is very simple and the ambiance rocks. Then, I noted several things and I wanted to speak about 2 points:

* First of all, you should go further on the gothico-glaucous ambiance (add a dense grey fog on the ground, play a bit with the light (green light, some shadows/dark places,...), more details on coffins and maybe more "Moixie was here" which are really disturbing and terrify players, I guess)
*Secondly, I'm not convinced by the weapons/items placement (particularly because of the shotgun on the center). Try to play on [z]FFA, during the journey, there are about 10 players on small maps like aggressor, rpg3dm2 or Oa_minia. As far as you can't be alive more than 30 seconds, you have to get a rocket launcher or a shotgun quickly. So the most important in a FFA is weapons. Any player who spawns in any spawn point, has to be able to have a rocket, a shotgun or a lightning gun in less than 10 seconds.

Here were my only aprehensions about the map, then we should play it online to really know if it works or not as a FFA map.

Another thing, concerning another thing. Unfortunately, I won't be able to post the maps I planned to finish. It was christmas time and I couldn't find any time to work on the maps.

It's OK, Moixie, we have enough time for our maps.

@Akom, I'm going to play a bit your map.

EDIT: OK, here're my thoughts.

First of all, I really like the style of the map. Crypt maps are very rare, I can't think of any cryptic map outside of UT's DOM-Cryptic, Return To Castle Wolfenstein's second chapter (can't remember the name, it's been a long while since I've played that game), and sections of Unreal's "Bluff Eversmoking", and Unreal: Return To Na Pali's "Glathriel Village". Those coffins are very well done, I've recently finished the two latter games and those coffins reminded me of those sections.

Considering the visual style, the weapon indicator seems a bit out of place, I would recommend something else such as a broken floor or a "demonic/cryptic" inobtrusive deco for weapon indicators.

About the gameplay, well, I'll leave that for another day, right now I'm a bit tired. :P

Akom, about that logo... is it just a suggestion of mine, or does it resemble a bra?  ??? ??? ???

I have modified the map following variuous suggestions.
Now there is a "jail" and it emit a laugh sound :P

Unfortunately a coffin gives me an polygon error and i delete it.
I've added some rocketlauncher and more shotgun.

;)

That fog is pretty dense. I don't think it would be good for the map.
Have you tried other fogs as well? I've did a testmap once with every fog OA 0.8.8 has. It was pretty useful to know which fog to use and where.

Ehm, this fog is the lighter i have found, the other are more dense.

But i follow your suggestion and so the suggestion of Moixie and put it on the floor.

;)

Yep, looks better, and more akin to the map's theme.

I'va updated the map....stay tuned....

;)

Beware of the fog: the FPS can go down on old machines.

@Peter Silie: In the original Q3A maps you can find places with fog, after 12 years there is no more "old machine" with a game with IDSoftware Engine 3 istalled, i think...... however the fog is small....

Update !

I'm testing MY personal lights....

In that way the light in the map is more realistic.

;)

I know some ppl here, who still play with a PowerVR ;)
tbh: i also play with chipset graphics on my netbook :D

I agree.
I have an integrated intel graphic card (i use an old laptop), so this
message is for all devs and contributors: plase keep OA lightweight.
Thanks guys.

Light Update !

Now the "Moixie was here" banner have his own shader :P  ;D

I know, i have to distribute the light better than this ....

;)

I have tested the version from the link above (24.12).
Looks good and seems to be a good 1 4 ffa!

The 2 maps I was working on are finished ! There is just one last thing to do and I'll be able to post them. Problem: I don't really know how to do this.

I tested every Oa sky, I liked the light of one ("toxicskytim_dm7") and the look of another one ("anoice1") so I concluded that I needed to create another texture which would look like "anoice1" and had the light of "toxicskytim_dm7". I tried and I failed: I looked for the shader of both textures and I created another shader which is a mix of the 2 others:

Here is the "toxicskytim_dm7":


"Anoice1":


New sky:


In fact, there is surely a problem with the new shader, but the main problem is that the shader has no effect on Radiant, it considers the new sky as a normal texture with no effect.

@Moixie: Put the .shader name in the shader list.txt and it will work, make a couple of experiment to try.
The shader file will loaded when the radiant start, if not it don't work.

;)

By the way, consider that, due to inclusion of third-party copyrighted material (in the background), I suppose it will not be possible to put that banner into the actual map pack download package. Not that it would be useful to include it, but just to specify.

Well, mappacks need some kind of logo, for presentation reasons.

Some examples:

http://cbp.beyondunreal.com/legacy
http://ucmappack.org/pages/down.htm

In this case, I suppose a map from the pack would be better for the background...

Or many of them. :P

Ok, i've made one more from MY map.

Now it is good and i will use for MY map(s).
If you (mappers) want to use it, do it for free.
All my jobs are free. :P

EDIT:

I hope that the "inventor" of the red and the blue color has nothing to argue about them.
I'm sorry but i'm noob about OA and GPL stuff :P

;)

Ok, good.  :)
I guess you used a program like Photoshop or similar, which uses its own format (e.g. .psd for Photoshop) to manage multiple layers, and then exported into jpg. In case such "source" exists, don't delete it. If you want to include the .jpg file into the GPL package, you should provide the .psd (or .xcf, or else) file, considering it's a multi-layer image.

PS: What's about writing "OpenArena" instead of "Openarena"?

Err, not really :P

I'm using Ulead IPhoto Plus 4 and made every banner from a blank flie every time.....XD....

Oops, i'm sorry. I will use OpenArena for the banners (and make all new) :D :D

EDIT: I've rebuild all the three banners.

;)

Basically, in order for a software to be classified as Free Software and in order to be licensed under GPL, it must follow 4 freedoms:
- to use the software with any purpose
- to study how the software works and to change it to fit the needs; access to the source is a must for this
- to redistribute the unchanged software
- to redistribute their modified copies of the software to others; access to the source is a must for this

EDIT: Further read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License

I should probably make the banner in Blender. I haven't played with the rendering options much

I'm sure I still have the OA logo blend somewhere (the one I used to render). 
 

Hi all of you  ;D

Can't wait to see your jobs :P in the meanwhile i have uploaded a new version of my DM map.

The download link is the same posted before, but i repeat here:

Updates:

1) Added new light textures, made on my own little hands  :P
1a) To make the lights work i have created a new script file.
2) New sound (growl laugh) when you are near of the cage.
3) Now the map have the music !! :D
4) Deleted the Evillair weapon spawn point and breaked the polygons, see in the map what i mean :P

EDIT: The new sound (growl laugh) is made from myself voice modified with "sound recorder" of WinXP :P
EDIT2: I've forgotten a couple of textures :P ..... but now i have uploaded the updated version, download it (if you want) and tell me.

 ;)

Some flares on those lights would be good to soften up their appearance.

I'm not sure what do you mean :P
Maybe the ring of the light is too big ? Or too lighter ?

Can you give a screenshot ?

;)

Compile the map with -flares on the BSP stage to see what fromhell means. :P

Oops, it give me an error: ERROR unknow option "-flares" ..... why ??  ???

....

Strange, I use it all the time. In fact, here's my common build options:

- BSP stage: -flares -meta -patchmeta -v -verboseentities
- VIS stage: -v
- Light stage: -dark -fast -filter -patchshadows -dirty -bounce 8 -samples 3 -gamma 1 -v
- BSPC: -forcesidesvisible -optimize

Which editor/compiler are you using? GTKRadiant 1.4, 1.5, NetRadiant 1.6, QuArK?

Normallt i use Q3Radiant202 to build and compile my maps.
To use other command like the "-flares" i have to use a newest editor.
GTKradiant 1.6 gives me an error of MAX_VISIBILITY_EXCEDEED and i try with the command line in a file .BAT with q3map2 but it won't work.....  :( ???

If you can show me in a screenshot what i have to do i'm happy :P

Maybe i can edit the .shader to modify the flares effect ? But i don't know how...

;)

Flares can only be applied in compilation.

Have you tried NetRadiant (http://icculus.org/netradiant/files/netradiant-1.5.0-20120301-win32-7z.exe)? Also q3map2build (http://www.onykage.com/files/armageddonman/stuff/q3map2build.rar) as a frontend GUI for building.

Thank you, i will try NETradiant.

In the same time i have solved the problem with the compiler (by command line). There was my mistake :P

Here the commands i have used:

q3map.exe C:/Quake3/baseq3/maps/oa_akomdm1.map
q3map.exe -flares -vis -fast C:/Quake3/baseq3/maps/oa_akomdm1.map
q3map.exe -light C:/Quake3/baseq3/maps/oa_akomdm1.map

It work well and here is the screenshot of the re-compiled map:

Unfortunately i can't see any flare effect....... i'm blind ? :P

;)

Here's an example of a flare:

(http://i.imgur.com/lR7K7.jpg) (http://imgur.com/lR7K7)

See the columns?

Perhaps the combo of map/compiler you're using doesn't support them. Flares were introduced in some revisions of the Quake III Engine which includes ioQuake3. OA runs in ioQuake3.

NETRadiant unfortunately don't work, and i have to configure it :P

I'm trying with q3map2build that seems better and more configurable.
I have configure it with your suggested values.

Soon i'll give you a shoot if it work.

;)

Shaders would require the q3map_flare key iirc, like


Note that the name of the flare shader is loaded but never actually used by the renderer, since it always uses flareShader.


BTW flares were part of Q3A from the 1.03 versions, and they were regressed in 1.08. Vanilla q3map should compile flares fine.

Finally it work !!  ;D

But as you can see from the screenshot, now it's more dark than before, and there is no flare....
Maybe i have to make an appropriate texture ?

I'm thinking that with flare it will be more cool.

EDIT: @fromhell: can you give me the shader for build the map with flares ?  :P

;)

Hi all  ;D

I have completed the map, unfortunately without flares glow or bloom effect.
I try more script and search in the internet but found nothing of usefull.

Updates:

1) Added some lights.
2) Modified the "moixie" banner.
3) Changed the noise from the cage.
4) Other minor stuff.

Here is the Download link:

 8)

EDIT: For the record, i'm working to another map :P
EDIT2: Happy New Year to all of you !!!  ;D ;D

Thanks, the same I say. :P

I've figured out that I've promised to show my work last week, and haven't done so. I was a bit busy trying to get many maps for OA uploaded to MapRaider, I had 10 or so waiting to be confirmed.

So, I'll dedicate this week to my OACMP work.

@Neon_Knight: Don't worry, it's a wrong period to try to do something.....

Anyway, the last night some alchool make me drunk and this morning i've done this
Akom7 conversion/adaptation for this mappack.

P.S.: I've posted another map to mapraider :P
P.P.S.: Can i make a banner with the word "Frag Bastard" or "Neon_Knight is in Action" ? :P  ;D

Do it. Easter eggs are always welcome. :P

I might sneak one or two in my maps. I love them.

First screenshot of my CTF map. Bioxide. It's set in some kind of laboratory/water treatment facility. I've finished the structure in November, but I'm starting with the texturization now.

 ;D ;D


It will be a large map ? I mean, for 12-24 players ? It seems quite large.
I like it ! :P

;)

It has plenty of areas, seven in total (3 per base, plus the central), but I don't think it will be too large. I'd say it's a 5on5 map.

I'm focusing on trying to reach performance, good playability and good looks.

 ;D ;D

What do you think ? Anyway, in the map the banners will have the transparent effect without the black colour.

;)

Sorry for the double post, but this morning i've completed the map and want to let you try it :D


Tell me if you like it and if it is bugs or other issues.

;)

D/Ling, checking later.

Hello everybody! Happy new year!

I'm back, but I'm quite in hurry... I just want to ask Akom if he enabled bloom and flares in his OA client.
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Manual/Graphic_options#Flares
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Manual/Graphic_options#Bloom

Please notice: in OA 0.8.8, Bloom works only if you first forced r_texturebits 32, else it will be automatically disabled.

Did a bit more of work in bioxide.

I'm starting to fill the central area.

A name of a map of yours so similar to one other forum user name (Biox1dE)? May it create a bit of confusion? Or is the map based upon an idea from Biox1dE?

I just happened to choose that name from a list of names I've left on the DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Map_Ideas#Map_Name_Ideas]Map Ideas (http://([b) page on the wiki. Never thought about that.

The flare effect dosen't work, don't know why, the bloom effect give me some graphic error, maybe is my graphic card :P

By the way, in the PK3 you can find the .map file, try to apply some effect. May be you're more lucky than me. I have try with script/shaders but nothing work..... :-[ .....

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@Neon_Knight: Your map seems nice to play, i'll try it when it's done !!  ;D ;D

Someone tried the map i've posted ? It's ok ?

;)

Akom, I've just given it a very quick try. Simple and nice.
I noticed a graphic glitch in the central hole of the upper floor (you probably already noticed it).
It may be nice to add location names (e.g. "upper floor" and "lower floor"), and support for gametypes as Domination and Double Domination.

Anyway, I must ask you.... from where do those textures in the pak come from?

PS: If possible, it may be nice to create the "messages" (e.g. "Akom was here") using less "plain" fonts, like using Photoshop layers "blending options"...

Yes, i've noticed already this error, i'll fix it soon. :P


In this little map it's irrelevant give names at locations, you are dead first of read the location names. :) :)


From the Evil Lair textures pack. Can not use it ? As Neon_Knight said (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg45583#msg45583), most of evillair's packages are in OA by way of being GPL'd for Nexuiz.


I know, i have to use another fonts :P ....i'm watching around for other fonts type.

;)

More than the fonts themself, I was talking about "special effects" over them. Any font type, by itself, can change the shape, but anyway it's one-plain-color. One has to use programs that allow "wordart" or layer options or rendering options to give them more "deep", like a different color outline or a shadow.

Nevermind at the fonts effects, don't think this way now.

First of all, i want to be sure that i can use the Evil Lair textures without problem, what do you think about that ? Tell me please.

;)

Please give us a link to the file you downloaded, so we can take a look if it contains some licensing infos.

PS: are you sure they are not already in OA? With the fact you are using Q3Radiant, are you sure you are using OA textures while mapping?

Now they're linked in the first post.

Well, i've download it from http://www.evillair.net/v2/ (official site)
Maybe not all textures was released with GPL. Eventually i will insert the readme.txt with the map.

I have copy/paste the textures from OA to Q3Radiant directory in a new istallation.
To test the maps i make, i have a blank Openarena 0.8.8 istalled.

;)

You should have checked out the Nexuiz packages instead. D/Ling from evillair's page isn't recommended if we're going to stick up with GPLv2.

I shall upload the GPLv2 textures somewhere else.

Uhm... at the bottom of Evillair textures page (http://www.evillair.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=43), I read "This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.". I suppose CC-NC-ND is NOT compatible with GPL at all.
And when I try do download one of those packages, I have to agree to these conditions:

So, it seems you can use them in your own maps, without modifying them, and giving credit to "Evil lair" (e.g. writing in your readme "Textures a.jpg, b.tga, c.jpg in textures/akom3ctf/ folder are property of Yves Allaire aka Evil lair -http://evillair.net-"), but that cannot be applied to this map pack: it wants to be somehow an "official" OA expansion and so everything has to be available under GPLv2.
One may ask Evil lair to re-license them under GPLv2, now... but I don't know if he would agree.

ND and NC are non-free clauses.
Yes, try to ask Evil lair to relicense them under GPLv2, this is the better starting point.

http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=486.msg3060#msg3060
http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=1405.msg10544#msg10544
http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=1388.msg10515#msg10515

evillair textures nicked from Nexuiz (NOT from his own page) are allowed into OA.

Are them released under GPL or some other libre license?

It seems that someone  have asked directly to Evillair by e-mail and him responded positively, we only have to insert him in mappack (or PK3) credits.

;)

For convenience's sake, here're the evillair textures nicked from Nexuiz's last SVN snapshot: http://depositfiles.com/files/ezg1k1ouu. It doesn't includes the bump, gloss and normalmaps. OA doesn't need them.

Also, among Nexuiz's documents there's also the permission to use SimonOC's egyptsoc package:


So I've uploaded them too: http://depositfiles.com/files/nti9zh9av

It includes said file.

If they weren't GPL, then I wouldn't have included them in the first place.  That said, the license on the packs available through his site are different and the ones Nexuiz used were GPLed on appeal in 2005. (though no psd sources, I have a feeling it was a "ok just shutup they're gpl now can you please stop bugging me" response)  That is why OA is limited to having those particular evillair textures and nothing else.

 However in retrospect, I fear using the evillair textures pose another problem - the 'game looks same' problem, since there's so many projects that also use those textures, and that they're a bit low resolution

The map count has 3 FFA-based maps and 4 CTF-based ones. I might try my hand at another FFA map, just to balance.

Also, I'm thinking on releasing two betas of the pack before the final Easter release. First beta will be launched in February 15th and second beta in March 15th. What do you think? Are OK the dates?

For the dates, no problem. Do what you want, if you need that kind of  time it's ok.

About the textures, i see that all the textures i have used are GPL'd, aren't they ?
Tell me.

;)

I am fine with the suggested dates.

I'm working on my new map and i have made this bouncepad/jumppad.

 ;)

That launcher is pretty good.
The jumppad would be good in a square brush.

After a lot of tries, i've finally done it !
I have rebuild the jump pads that have a little bug.
The big problem was the script for the pads with effects without black around. I have made a lot of mistakes :P but finally i win the match !

I hope you like it ! :P

 ;D ;D

Seems very nice.
Can you upload some other image of the rest of the map?

The map you mean is a test map, four walls to see the light effect and the jump effect  :P ;D

 ;)

¿Base Siege from Q3: Team Arena? :P

Nope ! :P :D

Today i have played Q3A in q3dm6 map and it's been an inspiration.
No idea of what kind of map will be, but i'm working on it and soon i will give you some shoots.

;)

I thought you were building a CTF map, and that area reminded me of that map.

I'm Here again :P

I have downloaded from Soc web site the desert skybox for my next map.
You can find it here: http://www.simonoc.com/pages/materials/skybox/desert.htm
In the "readme" file it was no mention to GPLv2 or other thing about copyright.

Please, tell me if i can use this skybox in this mappack. Of course i have to give credits to Soc and link his web site.

;)

Doesn't make it public domain though

Also, most "free" skyboxes out in the wild are created from using Terragen, which has non-commercial usage rights. I'd avoid committing any terragen skybox


Blender can render skyboxes, but always has seam issues.  Unfortunately it's the only skyboxes i'll accept (other than strange gimp xcf picture jobs)

What about the Blender + GIMP combination?

On LvL i have found a Skybox collection: http://lvlworld.com/review.php?id=2023
In this collection there is a Desert Skybox that i can use in this map, in the readme it says:
===========================================
Created by 'amethyst7' aka Chris Matz.
WEB site: http://amethyst7.gotdoofed.com (FAKE website ??)

You may use and distribute this sky box under the terms of the
GNU General Public License version 2.
===========================================

Theorically this skybox can be used for free.
Tell me or i have to make even a personal skybox :P :P

;)

Does it have a source file? Such as .psd or .xcf or the like.

I'm not sure what do you mean, but here is the screenshot of the folder content:
(http://i10.servimg.com/u/f10/13/33/70/40/skybox10.jpg)

;)

What @Neon_Knight means is what are the extensions of the file, the part after the ".", for example "filename.exe" you want the .exe part of the name. That screenshot doesn't help because nobody can see the extension. Is there a file with the extension .psd or .xcf? For instance I see a file named  "ame_desert.shader", the extension of that file is .shader. What are the extensions of the other files? You may have to click on each one to view the whole name.

Well, judging by the small text in their icons associated to photoshop, i'd say it's...... TGA

Maybe one should take a look to the tga images and try to guess if they are based upon multi-layer images (then a source would be required) or not (in this case, no additional source would be required, right?)...

I should have figured that out.  :D I thought the tga icon labels were generic somehow. Oops.

In the folder there are 6 TGA images for the skybox, the .shader file and the "readme".

What source is needed ? If there isn't a source this skybox can not be used ?

...... :RIP:..... ;D ;D

Starting from the post of Neon_Knight (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg45745#msg45745) that mentions the release under GPL of some Simon O'Callaghan textures (for Nexuiz)
I downloaded the file Neon posted:
http://depositfiles.com/files/nti9zh9av (!egyptsoc-nexuiz.zip, 32,2 MB)
Inside it, I can find a "COPYING" file (GPLv2) and "permission.txt" file. It looks like we can use it, providing that we mention "Simon O'Callaghan" as author and link to his site "http://www.simonoc.com/pages/materials.htm" in the documentation.
For the problem of its sources... it seems to contain .TGA files only. I have looked at some them, randomly... for me (that I'm not an expert) it's hard to tell "the artist created this image directly by painting it with a bitmap program (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2sPl_Z7ZU)" or "the artist created it by using some multi-layer file format before, then exported to this single-layer one". So, I cannot say if such textures are acceptable for OA or not (if it would depend from me, I could accept them... but it does not depend from me).
I suppose Fromhell should look at the package and then give a definitive answer about this.

Another problem of using such textures may be that many other games may already use them, as Fromhell said (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg45746#msg45746). I don't know.

-----------------------

For the Skybox compilation Akom found (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg45772#msg45772) here:
http://lvlworld.com/review.php?id=2023 (q3sky.zip, 476 MB), it contains a q3skyinf.zip-->license.txt that says which ones are those with GPL license.
The one Akom is interested to is Ame_Desert, and seems to be licensed under what is reported in Akom's post (GPLv2 with mentioning that guy and site). Taking a look to them, I cannot say if they are "real photos" (and one-layered) taken with a camera that maybe got some "dithering" effect (due to quality reduction?), or are computer-generated panoramas (in that case, there may exist a "source" intended as a file of some virtual-landscape software -I don't know them at all!-).
I would think they could be okay (although its readme says it's GPLv2 but the COPYING file seems missing). Again, I prefer to know Fromhell's opinion.

-----------------------

About the textures from Evil Lair (that Akom used in the current version of oa_akomdm2 map), Neon_Knight in this post (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg45745#msg45745) linked a package of Evil Lair textures that have been released under GPLv2 for Nexuiz (while those packages downloaded from Evil Lair offical web site are not)
http://dfiles.eu/files/ezg1k1ouu (!evillair-nexuiz.zip, 66 MB)
It contains COPYING (GPLv2) file.
I suppose files contained there should be theoretically allowed in OA: Akom should check they are all exactly the same versions he used.
Again, there are the problems of missing "sources" (again, I don't know how to tell which of them really need "sources"... and I don't know if there are some somewhere in Nexuiz SVN for those textures) and the fact they are used in at least another game. Again, I suppose that Fromhell should take a clear decision about them.

-----------------------
PS: To who is searching for new textures compatible with OpenArena: already tried following the links here?
http://freegamedev.net/wiki/Free_3D_and_2D_art_and_audio_resources
Remembering that only PD (Public Domain) and GPLv2 stuff is ok for OA.

-----------------------
NOTE:
To do not force you to download the whole 476 MB Skybox compilation package, to check out the skybox that interests Akom at the moment, I would have attached to this post the ame_desert.zip file alone (2,39 MB)... but for some reason, the forum gives me an error uploading it, even if the file is less than the 3082 KB theoretically allowed by the forum... I don't know what to think!

Gig is absolutely right, sometimes no sources are needed to do a texture or a effect.
Personally i have tested it with jump pad effect i have made myself, start from nothing to a TGA, in that case what i have to take as a source of this file ? The file itself is the source.

I'm waiting FromHell response about this issue, and the other posted by Gig.

;)

While waiting fpr the response, i will show my rough draft of the flag room.

Pretty good job !!  ;D ;D

What editor are you using ?

;)

Reminds me a bit the map 'mkbase' ,not bad. :)

Adriano, will you build a map for this mappack ?  :P ;D

Jep.
It will be the 4th part of my proto series, starting with a pure space map (god_space) and then every step will lead to a much closer map (god_speed, god_evil (to be released when its done... ;D ) and god_base ofc).

@Akom: i use the GtkRadiant 1.5.

Thanks, but don't count with me right now(time reasons)... maybe it will be last-minute before easter,if not, then for the future as singular map... you'll hear from me. ;)

@Peter Silie: Don't know why, but i figured it's blender or something else  :P :D

@Adriano: I hope you will find a little time to make a map for this package, you are a good mapper :D ....maybe a CTF map ? :P :P :P

Anyway, the map i'm doing was named "Egyptian Trouble" and a brush at time i'm doing it :P but the question is: in this map i will put a custom music compiled time ago from my friend and i do not have nothing about this file about any copyright stuff, can i use it ? He gives me this music for my old project but i never used it.
Tell me.

;)

P.S.: sorry for my terrible English, but i'm a alcoholic Italian :P :P

If you don't have any indication about the copyright status of something, you have to consider it as copyrighted. The fact he gave it to you for another project does not automatically mean that you have the right to use it in different projects or to re-license it. You should try to contact him and ask him if he wants to release the work under PD or under GPLv2.

And I can guess that, unless that music was recorded all at once (with real people playing real instruments at the same time), they should exist some "sources", that should be included (and should be under PD or GPL, too... e.g. if it includes a "light saber" sound sampled from StarWars stuff, it cannot be used).

Men, this GPL stuff it's killing me.....XD.....
Ok, nevermind :P

;)

We definitely need a page about GPL in the wiki. -.-

I'm hoping to have my maps for this pack being released for testing in February 1st. There's a lot of things I'm doing, and I've been slowing down a bit in this regard.

EDIT: Akom, Peter, Moixie, read your personal messages.

Hey Akom, did you check that all the textures/scripts from Evil Lair you used are exactly the same files that are in the GPL'd package Neon_Knight posted?

@Fromhell... we are waiting for your opinions about the stuff in those three packages (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg45783#msg45783)... if that can be used in OA or not.

I agree.

The textures are ok, but a couple of scripts are wrong........ :( .....

;)

If needed, you may ask Udi if he can help you reproducing the same effect of those scripts, without infringing their copyright.

Hi to all  ;D

I have made my own textures (with effects) for powerup_spawn/jump/weapon_spawn.

Here is the screenshot:
(http://i10.servimg.com/u/f10/13/33/70/40/shot0043.jpg)

I will modify the oa_akomdm2 soon and give it to you to test it......

;)

Looks pretty cool. One question, though: are they animated or just static decals?

Maybe as tester? We need people who can test our maps as well.

The circle rotate and the bumper (jumper) blink as a normal jumper.

Soon i give you (all) the fixed versione of the map......stay tuned.... :P

P.S.: No one have tested the maps yet ?? We need to be ready for easter.

;)

Sorry for the double post :P

There is the updated version totally GPLv2 textures free !! :D

Download Link:

This time it is all right ? Tell me.
;)

EDIT: Meanwhile i'm continuing with the third map :P

 ;D ;D

Edit: Wrong thread.

Meanwhile, in a another thread.

I'm in, 50% sure of that. It depends entirely on how busy I am with other projects.

Would it to taboo for me to discuss a flowchart of who does what in this project?

Not to be so full of myself, but I'm damn amazing at the editor, and I've found that the end result can be great if I have somebody alongside me to give me tips like "This should be adjusted, this shouldn't be here, you definitely shouldn't have put that armor there, etc. The general layout is what I do, but I require lots of feedback to "perfect" the map.

Also, is it safe to assume we're doing CTF? I want to challenge myself by doing a non-mirrored CTF map. I hope I can help out. It's been a looong time since I've done any work that hasn't been solo. It's far more effective to bounce ideas off each other.

Let me know any details; the more you bug me, the more likely I am to participate. That's party due to memory loss, heh.

Welcome aboard PsYthe  ;D ;D

Your idea of non-mirrored CTF map remind me some Unreal Tournament CTF maps. Great idea !

Warning only at the GPLv2 rules with copyrighted material.
For other things wait for Neon_Knight or FromHell. For tester i suggest Gig, as more knower of the GPLv2 stuff and he is very precise.

;)

The flowchart is simple: we do what we know how to do. :P
Also, for testers it seems that we have to rely on each other mapper, unless I can find someone else to do the testing stuff. :/
We're doing both CTF and FFA, mapper decides which gametypes they choose to support. (Though I'd want CTF maps to also have support for 1FCTF, Harvester, Overload, eCTF, CTF, Elimination and DD as well. Shouldn't be much work in this regard.)

And your questions don't bother a single bit. ;)

I think moreover about FFA. And thx about compliment but I think I did/ I'm doing still some bad mistakes xD and I need to learn much map-techniques.


About the new map...

1.)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img543/8126/shot0120l.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/shot0120l.jpg/)
I think you wanted to add there (and the same on other side) the texture which is on the left of it ?

2.)
Basically the map is ok, but on top of the map it seems a bit too open (too much open space) +

3.)
combined with 2 lightning guns up there, it will be a mess there xD
(what about plasma?)
-> So maybe make some seperation (Idk how, you've to invent something) on the upper platform or shrink it a bit

LOL !!  :D  you never finish to learn about mapping, i find every time something new :P :P


About the new map...


Yes, it's a mistake but i think it's a marginal error, maybe i recompile the map after the release, or in case of big mistake found from players.


Err, it's too high, but no much. When you jump from the bumper sometimes you can use rocket to jump very high, but in a future release the sky will be shorted.


No no, it have to be a massacre !!!! It's a Danger Arena !! :D :P :P

I knew I should rewrite that piece of text (I wrote not correctly) xD... I meant that the upper platform seems a little bit too large, because there are not much 'obstacles' there to hide (e.g.).
But I just saw the map again and I think it is also OK if you leave it like that (without changes). =D

Well, I'm not extremely good with GPLv2 terms.... I try to follw what I understod. The only one file from me you can find in OA 0.8.8 is a demo (where a "source" format does not exist. And that used OA-only suff.).

About testing, that you... but at the moment I have very little time. And anyway, I can help finding bugs in the maps and maybe suggesting some structural changes... but best item placement for keeping the map balanced should be asked to someone else (I'm not good with that).

Ah, sorry..... i know, time never is too much :P

P.S.: I have in mind to build a space map called "Gig's Nightmare" inspired to Xan level in Unreal Tournament, with moving stars and low gravity. I hope you like it !! :D :P

;)

Akom, if you wanna make a map for me, you could take that big map I tried to do some time ago (do you remember TEST1?) as an inspiration, and try to recreate something similar to it, but using a "clearer" design technique than mine.

In fact, it was my first real Q3 map (and I planned to later do an OA version). Knowing it may have been probably the only one, I put almost everything it went into my mind into it. I was using the map to learn using the editor and to do a large, varied map. So, mapping techniques were not good.
When I was quite happy with the work, I encountered the out of level items (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4310.0) error in console while in-game (you can play, but you see this in console, and that's not nice).
I can guess I ended up having too many of something (brushes? areas? items?).
And I still had to add almost all spawnpoints and some lights.
I really have no time to try to redo it from scratch. So, sadly, I abandoned the work.

If someone else is interested, I may release that map under GPLv2, too. Maybe someone of you may want to re-use some of the ideas I put into it. I think some of those ideas are nice... but I placed too many ideas with one map, and I had very poor mapping skills! Some ideas may be re-used in some map redone from scratch.
You can take a look to the editor in the attched screenshot. I'm sorry I do not have the time to post proper in-game screenshots right now.

What about an online meeting to test the beta maps with all participants of this thread?

@Gig: Sadly i have to tell you that your old map is to redo from scratch. Sorry....
By the way, i'm doing the Space-Map i tell you above. It's ok for you if i named it "Gig's Nightmare" ? Remember your matches with Xan ? :P :D

@Peter Silie: Time is our big problem...... i'm off....

@Adriano: Sorry, i forgot to answer you. Don't worry, i will fix the texture bug for the final release.

;)

Wow, i love big maps!
Nobody here seems to like to play with big maps.
My favourites maps are: oa_bases3, oa_bases7, oa_ctf4ish, hydronex, oa_spirit3 and dm4ish, is someone working on something similar?

There are 2 new version of oa_ctf4ish (sos_ctf and god_ctf - just search forum).
there should also be an even bigger version of bases7, just search for god_athmosfear.

ps: congrats Gig! 2000 posts!!! ;D

Wow, great, i hope released under GPL.
Thanks!

Meanwhile, my third map is groving up !  ;D ;D

The skybox is temporary, i'll made one myself with my shader/effect to avoid GPL infringement.  :P

;)

Seems impressive.
I hope to test it soon.

It's just a medium map i'll give you (all) a version as soon as possible..... :P

@G One: Have you tried my other two maps for this mappack ? It's all right ? Tell me. You will find the link in the first post.

;)

I like Danger Arena, seems a good quality map, but i'm not a big fan of Free For All mode.
I play always online with and i love CTF mode!

These two days I was offline.

So far, I've been working on a lot of stuff. I've done a bit of work in Bioxide (my CTF map), started a third map (Underground Temple) and also worked on Voltage (my other FFA map). Screenshots soon.

For convenience's sake, I have uploaded the betas from the maps to my FTP space. Also uploaded there the two GPL'd pack of textures. Thanks to onykage for the FTP space.
Links in the first post are updated.

DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/OpenArena_Community_Mappack]WIKI! (http://([b)

 ;D ;D Good Job !  ;D ;D

Well done!

I've played briefly your two maps on my cellphone.
Akomdm1: I really like the upper part of the map - it's open and does not have narrow corridors and sharp corners, plays really well on mobile. Also it's relatively large. However the lower part of the map makes you disoriented - you jump there and you don't know where to run to make it to the upper part, walls are all the same, and corridors are all the same, however the fog effect is cool.
Akomdm2: God bless you for making those safety borders around map edges, I wish all maps space had them, and they are especially welcome for clumsy touchscreen controls. The part that I did not like is the texture choice - the map is too dark, and bots blend with the walls. Illuminate it more please, and make that hole in the center of the map bigger, and maybe different color, it takes few tries to fall there.

@pelya: Thanks for your comments :D . I will take care of the maps before of the release date.

Update !!

Here is the Download Link:

I know there is a couple of issues, but i want to know from you (all) if it's all ok with GPL's stuff or something else.  :P ;D

...can you find the two easter eggs in this map ? It's easy....

Enjoy !
 ;)

Uploaded for testing purposes to the oacmp temp folder. Also updated the wiki article and the first post.
Hopefully, tomorrow at night I'll upload a playable version of one of my maps.

Tried akomdm3 map, and it's awesome on mobile, much better to play than most of other OA free-for-all maps. It's open and medium-sized, but gives impression of a big map. Also I like color gamma, bots were adequately illuminated and easy to shoot. I think it's the best one of your maps.
However there are some issues:
1. The ultimate camping spot near the rocket launcher:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/2013-01-20_01-07-18_zps43caa9be.png)

This part of the map is accessible with only a jump pad, and has only one weapon - that rocket launcher. Grab it, and blow up everyone trying to jump there (easy target in a narrow corridor), also blow up everyone who respawns near you  - their chainguns are no match for a rocket, and they cannot get any other weapon without jumping down.
This can be fixed by fixing this part:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/2013-01-20_00-28-48_zps6b2676f2.png)
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/2013-01-20_00-30-08_zps08ff3295.png)

I could not jump to that platform, even with the help of the jump pad below. Please make this platform reachable.

2. When you jump or respawn here, there are absolutely no weapons around, you need to run through the whole level to grab lightning gun or railgun (you'll be lucky if you'll make it this far), and you cannot grab the rocket, because there will be someone camping there, see issue #1.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/2013-01-20_01-25-26_zps82383015.png)

This can be fixed by adding some weak weapon, like shotgun, to that niche where I'm shooting. Or maybe grenade launcher (but as we know, ancient Egyptians considered shotguns and grenade launchers a lowly weapons, they've used lightning guns and railguns, and called them Scythe of Horus and Eye of Ra  ;D )

3. This teleport here
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/2013-01-20_00-40-38_zps8dfb1ff1.png)
will bring me here
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/2013-01-20_00-40-24_zpsa9a71e7d.png)
seems rather pointless to me - I can just jump there. Actually, it will bring you to the other spawn point with armor, but since level is symmetrical, it doesn't really matter.
I would rather make them bring me here, to the other part of level:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/2013-01-20_00-42-36_zps4bd31939.png)
but you then will need to replace the teleporter and medkit with some less powerful upgrades. Also, the teleporter isn't much useful there, because the level is not very big.

And, your easter eggs:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/2013-01-20_01-00-14_zpsb007a844.png)
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/2013-01-20_00-31-08_zps5cea3924.png)

I love that 3.DM-map of Akom, too. Really nice. I can imagine it on AS Clanarena-server lol.

Ok now the things that maybe could be changed (aka "the bad things" xD) or are just things to bring new ideas:
◘ I don't know why I can't see this light (I hope it is just my problem):
http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/3141/3kaubuet_jpg.htm

◘ There are just 4 places to pick-up a weapon: I would add at least a plasma (btw. 2 plasma, one on each side)here for example:
http://s1.directupload.net/file/d/3141/sz2fvilz_jpg.htm
And maybe another weapon down in the map somewehere.

◘ Replace teleporter with invisibility

◘ There are 2 long curves in a row, so it is a long way when you want to stay up. I would add/change there something from this structure. E.g. the first thing that came in my mind:
A hole in that big block (at curve) that brings you also in the middle of the map (at quad).
http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/3141/izkjmk6i_jpg.htm
http://s1.directupload.net/file/d/3141/o6z5iu2j_jpg.htm

Just to bring you some ideas to make the map even better. =)
 

@pelya: I have follow your suggestions and some stuff seems really better :D
Now it's a massacre !!!  ;D ;D

@Adriano: Thanks you too for your comments, i have modified the map with your suggestions too, now BOTs navigate the map better than before.

......soon will be here the download link for the new version.....

;)

New Version ! Enjoy it !  ;D

 ;)

Updated!

@Neon_Knight: Good job, but have you try this one ? What do you think ?

I know there is a couple of issues agani, but i think there is time to fix it :P

;)

Akom, sorry for not having had time to try the other maps of your yet...
But just for curiosity: are you still using q3radiant or did you manage to use NetRadiant or GTKRadiant for these OA maps? If q3radiant, it may be good some kind of tutorial to setup q3radiant to work with OA stuff instead of Q3A stuff. Example: one cannot use the md3 models he finds with q3radiant (e.g. the skeleton, the gargoyle...) if he wants to do GPL maps (like for this package), because, if I'm not in error, they are not GPL'd.

@others:
What about asking JoeSox if he wants to include his Operation Metro map in this package?
http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4510.0
It looks like something different than usual OA maps, and is stated as GPL. Although I don't know about its playability, I haven't really tested it.
Maybe it may be too heavy (in file size and CPU load?), and we should double check everything in it is really GPL'd?

Isn't that an experimental tribute map?

Uhm... you're probably right. It looks like BF3 stands for BattleField 3 game, and so the map is a 'tribute' to one of the maps of that game... I don't know how much similar, but probably quite similar, or even very similar.
http://bf3blog.com/operation-metro/

I don't know if this Cummunity pack is meant to also allow some (and which) kinds of "tribute maps" or not. I suppose this should be stated in the mappack's rules.

Tributes can go, but I still prefer maps made specifically for this pack over than packaging of previously done maps.

Dear Gig, don't worry about testing the maps, i know that the real life take a lot of your time, if you test it i'm happy, otherwise amen brother. Muahahaha :P :P

I'm still using Q3Radiant 202 and OA textures in the normal baseq3 folder  ;D ;D
It work very fine  :P . To test the maps i'm using a blank istallation of OA 0.8.8

;)

But how are you doing for md3 objects, then? Are you not using them at all?

Of course my friend, if a need a model i do it myself with polygons :P :P
See my teleporter used in the Inferno map (Akom9) and last map for OA mappack (Egyptian Trouble).

;)

P.S.: @Adriano: sorry, i forgot to answer you about the missing texture. Maybe it's your problem with textures conflict, i don't know, other guys don't have this issue and in the blank OA istallation the map work fine without this problem.

Yep, while testing the maps, be sure to test them in a clean OA folder. Remember that the maps of this pack should work on a clean OA 0.8.8 folder.

Of course I do....  :P .....  ;D

;)

I've tested oa_akomdm3, and the gameplay now is perfect, there are no camp spots or empty space without any weapons.
I would like to put it to my dedicated server, when you'll release a final version (with license info and sources).

Maybe plasmagun is a bit too powerful, this may be fixed by moving plasmagun ammo to the different place at the map, so players won't spam it. For example, here, in the alcove:

(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-01-21-20-57-27.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-01-21-20-57-27.png.html)

Starting the 4 map !
(GIG's Nightmare !)

i'm doing it listening this http://youtu.be/4M0MOfRxI7g  ;D ;D ;D

@pelya: Ok, plasmagun will be moved :P

Other comment from the others ?  ;)

I have another request about oa_akomdm3. The teleports in the lower part of level bring you to the upper platform near the rocket launcher. The same can be achieved with a jump pads, and I would prefer them over the teleports, because after teleporting you're kind of disoriented, but with jump pad you know your position in the level. Also, two teleports near each other in the same part of the level do not look that good.
So, I would propose this:

(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-01-21-21-37-26-1_zps47e44104.png)

(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-01-21-20-58-30-1_zpsc3a7e712.png)

Sorry for too many requests, the level is already nice, and it's a minor annoyance, not anything big.

.
No problem pelya, here is a screenshot of the modified version:

And here is the download link for the map:

 ;)

It is now the best map ever, thank you!

I was thinking about some "semi-tech" details of the map pack.
I suppose it should be stated in its readme that it's supposed to work with OA 0.8.8. AFAIK, this does not mean that it will surely stop working with OA 0.9/OA3.

... I was thinking about the DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/G_autonextmap]G_autonextmap (http://([b) feature (note: you may have to read how the feature works, following that link, to better understand what follows). It works with OA 0.8.8 stock maps only (if you put more maps into your OA, you have to create custom mappools to use them with autonextmap.

If we want people to quickly take advantage of the maps from this map_pack with g_autonextmap enabled, we may include specific map_pools with the package.
But placing map pools files including both "stock" OA 0.8.8 and mappack maps (overriding the default files) may mean to tie the pack too firmly to a specific OA version?
Or may we include mappack maps only and place those files outside the pk3, with a fake extension (maps_dm.cfg.xxx), telling people to add and remove the extension each time they want to use mappack maps instead of stock maps?
Or may we include the pools with a name different than the normal (e.g. cpack_maps_dm.cfg) and two .cfg files that the user would use with /exec cp_mappack.cfg and /exec cp_normal.cfg that would set the g_mappools variable to the mappack-only pools or back to default values?

Easiest way is just to  fix g_autonextmap, so it will parse all files from a specific directory, or all files with specifoc extension, and rename *.cfg to *.mappool.

A short update regarding my map:
the name is now decided, it will be called "GoDs Base" (god_base) because the map will be some kind of tribute to mkbase and the last part of the GoD proto series (i guess i already talked about).
The basic layout of the blue side is nearly complete, i just need to polish the center area and the upper way to/from the base. Also some edges has to be made a little smoother.
If this work is done, i will duplicate the bases, activate some jumppads and release an early pre alpha.
So you can get a feeling about the sizes and the gameplay.

Unfortunately i am out of time for a 2nd map, but here is a screenshot from the close to go of GoDs Evil (god_evil).
I made some big mistakes in the basic layout of the map, so i have to do it again from scratch in the future.
But i will not be able to finish this in time... :(

Seems a good map, i'll give it a try when it's done.

;)

Here is a new screenshot from GoDs Bases, which shows the ways to the flagroom.
The edges i marked will be redone.

Neon_Knight:
I've tested the map watadry_beta3, link to which you've inadvertedly put in PM.
Once you've learned all the map shortcuts, you'll make gameplay frustrating to other players (also, bots are easily confused by this map).
There are two shortcuts to the enemy base, via underwater way and teleporter, and there are too many escape routes after you grab a flag - run to the jump pad, collect the health and armor from the upper gallery, then there are two routes to run away from the gallery without jumping down to the open space, and you can grab a plasmagun on the way back. Once you around the first corner, you're safe - there are too many sharp corners on the way back, so it's impossible to chase and snipe you down, you can also grab megahealth while running to your base, and run away even without shooting. But if you're killed and respawn on your base, there are no decent weapons around you, you need to run ahead, and it's not unusual for flag carrier to grab your plasmagun and rocket right when you need them most.
The best strategy for flag defenders is to stay between two bases, where the megahealth is, the flag carrier will have to run across that area.
Also I dislike that lifting platform that goes up and down at regular intervals, it's easy to get squished. Why not a plain jump pad?
I was playing on a phone, so my experience may be biased. I was able to jump to the teleporter only after 10-th try, and the underwater passage is also not that easy to use.
The texture choice is okay, and illumination is also okay, although there are not too many variations, just the same ambient light everywhere.

A quick post just to say I quickly tested oa_akomdm2 oa_akomdm3, without bots.
- The map looks nice. And I can notice some inspiration "here and there" from the great q3dm6, right?
- I haven't noticed "missing texture" problems like those experienced by Adriano (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg45884#msg45884). But my test was very quick. I had the q3a2oa texture compatibility pack v5 installed.

Talk about watadry in it's thread (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4199.0). ;) Let's leave this thread for the Mappack maps only.

I think you mean oa_akomdm3  ;D

Missing textures it's a mistery, i don't know why you can't see them. I have used a "vanilla" istallation (blank istallation) of OA0.8.8 without any texture pack or something else and it work.
May be a texture conflict ??

;)

Yes. oa_akomdm3.
Anyway, I did not notice any texture problem. Was maybe the "you" in your sentence referring to Adriano intead of to me?

Sorry, my bad :P :P  ;D

By the way, you haven't answer me yet about the title of oa_akomdm4 "GIG's Nightmare", can i use it ? :P

;)

@Gig, remember to do the map testing with a vanilla folder! No texture packs or compatibility packs! Remember that this pack should work as it is in a vanilla folder!

---

@Akom, I've finally got the chance to test your beta maps. Here're my thoughts. I'll edit for the other maps as well:

oa_akomdm1 - I like the layout. It's symmetric, yet it flows pretty good. I like also the thematic of the finished map. Very immersive. I really wish I could have that amount of imagination. As a criticism, what about clipping the tombs? Sometimes they stop the speed when you come from the upper ledges.

oa_akomdm2 -

oa_akomdm3 -

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKP5gbuIM18) is my favourite version of the song. :P

BTW, is that your own version of Hyperblast? Awesome. ^^

---

Also uploading pics of Underground temple.

Second batch of screenshots.

Oh no, this map is phone-unfriendly! Stuff that I dislike:
Holes in the floor
Catwalks
Spiral staircase instead of jump pad
Water (or maybe lava)

Well, it's better than maps converted from Quake 1, at least I did not see narrow corridors and sharp corners.

The map is okay if played on PC, my complaints are only about playing on mobile devices.

I know. I was trying to find out if that pack may have been the one giving problems to Adriano.

By the way, I suppose various people use it. Maybe also quick tests with it may be useful.

Forgot to mention: updated oa_akomdm3 in the D/L links and updated the info on Peter's map.

About the spiral staircase, there will be other connections via teleporters and jumppads.
About the water, it's just a small bit, there won't be any drowning. Think on the sewers in am_underworks2. Water is there so a powerful item could be placed there. I'm thinking RG or any powerup.

Then my onpy complaint is about the holes in the floor, they are to small to jump there from the first attempt, but easy to fall when you don't want that. Anyway, I should play the map to tell you exactly, maybe they are okay.

Okay, I've done three tests with oa_akomdm1, 2 and 3 with bots.
Very nice! I like them!  :)

In map 1 (crypt), there is a hole (too small to jump in it) under the quad, that you can use to shoot at who is taking the rocket launcher below (or vice versa, you can try shooting to a quad-camper above you). What about a grenade launcher (a proximity mines launcher would be too much, you say?) in the area (somewhere around that room, or in the near rooms), so one may have fun throwing grenades in the hole? Just an idea...

A thing I would suggest about the map 2 (the space one)... to have more action appening on the lower floor, I would make it possible to also reach the other platforms on the lower floor after you get the quad (and not the opposite)... PS: if possible, using accelerator pads, not teleports.

About the map 3 (the Egyptian one), I'm not sure if the current three bots (from skirmish menu) is the best number, or maybe one more of them may be good. What do you think about it? I don't know.

PS: I would like to see some of them available for Team Deathmatch mode. I don't know (or remember?) why, but only few OA default maps are listed for TDM (similar thing also in Q3, IIRC).

I'll modify the mapWith your suggestion  :D

@Gig: Answer me about the Title of the oa_akomdm4 question, just say yes or no  :P


The grenade launcher is also present in the near room in the lower floor :P


To do this i have to modify the gameplay, because i have made the lower floors to pick the rocket launcher and go in to the massacre on the upper floor !!  ;D ;D


If you click on the other bots options you will have more bots, no problem  ;D

---

About oa_akomdm4  ;D
I think i need some Space Textures, anyone can help me to find GPL'd space textures ?

;)

What kind of specific textures you need? I might be able to pull something.

Some textures that remind Hyperblast original map of UT, or just (free) Space Textures.

Question: in this map i will cut off the gravity from 800/600 (default) to 200, but i'm not sure it's a god idea for gameplay...... i try to give you an "alpha" version asap to let you try yourself....

;)

Photos made by Hubble telescope (http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/) are public domain (http://hubblesite.org/about_us/copyright.php), so you may use them in GPL-ed work. I don't know though if they are okay as textures.

Ehm, sorry but i mean textures for the Spaceship  :P :P ;D

For the "moving" space i'm good  ;)

What about my "low-gravity/playability" dubt ?

;)

About the name: a name as "Gig's nightmare" would fit if I would really find the finished map hard: I cannot tell before trying it. Anyway, I think something more explaining the map itself would be better.
Some tips: "Warp Space", "Galaxy Trek", "Space Transport", "2013 Space Odissey", "3013 Space Odissey", "Lightspeed Blood", "Lightspeed trip".

About gravity: maybe, when you will post the first beta, you may do two or three versions, with different gravity, so we may try what would better fit.
Unluckily, I fear in id tech 3 we cannot have zones with different gravities like Unreal Tournament did, so we are forced to do one for everything.

PS: someone already had your idea...
http://lvlworld.com/review/id:1952 Hyperblast-Q3 :P
From its readme file: Does anyone ever tried this PainKeep Arena Mod? I don't know it. I've found this download link...
http://download.cnet.com/Quake-III-Arena-Painkeep-Arena-3-0-Full-Install/3000-7441_4-10282443.html
(note: if you use the "direct download" instead of their download tool, it looks like quite slow.. probably in the other links I posted below could be some faster mirrors).
Anyway, one should also find the "-pka" version of the map, to have the double gravity. --> FOUND: http://www.reocities.com/area51/nova/2704/hyperblastq3.html
A such support may be very interesting for OpenArena, it would allow great space maps.

Searching for more infos about PainKeep Arena...
http://www.moddb.com/mods/painkeep-arena
http://www.quakewiki.net/archives/teamevolve/products/index.html
http://www.fileplanet.com/75142/0/0/0/1/section/Mod_Files
http://www.fileplanet.com/181316/180000/fileinfo/PainKeep-Arena-3.0n-Source-Code <<-- PKA Source Code! Unluckily, it's NOT GPL. So we cannot directly copy-paste from it into OA source code. But anyway it can suggest a way to create the dual gravity support. I know this has nothing to do with the Mappack project, but I think it's interesting.
http://web.archive.org/web/20081010181305/http://teamevolve.planetquake.gamespy.com/products/pka/pkahelp/ (PKA Help; move mouse on the left side if you don't see the menu)

PS: http://www.painkeep.net seems to be still the MOD's official homepage. But Avira Antivir says it finds "JS/Redirector.HI.69" while surfing it. Do you think it may be a false positive? Or may them have been hacked?

I thought Q3A already had a gravity value for worldspawn inherited from Q2?

Uh? Isn't that the option used normally to have a map use a gravity different than the default (800)? AFAIK, that affects the entire map... Do you want to say that there is a way to use it to create different zones with different gravity ("classic" example: normal gravity inside a space ship or space base, low gravity outside), like Unreal Tournament had? That would be great, but I fear it's not in VanillaQ3...

Thanks for suggestions Gig  :D

I think that double gravity feature can be ok in OA  ;D ;D

For the map name i think it is cool this:"3013 Xan's Space"
;)

What Lei says is that the value for g_gravity (800) is inherited from Quake II.

It can be possible to give the entire map a set gravity, but not parts of it. And I'm afraid asking for support to that enters into NOTTODO territory.

Maybe, but I'm not sure. Domination and Double Domination were not part of Q3 or TA, but we have them. Same thing with some DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Special_game_options]special game options (http://([b) as "award pushing" (that is even enabled by default!), "vampire mode", "instantgib", "all rockets"...

OpenArena also did fix some of the original game limitations (e.g. by inventing "accurate" physics), and this may become one of them, IMHO (I repeat, it's just my opinion, I don't want to "force" anything/anyone).
Anyway, I can guess it may be somehow border-line for NOTTODO territory, so I would like to know the opinion of Fromhell about that.

(PS: However, I think it's probable it will never be realized anyway due to the effort it would require... but dreaming does not cost anything!  :) Who knows, maybe it's not so difficult do to as one might think... )

Hello OA people  ;D

I'm changing the map structure, but something similar at Xan map in UT because a don't want make a clone map.

Maybe in this week-end i'll give you an alpha version to try.

;)

Nice one!

I'll also have these days something to show, possibly for 2/2 or 3/2.

As for the stars zipping by i'd suggest a skyroom to be implemented. Q3Map2 can do this. A scrolling shader and a curve cylinder can do the job

Eh eh, i have tryed this way but, in the compiling process, the editor give me an error.....XD....

;)

Ok guys, here is the first Beta-Version only for you to test gravity/playability:
Now the gravity is half of normal.

Download Link:

This version have many bugs and issues, i know...... :P ....it's just for testing.
Give me your suggestions.

;)

a) I don't like that the skybox is like a hexahedron (cube), because it looks strange that in front/back of the spaceship is just a black rectangle black hole. If possible, try a similar skybox (red color):
(http://imageshack.us/a/img812/5958/shot0029m.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/shot0029m.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

b) Hmm a bit more aerodynamic wouldn't be bad for such a spaceship :D
(http://imageshack.us/a/img138/8758/shot0036g.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/138/shot0036g.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

c) Maybe make a boarder there?
(http://imageshack.us/a/img651/5301/shot0030t.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/shot0030t.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

@Adriano: The skybox way you suggest gives me an error if i use patch meshes, i'll try with an octagonal skybox for the next release.

You don't need borders for the window, to fall down you must jump, if you walk normally you never pass.

By the way, my dubts was with gravity/playability, any comment ?

;)

Updated Version !  ;D

I have worked to fix skybox issue but i've failed, then i have created a visual trick to avoid that issue.
Hope this is good for you all, tell me what do you think about.

Here is the Download Link for updated version:

Please, give me your opinion about gravity/playability.

;)

Uploaded to the test server.

Hi Akom! I've tried the second version of oa_akomdm4 (sorry I didn't test the first version).
Nice!  :) I like those graphic effects of the stars and the trusters! Where did you find them?

It's a nice 1vs1 map, I suppose it may be called oa_akomtourney1 (how many characters are allowed for map names?)...

I suppose it may be nice a way to reach the upper part of the ship (external) without the need to rocket jump, and to place some kind of item there.

I have to go now, bye!

Hello Gig.

The stars effect it's possible by apposite script and the selfmade texture :P
The thrusters are original flame of Q3A/OA.

In the .arena file i have put 4 bot's name, but in the skirmish menu' you can change this to increase the number.

Actually you can go upstair without a rocketjump, i'm not sure what you mean.... ???

About low gravity/playability ? No one tell me ?  :P

 ;)

@Akom74

I've tried it using cpma physics and i can get around well enough. I think its fun to have those 'dare' jumps in it, which are a bit hard to predict because i'm not used to this gravity yet.

It does feel like i have to 'come down and land' from low gravity circle strafe jumping in order to pick up any items, but that could be a plus.

@Gig
Yes you can, the windows next to the top portal, if you time your jump right, you could land one of the side hulls.

You should make the streaking stars a darker color, right now it's adding too much visual noise

Quite dangerous, and without great reasons to do it (except a camping spot). I would suggest some other way to get there, and to place some item there.

About playability, that gravity seems good enough to me. The bot has a little habit of falling in the void, but sometimes I do the same...  :)

Also scritps are copyrighted...

Actually there are 5 bots... anyway I tested it and it is funny also with so many bots for a such small map (although it's a little chaotic in that way). :) But at the match beginning, some telefrag happened.... I suppose you really should add some more spawn points. It may better fit with 4 bots... however, it may easily be named as a "Tourney" map.

I mean reaching the top... on the roof of the front part of the ship.

PS, talking IN GENERAL (not just about this specific map):
If you use q3radiant for your maps, I suppose it's difficult to place OA-specific items for OA special gametypes (see (DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Mapping_information_for_special_gametypes), but anyway there are some of them that you can add support for very easily: Elimination and LMS do not require special objects. CTF Elimination and Double Domination just require red and blue flags (with the "gametype/ctf" key if you don't want them shown in other gametypes)... for Double Domination, maps don't need to be balanced... just the flags (becoming A and B points) have do not be next to players' spawn points (OA added specific "dd" spawn points for this... but I suppose if no specifc "dd" spawn points are found, the game uses standard spawn points intestead).

- gravity and skybox are well done
- Maybe I wouldn't place 1x5hp on each (let's say) 5meters, but better for example a little pack 3x5hp each 15meters(=jump distance) e.g., because it is a bit annoying walking all the corridor without jumping.  ;D
(http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/5365/shot0129m.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/841/shot0129m.jpg/)

- The outside textures of the spaceship could be choosen better I think. For a spaceship I have something in mind with a grey simple texture, something like that: http://svenniemannie.deviantart.com/art/Spaceship-Texture-91959740 or just take a look on Google pictures
- The indoor structure is ok, the oval windows looks futuristic and that's good...it would be nice to see the indoor like that: http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/sci-fi-spaceship-corridor-3d-max/691516 but that's kinda too hard to make^^ so you can leave it like that
- but I would change the texture around the oval window

Akom, I just realized you maybe misunderstood a phrase of mine. When I asked how many characters are allowed I was talking about MAP NAME LENGHT. I think oa_akomtourney1 may be the right name, if it is allowed.

Ehm.... i have made it myself with a .txt file renamed to .shader and with my command line added into to give the appropriate effect, who is the copyright owner ???


There are only two spanpoint, it's a beta version  :P . Of course i will place more spawnpoint in the future release  ;D

For the gametype entity it's not a problem, my maps are FFA and TOURNEY.

For map name lenght i think it's good about 15 letters, but i'm not sure...

---

@fromhell: No problem, i think blue gradient will be better  :)

---

@Adriano: i will modify the map with some of your suggestons.....
..... you give me a "plastic" idea...  :P  ;D ;D

---

@Neon_Knight: Can't wait to try your map !!  ;D ;D

Reading that, it looks like you are the only copyright holder, so you can release it with any license you want... in this case, GPLv2. That effect is great, IMHO... when you reach a final version of it, I think you may subit it into the SVN commits thread (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=1945.0), to make it official part of future OpenArena releases. I suppose you may even post more versions of it, with stars of different colors (white/gray/blue)?


I thing I would tweak, instead, is the teleporter texture. Attached here, you can find the pk3s with two ideas about how to try to change it a bit (just temporarily place -one at time- into your baseoa folder and go to the teleporter in oa_akomdm4). They are derived from your image and are GPLv2, too... you can even use them directly if you wish.
I also attach a comparison jpg for who is too lazy to actually test them.  :)

Jangroothuijse is joining the crew!

This is a very good news !!  ;D ;D

@Gig: no problem with my new scripts and textures, in the final pack all will be released under GPLv2 as the mappack itself, right ?

;)

Yes, but I don't know where Fromhell is planning to store the map pack in the official OA SVN repository. I can guess it will be stored in a separate folder than the main game, and -for players- it will be available as an extra download package also in future OA versions (I don't know if some of these "addon" maps may be moved to "stock" maps in future, or not).
Example: for the next OA major release (probably called DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/OA3]OA3 (http://([b)), Fromhell already stated that all "tribute" maps (at least the "tributes" to id Software games or to the Quake series... e.g. the conversions from Q1 maps) will be moved to a distinct "tribute maps package" download, while the main package will contain "OA original" maps only.

Your hyperspace effect is so good, in my opinion, that should be included also in some "stock" OA3 map... and should be included in the main OA package, so in the future (after OA3 release, so some years in the future) anyone will be able to create an OA3 map using that effect without the need to include a copy if it in the pk3 of each map.
In other words, I would suggest to do not tie this shader to the Community Package only, but to the whole OA... and it is the author of something that has to post it to the SVN commits thread.

PS: What do you think about the teleporter?

My contribution will likely be at least this map:

http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgdm1beta2.pk3 (http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgdm1beta2.pk3)

I'm also working on another map, but its far from finished..

Yeah, many of us won't reach the first deadline, which brings us to the next question... what about delaying the dates for a week? For example, the first beta was going to be released on February 15th. while the new date is February 22th, and so on.

About this version, I like it, but:
- Skybox is nice. Just wondering if it is possible to create it with an higher resolution (I suppose that may require to set a different "scale" to compensate), to make it less "pixelled" when looking at the sun using the zoom (see screenshot)? Not a real issue anyway.
- It looks like, in the outer corridors, the actual teleporter (invisible) entities are placed in the middle of the corridor, instead of next to the outer door. Is there a reason for that?
- I noticed a couple of places (see screenshots) where some little white dots appear along an edge... Some other OA maps have similar small glitches (e.g. a dorrway arch in the strange house map)... I don't know if there is a way to avoid them.

Maybe effects, textures and other stuff will be placed in a patch, for compatibility.

Don't know about the teleporter texture, maybe i will change it with another better.
Your textures are too much full of points.

---

About oa_akomdm4, i'm working to retexture it.....  ;D
;)

... they are supposed to resemble a sky with stars, or some sort of  "white noise"...
Anyway thery are just examples... :)

Thanks for the feedback

Yes i noticed that too, i think the GIMP just did a horrible job on the effect, i shall try to recreate the effect at a higher resolution and then scale back to normal, or tweak the effect.

If you mean the to interconnected teleporters (in the 'tunnels') it has 2 reasons:

• I wanted to create a 'end of tunnel' ilusion, where you see a white light at the end of the tunnel that after teleporting corresponds with the exit
  
• To minimize telefragging

Else can you elaborate a bit more?


I've looked at with OA and ioquake3, and i can confirm the existence of these things...
Yes, those seam to be seams, so it seems you are seeing the skybox. Which should be geometrically impossible, because or floor part have a depth, and even if there is a tiny crack between things, one should see the sides of the floor parts and not the skybox.

It gets even worse, the middle picture the brown ground brush actually extends to under the black pillar....so...well...i'm a bit clueless as to how to fix this, aside from turning on AA ofc...

You are right.
Good idea to shift the dead line!

I hope to see other work before the deadline.....
We have to betatest it or not ? :P

;)

And I would like oa_akomdm3 officially released :D anyway, shifting the deadline is a good idea, otherwise Akom74 will get all the glory :P

Muahahaha !!!  ;D ;D ....just kidding.... :P

By the way, even jangroothuijse, Moixie, Peter Silie and Neon_Knight have some jobs "work in progress" and i think that in the beta will have about 10 maps, am i wrong ?  ???

;)

I also vote for moving the deadline.

BTW, my map (oajgdm1) is called "The other side".

Update !

;)

Wow!

Strong start trek vibe, looks very good!

For the next 5 days, I won't be able to go on the computer because of working. The next next week I'll also have much work and I won't be able to work on maps. The next next next week, I'll have to do what I couldn't do the 3 previous weeks but I'll have much more time. I already accumulate lateness and I fear I won't be able to do what I planned to do when I accepted the project.

To sum up, if the deadline was shifted it would really help me.

By request, every deadline has been shifted by a week. This means: more time to do what we have planned.

Also added jan's map to the list.

Update !

1) Modified some structure brush.
2) Added music
3) Added spawnpoint for weapons
4) Added 2 shotgun

Download Link:

EDIT: Theorically all textures are original of OA-0.8.8, except for mine.

 ;)

Updated, testing in a moment.

Ok, i'm waiting gamers for response.  ;D ;D
(...and i'm working on the oa_akomdm5... :P... )

 ;)

oa_akomdm4
It's so easy to fall and die there :( especially with clumsy mobile controls. But it's a feature of this map. I don't really care if the gravity inside the ship is low - I'm not doing lot of jumps there, also the ceiling is not very high, so it bumps your down. The gameplay seems to be okay, and the stars effect is very cool.
Minor cosmetic changes could be made:
1. The pad with battle suit at the center is disconnected from the ship, and just floating in the air. I would make it something like a very small ship (escape boat?), or attach to a ship with something like chains hanging from the upper part of ship (however medieval chains inside futuristic space ship look little weird). Maybe with tubes or some kind of force beams.
2. The teleporter image looks like stars, so I though at first it's another window leading me to instant death. Some other texture would be nice, or maybe make it pulsating, so it more looks like teleporter.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-02-09-18-06-42_zps259aa32d.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-02-09-18-06-42_zps259aa32d.png.html)

oajgdm1
The map looks awesome, and plays very fine with cellphone, because it's big and open, there should be more maps like that in OA. I think I'll put it on my dedicated server along with oa_akomdm3 when the mappack will be released. Now, the things I would like to change:
1. Megahealth - it's only on one half of the map, and just lying on the ground, too easy to grab. Either make another megahealth at the similar spot on other half of the map, or put it at the map center instead of rocket (or near the rocket), or maybe put it in some spot not so easy to reach, for example here:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-49-05_zps50a5193f.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-49-05_zps50a5193f.png.html)
2. These two parts make me anxious, because I cannot jump there. Either make it reachable, or remove the slope, so that you understand from a single glance that you cannot jump up there:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-44-32_zps4747ccce.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-44-32_zps4747ccce.png.html) (http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-40-01_zps019bbba5.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-40-01_zps019bbba5.png.html)
3. I would replace those Tron-style textures with something more Aztec/Inca/Maya:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-53-07_zpsd16f822b.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-53-07_zpsd16f822b.png.html)
The pillars and all the black textures should be obsidian Aztec, and the wall to the right that splits the level should be dark stone Aztec:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-47-52_zps92186a39.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-47-52_zps92186a39.png.html)
But don't change this texture, I would like tiles of this color in my bathroom :)
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-52-01_zps0980feb5.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-02-09-17-52-01_zps0980feb5.png.html)

I would like something like this (I don't know the license of these images! probably not GPL, I've just googled for "aztec architecture"):
photo (http://www.about-peru-history.com/image-files/inca_architecture02.jpg)
photo (http://www.jqjacobs.net/southwest/images/aztec_green_sandstone.jpg)
photo (https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/span131/images/PreColombianCivilizations/bimages/AztecArch.jpg)
photo (http://www.ontheroadin.com/miscellasneouspictures/Chocs%20Wall%20kabah.jpg)
photo (http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jtur1oPLD7c/T_jGMO46P1I/AAAAAAAAXxw/0jM4Llpd-gw/Aztec%252520Ruins%2525209-15-2007%2525203-08-13%252520PM.jpg)
photo (http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/96685/aztec1.jpg)
photo (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2615501100_b167d5337b.jpg)
photo (http://www.traveladdicts.connectfree.co.uk/Peru/images/Sacsayhuaman_Inca_wall.jpg)
photo (http://www.ianskipworth.com/photo/pcd1626/inca_wall_c_02_4.jpg)
photo (http://robyjen.com/images/southamerica/peru/incawall.jpg)
photo (http://www.rutahsa.com/wall-pi.jpg)
photo (http://www.travelwhimsy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Chinchero-Inca-Wall.jpg)
photo (http://fs5k.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/cusco-17.jpg)
photo (http://i.images.cdn.fotopedia.com/anboto-kJkqKXG-l2E-original/World_Heritage_Sites/America/South_America/Peru/City_of_Cuzco/Inca_wall._Cusco_Peru.jpg)
photo (http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/wisedragon/wisedragon1010/wisedragon101000032/7957543-a-maya-wall.jpg)
photo (http://static2.bigstockphoto.com/thumbs/5/9/1/large2/19502495.jpg)

Akom, I like the ability to go to the roof of the new version of the map.  :)
A thing I would suggest, if possible, is to place some kind of windshield (windscreen) texture on the eternal front of the ship. Players cannot enter the command cockpit, but anyway I suppose the existence of a command cockpit should be hinted.

For the battle suit pad, probably Pelya is right... who knows, maybe you may give it some enegy fields that would connect it to the ship, or its own small trusters...

Map Modified !!

@GiG: Here is the cockpit !!  ;D (with MY glass-texture and script)

@pelya: Now the Battlesuit plat is "bobbing" on two tubes  :P

@pelya: New teleporters texture and script, watch it and tell me.

I have moved the plasmagun from the one floor to the upper one, for playability improvement.

Download Link:

 ;)

Hi Akom! Nice work!

1) The pilots' room is nice.  :) I suppose it would be even better if you could place there a few more details, e.g. a door behind them and some kinds of controls (cloches/joysticks, or keyboards, or monitors...) in front of them. Maybe the seats may be a little "higher" at the cushions level...

2) The moving "Akom's platform" is nice, although now it is not necessary anymore to actually jump to reach the battle suit...

3) What about adding two more trust flames on the rear of the ship, next to the lateral edges (or mid-way towards them)?

4) I'm still not completely sure about the teleport, but now it's surely better than before.  :)

5) Maybe the two lateral aerodynamic sections of the front part of ship may have some more details and/or be more sharp-pointed in the lower part.

6) Maybe all the lower part of the ship should show some more details... considering you see it often enough while falling in the void, seeing a completely flat base isn't too nice.

7) Maybe you may add few small external windows along the lower "squared-ring" corridors. Just an idea.

P.S. Is it voluntary that the two ramps to reach the roof of the ship use different textures?

Thanks  ;D



I have added one more cable in the middle because BOTs fall down too much :P :P


I've added them at the bottom of the ship :P


Thanks, I think it's very better now, but i'm waiting for pelya response about it :P


For example ? I'm not sure of that, give me a screenshot and i will modify.


No problem, let me do something......stay tuned.... :P ...


I'm not understending this, give me a screenshot of what part you want to modify.


No, it's an error, solved now  ;D

Yes!  :) Maybe analog indicators on a futuristic spaceship may seem somehow obsolsete... but who cares! It's good!

Look good. Thank you. :)

Okay, see the first screenshot attached: making the part "thinner" in height, possibly making also laterally (internal and external?) the detail you applied to the top part of it. You may even place some sort of "spike" in front, if you like. This may apply also to the central section (in front of the cockpit), if you wish.

It's better now. :)
Maybe you may even place a few lights there (and even laterally).

Take a look to the second image. However, I don't know if that would result very good, because, looking at the map again, I noticed the wall there is much more thick than I thought. However, if you wanna make a try anyway (keeping a backup of the map before doing that)...

PS: What about using the "new" OA logo for the moving platform? I mean, the thick one instead of the thin one? With a quick search, I've found \textures\cosmo_sfx\decal2.jpg in pak6-patch088.pk3, but there are probably more files including it around.

PPS: Found a small graphic glitch... spectate at the rear of the ship (from the rear), looking at the edges of the parapet. Do you see it? It affects both parts.

I've tested the updated oa_akomdm4.

The teleport is okay now.

The pilot cabin looks awesome, too bad you won't really see it in game (unless you fall).
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-02-13-16-35-48_zpsd53ca14d.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-02-13-16-35-48_zpsd53ca14d.png.html)
So I propose to make the whole cockpit covered with glass, not just front window. Make some windows at the sides and at the back, make a glass roof.
big helicopter photo (http://media.canada.com/c63f4d11-2ede-448b-9b72-1ba6a7817ecc/Helicopter.jpg)

You could put some powerup here, at the engine nose, so players will have more chances to see your awesome pilot cabin from the side window:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_Screenshot_2013-02-13-16-36-37_zps47df763c.png) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/Screenshot_2013-02-13-16-36-37_zps47df763c.png.html)

I like moving platform, it has one small bug - the battle suit powerup is not moving along with the platform, it hangs in the air. I suppose it's impossible to do anyway with OA map engine.

I have another idea about that platform, but I'm not sure if my idea is really better, so you can leave the platform as-is:
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/_pelya/OpenArena/th_c12522db-b4fc-443b-a13b-c32bd9267c28_zps02341fcd.jpg) (http://s256.beta.photobucket.com/user/_pelya/media/OpenArena/c12522db-b4fc-443b-a13b-c32bd9267c28_zps02341fcd.jpg.html)
The rails are moved to the top, and there are two consoles sliding them, and the platform is hanging on the ropes from these consoles. Like this:
random crane photo (http://www.uralstroyportal.ru/UserFiles/gantry%20crane.jpg)
another random photo (http://www.kranostroitel.ru/Image/KKK_Exp1.gif)
That platform is used to lift heavy crates or passengers into the ship when it's landed.
Also, since it's hanging on ropes, it would not only move forward and back, as consoles move, but also swing in random directions, and be unstable and scary to jump onto, like this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7GvGqJquCU#t=7s).

Ok, i will take care of your suggestinos and see what i can do.

.....stay tuned....  :P

@Pelya: please, reduce the size of your photos  :P :D

@Neon_Knight: Read the message i have send to you please.  ;D

 ;)

@Pelya:

I've been working on my other map, but while you checkout that one i will tackle your suggestions:
* Mega health: its just on the ground, so that people would have to come down (and in the open) to get it, it does make it less balanced and i like the idea of 2 megahealths, so i'll try that!
* The slopes should definitly go up up there, i allways play in a physics with rampjumps, so i did not notice it would be unreachable.
* I'll look into the maya, aztec, inca textures.


The next map i would like to contribute, called 'Aimless fury', is ready for alpha testing, i will test the gameplay tonight. It is an alpha and still on the todo list are: Aligning textures, making clusterportals, lighting up the underground section so that you can see enemies a bit clearer.

http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgdm2alpha.pk3 (http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgdm2alpha.pk3)
(http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/shot0552.jpg)
(http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/shot0553.jpg)
(http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/shot0554.jpg)

Try not to use flared shaders in patches. They slow down a lot the FPS in maps. I've learnt that the hard way in some maps.

@jangroothuijse: Nice job ! Work better on height of the floors, player dont have to hurt himself by jumping down if possible, i think....

About my map, i'm rebuilding and compiling it and soon i give you the new download link.

Dont care about much decorative stuff, for me it's ok now  ;D

 ;)

I've just linked random photos found by Google, sorry about that.
Let's just spam this thread instead, so it will continue on another page, and you won't need to load that page with big photos anymore ;D
We need only 5 more posts.

Added oajgm2 to the Wiki, and updated oa_akomdm4, so every map of the pack should be updated at this point.

Tomorrow starts the first deadline, and I haven't even finished the maps I was working on. -.- Dammit!

Final Version !!  ;D

Download Link:

 ;)

Wouldn't call it like that so far. The outside of the ship could use some more than just geometric contrasts (like textural or even lighting) as I only look at the screenshot.

Updated oa_akomdm4.

I'm starting to pack the files for the first beta, hopefully I have at least one map from each author.

So far:
* Jan, .map files for your maps, where they are? They're required for GPLv2 compliance. Also the sources, are they the same as in the other thread?

oajgdm2alpha health and safety note:

One of the teleporters-exits or spawnpoints has slightly off-camber orientation, causing your viewport to go slightly off camber...

If anyone finds out which one, pls do tell...

oajgdm2alpha: the map overall is okay, maybe a bit too detailed - it's sometimes confusing to tell where you are, and how to reach that powerup you see on the other side.
Teleporter look just like a wall. It should have some animated texture.
The one armor powerup is easily accessible with jump pad and teleporter - I would remove teleporter, and put jumppad  at different angle, so it's clear you're not jumping straight up. Another armor powerup at the top is accessible only with rocket-jump, or some heavy acrobatics with nearby jumppad, I would make it more easy to access.
BTW I did not notice any FPS drop, probably because Android OA port does not support shaders.

oa_akomdm4: well it's almost perfect. Three rails for a moving platform make it too easy to access, I would leave two, or maybe just one rail. Anyway, if you say it's finished, then it's finished :) it's already quite good.

I meant that's finished for the beta-release. For the official pack maybe some changes will be done. I mean even the other maps.

;)

Hi Akom!
Congrats for the cockpit, it's great.  ;D
I agree with Pelya saying people should have some reason to see the cabin. He proposed to place some item over the top of the lateral sections, but you see very little of the cabin from there. I suggest, instead, to place a powerup just on the top of the nose of the ship, right in front of the cabin. A quad damage may be too much, considering it's near to the rocket launcher: maybe one may move the rocket lucher or (maybe better) place a megahealth or a "haste" (speed) on the nose. I would suggest the haste.  :)

I would also suggest to add a "stripe" of a different color in the front part of the ship... its colors look like too "flat" now.

You may also consider adding some thin wings, laterally.

See first screenshot for these three things.

Hey, you didn't fix the glitch I mentioned in the previous post (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg46153#msg46153)... :) See the second screenshot.

A thing I would ask to all people here is if they prefer the current blue-violet stars or the white ones of the first versions of the map. I'm not sure...

@jangroothuijse: nice map, maybe a bit cahotic, but nice. Teleporters should however be more easy so identify.

What's the meaning of making a beta of the whole package so early, if we have not yet seen anything from Neon knight?  ???

PS: to all mappers... why don't you add Double Domination support to your maps? I think it's possible also if you are using the classic q3radiant to map... (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg46055;topicseen#msg46055)

Neither Moixie nor Peter Silie also delivered their maps yet. That's why we've shifted the original deadlines.
I'll try to complete my maps as much as possible this week.

You are right, but i look at the playability first. By the way, i'm making some stripe as suggested by GiG  :P

@Gig: On the "nose" of the ship i've inserted the portable teleporter, it's more useful with a map where you can fall down  ;D
....and sorry, no wings  :P

@Pelya: I leave three rails in the moving platform, because it's dangerous like before but BOTs play better.

@Neon_Knight: I'm working on my fifth map called "The Sanctuary"........ It remember you something ?  :P

 ;)

Yes, I assume a personal teleporter may be a nice idea in this map.  :) For the wings, you are the artist, man. But anyway I hope you do not work for BOEING or NASA...   :D The ship already looks more aerodynamic than in the first versions, but the lack of any kind of wing still sounds a little strange, IMO.

I suppose the danger is that someone may shoot at you and cause you fall down, right? By the way, does the platform being moving have any purpose anymore? It's just a question.

Saint Seiya/Knights of the Zodiac maybe?

PS: Akom, did I already told you that at least oa_akomdm3 really should be listed for Elimination/Last Man Standing in the .arena file?

PPS: (Yes, I know I use too much post scriptums...) Considering oa_akomdm4 is supposed to be a futuristic spaceship, maybe you may use some more of the "metallic" textures used for example in WRACKDM17 map for some details of the ship, to have it seem made with less concrete and more metal (especially the outside)... Also some graphical details used in PUL1DUEL-OA map may fit well (take a look to that map, it's nice at look).

@Neon_Knight: I hope in your maps for support for Team Arena weapons, items, runes and gametypes (plus OA-specific gametypes).  ;)a

TA-gametypes can be supported by any CTF map.

At least the CTF map I'm doing will support TA items/weapons. In fact, considering the trend, it could even be the only map with TA support in the pack.

All three of them (Overload, Harvester, One flag CTF) absolutely require some items that are not included in the standard q3radiant (the obelisks, the skull generator, the white flag), IIRC. Is there a simple way to set it for TA? Akom (and jangroothuijse, IIRC) are mapping with q3radiant, not with GTKRadiant or NetRadiant.




About texture choice, maybe some mappers do not know this page:
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Texture_packs

Jep, i am very late but i had to survive carnival.
I hope to make some progress this week and for a 1st look, i will include my .map file so you can take a look.

Btw, Neon_Knight, when it's released, you have my word on making a news post topic and me moving it to the front page of the site.

You can likely add custom entities by placing entity that the editor known and then change the classname to the relevant entity. The editor will not show the model but you can still place the origin and for TA-items knowing the origin is the most important thing because it must be aligned with the ground.

Since all maps will be open-source, we can add those entities by ourselves, so let's not distract Akom's creativity with such boring little details. I have latest GTKRadiant installed, I've even launched it once and loaded some map, but it was too complicated for my little brains  ::) .

Yay!

@TheRest (?) you've heard of it, team! Let's work!

http://www.leveldk.co.uk

That's a very good place to start.

I hope also that the sources may be placed in the OA svn (in a dedicated branch), and the pk3 package placed in the downloads section of the main site (http://openarena.ws/download.php). Will it be so?
By the way, is it good the name "community mappack" or maybe something like "official mappack" would make it more likely to be installed by people?

@Akom:
You know my fool ideas...  ;D
Looking at that pilots cockpit, I was thinking it looks like something is missing... the pilot! So I thought about this (http://www.myflightblog.com/images/autopilot_1.jpg) ("Otto" (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/files/2011/10/otto.jpg)) or this (http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm5mvyt8uM1qdz8mio1_400.jpg) (do you remember (http://www.google.it/imgres?hl=it&sa=X&tbo=d&tbm=isch&tbnid=I0dqRJsC-9co1M:&imgrefurl=http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/ugly-cars.292641/&docid=fnH2_sILwkaJwM&imgurl=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/fffangirl/jc1.jpg&w=668&h=568&ei=mkAfUfXHCojOtAb5_oHQCQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:7,s:0,i:103&iact=rc&dur=3139&sig=105475948561077723762&page=1&tbnh=174&tbnw=218&start=0&ndsp=20&tx=115&ty=76&biw=1280&bih=872)?)... so I wondered if it may be possible to place a character from OpenArena inside the cockpit... I thought about the upper part of Skelebot to act as a built-in autopilot.  :)
Maybe that's too much, and you could simply place a screen showing the word "AUTO" in the middle of the dashboard, instead.^[1] What do you think about this?  :)

PS:
Any comment?


^[1]And I have not Idea if Skelebot will be there and will be exactly the same in OA3... some changes in the model may bring to texture problems when later loading this version of the model (fused into the map itself) under the future OA3, unless one includes a copy of its current textures in the mappack itself, to be sure. Probably just using a display with "AUTO" is simpler.

Blue stars are okay for me, I would even add some yellow stars, if possible. More stars never hurt :)

I'm working on "the Sanctuary", inspired by UT3 DM-Sanctuary..... :P....
....maybe soon i  give you some screenshots  ;)

For modify some aspects of my maps, please, in the release will be placed the original .map file, if you want you can change every thing you want, otherwise you can wait after the beta and hear what  other players think of the maps. Did you note that the original .map file already is in the PK3 released earlier ?

;)

Oh, pretty cool! Though I never played a lot that map, but I see where it's going.

Isn't that map supposed to have vehicles?

No, it's a Deathmatch map. AFAIK, Sanctuary has no vehicles. You might be confusing it for VCTF-Necropolis.

Vehicles in OA ?? ....  ;D ;D

Nevermind at the missing textures :P
I dont have a skybox to emulate the original map, but i have make one miself with textures of OA and my script.
I have to say that the slime texture sucks a lot, and i think to remove it, or make one miself ... :P...

 ;)

Ok, i have removed the slime because i think to create a couple of lower passage and make that floor playable.
I've changed some textures and go forward with the map.
Here is an update:

I think it's time to try other mappers creation, can we try them ?  :P :P ;D

;)

While vehicles may be fun to have, it's impractical because of the already fast moving player physics.  UT2004 tried to compensate that by making players appear very tiny in levels.
It might be practical if, the said vehicles were drivable boats, because players aren't quite as fast in a liquid, and boat wars are fun! Plus, boats are a bit easier to code since you could get away with a fixed altitude.

Don't know if brush-entity vehicles are possible in Q3BSP (with brush rotation and collision), however.  That would be better since it would leave the creativity up to the mapper, who could either design the boat by brush, or by assigning a model, and having weapons on it, like Shadow Warrior

Seem interesting, but i'd prefer a MD3 model  ;D

;)

UT2004 vehicles were good, useful and fun to play, however vehicles in Xonotic are not quite that good (yeah, I'm comparing high-budget commercial game with fan project here).
Vehicles are not only for fast moving around the map (that mosquito Manta vehicle or jeep are weaker than a rocket launcher, and can be blown-up easily).
The most useful vehicle was an artillery truck - slow, poorly armored, and with devastating firepower. Next to it was a tank - a slow-moving chunk of armor with 800 health and a cannon slightly weaker than a rocket launcher, used to protect said artillery truck.
Then, there were flying vehicles - it's an awesome idea, however they had awful controls in both UT2004 and Xonotic. I guess you need to create a Battlefield-style game for a good helicopter simulator.
Then, there are such things in Battlefield like mine launchers or turret-mounted chainguns, - essentially a stationary turret, which sometimes may be moved by player or two players, with lot of effort. I would prefer them in OA over vehicles.
Anyway, implementing vehicles or turrets requires huge effort, I guess everyone understands that, even if we'll borrow models and pieces of code from Xonotic. I can help you with coding (especially with "borrowing" part), but we need to get clear idea what we want to do first - it's better to have one properly implemented velobike or skateboard in OA than five crappy flying jumping tanks or helicopters, such as Centipede from Xonotic, or Manta from UT2004.

and then there's the player animation requirement. I'd have to make frames of sitting in various positions for everyone

You're right. I had some time today and I spent it all to mapping. I finally finished the 2 maps (which were already finished --') I promised to post in December. Here they are: Mx1dm5 (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4679.0;attach=4161) and Mx1ctf8_1 (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4679.0;attach=4160) (fixed)

(http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4679.0;attach=4156)

the space map (mx1dm5) is IMO "finished". I don't see how to improve it, it's playable and fun with bots (didn't test yet with real players, but it should be even better).

(http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4679.0;attach=4158)

The other (mx1ctf8_dm1, dunno how to describe it) isn't really finished:
* I have to add team indicators in each base.
* the map feels empty, it would need some ammos and other unuseful items.
* There are only 4 weapons: rocket, lightning, plasma and shotgun.
* ...
At least I'll be able to see if it's playable or not online, and how to improve it. the last version of it s***** c**** in d***** j**** of the g***.

I wish you good tests.

Yay! I'll upload them to the D/L hosting.

Now, this prompts me to finish what I'm doing.

Tested quickly :P

The arch need more details (my opinion)

As you see from the shot, the yellow circle indicate a very dark place, maybe it's my old monitor, i think that part need one light. The red circle indicate the bottom of the "door"..... i think it's better to place another texture, just an idea :P

Why don't you insert another light at the other side ?
It would be more lighted, no ? :P

Warning !

You forgot the .arena file for Mx1ctf8_1 and the .aas file as a different name  ???

By the way, you have done a very good job  ;D ;D ;D

Question: I need the skybox of Mx1dm5, where i can find it ?
(i know that's Annoice1 texture, but i can't find in OpenArena's .PK3, or maybe the relative script... :-[.... )
EDIT: Nevermind, i've found it in mc_oa.shader :P :P  ;D

;)

Hello !


Well, how to say that? When it's about writing scripts, I'm a big shit. I tried several ways but I never got what I wanted. So here is what I did: I opened the "mc-oa.shader" in the pak0 to see to the anoice script. I saved the folder before I modify anything. I modified the anoice1 script, I saved the modification and started to compile my map with the anoice1 texture (to be honest, I didn't understand anything. I tried 5 times before it works). Once compiled, I replaced the modified "mc-oa.shader" by the original one, the map didn't need the modified shader to work so you can't find it. Here is the modified file:



In the first version of the map, I used a door texture which came from the "13vast" map. However, the maps we do, have to be under GplV2, so I couldn't use the 13vast texture and I used the best Oa texture I could find. Then, if you know or have another one which better fits, I'm interested.


I will try to detail it more. I will add some light on the jumpad under the door too.


It's even worse, the .bsp isn't the right one. Well, you played to the wrong version of the map.
I'm going to fix that.

ps: The .pk3 problem is fixed ! Now you can play to the right version.

pps: I gave a look to the mx1dm5 (space-map) pk3, it seems like I can't succeed on my the first try, it also had a problem. If I understood well, a 13vast texture was used as the floor texture. This specific textures exists in the default Oa textures under another name, I replaced it. and I made another pak3. I replace the download link upper.

mx1ctf8_t1:
Maybe a little too much cahotic (I tend to die quite often, playing with level 4 bots), but nice small CTF map. Does the regeneration powerup spawn a little too frequently maybe?

mx1dm5:
Very small, but not bad. But it seems bots do not like to use the jump-pads, so very little action happens on the upper floor. Already tried to place item_botroam entities?

@Moixie: Unfortunately, our Big problem it's about textures  :P

I suggest to remove the rocket launcher near the flag, players start with a shotgun and near the flag they can find the lightning and the other rocket launcher is down the stairs near the flag.
I think you can add some plasmagun ammo, i have see no one.

Now the CTF one it's better than before, more "large"  ;D ;D

In both af this maps i have no hear any music.


There are too much items, and BOTs are attracted from them than other empty part of the map.

;)

Can't wait to see your job !!  ;D >:D ;D  :P

;)

Looks nice. Add more blue pillars of light, they look awesome.

New version of oajgdm2:
http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgdm2beta.pk3 (http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgdm2beta.pk3)

Streamlined the item placement and colors, should be less chaotic now.
Fixed some of the other issues, teleporters are not changed yet.

oajgdm2: it plays better now, items are distributed across the map more uniformly, and after some time playing it with bots, I don't feel so lost on how to get from point A to B.
I like that you can jump between almost all upper-level platforms without falling down.
I've seen you fixed diagonal jump pad, but the teleporters still look like a piece of black wall. They should have some different texture, or at least some neon lamps around them.

I did not test Moixie maps yet.

News...

For travelling reasons, I won't be able to release the first beta in February 22th. Should we delay the release date for February 23, or keep it in 22 with me uploading the beta in February 21?

My maps aren't still ready (hopefully at least one of them will be for the release date, I'll delay the other two for the next date), and Peter has to finish what he has (we have the .map file for a first peek, anyway).

Now it's really better !!  ;D ;D
The map is without music  :P

Very good job.

;)

February 23 is okay for me :) although map authors should have the word here.
It feels like we'll have another beta instead of the final release in two weeks, I don't have any objections for more polished release.

Exactly, there's going to be two betas before the final release. The dates are in the wiki page linked at the first post.

Have we to do one pack with our maps ? Or in the final release all maps will be filled in only one PK3 file, maybe even as an official patch file ?

The COPYING file i found in OA folder it's the one that you need in our PK3 ? Can we use it ?

Sorry for questions, but for the final release all have to be perfect :P  ;D

P.S.: I'm working to fix my maps with betatesters suggestions.

;)

EDIT: This community mappack have to be named like [CMP] (Community Map Pack) ?

Good name, it is a bit close to CPM though...
We should probably also use matching artwork in the levelshots...

All the maps will be placed into a single PK3 file. About the official patch, that's something fromhell has to decide. :P
Official or not, it will be released in the specified dates.

The beta releases will contain them. But with the assets + asset sources ATM it's OK.

No need to be sorry. All questions are welcome.

:thumbup:

It's OACMP, short for OpenArena Community MapPack. :P

There's a lot of CMPs for many games called "Community Map Pack" or "Community Bonus Pack". I've figured out we should start with a mappack before including other assets such as models/skins.

OK, main layout is finished now (except some minor glitches @ base floor in main hall to mirror the map for the 2nd base).
I hope to make a beta release on weekend, so we were just in time.

What you can expect
- a _real_ beta. Just the layout is done
- no lightning
- no items/weapons
- hopefully some working jumppads ;)

What to do next
- many detail work on brushes
- lightning
- item placement

Feel free to take a look inside the map file!

Well, take your time to work on it, and release it later. I'm coming out with two maps for the second beta as well.

Excuse me, I was curious to know how the guys here that use q3radiant to create OpenArena maps work with textures. Working with standard Q3 textures is a mess, because the final look may look somehow different than what you see in the editor, and sometimes brings to "missing" textures (due to the texture compatibility goal being not yet completed). And does not allow to use textures that may be part of OA but not of Q3A.
And what about md3 models? Considering we cannot use md3 items that come with q3radiant in these maps (that aim to be 100% GPL, and I suppose models from Q3 are not), did you manage to throw in OA md3s in some way, or do you simply avoid using md3 models at all, and do everything with radiant brush work?

How do you manage this, guys?

I use netradiant with the Q3A/TA package, so indeed the wrong textures.

I've solved this by putting the evil*.pk3 files in the right dir, and only occasionally browse OA's textures (which i have unzipped so i can search) to find more textures (which i then add one-at-a-time). But my texturing has been pretty simple so far.

I've used one original q3 md3 model (for a teleporter), which i replaced by some brushwork to make it work in OA.

No probs here.
I installed OA twice - one version just for the radiant (untained from other textures).
But i never had problems with textures or models, so i do not understand your question the way it could ment?!

[Edit]

I Did it.
Remember: no lightning, no detail brushes and so on.
I also have to modify the walls :(
I have to lower them for 32 Units.

All Files included - also the right license. But i missed a screenshot :D

Which radiant? q3radiant? gtkradiant? netradiant?

PS: about your map: nice, but check the jump pads... at least two of them do not work! And all of them have missing textures.
Also, there are little areas of wall instead of metallic outside the lower corners of the doorways.
And I found a glitch, maybe overlapping brushes (see screenshot).

Sorry, Gig.
I missed the point that u have asked for q3radiant.
I use gtk...

Thx for the quick look.
I hadnt included the textures, but if you have the god-pak, u should be able to fix it.
Scrpts are also needed or just wait some hours ;)

The 2 other probs will be fixed soon :)

[Edit]
I fixed all 3 issues, but i think that the map is toooo large.
So i will make a smaller redo from scratch.

@Peter
I don't have the GOD-pack, and I don't know its license, anyway remember that OACMP will have to work on "clean" OpenArena 0.8.8 installation, and everything in it has to be fully GPLv2 ((DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/OpenArena_Community_Mappack).
You may even release two versions of the map with different sizes, to fit different tastes... but maybe that would be too much!  :D


@All
Excuse me, can you tell me what's the correct (or best) way to align a circular "pillar" to the ground?
Take a look to the attached screenshot. I created some "colums" by creating a standard brush first, then I used "curve"->"cylinder" to make it circular, and then I used "curve" ->"cap"->"normal" to "close" it. But now, what's the correct way to align it to the ground? Removing the lower cap? Aligning the cylinder to the ground, "burying" a little the cap in the ground? Aligning the cap to the ground? I suppose it's the third, but I prefer to ask you.

Well, I'm tring to use my little q3radiant knowledge to make a map... if you would like it, it may be included in the pack. But it's still at an alpha stage... I can't yet say if the final result will be okay or not...  :)
It's not the "test1" map I mentioned in a previous post (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg45841#msg45841), it's a new one.

Well... travel was frustrated (-.-) and I didn't got to finish my map in time, so first beta will be packed with 8 maps.

If you don't mind or don't have another update of your maps, I'll upload it now, so tomorrow it can be available.

Gig, as long as the cylinder is side by side to the ground it is ok.
Do not move the cylinder inside the floor.

And for the licence: all my work is released under gpl2 or later - including textures, scripts and so on.
I already commited some maps to the svn thread, so the GoD-Pak is GPLed for sure :)

Wait !!! I have to give you the updated version of oa_akomdm4 and a beta of oa_akomdm5

Can you wait ? If not, no problem, the other maps and the updates will be released in the final version  :P ;D

 ;)

EDIT: in the attachment you will find the latest versione of os_akomdm4 (the PK3 is in the zip file)

Jan has also to give me a third map of his, a CTF map, so they'll enter as well.

Akom, change the font of the files textures/akom74/gig's_nightmare_x.tga and textures/akom74/fragbastard.tga. They use a non-GPL font which is in turn based on a font with copyrighted characters.

For suggestions of GPL'd fonts, I'm doing some research on that. Perhaps a good site to start might be fonts2u.com?
[fromhell alert]

I would love to improve this, but for now here it goes:

http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgctf1alpha.pk3 (http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgctf1alpha.pk3)

Known issues: spawnpoints at the start of the game, has no levelshot...

If the .map is there, I can take care of it. (That's why this is a GPLv2 pack)

Anyone else to submit stuff before 00:00 (GMT -03:00 [Buenos Aires, Georgetown])?

OK, starting the packaging.

8:00 AM (GMT -03:00 [Buenos Aires, Georgetown]) the beta will be posted.

Beta with 9 maps: (http://www.onykage.com/files/armageddonman/!oacmp/z_oacmp_beta1.pk3) (Pack should weigh 39 MB or 39.991 KB)
- oa_akomdm1, by Akom74
- oa_akomdm2, by Akom74
- oa_akomdm3, by Akom74
- oa_akomdm4, by Akom74
- mx1ctf8_t1, by Moixie
- mx1dm5, by Moixie
- oajgctf1, by jangroothuijse
- oajgdm1, by jangroothuijse
- oajgdm2, by jangroothuijse

9 maps by 3 authors, with at least five more maps (four of them from other two authors) for the following beta. For the first volume, this is pretty cool!

So far, the only things are the following:
- Akom, read this post: http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg46280#msg46280. I'll skip this for this beta, but not for the next or the final package.
- Jan, I took care of the problems you've mentioned in your CTF map, I've also added support for the other CTF-based modes (One Flag CTF, Harvester, Overload) as well. Moixie, I've also added this kind of support for your CTF map as well. Hope both of you don't mind.

Thanks, looks very good. During my test runs i did not notice any big errors or missing stuff, so thats good!

@Testers, this pack includes a slightly newer version of oajgdm1 than i've posted in this thread (small layout and textures changes).

Perhaps a link to the mappack file could be on the wiki page?

I've added it to the first post. Betas are going to be limited to the thread. Otherwise servers might serve beta versions once the final version has been released.

Good news from my side: i already finished the new flag room of the smaller version.
I hope to be in time for the next beta!

Done ! I've changed both with "arial" font  ;D

@Moixie: In your CTF map you have placed the flag pole in the wrong way :P :P

;)

That's my fault actually. -.- I've added support for 1FCTF/Harvester/Overload to that map and jan's map, and those bases come from the required models for those modes.

....XD.... Oops !  ;D

BTW, what about one of these fonts instead of Arial?

http://openfontlibrary.org/en/search?license=GNU%20General%20Public%20License
http://openfontlibrary.org/en/search?license=GNU%20Lesser%20General%20Public%20License
http://openfontlibrary.org/en/search?license=Public%20Domain%20%28not%20a%20license%29

These fonts can be used in GPL stuff without having to worry for license issues.

Your server marks .pk3 files as a plain text instead of zip, so it shows up as text in a browser, instead of downloading it to disk. Maybe you could make a plain .zip archive, with .pk3 file inside, and sources in separate directory?

oa_akomdm1: I think it's ready for release, I have minor complaints about lower part of the map being boring, but you can ignore that - I think it's inevitable for a big map like that.
oa_akomdm2: it's too dark even on my PC, and has no sky texture, otherwise it's a good map. I've tried to add a global light to it, here's .map file (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwueOoj_DB7YWUxnMzlSVWdiOGM/edit?usp=sharing), here's .pk3 file (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwueOoj_DB7YNmtRNDI0SlJ6ZjQ/edit?usp=sharing), although bots cannot spawn on it, probably because of badly compiled .bsp file.
oa_akomdm3: the best map ever, ready for release.
oa_akomdm4: no flaws, ready for release.
mx1ctf8_t1: nice small map, very easy to learn, I did not notice any flaws, aside from few misplaced textures.
mx1dm5: it's too overpowered with weapons to my taste, I would remove the rocket launcher at all, and replace it with shotgun, or put just one rocket launcher instead of quad damage (maybe it's because bots killed me too much). Also, there is a spawnpoint at the upper part of the map which makes you spawn faced outwards, so if you spawn and run ahead, you fall and die. Also, the fancy lower teleporter+jumppad combo did not work for me, I've collected health and jumped upwards, then fell down through the hole and died, because the door did not close in time. I would rather make those jumppads just launch you to the upper platform, and remove that door at the floor.
oajgctf1: good large map, and I like that there's no railgun - it makes your basic chaingun a weapon of choice for sniping down enemy flag carrier, and there's no easy escape route, so you have to plan your attacks. Although if both flags were taken, it could become a stalemate. I did not notice any bugs, I think it's ready for release.
oajgdm1: I see you've added another megahealth and fixed the slopes, I have no other complaints about this map, I think it's ready for release.
oajgdm2: come on, fix the teleport texture. This is my only complaint.

Oh no :)

You mean that the SIL Open Font License is equal to GPLv2 License ?
Ok, i think i use some of this.  ;D

@Pelya: oa_akomdm2 (Danger Arena) have a night sky, no textures. It has to be dark, but if you want you can modify the brightness from the game settings.
Append your files as attachment to your posts, i dont have a google account  :-[

 ;)

Well, if that's your idea for it to be dark, I won't complain about it anymore. I've attached my version.

@Pelya don't be angry  ;D ;D I've see what you mean and i will modify the map  ;D
.....stay tuned....

;)

That's cool!
Which fonts have you used?

I've used the Verdana Font original from WinXP. I hope is right  ;D

 ;)

Verdana font is a part of Microsoft Core Fonts package, there are even Linux packages that do that for you (http://packages.debian.org/squeeze/ttf-mscorefonts-installer), but it's not open-source - you can redistribute the font files freely, but only non-commercially, and you cannot modify them. There are apparently no restrictions on the usage of these fonts (so you may sell images produced using these fonts, or put any license on those images etc).
 Here is their licensing terms  (http://www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq8.htm)

With that much smilies, i could not tell if you are kidding or not. Anyway:

Kalimaty and FreeSans are very close to Verdana and Arial respectively, you might want to try the ubuntu font, i like it on almost anything and particularly on big characters.

Those are free fonts, you can use them, there are ofc many more free fonts.

What about not using text at all? That would avoid any fonts issue! Seriously.

I dont understand...... by the way here it is a site that seems good:
fontsquirrel.com

Can you confirm it ?

@GiG: It's not text, it's an image with shader effect...... :P

;)

Gig probably means drawing some text yourself. Using a pencil or brush, you know ;)

Ok, i have removed the Fonts in all my maps.

Here is the new version, more illuminated, of the oa_akomdm2.

Please Pelya, tell me if it's good now.
I have maked a personal Black sky with his own script, just for you :P  ;D

.....soon i will give to you all a playable version of oa_akomdm5 "The Sanctuary".....
......................stay tuned...............

 ;)

What I suggested was to completely remove text, except what is really useful (e.g. a plate with "warehouse" on the door of a warehouse may have some sense... or an "auto" display for the ship's autopilot).

IMHO, there is no real reason to write "Moixie was here" or "Neon Knight is an action" on an Egypt-themed map... so if it is difficult do find correct fonts for them, you can just skip the problem by not writing those phrases.
And, personally, I don't like that "Gig's nightmare" thing (no offense, please, but I don't like that specific idea, I have to say the truth). I like oa_akomdm4, it's not a nightmare for me!  :)


PS: Sorry I will not be able to test the package and the newest things before Monday...

oa_akomdm2 is now very playable, thank you!


Well okay, I meant it could have some stars. this sky photo, for example, is rather dark (http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic1106d/), and this one too (http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic1111d/), and you can also tune the photo brightness down, so there will be only few bright spots.
The totally black sky feels like as if I've locked myself in a bathroom ;D But you can leave it black, it's already good for release.

@GiG: No problem  ;D

@Pelya: This time the map is good ? Unfortunately i've tryed to change the black sky with stars but the engine show the stars only if you are very close at the brush.

 ;)

Then leave it as it was before, I have no problem with black sky.

NEW UPDATE !

Finally i can give to you all a playable version of my fifth map  ;D

It has some light issues but i'll fix them  :P

---

I'm using anoice1 texture for my skybox, i've changed the light radius and the sun.
Now it seems good for me.

 ;)


EDIT: I think we need more music track.... :P ;D.....

Nice. Maybe the internal part of the map is a little too dark?

It's a little strange how stepping on weapon spawn points makes you "slide" a little... but it can be funny.

For the other maps of the pack, I've given a quick try to them, and I haven't noticed clamorous bugs as missing textures. However, it was just a quick try...

PS: I still miss an "auto" screen for oa_akomdm4... 

Yes, i have to fix this missing light.  :P :D


What do you mean ?
You mean in the cockpit ?

 ;)

Yes.  :)

I have a better idea. Akom, what about if I do those letters?

Easter eggs, while not as useful as a secret room holding a precious item, helps giving a map it's own personality. For example, the secret room in Unreal Tournament's DM-Codex, or many secret areas in Quake III Arena's maps (Think about that secret room facing the teleporter in q3dm11, "Deva Station").

There're 14 music tracks in the SVN (http://openarena.ws/svn/music).

No problem for me  ;D ;D


Why in the OA folder there is no other tracks ? It have only 7 music tracks in the pak6-patch088 folder .... ???....

;)

That's because not all the tracks were meant to be included, since it was, like the filename says, a patch for a full version, and not a full version itself, and hence, the filesize must have been kept short for downloading reasons. The next full version will be DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/OA3]OA3 (http://([b), and it will include all of those tracks.

Ok, what about insert the other music tracks in another (official)  patch file  ?
Can we use the tracks anyway ?  :P

---

By the way, what about the design/playability of the fifth map ?
Nothing to tell ? It's only to fix the lights ?

Tell me.

;)

@Neon_Knight: Yes, easter eggs can be nice... but I meant you can't lose your sleep for them.

@Akom:
- Stepping over the flames may give you a little damage, maybe?
- Maybe some weapons may spawn a little more often (e.g. the rocket launcher in the external "tower").
- Found a graphic glitch, see screenshot.
- The skybox may be a little larger, to let rockets fly a little more before disappearing.
- You may add target_location entities (this also for other maps).

Oh, never noticed the link. Downloading!

@GiG: I take a look to that glitch and fix some lights  :P :D

@ALL: Maybe i've found a Metal Band that can give to me some music tracks, what type of documentation is needed to make this audio tracks GPLv2's ? Tell me please. This Metal Band ask only to be mentioned, i think it's not a big problem, am i right ?

;)

There are some sites, which provide free music under Creative Commons - Attribution license, CC-BY is generally thought to be compatible to GPL, if used for art, and not software code.
freemusicarchive.org (http://freemusicarchive.org/search/?adv=1&quicksearch=&music-filter-Artist=1&music-filter-Album=1&music-filter-Track=1&music-filter-CuratorLabel=1&music-filter-Tags=1&search-genre=Electronic%2C+Rock&search-artist=Artist&search-curator=&commercial=1&remix=1&repost=1&podcast=1&video=1)
list fo sites with free music (http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/7743/where-can-i-find-music-or-sound-effects-for-my-gam.html) another list (http://content.gpwiki.org/index.php/Game_Content_Resources)
We can also "borrow" from other (http://ufoai.org/wiki/About) open-source (http://www.xonotic.org/) games (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_open_source_video_games).

@Akom: sorry, I did not test your new map yet, I'll do that soon.

NOTE: I don't know if Fromhell is of this opinion... maybe not.

If a music is under CC-BY license or public domain, and in a form of a tracker file (so you can modify it), it should satisfy even Fromhell. So, it would be this (http://modarchive.org/index.php?request=view_by_license&page=0&query=publicdomain) and this (http://modarchive.org/index.php?request=view_by_license&page=0&query=by) links. Not much of a choice though.

Modarchive is a bit out of control when it comes to displaying 'publicdomain' works though, so you can't trust that. I've seen commercial song covers on "public domain" there.

Ok, if this Italian Band want to contribute to OA and give to us their audio tracks, what document is needed ? They have only to release their own work under GPL with the COPYING inside ?

;)

If they record separate tracks and tnen mix them, or do any post-processing, they also need to release a separate soundtracks/individual instrument recordings, and the project file of the program they use to mix/post-process.
If they record the whole track live,  there is  only one audio track.

Ok, if they record one track at time with no post-processing, they have to release it only with the copying file that follow the tracks ? I mean, their job is to be considered GPL'd ?

;)

a BAND?!  I know in the past there has been some indie bands wanting to get a break into promoting their non-Free music in OA but


Yeah this is why I suggested sticking to tracker formats, but scavenging existing tracker music is not the way to go due to dubious origins of samples and arrangements that may not be fine for the GPLv2

 :-[ ok, understand, no problem, it was just an idea.......

;)


EDIT: Meanwhile i've updated the map  ;D

Red armour moved from the center of the map.

Do you like the custom lamp ? Now that room is better lighted.

Added some columns and a broken terrain for the rocket launcher.

Download it and tell me.
;)

Tested. I like this map, it seems good for Elimination and Last Man Standing... (even Tournament maybe?)
Lights are nice.
Target_location still missing.

Yes yes, all games are supported (i hope)  :D

Quoted from Q3Radiant:

The Target Location it's used for teamplay, this is a free for all map  ;D

;)

You should place them anyway. :P

FFA maps can still be used for team games, and some teamgame-based mods even use FFA maps.

Of course they can be used in FFA maps, but it's useless.
The map's items are not thinked for team play. Another thing, Target Location entity are thinked for team play (specially in CTF mode), they have to be placed far away each other to avoid map's location issues.

By the way, it's not very important now, in a second time, some one can place Target Location everywhere with the original .map file included in the release.

@ALL : what do you think about this fifth map ? I hope you enjoy this last (?) job :P :P

;)

I've finally tested oa_akomdm5, and it's awesome, both gameplay and graphics, I have no complaints  :)  one suggestion - could those blue pillars heal you instead of damaging, or act as a jumppads (no real purpose, it's just cool). Or even both - add you 10 health and make you jump.
Also, two plasmaguns at the center of arena are probably a bit too powerful - you don't need to leave that arena center at all (but you also die too often there). I don't know what to put as a replacement, lightning gun is also very powerful. Maybe rocket :) or grenade launcher, or that weak shotgun. I would put just one plasmagun on the map, in place of quad damage (also, when you shooting it, that blue pillars are confuse you for plasmagun shots, so you have hard time dodging it).
Anyway, the map good as it is, I don't know whether my suggestions will improve or harm it.

Maybe is better to put the Quad at the center and one plasmagun in place of the Quad ?

In the center part i will place granade launcher and one ammo :P

By the way i'm waiting for other responses  ;D

;)

Yes, I would like that. Grenade launcher and maybe the shotgun in the center, you can put several ammo boxes at the different corners, it won't give you much advantage anyway.

Ehm, there are 4 shotgun in this map.....XD.....

;)

Oh, yes, really  ::)  then put a chaingun ammo, it's totally useless there  ;D

No no, it's a great idea !!

I can place a Chaingun in this map.....mmmmm, ok i'll do it ! Thanks Pelya !
 ;D

No, no, actually I've meant Machine Gun, when said Chaingun, sorry.
Not that huge mean rotating aircraft gun, that rips you in less than a second - the weak small gun you're respawning with.
Anyway, if you think Chaingun will fit in there - go on, add it :)

 ;D ;D

I think it's a good idea to place the chaingun in the center of the map, mixed with the Quad.
I can make those items a "team", when you bring one of those items, next time randomly appear the other. No chaingun ammo  :P.

What about my custom lamps ? I have maked a good job or i can improve it ?

;)

Best detail of the map and a nice one. The actual light-source could be a bit brighter though.

I'll do something about it  ;D

---

Update's summary:

1) Replace two shotgun with granadelauncher.
2) Remove portable objects and replace them with Chaingun/Quad Damage "teamed".
3) Put the plasmagun where before there was the Quad Damage.
4) Move the Ammo Boxes at the corner of the central room.

Other things ?

I ask because this map takes a lot of time to compile.

 ;)

Hmmm... what part takes a lot to compile? BSP, VIS, Light, BSPC?

The light take too long time, i think it's because of the sky.
But no problem. I will modify the map and wait if i have to  :P :D

 ;)

I have a theory !

When I started to work on my mx1dm5 (the space map which is on the pack), I had the same problem. It needed much time (= 15 minutes) to compile, whereas it had a few brushes and a few entities compared to other maps. I had to solve the problem and I finally solved it !

Here is where my problem was: There are 2 kind of brushes: sculpturals and details.
-> When you look at a sculptural brush, you only load the brush itself.
-> When you look at a detail brush, you load the brush and all brushes behind it.
* By default, every created brush is a structural brush except curves (I guess that a transparent or invisible texture acts like a detail brush, even if it's a sculptural (I'm not sure)).

For instance, there is a big pillar in the center of your map.
-> It is a sculptural brush, you only load it when you look at it. When you move, you load new brushes: the ones which were hidden by the pillar.
-> It is a detail brush, you load it and the brushes hidden behind it. When you move, you don't have to load brushes which were hidden behind the pillar because you already loaded them.
To sum up, You get better performances if the pillar is a detail brush.

Another thing, if there is "nothing" behind the brush: like you can't load this "nothing", the map leaks if the brush is a detail. Every wall in contact with "nothing" must be sculptural. ("nothing" is what is behind the map itself, I don't know if there is a special noun. I don't even know how to explain what it is precisely, I hope you understand what I'm talking about)

So, as a general rule: "every brush should be detail brush, except the brushes in contact with the nothing."

From this rule: in a space map, every brush, except the skybox, should be detail brush. My map needed 15 minutes to compile, now it needs 40 seconds. (How to make detail brushes: Select brushes -> "Brush" (tool bar) -> Make detail (CTRL+M) )


I checked the .map (converted thanks to your .bsp) all brushes except curves are stucturals. You should try to make detail of all brushes except the skybox. I hope it'll work.

ps: I learnt it some months ago, I haven't much experience and can't guarantee that all I said is right, at least that's how I understood it.

@Moixie. From your description, it seems detail brushes do not count for creating vis portals. If this is so (I don't know!), it would mean that you may have lower framerate (very slightly or important, depending from the map) because the renderer may elaborate more "hidden" objects...

@Akom: did you notice that, during map loading, the "OpenArena Community Mappack" text in your levelshots becomes overwrited by the "loading mapname" text?
PS: I suppose levelshots have to comply with gplv2, too.

A way to make maps compile faster is, if you have a modern processor with multiple cores (separate graphs for "CPU use" in Task Manager), to set q3map to use more threads.

In Q3Radiant, File -> Project settings -> Menu commands.
The most "completed" elaboration there is "bsp_fullvis (light -extra)", right?
I added a new one there, and I called it "bsp_fullvis (light -extra) Multithread"... I copy-pasted the command line contained in the original one to the new one, and in the new one I modified the "-threads" option of q3map from "1" to an higher value (e.g. 2, 3, 4 or 6... it depends from how many "cores" your machine has got, and how many of them do you want to use for this purpose). Please notice you have to change it in two places of the command line.

Then, trying to compile with the new option (more threads), I noticed much higher CPU usage in Task Manager, and much quicker compiling than before.



A strange thing is that, for some reason, when I had copy-pasted and modified the command line for the new compiling option through the GUI, it saved only a part of the line, and so then it was not able to compile because various options were missing. I have no idea about the reason, I suppose some Q3Radiant bug.
Anyway, I workarounded this by manually editing \Quake III Arena\BASEQ3\scripts\quake.qe4 file: I added the complete command line there, and it worked.


I suppose similar options are probably applicable also in GTKRadiant and NETRadiant... I suppose we should write somewhere in the wiki how to apply this trick in the various editors... this may save a lot of computing time to mappers that have good machines! Neon_Knight, what do you think?

@Moixie: Why decompile the .bsp when you have the original .map file ?? If you see in "scripts" folder you find it  :P  (all my map for this project have the original .map file in it)

@Moixie(2): 15 minutes is too much time ? This map compile in more than one hour !!!
Muahahaha !! I have to change my old computer....  :P :P ;D

@Gig: Sorry, i haven't calculated this eventuality, i will fix it.  ;D

 ;)

I disagree.

This will lower compile time by reducing vis. But reduced vis may also reduce frame rate and cause higher network load.

Any brush that can block a players view in some way should be structural. This includes internal walls, floors and non-transparent pathways. Transparent brushes must always be detail.
The compiler can also slightly optimize structural brushes (although the compiler has VERY limited optimization capabilities). 

If vis compile time is a problem then compile your tests without vis. Depending on the map layout vis may be next to useless anyway especially for space maps.

Seems like compiling is similar as  PVS-culling. How longer generating takes, the more performance is being graded upwards.

Depends the case and how much the map is optimized editor-side. There are maps which takes hours to compile only to generate an unplayable single-digit-FPS mess.

Reminds me on one of my maps :D

Anyway: i made a little progress today, but will not be able to be in time for tomorrows next beta :(

I don't think there is another beta for 2 weeks.
DO NOT LINK[/b]) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/OpenArena_Community_Mappack](DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/OpenArena_Community_Mappack (http://([b)

Or am i reading your message wrong?

@Compiling
Only if i use the bounce 8 radiosity stuff (which i honestly cannot see...) will my maps take longer than 3 minutes to compile.
Indeed using 'fast vis' its done allmost instantly, but that means all vertices that are in the view frustum (hidden or not) will always be rendered. Which can be seen in r_speeds verts.

You might also use hint burshes to get more fps AND lower compile times.
http://tremmapping.pbworks.com/w/page/22453205/Understanding%20Vis%20and%20Hint%20Brushes (http://tremmapping.pbworks.com/w/page/22453205/Understanding%20Vis%20and%20Hint%20Brushes)

Yep, next beta comes in march 15th.

0Kelvin (who is of you? Moixie?) just created this page on the wiki.
(DO NOT LINK) h t t p s : / / openarena . wikia . com/wiki/Speed_up_visibility_calculations

Could you please take a look to that page (especially Sago)? Thank you...

0kelvin was a banned user who blanked all of his posts. Too bad, they had a lot of valuable info.

I have modified the map and going to compile it.
With some modify at the polygons i hope this time it's lighter than before.

I have found a couple of issues and fix it.

Some weapons replacement will improve the playability, let me know.

.......stay tuned......

;)

EDIT: i think someone can make a ctf map like CTF-Suspense (http://liandri.beyondunreal.com/VCTF-Suspense) without vehicles....  :P

LAST (?) Update !!  ;D

Removed the Lightning Gun and placed the Plasmagun where before was the Quad.

Added the Chaingun mixed with the Quad Damage at the center of the pillars.

Now the custom lamps are more brightest.

Download in the attachment  :P :D

 ;)

I was wondering... what about if you take the DM-Peak (http://www.game-maps.net/downloads/ut2004/maps/dm/screens/dm-tdb-peak.jpg) way and place something like a mountain below that structure? And, since we're at it, something which sustains that Plasma platform.

The Chaingun could be switched with the Plasma, since that's the place of the Superweapon, and it's a pretty risky place to get a weapon.

The switch between the Plasma and the Chaingun it's possible and easy, but seriously you want me to place a mountain below the map ? It have the "rocks" below and it's too big for place a moutain, now the compile time is 40 minutes..... :RIP:.... :P :P

P.S.: The UT map you mean have a big rock below itself and it's squared at the bottom, i think my way is better, but i wait other comments about it. :P

I can think to something to place below the Plasma platform.......  ;D

 ;)

Sorry for the double post, but after lot of brush work, i've finally modified & recompile this map.

I hope you like it and please, if you find a bug tell me.

---

Now the Quad Damage is in the center of the map alone and tha Chaingun is in the external dangerous place.

I have mixed the Plasmagun with the Shotgun, hope you like it for playability.

Just for the record, here is the time of compiling:

Download the attachment for the new version.

;)

I've tried to compile oa_akomdm5 on my work PC, it took more fhan 1.5 hours, and I've aborted compilation.
It's not the slowest PC around - Core i5 650, 3.2Ghz, with 4 CPU threads and 4Gb RAM, q3map2 process used 2Gb RAM.
So it's not your PC Akom, the map is just big.

Wow ! Lucky for us that FPS remain acceptable  ;D :P

Enjoy the last version and tell me. The flames hurts the player and enough. No health, no jump.

;)

Updated oa_akomdm2 (23/2) and oa_akomdm5 (3/3) on the server. Unfortunately, I cannot edit the wiki to add these changes. -.-
It seems that the static server of the wiki is pretty unresponsive.

Unfortunately i've found (now) two graphic bugs..... too many deformed polygons i think.....
.....i'm fixing it..... tell me if you find another issues.....

;)

Isn't there the medkit anymore?

@GiG: i quote myself, i've removed the portable objects (both) in the old version of this map.


Have you tried the last version ? What do you think ?
Have you noticed bugs ?

 ;)

I've tried the new oa_akomdm5, I did not notice any gameplay issues - it's smooth and the weapons are balanced well, there are no camp spots, it's enjoyable to play on this version of map.
I would make all the lamps 1.5x brighter, sometimes the bots can hide inside the shadows in the main room (and I did increase screen brightness a bit). But that's minor complaint, I think the map is already good for the release.

And after release, I gonna modify the map myself, to make those blue things heal you 1 health, and throw to the nearest blue thing, so you can bunny-hop them without touching buttons and have 200 health in 3 minutes, and you will definitely look stupid while doing that, mwahaha

One last thing: if you played the map Sanctuary, you'll see that when the Redeemer spawns, there's a signal all over the map. I was thinking... what if you place a trigger so every time a player enters into an area, a sound can be heard alongside of the map? That way, other players can be noticed that someone is trying to obtain the Chaingun.

LOL !  :D :D

---

@Neon_Knight (1): Ehm, i don't have UT3 and i can not see the map, i've watched some screenshots online (not many really) and some videos on Youtube, but many videos are dark and i can not see the redeemer, where is ? Can you give me some screenshots of the UT3 map (in PM ), maybe i have to modify again my oa_akomdm5.

@Neon_Knight (2): .....but the Chaingun is visible from all players. Who cares, i'll do it !!  ;D ;D

;)

Well, even if they aren't tagged that way, for all intent and purposes, the Nailgun, the Chaingun and the Prox Launcher are considered superweapons, alongside the BFG.

If you want, I can include that effect so you can see for yourself. :P

Is the last akomdm5 the most recent version, and does it include the .map file?

Hi all of you  ;D

After some brush job and various things, here is the last version of the fifth map:
Download the attachment.

The bridge now is with wood and some brushes are deleted.
The center room seems illuminated as good.

@Neon_Knight: inside the "scripts" folder you can find the original .map file.  I've inserted the alarm sound when someone try to keep the Chaingun, tell me if you like it.

@ALL: The "stone robots" are also free to use, if you like it you can use it !  :P :D

 ;)

D/Ling your map.

Also, remember what I've said about your letters? Well, searching in this forum, I've found a link to a place with GPL fonts.
Here're some OA-compatible designs you might like:
http://www.dafont.com/top.php?text=Neon+Knight+is+in+Action+!!&fpp=50&af=on&l%5B%5D=10&period=2 (http://www.dafont.com/top.php?text=Neon+Knight+is+in+Action+!!&fpp=50&af=on&l%5B%5D=10&period=2)
http://www.dafont.com/top.php?text=GiG%27s+Nightmare+!&fpp=50&af=on&l%5B%5D=10&period=2 (http://www.dafont.com/top.php?text=GiG%27s+Nightmare+!&fpp=50&af=on&l%5B%5D=10&period=2)
http://www.dafont.com/top.php?text=FRAG+BASTARD+!&fpp=50&af=on&l%5B%5D=10&period=2 (http://www.dafont.com/top.php?text=FRAG+BASTARD+!&fpp=50&af=on&l%5B%5D=10&period=2)
http://www.dafont.com/top.php?text=MOIXIE+WAS+HERE!&fpp=50&af=on&l%5B%5D=10&period=2 (http://www.dafont.com/top.php?text=MOIXIE+WAS+HERE!&fpp=50&af=on&l%5B%5D=10&period=2)

More lamps make the central room better, thank you. I think the map can be released as it is now.
The robots have the same problem as a cockpit - they look good, but you don't have many opportunities to see them.
Maybe you should make that bridge from glass/forcefield, or somehow make it transparent, but then it will conflict with the style of the map. You can try to make it curved, so you'll get to see the robots when passing that curve. Or you can just replace some pillars with a robot :)

No problem, they are only decorative. I think i will use they in another map  :P

@Neon_Knight: Thank you, but seems that GiG is contrary (http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4679.msg46305#msg46305) to put "easter eggs" like this in our map. It's not a big problem anyway....

EDIT:
@Pelya: Finally i've build a skybox for oa_akomdm2, taked from here:
(Tell me if it is GPL2V and if it can be used in our mappack)

;)

That sky looks good, I would tone down the image brightness a bit, so only the most bright stars would be visible.

The images from this spacetelescope.org are covered by Creative Commons - Attribution license (http://www.spacetelescope.org/copyright/), which should be fine to use in GPL-ed projects, it allows modification and commercial use, and only requires name of the author to be mentioned in credits.
@Fromhell: could you please clarify, if you allow CC-BY-licensed works to be uploaded to OA?

Hi all.  ;D

In a creative moment my mind turned crazy and i've started a CTF map for this mappack.

This is a first look version, polygons/textures and also skybox are temporary.

Let me know what do you think about it.
And please, tell me how to insert various OA modes in this map  :P :P

@GiG: Yes, in this map i will insert the Target Location  ;D ;D

;)

Oh no, not another redo of that unreal-map. Face-capture on Sauerbraten was already worse enough.

Well, there's no version of this map in OA, so it's okay to redo it. BTW there should be windows for snipers in those towers.

Just to clarify... I'm not against easter eggs in general. But I didn't like that "Gig's nightmare" thing. If you want to place other text, of course you can use it.
Of course, players that do not follow the forums may think "Who is Neon_Knight?".... unfortunately, we cannot use a dopefish image as easter egg, because it's copyrighted.

It's not a good thing to create another "bases" map. Why? As those only give campers (as you call "snipers")  a chance to play (they are actually being forced to do so as running around is equal to dieing due the lack of cover).

Ok, sorry i misunderstand :P
....but you're right, this package will be released for all the OA community and most af all not know this forum.

@Suicizer: Dont you like the idea of this "Base" map ? If you have doubts about snipers, i can make a trick in the map that kill players that camp in the raigun position :P :D

;)

I certainly am not a fan of campers (neither doing so myself for a while) as it kills the flow of a map. It does not provide a current play which constantly changes that causes for different situations, rather it keeps looping over and over again (doesn't matter who kills who, as long as 1 camps).

then remove railgun from this map, or replace all weapons with railguns :D if you camp, you'll get sniped down, because you're not moving.

Maybe an idea....  :D
...railgun for all !!!  ;D

 ;)

I will not put windows if I were him: you want to snipe, you stay on top of the towers, without protections and with the risk to fall down.

A speed power-up could help flag-catchers?

How much feasible would be the use of the Grappling Hook in that map?

Please don't, Grappling Hook is not supported on Android build (actually, I don't know, because I've never tried it, but if it requires dedicated button to activate - it's not supported).

Don't worry before testing.
While some implementations of the hook in some Q3 MODS (e.g. in Alternate Fire or CorkScrew, IIRC) do use a dedicated button for it, the implementation of OA uses it as a standard weapon.
You have to select if from the weapons list, shoot to attach where you want, and only then you can select another weapon to attack enemies. To detach from your location, you have to switch to the grapple again. So it's not so easy to use as the implementation of some mods, but it does not require a dedicated button.
You can test it by running Elimination/CTF Elimination/Last man standing mode (or any other mode with g_elimination 1), with elimination_grapple 1.

New DM map, oajgdm3alpha:

http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgdm3alpha.pk3 (http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgdm3alpha.pk3)

I know there are still some graphical glitches in there, i will sort them out. I am however looking for feedback on the gameplay:
Are there area's that need more work?
Is there too much traffic one a specific place (by human players) (i know bots converge on the red armor like a bunch of zombies, i'll look into it)
I've again elected to put no rg in there, because in my view the map is too open for it, but in my mind it was a close call, do you guys agree or should the rg be in there?

(http://jan.groothuijse.net/img/oajgdm3alpha.jpg)

Added oajgdm3 and the updated oa_akomdm5 to the D/L server. I'll check if I can update the wiki now.

This being said, I might have to leave my FFA maps out of the pack, seeing that we have now a lot of them, and more CTF-based maps are needed...

This weekend I'll work on my CTF contribution, then.

Do me a favor and pick an easier (and more proper) name.

Why maps on OA (nearly) always have to be shortcutted words with no actual meaning (as like "dwnldfknmp_dm382_v28.pk3")? Is this a lack of inspiration or so?

Ask the mappers themselves.

Alpha is a suffix that will eventually be dropped (in the finished/polished/final version)...then its just oajgdm3; oa (Open Arena) jg (Jan Groothuijse (me)) dm (Deathmatch) 3, it all does a certain meaning,
The oa prefix may seem redundant, but q3jgdm1 and oajgdm1 are almost the same map, except one works in oa and the other in q3. The personal prefix gives me a namespace to avoid clashes with other mappers. Its longname will be "Subdivision", but that would be too generic for a filename in my opinion, and oajg_subdivision would be annoying to type in the console.

Also, you cannot have map name longer than 15 characters, because it will be drawn badly in UI. "am_underworks2" is pretty much as long as you can get. That's another reason why mappers love random short names.

@all: I was thinking that it may be nice to have a "double identity" map: partially "space" and partially not, just like god_infinitum map (see http://www.mapraider.com/maps/openarena/5862/god_infinitum). Does someone wanna try doing a such thing?

@jangroothuijse: I quickly tried the map. Nice, and it also seems more playable than the previous one.  :) It somehow reminds me about pul1ctf. Although the extensive use of curved surfaces, it seems the framerate is not bad.  :)
I noticed a place where the texture change on the floor looks a little strange, and another one where I wonder if it may be possible to have the texture on two sections of the wall to better coincide (see attached screenshots).

It has been past some time since the last time I visited this forum and I am happy to see that the project is going on very well. :)

I saw the oajgdm3alpha and oa_akomdm5, I begin with the first one:
jangroothuijse, by seeing your new map of you and the previous one I saw that there is a certain mapping-style. It looks simple and nice.

Things I would change:
-in the area of yellow armor there is only a shotgun and the next weapon from there is a bit too far away-> place a weapon there somewhere
-near red armor btw. above lightning gun btw. walking up the curve I would maybe add another weapon (but I think you are right: no RG)
- look exactly at texture at big jump near red armor...
(http://i70.servimg.com/u/f70/12/41/86/15/shot0110.jpg) (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=268&u=12418615)
- what about adding  a "flight"-item in the map? ::)



Ok now about oa_akomdm5:
Nice atmospheric map, not so common in OA. =)
There aren't any particulary things here that I would change, well done!

@Adriano: Thank You !  ;D ;D

@jangroothuijse: Absolutely a good map, OA need some cool map like this one.
Unfortunately some texture-bug have to be solved, but you already know it, right ?  :P

One dubt: the shiny effect on some textures maybe slow down some FPS in old machine.

@ALL: about my ctf map "Face", i'm fighting with the missing textures and build/erase some polygons  :-\ ..... no promise, but maybe i can give you a first look version in some hours.....maybe.... :P :D

;)

oajgdm3alpha: the red floor is big and very repetitive, please add some distracting details, guiding lines or arrows or some garbage. Many walls are also a huge curved piece of the same texture. Maybe add some tiles or windows, or blood marks, or, well, anything.

Hi everybody.

I have to create the custom teleporter like in the original UT map and i can give you  a playable version soon........ stay tuned....

 ;)

(http://i72.servimg.com/u/f72/13/33/70/40/shot0049.jpg)

The first version looked like some ancient jungle temple or some ziccurat, and gave impression of ritual fight.

The last version looks very much like old ugly Soviet-era buildings, with no windows, made of boring concrete. This could be scaled-up heating plant, or garage complex, if it would have doors.
Although most such buildings are made of bricks.

Arts and Cultural Center in Kiev (although it has at least some windows):
(http://rock.kiev.ua/inf/club/kpi.jpg)
(http://perecrestok.kiev.ua/cross_images/concerto_halls/CKI_NTU_KPI_01.jpg)

This one is in Berlin:
(http://germania-online.ru/uploads/pics/500Steinpilz.jpg)

Somewhere in Ukraine:
(http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/2711/utn-zot.0/0_5491_1421b584_M.jpg)

For the oajgdm3alpha I wasn't so concrete, so take a look now at attachment...


(EDIT: for LG I think place b is better
& flight-item-respawawntime=150seconds maybe?)

Hi all.

Unfortunately my video-card is gone  :-[ :-[
Now, i'm UP with a Riva TNT2  ::) and i can't try anything.

Lucky for me, the "first look version" was ready and i was testing it when the video-card is burned.... :'(

I know that is a couple of bugs, but now i can't do anything.
The teleporter in the blue base dont work, it's just to see how it look.

Next week i'll buy another video-card and continue to edit this map.

;)

P.S.: Download the attachment:  ;D

Taken a look. Nice lights again.  :)
I think you may select a (at least slightly) different name than "facing worlds" (it's the same exact name from UT, right?).

You already noticed the flickering textures under the blue base courtyard, right?

Yes, i've already noticed that bug, i've fixed it. I've also fixed the flame to center they on the "pillars".
With the video-card  on my PC now i can edit but i can't compile the map...... :-[.....

How about the custom teleporter ? It's ok ?

;)

Which teleporter? I can see a strange "mirror-like" thing in one of the bases... but it's too black and it seems to do absolutely nothing.

For this map, can you do a try placing one or two hooks? I would like to test that...

@All:
About teleporters, it may be nice if someone of you guys may change one of the teleporters in his map with a "portal" like the one in oa_dm5 ("the cistern" map), where you can see the other side (possibly trying to do not exceed with polygons from the other side to show).

Tried CTF map - the area between the bases is too small, it was much bigger in UT map,l. The bases thselves are way too big - it takes more time to walk around the base than to run to another base and grab the flag.

Update !

Unfortunately my actual video-card suck a lot and i can not compile anything  :-[
....but thanks to Adriano, you can enjoy the map !! (when he compile it)
I have sended him the last version i've finished this evening, i think tomorrow he can give me some suggestion about it.

Things added:

1) Added some teleporters in red and blue base + red and blue roof.
2) Added grappling hook at the center of the map.
3) Now the map is longer than before, the central part take more time  :D
4) Added shotgun and rocket launcher in the bases.
5) Added one railgun for each base plus a couple of ammo, slugs and bullet. On the top obviously  :P
6) Some other stuff.

Again, thanks Adriano for helping me (and the community)  ;D ;D

;)

Well, I did a mistake on choosing the right compiling options maybe and I failed in shader for sure, so that the map looks likes that ( I am sorry for that much failing :RIP: ) :

(http://i70.servimg.com/u/f70/12/41/86/15/shot0113.jpg) (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=271&u=12418615)

(http://i70.servimg.com/u/f70/12/41/86/15/shot0111.jpg) (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=269&u=12418615)

(http://i70.servimg.com/u/f70/12/41/86/15/shot0114.jpg) (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=272&u=12418615)

(http://i70.servimg.com/u/f70/12/41/86/15/shot0112.jpg) (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=270&u=12418615)

But at least I hope it is enough to test some things...