Why are we custom mapper bankrupt?

[Hastings]

So, the question for tonight is this:

Why dont you guys (the community) map morefor Zombie Panic and Zombie Panic: Source? Lack of knowledge? Lack of time? Didnt know you could map? Dont care?

I really want to know so that we could better equip you with the ability to do so. Mods only live for so long with original conent. Look at CS, for instance, lots of custom maps.

What can we do to help you learn?

Discuss.

[-Rusty-]

i'd try but i just don't have the patience i guess. i've tried making a map but for some reason it doesn't compile properly and i get some stretched texture error ingame.:(

[Hastings]

We have a map help forum :)

[-Rusty-]

We have a map help forum :)


problem, the majority of the community are noob mappers and more than likely couldn't help solve my problem.

the only people i think that could help me are theboywiththething and seventh but both are usually busy so yeah.. :/

here is what i had gotten done.. obviously by the link name, its based off re2. this was my second attempt at making the street area from re2.
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE2_STREET_A.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE2_STREET_B.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE2_STREET_C.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE2_STREET_D.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE2_STREET_E.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE2_STREET_F.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE2_STREET_G.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE2_BasketBallCourt.JPG

first attempt:
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/re2_street1.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/re2_street2.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/re2_street3.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/re2_street4.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE_Gunshop6.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE_Gunshop4.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE_Gunshop3.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE_Gunshop2.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE_Gunshop1.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE_Gunshop5.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE_Gunshop7.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/-Rusty-/ResidentEvil2_HL/RE_Gunshop8.JPG

[Turnover]

Y'know, the mod isn't actually out yet.

[-Rusty-]

Y'know, the mod isn't actually out yet.

.....y'know, they did make an hl1 version first.:rolleyes:

[Hastings]

One can design maps regardless if its out. Its one way you can earn PT status, but you have top have a really good one :laugh:

Rusty, that map looks pretty good.

[Zombie God]

Your map is really good! I would play it!:D

[dknight7878]

i have kool ideas for a zp map
but ive never made 1 ( noob )
how do u make maps?
how are they made?
how do u put in like custom pictures and stuff
upload music in maps?
stuff liken that

[JK-]

I map alot, though I don't give out so much media, since all the maps are in the early stages. Also, I have only released media for one my zp maps,since they were just "fun" maps, which most people probably hates:P

That map was "zp_smc_bunker-attack", which I've gotten alot of good comments for:laugh:

And the only zp: s map I've released media for, is "olden-school", which is a remake of the school I'm going to.



And -Rusty-, do you think I'm not good enough to help you, do you?
Hmm???

[Harrier]

Well, I have a few reasons.

1. Inexperience
2. Lack of time
3. I hate the Source SDK.

[lordLoss]

Well, I have a few reasons.

1. Inexperience
2. Lack of time
3. I hate the Source SDK.

That pretty much sums up my excuse.

[JK-]

http://www.zombiepanic.org/forums/showthread.php?p=64835#post64835

I hope that thread can help fix your 1st problem:D

[Kazuya86]

i could try to make some maps for ZP:source. I make maps for Timesplitters:future perfect for PS2, i think they might be a lot different than these maps though. But i'll try it

[Kazuya86]

poo i need to download a program so i can start making them. Can someone give me a program to download so i can start making some maps?

[JK-]

You can do it from Steam, in the tools section.
Just choose the SDK.

Though, you must have a half-life 2 game to get access to it.

[Kazuya86]

srry i dont have HL2 so i need another way to do it. Anyone know any other ways

[CaptainSnake]

Mapping needs time. It needs time to figure out. Time to make a map and time to conwince yourself your either a bad mapper or your map is good when it actually sucks :P

Get someone to help you. Make a map with someone like pass it back and fourth changing it etc. I've done it before it works pretty well

[Coldin]

Hrm, well I used to map. I learned to use the Hammer and made one poor map. I didn't pursue mapping any further due to restrictions on time at that point in my life, and my inability to create custom models for my maps. However, with this interesting new incintive, I think I might break out the hammer once again. However, if I am to produce a map for ZP:S I have a few questions..

1. Are zombie spawns going to managed similarly to the spawns in other Sourcemods?

2. Will there be objective "escape" zones for Survivors or should we plan to just have game modes to have them outlast zombies?

3. How many players should we plan to be playing on a map in an average game?

[Scruffy]

Yeah ive started mapping, im just a bit lazy so i dont get things done so quickly, so i predict my first zombiepanic source map will be ready in about... June... of 2010..

[JK-]

Hrm, well I used to map. I learned to use the Hammer and made one poor map. I didn't pursue mapping any further due to restrictions on time at that point in my life, and my inability to create custom models for my maps. However, with this interesting new incintive, I think I might break out the hammer once again. However, if I am to produce a map for ZP:S I have a few questions..

1. Are zombie spawns going to managed similarly to the spawns in other Sourcemods?

2. Will there be objective "escape" zones for Survivors or should we plan to just have game modes to have them outlast zombies?

3. How many players should we plan to be playing on a map in an average game?


1. Probably yes.

2. If not, you can use a trigger_once, and turn on the "clients" flag, and make it target a "game_end" entity.

3. You don't have to make so that the map will fit as many players as in an average game, as it would restrict a lot of map ideas, due to tiny size compared to player amount.

But, I guess it can come up to around 16, as I've seen the numbers be around that on zombie panic a long time ago.
Or even more, sicne zp had been out for a while then, and it wasn't really many players on then.

[Soul Surviver]

If your looking for custom Zombie Panic maps then just go on 0wn3d Clan Hideout

[Wizard]

Everyone plays Bridges.

Thats mine.

[OrangeJuice]

Does anyone remember who made that map? I remember when he uploaded it, I was one of the first people to ever play that map. Crap that was well over a year ago. :D

Nevermind it was Patosy. That map was crazy.

[Hastings]

/me cries

[Shing-Shing]

i know how to make maps but every time i wanna make a map something comes up...:(

but now i have learnt on how to use XSI so soon i will make organic models :P

maybe ill make an extra zombie for you :P :D

[CaptainSnake]

Bridges was made by the clan "Uber". Its LONNGGG dead now. The oldest clan right now is AA reaching almost 2 years I think

[OrangeJuice]

Uber? Never heard of them.

[cheese]

well lets see, I remember klam, knights, tats and hypnotoad. If you want to know why we don't have a lot of mappers I think it has something to do with not being able to play test your level using the new zombie panic. With ZP you can make a map, play it using ZP and then find out what needs fixing where as now you have to do everything using HL: DM. I personally don't have any problem with that.

Time and motivation I'd say are the biggest reasons that the mapping community is gone.

Most people will say they will do something but if they are serious about it they will use your links and learn to use valve for themselves much like I have. It's a lot of work and takes a lot of time but if you want to do it, you can.

Also the community was it's highest at around fall 2004 which was just prior to the release of World of Warcraft. With the newly released expansion pack, it's probably that a good number of our community has moved to there.



as for bridges I just remember it when it was back on AA only, I'm not quite sure who actually came up with it but it's still popular on a lot of servers.

[OkeiDo]

Uber clan didn't make bridges Patosy did as already mentioned. He made the first versions pw_bridges_small and pw_bridges_big (pw = patosys work).

[JK-]

well lets see, I remember klam, knights, tats and hypnotoad. If you want to know why we don't have a lot of mappers I think it has something to do with not being able to play test your level using the new zombie panic. With ZP you can make a map, play it using ZP and then find out what needs fixing where as now you have to do everything using HL: DM. I personally don't have any problem with that.

Time and motivation I'd say are the biggest reasons that the mapping community is gone.

Most people will say they will do something but if they are serious about it they will use your links and learn to use valve for themselves much like I have. It's a lot of work and takes a lot of time but if you want to do it, you can.

Also the community was it's highest at around fall 2004 which was just prior to the release of World of Warcraft. With the newly released expansion pack, it's probably that a good number of our community has moved to there.



as for bridges I just remember it when it was back on AA only, I'm not quite sure who actually came up with it but it's still popular on a lot of servers.

Hey, I'm also mapping! >_<

And I've been hard to work, just by for example collecting all the tutorials in the source mapping section.
Several months work collecting all those <.<

+ Right now I'm working on 6 maps for zps, though it's a chance I'll abandon one of them.

[cheese]

I never said you weren't working. The question was why we didn't have enough community mappers and I was just giving some reasons.

I've got 1 map that I've put months into and about half of it could still be polished up a good deal more. I tried making 2 maps after that, but they have been put aside until I can find out what to do with them.

I have to say that probably one of the toughest things for NEW mappers to take is criticism. They'll either stop mapping completely or learn to get better.

As for tutorials, they are already on the net, sites like interlopers and the snarkpit have tons of information regarding mapping and you can just go there and find everything you need about mapping. The forum Hastings put up about the tutorials has links to most everything you'll need. If you can't figure it out from there, just open up dm_lockdown and find out how to do it from there or copy it over into your map.

mapping tutorial forum (http://www.zombiepanic.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4394)

[JK-]

http://www.zombiepanic.org/forums/showthread.php?p=64835#post64835

There I've collected every single mapping tutorials site I know about.
If you need to find out about anything, it certainly should be in one of those sites.

[cheese]

you should get them to pin that topic.

[JK-]

you should get them to pin that topic.

Heard that Hastings?
:P

[TheBoyWithTheThing]

problem, the majority of the community are noob mappers and more than likely couldn't help solve my problem.....the only people i think that could help me are theboywiththething and seventh but both are usually busy so yeah.. :/

I just read this. I'm very flattered in your confidence in me, but technically I'm a noob mapper as well since I don't have any actively-played maps on any mod, let alone Zombie Panic. In any case, post your WIP in the ZP1 mapping forums (or bump it if you already have) and I'll give you what help I can.

As for the mapping community, I feel confident that once ZP:S is released it will become more active.

[noobcannonlol]

hi rusty

[cheese]

7th did some pretty hardcore hl editing for zp. Never seen anyone tweak the original engine like he had, he came up with some nice stuff. Was a pretty decent guy too.

As for most people being noob mappers...lol. I'd say thats pretty accurate.

[Ussr1943]

An interesting idea came to mind, why not post out on a few other forums, or mod db, ect. that you are holding a mapping ocmpitition. you could have people turn in maps and choos elike the top 10 as some to releas (if they are any good). just some how get the word out. My problem is I don't have alot of time and that I will work hard on something only to loose motivation a week or two later :( I wish I could stay motivated.

[cheese]

maps take months. You need to just take some time every now and then and put in a few hours here and there. It's not really something that's going to be fun, it's like studying. You work on it for a long time and then it pays off, hopefully.

The idea of having something you thought of and then putting it into something you can walk around in is stimulating but you still have to create it which takes a lot of time and effort. Most people who realize this, give up after two weeks like you said.

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

Things most noob mappers don't know:

-It's a project and it's going to take a while.

-It's more fun to play a map than to make one.

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

Why are we custom mapper bankrupt?

Scenario 1
Noob Mapper starts map thread in forum.
Noob Mapper shows pictures of map in early stages.
Noob Mapper is highly criticized for lack of skill.
Noob Mapper gives up mapping.

Scenario 2
Noob Mapper starts map thread.
Noob Mapper posts screens of map.
Noob Mapper gets praise for map.
Noob Mapper starts another map thread.
Noob Mapper posts screens of new map.
Noob Mapper gets some comments.
Noob Mapper gives up on mapping.

Scenario 3
Noob Mapper posts a thread about a map idea because he didnt read the sticky.
Thread gets locked.

Scenario 4
Noob Mapper starts a thread.
Noob Mapper posts screens.
Noob Mapper compares his skill to a professional mappers.
Noob Mapper feels like a noob and gives up.

Scenario 5
Not enough people try to map.

[Ussr1943]

Well then, more people should be encouraged to map, no matter how expirience/ or inexpirienced they are with hammer. I plan to start working on mapping again, but i have gotten so busy with scheduling I don't get too much free time, and Alough making a map is fun, you eventually come to a problem that needs to be solved Ex. Entity leaked, and can only be solved by spending lots of time working on. But it looks like I'll have lots of time on the weekends.

[cheese]

when you have a problem in mapping, you either give up or you take the time to learn how to fix it and end up being a better mapper. It's a lot better to make new maps and screw up on those then to screw up on one you've put a lot of time into before, but it doesn't mean it can't happen.

Sometimes making a new map just to see how displacement or subdivide works can be a good idea. Just having a map that is only to test out how the different features of hammer editor work so you can see them yourself. I'm not saying have it be something you'd put out for the public but, just have it be like a sketchbook.

And yes, we do need to encourage new mappers.

[Ussr1943]

Good idea, I think I'm just gunna tak ethe time to relearn hammer, learn a few things and apply them, It's much harder to just try everything out on a map you spend lots of time on, only to screw up horribly. One thing though, do you have any links to optimise your map? about the only thing I really know of how to ptimise is the use of "Func_Occluder" which makes it so that nothing in the game is rendered beyond it untill you go to the other side (you can see this is you turn on wire frame mode ingame and have one wall with func ocludder and one with out, you can see through the one with out.)

[OrangeJuice]

I wish I could but I don't have a computer. :C

[cheese]

Lots of em are here (http://zombiepanic.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4394)

I found a lot of the links in the thread useful.

The snarkpit is also a very good place to look if you need to find out how to do something.

Interlopers is not as good but sometimes will have something useful.

[Ussr1943]

there are some good ones at FPS bannana (several hundred tuts availible.)
http://www.fpsbanana.com

[JK-]

Here's all those sites & more:)
Tutorials (http://www.zombiepanic.org/forums/showthread.php?p=64835#post64835)

[Dr.X]

Here's all those sites & more:)
Tutorials (http://www.zombiepanic.org/forums/showthread.php?p=64835#post64835)

Wouldn't do any good, lost interest in zp over the past 3 months.
I could waste my time creating a map for basicly a group of 10 or 20 spoiled sexist, racist, homophobic 13 year olds that want to push other people off a bridge, and pee on each other, or I could do something better with my time.

The problem stems from the current situation with ZP:S. I am probably like at least a dozen or more of the grown ups here that are getting tired of all the empty promises.

Say whatever you want, deny everything, but unfortunately the truth will still remain that ZP is on the verge of dying if someone doesnt do something to bring it back. Sorry, I really like this mod, but its getting pretty depressing, and I dont really care anymore about the game.

[Hastings]

You are correct about the community, it is mostly filled with unwanted racists, etc, and they honestly ruin it for those that are not.

As for empty promises, we have only made one, and that was getting the game out by early spring. All others we stated were possibilities if certain things happened. As it is they did not, and those possiblities were not met. This is exactly why we dont want to set release dates. Dates are a bunch of bull allmost 100% of the time. Hl2 didnt even come out on time.

Old Zp is indeed dieing, but ZPS has not even began yet, so it is no loss.

[cheese]

if things didn't happen then, yes the mod would be progressing at a faster pace. HL2 itself is getting old and it takes a lot longer to make mods for then does it's predecessor. DoD:S came out a long time after HL2 came out. A LONG time. CS:S came out early because they'd been working on before HL2 was released.

the community is...immature and tough to deal with at times. Even sometimes on the forums it can be a handful. You have to remember what age groups have the most time to sit around and play games most of the time. Teenagers or college kids would probably show up highest on the list. That means teens to low twenties. Immature to point of maturity. Some actually are a bit older and yet, even they can act up.

What this community really needs is more people that think positively. A happy, enjoyable and fun community is one that everyone wants to be a part of.

[JK-]

Wouldn't do any good, lost interest in zp over the past 3 months.
I could waste my time creating a map for basicly a group of 10 or 20 spoiled sexist, racist, homophobic 13 year olds that want to push other people off a bridge, and pee on each other, or I could do something better with my time.

The problem stems from the current situation with ZP:S. I am probably like at least a dozen or more of the grown ups here that are getting tired of all the empty promises.

Say whatever you want, deny everything, but unfortunately the truth will still remain that ZP is on the verge of dying if someone doesnt do something to bring it back. Sorry, I really like this mod, but its getting pretty depressing, and I dont really care anymore about the game.

You can find links to source tutorials there also:ninja:
+ People who still wish to map for zp can find a good bunch of half-life tutorials.

[Dr.X]

lol I will see what happens after it comes out

[Joe]

I heard of what happened, a fight, and so coders, mappers, and modellers left but not all of them. That sounds way too silly. I wish they'd come back. I am also sorry for all that has happened. I also understand that some to all of y'all are in college or have a family. It's sad and I wish I could be helping with the mod but I'm still a victim of laziness and stress and impatience that I wish I didn't have...

If you want my reasons why I can't map at the time, it's because the editor sucks!!! It's too hard to compromise! If you want me to GLADLY map, you make an editor that is well organized like Sims or STarcraft so I can easily just drop the materials in my map not create them all... it just sucks.

If they can make an easy, non-complex, and limited creation editor, I can make some good maps off of that but I'm sorry, it's just too hard. It makes me want to cuss about it but I won't. I just wish they'd put effort into an easier editor...

[Ussr1943]

It's not really that hard Joe, its just like any program, your not used to it, you need to sit down make time and learn how to use the program properly, using tutorials and asking for assistance. I recently started back mapping and I'm finding it more fun when I actually understand what I'm doing now (learning it, not just making random crap) and that I'm a bit more motivated that way. Don't blame the edito, instead take the time to learn the editor, just like if your taking an economics class, you could say "ohh forget the book, it sucks" and then you whine and do horrible, or do nothing at all, or you can actually break out the book and take notes and learn.

The editor is not that complex at all IMO, go find some tutorials and stop kidding yourself, you'll be amazed at what you can do when you actually put the time and effort into learning something, and applying it.

[Joe]

Yea, my older brother told me about it that I should just map. It'll get easy, that's what I should trust.

I can get really good at certain things and maybe if I try with this editor, I can shade my greatness over this editor, not just being great at Starcraft. So thanks for the piece of the encouragement that might lead my mapping future to it's purity.

[stackz]

Hey, I know I'm new to the community, mostly because I'm under a new name. I really would like to get into this. The first maps I've created were for zombie mods of counterstrike source but how can I transfer the spawnpoints into actual zp:s spawn points. One map is an apartment across the street from a broken down train and a parking lot. The other is a confined cafeteria that contains bathrooms and a kitchen. The only problem is I don't know how to create an original skybox that I can create a realistic atmoshpere ex. [fire, rain, wind, sand]. I also only use prefabs of source and i don't know how can I establish myself to create my own objects.

-I'm very willing to become a part of the team and community as a whole. This mod has more potential then any other mod and if completed with 100% effort can get us some explosive reputation. HELP!!

[Cytron]

Without ZP:S to keep people interested why would someone invest thier personal time to map something for an almost extinct mod?

Release ZP:S and reap the rewards ... hold off too long and miss the bus.


Zombie Master is a good example..its still in beta stage and players know this...but new maps are coming out every day or so now.

[Ussr1943]

You don't need the mod to be out to keep your personal interest, and if you cant motivate yourself to make a map unless you are playing the game you should just leave, consider that when HL2 was made the team didn't have anything to play to start with but they mapped anyways. and Zombie master is an interesting mod, but it only has 1 map, and there are maybe like 2 origional maps made for ZM by the community. ZP:S already has several maps in the making by the players, not to mention the several maps the mod team is working on. And why are you calling this an "almost extinct mod"? obviously it isn't because it has several new posts each day, an IRC, and not only that but a big dev talk night comming up. Its far from dead/extinct. And if you werent so ignorant you could check and see that most HL2 mods that start fail and are never completed within the first few months of starting, and as you can see ZP:S is still going, meaning they will complete the mod, and god said "it is good".

Bottom line : you no mappy , you cry release, I no likey whiney!

[Cytron]

You don't need the mod to be out to keep your personal interest, and if you cant motivate yourself to make a map unless you are playing the game you should just leave, consider that when HL2 was made the team didn't have anything to play to start with but they mapped anyways. and Zombie master is an interesting mod, but it only has 1 map, and there are maybe like 2 origional maps made for ZM by the community. ZP:S already has several maps in the making by the players, not to mention the several maps the mod team is working on. And why are you calling this an "almost extinct mod"? obviously it isn't because it has several new posts each day, an IRC, and not only that but a big dev talk night comming up. Its far from dead/extinct. And if you werent so ignorant you could check and see that most HL2 mods that start fail and are never completed within the first few months of starting, and as you can see ZP:S is still going, meaning they will complete the mod, and god said "it is good".

Bottom line : you no mappy , you cry release, I no likey whiney!

me no mappy? sry but you should make judgement calls when you clearly have no merit.Where is the new media? like you said..."serval maps IN THE MAKING" which really amounts to nothing.IF ZM has only one "official" map that still beats any map that is "in the making"

i dont hate ZP:S i just get worried that will never materialize...you can say whatever you want about mod failure...the fact is mods that never get released always fail.

[Ussr1943]

The point is your crying, this is just another way to say "release the mod already" so don't give me any crap. For all we know ZP:S could have a few maps done already, we don't exatly know, way to take it literally. The points

1. This Mod Has a few old releases of several maps that looked like they were complete, in the time between that release and this next or when the mod comes out the mod team may have a few more maps out. so we can't determine number of official maps at this time
2. Go to the mapping forum and you will see others are making maps anyways
3. Just because you need the mod in your hands doesnt mean everyone else needs it.
4. The only real things related between ZM and ZP:S are they are HL2 mods and they have Zombie in the name
5. ZP 1 already has a release so don't say this mod has NO releases (ZP1 was a test of the concept, therefore it is a part of the mod as a whole)
6. "oh ye of little faith....."

[acker]

I have no knowledge on how to map. The most complicated thing I've ever created was four islands on "StarEditor", the most friendly mapping software available. And that map didn't work.

[Ussr1943]

If your interested in mapping you should just definately try it, there are lots of tutorials out there , E.G. Editlife, Mod db, Iwannamap. Start small, make a room with a few objects in it, then make another and connect the two rooms by building a hallway and cutting an opening, add doors ect. just try it out, its like any program it takes time getting used to.

[-Rusty-]

ok something i've been working on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cUYsizUhx4

only problem i'm having is that the latest version of my map won't compile.

it gets very near the end of compiling but then freezes. maybe its because i've added a lot of detail in that version, i donno.

[Ussr1943]

looks very well done rusty, For future reference though you may want to post in the HL 1 ZP1 Map forums. Is there an error that pops up or anything (sorry I am unfamilliar with older ver. of hammer/worldcraft)

[-Rusty-]

yeah sry i posted it there afterwards. also it does compile but usually after the "base vis" or the "leaf" part it freezes hammer and it doesnt finish compiling.

[Neiko]

I simply stopped mapping because I lost the fun in mapping. You may say mapping is boring for you. But when I mapped. I had a blast. I also had a blast knowing that people played my maps and enjoyed them. But, when school came around after summer, I couldn't balance playing games, mapping for them, and school well. So I just dropped the mapping to balance it. I still have the .vmf for zps_gasstop. And I'll probably pick it up within the the next few weeks, since I haven't mapping a long time, and I want to do some more mapping. Plus I won't have school to worry about either. =o

[Ussr1943]

Yeah its really hard to balance gaming, mapping, school, girlfriend, job, friends, 2 garage bands, jazz band, marching band (during marching season),raising money for a mission trip,youth leader, NHS required community service, and track and field
(or at least thats my schedule)
:P

Mapping is fun, I just hate it when I mess up on something and I can't figure out what I did wrong, but then a guess thats what forums are for. :)

[Neiko]

Yea, I balance games, attempt at job, Game Design Club, Schoolwork, Marching Band, Family, Mapping... and Eve =o.

I don't have as much as you, but It's still hard to balance them out without only spending like 10 minutes on each thing other than school =/. Glad summer is almost here.

[cheese]

we're custom mapper bankrupt due to lack of interest, lack of time and problems using hammer editor.

[Pteradactyl]

I'm learning how to map currently.
I'm making a castle map right now.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d4/DirtLamb/Hammer%20Tests/castlewturrets.png
it's still really early
been working on that for 3 days
i do have plans for it though (objective isn't part of the plan)

[Shing-Shing]

is that for hl or hl2???

[JK-]

Hl2. He used the nodraw texture.

[cheese]

looks huge

[Pteradactyl]

You would most likely get more custom maps when it's released *wink wink* :)

[Ussr1943]

It's summer right now everyone, this means more free time (even if you have a job), mapping would be a great skill to work on/learn, during your learning time you should apply the things you learn to making a map possibly for ZP. If you need help there are pleanty of resources out there, just type in a search engine HL2 Mapping.
good luck, I hope more people get interested.

-Ussr1943-

[cheese]

teach them to map and you will have your mappers.

[cheese]

bump

cus seriously

the whole source mapping community for this game is dead except for those with dev status.

[RagTag]

Lol, my excuses are.

1.Not enough time
2.Inexperience
3.And the fact that Source SDK and HAMMER Editor are pains in teh assez.

Anyways, does anyone know of a good map maker or "editor" besides HAMMER?

[cheese]

Unrealed is fun.

Other than that the ones for starcraft and warcraft are simple.

You could always go back to using BUILD which was used for Doom/Quake/Duke3D maps.

[Krazytaco2]

bump

cus seriously

the whole source mapping community for this game is dead except for those with dev status.

I'm makin a hospital map for zp:s... but nobody even knows me on these forums, so meh. :/

[Shing-Shing]

post it in the map forums!! :P

[RagTag]

I'm makin a hospital map for zp:s... but nobody even knows me on these forums, so meh. :/

Careful! Dont post to much, or else feel the wrath of Soul Survivor and ashpwnzjoo!

[Cmptr7]

I'm making a downtownish map for zp:s, but it is taking forever.
Thread of it on 0wn3d Forums: http://z8.invisionfree.com/0wn3d_Clan/index.php?showtopic=1865

I hope to get it done before Christmas Break ends

[EAX]

I can make custom mapps but dont have the time for that. got mb a older CS:S map really dark and such things may i watch out and make it to a ZP map

[mrmong]

i have finished a custom map, but its not up to the other maps standards, becasue i made it ages ago.

[Imp9rr]

I can make maps but they are mostly for gmod so they are either big flat spaces, a race track (which was pretty cool) or other random stuff. lately though my maps arent compiling and when they do it comes up with a "Memory coulndt be read error" i thought it was something to do with Tf2 but i don't know.
So i am not going to even try and make one for ZP:S yet.

[SGT-Snail]

I'd happily make maps for zp but i only know the basics of map making. and i dont know how to make maps other than for css

[Krazytaco2]

I think one of the major discouraging factors of mapping is that it takes a lot of time. It's easy to get a map started with some good ideas, but it's a bit more complex making it of good quality.

If you need help on mapping, there are plenty of tutorials out there on the net. Perhaps one of the best sites to look at would be this page:

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/w/index.php?title=Hammer_Editor_Documentation

Making maps for hl2 is just like mapping for css because it is still using the source engine. Just select a different configuration in the source sdk before starting hammer. Available entities, textures, and models are really the only difference.

[cheese]

they wont take u as a level designer if u submit an application. Unless you're from valve maybe. But after the release if you submit some good custom stuff maybe.

I had a map that I submitted way back in the day and they thought it was pretty neat, but they haev their set team of mappers for the mod already. Klam does an amazing job.

[Imp9rr]

I'd happily make maps for zp but i only know the basics of map making. and i dont know how to make maps other than for css

you just make it in css and move the bsp into zp, they probably have textures that you have to use but until its released we can't do anything. or alternitively use the dev\ textures <- they are a nice colour

[cheese]

yeah i can quickly make a lot of good maps for source that don't look amazing. They are really fun to play and don't get boring fast. They just aren't super detailed is all.

[Awol]

I have trouble thinking up ideas for a map until I get to play the game for a bit.

I missed the boat on the half life 1 version. If this really catches my interest I might check into mapping a bit more.

[cheese]

check the map forums for a topic on map locations, you might have to search for it but its filled with a lot of ideas.