Sneak preview: Sand Blaster

Dutchrai · Post by **Dutchrai** » Thu May 25, 2006 3:16 am

Doing BZFlag 2.0 maps in Notepad is real fun guys, missed all this typing!

Anyway, here's a sneak preview at my first (finally) 2.0 map for BZFlag. I still try to focus on gameplay, and use arcs / sphere's / etc only when:

a) it serves a purpose
b) it doesn't get in the way but looks good

Two rules to live by (at least when making game maps).

Only 25% done, and since mapping now takes more time, you'll have to wait!

Some of the map's features:

- Mass Driver (for that quick tank-launch accross the map)
- Custom Teleporters (see shot for one example)
- Jump pad
- Mountain lake dam

gilly · Post by **gilly** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:11 am

The screenshot looks awesome!!

I really like those domes, even if they could be a bit less fat. (just my suggestion, I don't know if others agree)

Dutchrai · Post by **Dutchrai** » Thu May 25, 2006 10:17 am

Tx for the suggestion, will experiment a bit with some domes on a diet

The Red Baron · Post by **The Red Baron** » Thu May 25, 2006 11:08 am

Dutchrai, you'll never cease to amaze me!

CannonBallGuy · Post by **CannonBallGuy** » Thu May 25, 2006 11:53 am

Wow, very very nice.

Legolas_ · Post by **Legolas_** » Thu May 25, 2006 1:39 pm

Thats pretty cool! Reminds me of some arabian town. Keep up the great work

Sir Lance-A-Lot · Post by **Sir Lance-A-Lot** » Thu May 25, 2006 3:11 pm

Incredible! It looks quite playable so far - keep up the good work

.

Dutchrai · Post by **Dutchrai** » Thu May 25, 2006 4:03 pm

Tx dudes, and yes, it has an Arabian theme to it, but not too much. There is some industry comming up as well.

Just finished work on the mountain-lake dam, will post a shot or something on Saturday. The Mass-Driver also works and is looking dangerous...hehe.

ducatiwannabe · Post by **ducatiwannabe** » Thu May 25, 2006 4:51 pm

I am speechless.

Nice.

Destroyer1313 · Post by **Destroyer1313** » Thu May 25, 2006 6:34 pm

When's it gonna be done? will it be hosted?

Post by **joevano** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:58 pm

Watch out LouMan.. you've got a challenger. This looks awesome.. great job...

TD-Linux · Post by **TD-Linux** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:11 pm

Industry? That sounds interesting. I've always wanted to ride the conveyors in factories.

How about adding thin yellow fog? Like sand blowing across the desert, or perhaps if you add too much industry, smog.

You're doing really good for not using a modeler, especially for those arches! They are done really, really nice.

You might eventually want to consider a modeler. They will keep unsightly overlap and poly count down. (Though your map looks really good and I don't see any overlap points). If you do ever mess with a modeler, your notepad-ing skills are really good, so I would suggest you just make a small model, such as a bridge, then export it, group it, and use it in your map like any other model.

You will probably never need a modeler, the way your map looks!

Post by **L4m3r** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:49 pm

Good stuff.

Do you play with meshes at all? I do simple stuff with Notepad (basically just shapes that transformations can't achieve)... it helps a lot when you need that special funky shape.

I'm not so great with arcs... heh.

A Meteorite · Post by **A Meteorite** » Thu May 25, 2006 9:53 pm

Wow, that's really nice. I would love to host that thing.

Great job Dutchrai!

Dutchrai · Post by **Dutchrai** » Thu May 25, 2006 11:55 pm

To answer some questions that popped up:

- The thin yellow fog actually is in there, it just wasn't enabled at the time of the screenshot

- The bridges, though in notepad, are grouped and can be reused easily (love the 'define' command!)

- Modellers are nice, and I might mess with one some day, but I am just addicted to Notepad (tm)

- The map will be hosted on shellshock.bzflag.bz

Alrighty then...back to my editor! Screenshot of the dam will be here tomorrow.

Winny · Post by **Winny** » Fri May 26, 2006 12:11 am

Wow...amazing. It looks like the gameplay will be awsome too.

Question:
Did you do any basic building in BZEdit and then convert that stuff ot meshes? Or is it all notepad?

Dutchrai · Post by **Dutchrai** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:13 am

All Notepad. Even for 1.10.x maps, I only ever used BZEdit for previews, never for editing.

Dutchrai · Post by **Dutchrai** » Sat May 27, 2006 11:27 am

Here's the shot I promised, the Dam in Sand Blaster.

CannonBallGuy · Post by **CannonBallGuy** » Sat May 27, 2006 11:41 am

Very nice, I love it.

Destroyer1313 · Post by **Destroyer1313** » Sat May 27, 2006 7:02 pm

Ooh, It looks really nice, man. Is it gonna be done soon?

Dutchrai · Post by **Dutchrai** » Sun May 28, 2006 6:19 am

Can't wait huh

Don't know when it will be done, so let me quote ID software: 'Its done when its done'

At the moment I am waiting for some ideas, tried drinking coffee, didn't help (although it tasted good).

Finished about 50%