MMGDTA

MMGDTA moving

2009-04-29T12:51:00.001-07:00

MMGDTA is now moving to a new site. This is because MMGDTA is no longer the official site for crashdown so it no longer needs to be dedicated only to that and I have set up a portfolio website which will host this blog with it.

Official crashdown site: crashdownmod.webs.com/

New site for MMGDTA: http://alexcrafter.webs.com/ (under blog)

2009-04-07T02:11:00.000-07:00

Work has started on pl_vertical, a payload map for tf2 where the cart needs to be pulled up one shaft and then lowered down another. I'me finding that vertical maps can really add a lot to gameplay that just isn't possible through horizontal maps. Of course, it does require a lot of new stratagies for the player to understand whats going on and be able to comprehend the map's routes and his options.

From my post on Interlopers.net to another member working on a vertical payload map:

I'm also working on a vertical payload map (pl_vertical), I have a first section in blue that is industrial and as the cart is moved to the red base when it starts moving down it becomes more thrown together. What I've seen so far is that to make it balanced you need lots of side routes and alternate ways to get up else the team defending will have too much of an advantage (Being able to shoot down on them and drop down on them), however using side passages and tunnels to even this out makes the map very complicated for players to grasp. official tf2 maps are fond of using stairs and ramps to elevate the player.However as you can imagine, an intricate system of side passages only using ramps and stairs would be very complicated and not move up very fast. I tried this at first but it's very complicated. What I recommend is to fall back on more tfc like designs with vents that push the player up quickly and small elevators that move fast as soon as a player steps on its surface. It may seem a little out of place in tf2 but I've found it's very useful.

When passages and routes are out of the player's vision he has trouble visualizing them making the map complicated for those who don't fully understand the layout. In upwards based maps this is troublesome because realistically exposed routes upwards are somewhat rare. It's important that the player is able to clearly think where passages are. First of all this can be helped by using large cavities that house lots of routes within them rather then just lots of interconnecting tunnels, that said interweaving tunnels in one big room will also confuse players. I've found that it's best to have the alternate routes out of the way, but clearly outlined. Say a tunnel or elevator shaft next to the main room but with gaps in the shaft so that its route can be followed with the eye from outside. In the red's style of building this is easier to do, but in the blu's more structured style it's somewhat hard, because you are doing a single stage map I'd recommend focusing more on red's architecture as if it took place in a red base.

It requires a lot of planning but vertical maps can afford the player a lot more freedom.

Breakable

2009-03-29T05:08:00.001-07:00

This is a new system I've been putting together allowing players to break through a brick wall, I'm hoping that this will give players more freedom because they can choose their entrance. Of course, although it's been very well optimized it will only be used in small amounts to keep the game running smoothly.

2009-03-29T01:07:00.000-07:00

The new chapter is mostly outdoors, I'm trying to decide on night vs. sunrise. On the one hand night gives things a spooky atmosphere and darkens everything up but at the same time it's over used. On the other hand, sunrise gives me some nice lighting to use but doesn't feel scary.

Moddb news

2009-03-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Just posted this on moddb:

Things have been going very well, made lots of progress with the levels, I'm now done with chapter one.

With the feedback I've been getting from you (the viewers) I've been able to improve the looks and feel of the maps, so please continue to give feedback! I'll be uploading shots here on moddb throughout the time I work on the mod but again, if you really want to get involved check out http://mmgdta.blogspot.com/ where there will be more frequent updates and more in-depth information.

To suit some developments in the mod I'm changing some parts of the story line. Changes I hope will add more depth to the story and in the long run make it more interesting for the player.

Next I'll be posting screenshots of chapter 2 which takes place outdoors and I'll be unveiling a brand new game play dynamic. If all goes well I will also have progress on new weapons to replace the standard hl2 ones. These custom weapons will have some changes, most will have slower firing rates with increased damage. So to keep up with these updates make sure to track the mod!

Also, if you haven't seen them already, since the last news post I've added quite a bit of new media.

To summarize:
-Good progress so far.
-Thanks for feedback, it helps, keep doing it.
-Changes to story line.
-New updates to come, track the mod.
-there's been new media since the last news post.

News posts for any reason are great for gettin exposure.

2009-03-27T06:19:00.000-07:00

A recent interview with VALVe's experimental psychologist details VALVe's play testing methods (http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/966/966976p1.html). They're more complicated than you'd think; muscle tension, blinking rates and facial expressions all send messages that can improve the game. This rigourous play testing is somewhat harder for modders but still it shows how importans face to face feedback is; online playtesters just don't cut it.

Prop compensation

2009-03-27T02:01:00.000-07:00

Prop compensation is when a mapper uses props as a crutch for un interesting architecture. A sign of this is for example, a room that is a plain box made interesting only by the fact that it is filled with props and otherwise is just six walls. A mapper needs to be able to create architecture that is interesting without the use of props. Props should be the details in the map, not the main feature. Below are two screenshots from a map I'm working on where I feer that I've come close to this problem:

By using the automatic groups I was able to hide all the props to see what the room looks like without any, very bland in comparison. In reality most spaces aren't dominated by props unless you're in a scrap yard. Props are usually clustered around one point, say a desk or a counter, not spread around a room. Now in my example I've decided to let it pass because of how interesting the ceiling is without the use of props, but I hope that mappers realize that throwing objects around is no replacement for interesting architecture. To make sure not to fall into this trouble I recoment using plain colours, I use nodraw some people prefer dev textures, to create your map's outline. Once this looks good, then you can add props in a realistic fasion for a finishing touch of realism.

Prop compensation is sometimes refered to as prop whoring, in the intrest of clean language I changed it.

New area

2009-03-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

Because of the sheer amount of work I'm putting into this mod I really try to only show the important parts of the maps I'm working on, for example there are three or four small encounters leading from the antlions to here to give a transitioning effect but if I were to detail them all I would waste a lot of time. It's important when working with viewers who are giving you feedback to know that you can't get accurate feedback on every piece of work you do. That much content is overwhelming especially considering most viewers actually just want to see some eye candy. because of this as a developer I need to mostly upload shots of important sections and also learn to apply feedback from one area to another that hasn't gotten any feedback. The same goes for play testers although you don't have the same choice over what they give you feedback on.

tldr; new area:

The player actually has to circle this shaft by climbing ramps and platforms mounted to the wall. It really has a grungy, abandoned look to it. The player encounters a sniper for the fist time and gets the crossbow here. I'm also making this the first time the mysterious helper character directly involves himself in your affairs by switching on the machine in the shaft to protect you from the first hunters you see (But don't fight). This moment needs to be awesome, I'm considering some cinematic physics for it.

I want one!

2009-03-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

Half-life has it and Minerva has it, now I want one too. I'm talking of course about the ominous character who seems to be in full control all the time. My original character who had any sort of similarity to this was the rebel who speaks to you over the radio. In the back of my mind I've wanted a character like this but doing it correctly in a way that interests players rather than breaks immersion is hard. Instead I want a character that adds to immersion and relatedness in the game.

This character, I've decided, is going to be a person with no ties to either the rebels or the combine who lives somewhere deep inside the complex that you're exploring and the combine are taking over.

Changes to the antlion arena

2009-03-22T01:44:00.000-07:00

I made some changes to fix up this arena, changed the textures in the two rooms I thought most important to custom ones and increased the number of antlions to pose a real challenge.

More arena attempts

2009-03-21T02:33:00.000-07:00

This is my latest approach to arena gameplay, I'm so set on arena gameplay because it works so well as a break from regular linearity. What I have in progress is an abandoned industry where the player has to wait for an elevator, while he waits there is a lot of space to explore and 15 antlions at a time spawning in any room the player can't see.

As you can see it still needs more detail. Other than that it's still suffering from two problems; there aren't enough enemies to pose a challenge that remains interesting plus they attack in waves because of the way I've set it up which leaves the player without any enemies for extended periods of time. The other problem is that I'm afraid the player will find a corner and camp there shooting anyhting that gets too close. I actually chose to use antlions here because they only use close combat and are relativly fast which I thought would mean they could chase the player and push him around, however they don't have a very strong attack and have very little health. I'm considering setting up an objective that requires the player to move around. For example, the elevator is broken and the player has to find its machinery and fix it. This kind of objective feels very pointless though and I'm afraid players won't enjoy it for that reason.

ModDB

2009-03-17T12:23:00.000-07:00

Got my mod on moddb, now I can advertise to a larger audience.

It turned out well.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/crashdown

Planning

2009-03-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

I found this method of planning layout very good for me, I've never been a very good planner and often I map without any idea where the next hallway will lead until I've made it. It's important to remember that planning doesn't necessarilly mean drawing the map on paper, it can just be visualizing it while getting the base work done. Now of course what I have here will be highly subject to change but having the layout can effect my decisions as I make the rest in a good way.

I'm planning to take the player to the surface soon so that I can improve my outdoor mapping skills and make use of some of the grass textures I've found and have been working on.

Graffiti

2009-03-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

Added graffiti, it was confusing to get it working I got it:I think it adds to the feel of the map.

dev version

2009-03-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

Almost done with the first map, heres a pre-release for testers.
http://www.mediafire.com/?ajdnwnjymnx

Stages

2009-03-14T03:01:00.000-07:00

The first arena encounter is split into three sections, each will require the player to clear it of enemies and then unlock the next section. Hopefully this will give the player time to plan his next attack while he unlocks the next section because the barrier between the sections is transparent. Also; Damn I love making textures.

Arena; new textures

2009-03-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

working on the arena type encounter. Look at them sexy textures!

New textures and added detail

2009-03-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm done with the basic detailing of this section I can move on the to arena gameplay.

Red thread

2009-03-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know if that's an English phrase or something I've converted from another language but a red thread is a theme or a message or similar that follows through the whole story line. I think this is important, especially in an action mod where players can loose focus from the overall goal in all the action; it's useful to remind the player from time to time of the story line. In my mod I plan to have the player uncover a super weapon nearing the end, it uses electromagnetism to modify the trajectory of space junk orbiting earth in order to call down bombings of superheated metal from the sky. The player isn't meant to fully understand the dynamics of this weapon at first, however he does see some of it's effects. The weapon's strong electromagnetic force can disrupt an electric system easily, in aircrafts this means a crash. The player starts the game in a crashed advisor pod and 5 minutes later runs into a crashed gunship. In Minerva (I'm mentioning it a lot because it's my idea of the best mod out there) the player is constantly brought back to the story line by the messages from minerva and the facility itself; this is an interesting point actually. The player not only has to hear about the storyline but also take part in it. By this I mean that you can't let the player forget why he's fighting, interesting props and settings help this; in hl2 ep2 when the player fights the striders attacking the silo the player knows exactly what is going on and why he has to fight, in F.E.A.R though the player can easily forget the goal. Although the player is constantly given objectives and goes around uncovering mysteries it can often become "Oh god scary girl, shoot enemies, save hostages, so freaked out ruuuuun" instead of the player being motivated by the story line. This relates to self determination theory, this is relatedness in games. If the player is fighting for something specific and feels motivated to do so the game has relatedness.

(also trying some custom textures)

Not all players will get this though, it needs some sort of amplification to get the player's attention. I won't use npc dialouge because I think that that will be shoving it into the players face; I don't want to do that, the player has to notice it and realize that it's a trend.

Update

2009-03-11T05:25:00.000-07:00

From feedback on Interlopers.net I changed the lighting values and curved some of the corners. I also decided to replace those pipes to models so the shadows works nicer.

Also, I've been thinking about the name, Nicolai suggested Crashdown for the opening scene but I feel that it's too simple and won't make viewers curious, I like Minerva's aproach with Minerva: Metastasis which uses words that spark intrest, Minerva is a greek god and metastasis is the act of a diseas spreading through the body. The word Remedy is an option for me, it would be a referance to the quote (paraphrased) "Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease" which relates to my plot.

Ok, here's the blog

2009-03-09T15:18:00.001-07:00

This ought to keep me trying out new ideas if only to post them online.

Introduction, ok, this blog is for the discusion and documentation of my yet unnamed action shooting mod for HL2 where I aim to incorperate all sorts of ideas to create an impressive enjoyable shooting experience. So far I've started out with a level taking the player from the crashed advisor pod he starts it (Starting in a crahsed advisor pod to make the player curious) through the highly industial, run down setting fighting a few (about 15) combine to get you started. This is meant to serve as an introduction, an appetizer where the player remembers the controls, gains the basic weapons (Crowbar, pistol, smg, .357 (Without much ammo)) and is blown away by the mod in the opening moments. These opening moments are some of the most important because if they aren't fun players will dismiss the mod and find another, mods don't have a monopoly over the market and aren't like games where if the player is playing the game he's already given you money.

Anyway, screencaps:

And there you have it, the begining of the introductory level. On another slightly related note, when people talk to an imaginary third party it's strange, however if it's written down in a diary or a blog it's fine; I find that odd. Good night imaginary third party.