14 Sep 12, 06:27AM
(This post was last modified: 14 Sep 12, 06:31AM by Ronald_Reagan.)
Here is my notes about the entries:
ac_dwarfouzelle by Nightmare
Theme - 7
Obviously supposed to take place underground. The walls tell you this. However, one room at approximatly the same elevation shows the skymap. Which is a bit odd. Not much to sell the Theme though.
Textures - 6
Textures all fit the Theme. Except some clashed, and there wasn't much variation of the Textures for different surfaces.
Lighting - 3
"You added light" is the best thing you can say about the Lighting on this map. Only one color was a good choice. And the purple hurt the eyes. No variation at all.
Detail - 3
You had some Detail-ish stuff. Best thing was the walls. I liked the walls. But the rest was iffy.
Sounds - 0
No Sounds
Layout/Gameplay - 5
The gameplay isn't horrible. Layout is pretty standard. With a death pit. Death pits don't win many points.
Average (overall of the above) - 4.00
ac_discovery by Snoosnoo
Theme - 7
You only have one main room that is cavish, looking like a mining operation. There is a couple transitional rooms that almost have the same style, except the skymap shows. The rest of looks like it could just be a building. Things you could do to sell the fact that you are underground is making it so when you can see the skymap, you are higher up, and you have to descend a fair amount to get to the covered ceilings.
Textures - 9
Textures were good, I was confused by some changes between dirt and stone slab ceilings. The different Textures on the mapmodels did a great job in making this map different from many other maps.
Lighting - 8
Lights were good, three different main colors. I had two problems with it though. You didn't seem to let shadows exist in the yellow bright rooms. It was all the same brightness. Second issue was the white light emenating from the light sources. I didn't like this as much because it didn't explain the yellow tint. Light doesn't age and turn yellow, it will stay white. So when you have your light sources tint the white with your yellow. In a way the Lighting was a bit intense, but that is just the style of the map you have.
Detail - 6.5
You had some great Detail pieces. I loved your bridges and the rooms that were Detailed were Detailed well. You had some interesting uses of geometry to sell the fact that the player was underground. However, the Detail was few and far between. Each room should have a purpose, otherwise it is useless. Think about functional building design. How will buildings (or mines) be created to be as functional as possible? Some maps can do without this, but with a map like yours that is based off of rooms rather than rooms and hallways, you need something to seperate different rooms from eachother. More visual light sources are needed. Some rooms have them, some rooms you wonder where the light is coming from.
Sounds - 0
You didn't include any Sounds.
Layout/Gameplay - 9
I'd imagine RVSF has the slight (very slight) advantage in this map, but the map looks pretty balanced otherwise.
Average (overall of the above) - 6.58
ac_ripsaw by Zero
Theme - 9
You sold the Theme very well. The player descends from the CLA base into the mines, there is an elevation change to actually show you are going underground. Other locations in which the cave was the same height as the main area you could see the cave entrance. There was a couple odd things about the skybox.
Textures - (8-1) 7
At first I didn't like desertcliffface. After reviewing the map, I started to really like it. It is used well in the map. The TNT block should be a bit less saturated, more dark and more grundge. It is too red. The main dirt area around the CLA base seems like it should be around the same color as desertcliffface. I think this because desertcliffface looks like sandstone, and sandstone will be the same color as the sand around the place. For the most part. The difference was big enough for me to like it. -1 point for incorrectly naming desertcliffface in the cfg.
Lighting - 8.5
Lights were well done. Two main colors, well blended. One issue with many mapmodels and the kind of Lighting you do is that some mapmodels get lit up weird. Meaning some rails on your mine cart rails were much brighter than the others. However, I realized how finicky this is. In the caves the Lighting could've been more dramatic and had more shadows.
Detail - 9.5
I had this orginally at 9 because I didn't feel right giving any map a 10 in any category. Then I gave you a 10 because I couldn't find anything wrong. Then I remembered a small heightfield bug on the ceiling in the tunnels, and so I deducted .5. You did a good job. Everything has a purpose. I love the CLA base.
Sounds - 4
Argh! I had to turn off my music to rate this map! On of the few to actually include Sounds! However it was pretty hard to find the Sounds. I actually only found one. The attempt to add Sounds seemed halfhearted. There is no classic wind sound at places I would expect. The sound I did hear was added correctly with a good fadeout distance.
Layout/Gameplay - 7
I believe RVSF is going to have an easier time defending in CTF.
Average (overall of the above) - 7.5
ac_ancient_mines by Jg99
Theme - 10
Well, can't find anything about this that makes it not underground Themed.
Textures - 7
I'm not a fan of the main ceiling texture, more about the rail tracks in the Detail section, but I dont like how that is wood. Unlike some maps which had too little texture variation, I think this map had too much texture variation.
Lighting - 5
Lighting is bland and inconsistant. There isn't much color variation for the different area types in the map. There is a couple spots which is just way too dark. Too many shadows in weird spots. Unlike other maps which have too consistant Lighting, the lights on this map are too sporadic. The light doesn't fall off naturally. It's a hard thing to do with Cube Lighting, it just isn't natural.
Detail - 5
I liked your rail tracks through the main tunnels. You also used some nice ideas throughout the map. However it was inconsistant in some areas. You had some nice heightfields. However most of it was used on the ceiling rather than the floors. I rarely looked at the ceilings and only noticed it when I went into edit mode. The big room in upper right hand side of the map overlay needs a more subtle usage of heightfielding. The broken window mapmodel of Cleaner's is more of an urban mapmodel, and seems out of place on your map. Didn't deduct from your score, but I'd like to point out how your map name includes "ancient" but yet there is gas tanks down in the mines. The area in the upper left hand side of the map overlay (outside area) has some mapmodel clipping errors. Talk to me for more of an explination about that. The wheelbarrow is also facing the wrong way
Sounds - 5
You had Sounds, but the execution was poor. Some of the same Sounds overlapped and made weird errors, Sounds started and stopped all to frequently.
Layout/Gameplay - 4
The map was almost all hallways and no rooms. The hallways didn't seem to turn much which leaves many straight ways. Also, RVSF is at an obvious disadvantage in CTF.
Average (overall of the above) - 6.00
ac_berry by blueberry
Theme - 0
Doesn't even look like a berry, let alone a cave.
Textures - 1
You used 2 non-map-default Textures. +1
Lighting - 1
You can see clearly. +1
Detail - 1
You included a mapmodel or two. +1
Sounds - 1
I hear something or another, is that a confused wasp? +1
Layout/Gameplay - 0
Wait, you planned on playing a game on this?
Average (overall of the above) - 0.67
ac_dwarfouzelle by Nightmare
Theme - 7
Obviously supposed to take place underground. The walls tell you this. However, one room at approximatly the same elevation shows the skymap. Which is a bit odd. Not much to sell the Theme though.
Textures - 6
Textures all fit the Theme. Except some clashed, and there wasn't much variation of the Textures for different surfaces.
Lighting - 3
"You added light" is the best thing you can say about the Lighting on this map. Only one color was a good choice. And the purple hurt the eyes. No variation at all.
Detail - 3
You had some Detail-ish stuff. Best thing was the walls. I liked the walls. But the rest was iffy.
Sounds - 0
No Sounds
Layout/Gameplay - 5
The gameplay isn't horrible. Layout is pretty standard. With a death pit. Death pits don't win many points.
Average (overall of the above) - 4.00
ac_discovery by Snoosnoo
Theme - 7
You only have one main room that is cavish, looking like a mining operation. There is a couple transitional rooms that almost have the same style, except the skymap shows. The rest of looks like it could just be a building. Things you could do to sell the fact that you are underground is making it so when you can see the skymap, you are higher up, and you have to descend a fair amount to get to the covered ceilings.
Textures - 9
Textures were good, I was confused by some changes between dirt and stone slab ceilings. The different Textures on the mapmodels did a great job in making this map different from many other maps.
Lighting - 8
Lights were good, three different main colors. I had two problems with it though. You didn't seem to let shadows exist in the yellow bright rooms. It was all the same brightness. Second issue was the white light emenating from the light sources. I didn't like this as much because it didn't explain the yellow tint. Light doesn't age and turn yellow, it will stay white. So when you have your light sources tint the white with your yellow. In a way the Lighting was a bit intense, but that is just the style of the map you have.
Detail - 6.5
You had some great Detail pieces. I loved your bridges and the rooms that were Detailed were Detailed well. You had some interesting uses of geometry to sell the fact that the player was underground. However, the Detail was few and far between. Each room should have a purpose, otherwise it is useless. Think about functional building design. How will buildings (or mines) be created to be as functional as possible? Some maps can do without this, but with a map like yours that is based off of rooms rather than rooms and hallways, you need something to seperate different rooms from eachother. More visual light sources are needed. Some rooms have them, some rooms you wonder where the light is coming from.
Sounds - 0
You didn't include any Sounds.
Layout/Gameplay - 9
I'd imagine RVSF has the slight (very slight) advantage in this map, but the map looks pretty balanced otherwise.
Average (overall of the above) - 6.58
ac_ripsaw by Zero
Theme - 9
You sold the Theme very well. The player descends from the CLA base into the mines, there is an elevation change to actually show you are going underground. Other locations in which the cave was the same height as the main area you could see the cave entrance. There was a couple odd things about the skybox.
Textures - (8-1) 7
At first I didn't like desertcliffface. After reviewing the map, I started to really like it. It is used well in the map. The TNT block should be a bit less saturated, more dark and more grundge. It is too red. The main dirt area around the CLA base seems like it should be around the same color as desertcliffface. I think this because desertcliffface looks like sandstone, and sandstone will be the same color as the sand around the place. For the most part. The difference was big enough for me to like it. -1 point for incorrectly naming desertcliffface in the cfg.
Lighting - 8.5
Lights were well done. Two main colors, well blended. One issue with many mapmodels and the kind of Lighting you do is that some mapmodels get lit up weird. Meaning some rails on your mine cart rails were much brighter than the others. However, I realized how finicky this is. In the caves the Lighting could've been more dramatic and had more shadows.
Detail - 9.5
I had this orginally at 9 because I didn't feel right giving any map a 10 in any category. Then I gave you a 10 because I couldn't find anything wrong. Then I remembered a small heightfield bug on the ceiling in the tunnels, and so I deducted .5. You did a good job. Everything has a purpose. I love the CLA base.
Sounds - 4
Argh! I had to turn off my music to rate this map! On of the few to actually include Sounds! However it was pretty hard to find the Sounds. I actually only found one. The attempt to add Sounds seemed halfhearted. There is no classic wind sound at places I would expect. The sound I did hear was added correctly with a good fadeout distance.
Layout/Gameplay - 7
I believe RVSF is going to have an easier time defending in CTF.
Average (overall of the above) - 7.5
ac_ancient_mines by Jg99
Theme - 10
Well, can't find anything about this that makes it not underground Themed.
Textures - 7
I'm not a fan of the main ceiling texture, more about the rail tracks in the Detail section, but I dont like how that is wood. Unlike some maps which had too little texture variation, I think this map had too much texture variation.
Lighting - 5
Lighting is bland and inconsistant. There isn't much color variation for the different area types in the map. There is a couple spots which is just way too dark. Too many shadows in weird spots. Unlike other maps which have too consistant Lighting, the lights on this map are too sporadic. The light doesn't fall off naturally. It's a hard thing to do with Cube Lighting, it just isn't natural.
Detail - 5
I liked your rail tracks through the main tunnels. You also used some nice ideas throughout the map. However it was inconsistant in some areas. You had some nice heightfields. However most of it was used on the ceiling rather than the floors. I rarely looked at the ceilings and only noticed it when I went into edit mode. The big room in upper right hand side of the map overlay needs a more subtle usage of heightfielding. The broken window mapmodel of Cleaner's is more of an urban mapmodel, and seems out of place on your map. Didn't deduct from your score, but I'd like to point out how your map name includes "ancient" but yet there is gas tanks down in the mines. The area in the upper left hand side of the map overlay (outside area) has some mapmodel clipping errors. Talk to me for more of an explination about that. The wheelbarrow is also facing the wrong way
Sounds - 5
You had Sounds, but the execution was poor. Some of the same Sounds overlapped and made weird errors, Sounds started and stopped all to frequently.
Layout/Gameplay - 4
The map was almost all hallways and no rooms. The hallways didn't seem to turn much which leaves many straight ways. Also, RVSF is at an obvious disadvantage in CTF.
Average (overall of the above) - 6.00
ac_berry by blueberry
Theme - 0
Doesn't even look like a berry, let alone a cave.
Textures - 1
You used 2 non-map-default Textures. +1
Lighting - 1
You can see clearly. +1
Detail - 1
You included a mapmodel or two. +1
Sounds - 1
I hear something or another, is that a confused wasp? +1
Layout/Gameplay - 0
Wait, you planned on playing a game on this?
Average (overall of the above) - 0.67