DM-Essence2004 beta

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Name: DM-Essence-2004
Version: beta 6 (20-Oct-04)
Compatibility: UT2004
Description: Small FFA map best played with 2-8 players and weaponstay on.
Comments: Remake by MoxNix - layout based upon the original DM-Essence for UT by Maury "ruineR" de Geofroy.
Screenshot:
Click pictures to see full sized
http://img81.exs.cx/img81/4039/Shot00083.jpg

http://img76.exs.cx/img76/1782/Shot00084.jpg

http://img76.exs.cx/img76/1883/Shot00085.jpg
Credits: Maury "ruineR" de Geofroy - author of the original UT map DM-Essence
Homepage: http://www.damclan.com
Download: http://www.unrealplayground.com/download.php?mapid=7543

[legacy-Kreskin]

Look great! But make this map darker, that would be cool :up:

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Originally posted by Kreskin
Look great! But make this map darker, that would be cool :up:

Much darker and you can't see what you're shooting at half the time.

[legacy-Kreskin]

As Dark as grendelkeep...

i am not saying complete darkness ;)

[Frogger]

this plays great... my only gripe is the weather effect...is quite distracting/annoying...rain drops are really big...but i don't liek any weather effects...

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Originally posted by Frogger
this plays great... my only gripe is the weather effect...is quite distracting/annoying...rain drops are really big...but i don't liek any weather effects...

Turn world detail down and the rain goes away... Also there is a settings option to turn weather effect off regardless of detail settings.

[AnubanUT2]

:eek: :eek: :D :D

Boy do I ever love a beautiful looking DM map!! Hopefully the bots are pretty well pathed. Thanks. :up: :)

[Frogger]

Originally posted by {DAM}MoxNix
Also there is a settings option to turn weather effect off regardless of detail settings.

really....must do that now..

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Originally posted by AnubanUT2
:eek: :eek: :D :D

Boy do I ever love a beautiful looking DM map!! Hopefully the bots are pretty well pathed. Thanks. :up: :)

Thank you! And yes the bots are well pathed, very well pathed if I might say so myself. They'll use dodgejump and shieldjump to take shortcuts that might surprise you. They'll even follow you up on the slant surfaces if you go up there (provided they're masterful or better, adept and lower won't shieldjump).


Originally posted by Frogger
rain drops are really big...

Rain drops will be half the size in the next version. I've also fixed the grates over the slime pits so rockets/flak/etc will blow up when hitting them.

[legacy-Scify]

DM-Essence is Ture remake. I got one Question.DM-Essence of UT 99 I have isn't rainning? Is there one was rainning? I know there lot differrent verison that out there other maps.Lighting is fine.:up: :up: :up: :up:

[AnubanUT2]

Nice map ... looks cool ... kind of like you've seen it before but then there is something that is unique and you can't put your finger on it. Yep that's this map ... a nice open deathmatch ... and the bots were good ... maybe too good ;) ... the flow was nice ... good fps ... nice rain and skybox, and oh yeah ... lots of dying. What more can you ask for in a great DM map? Thanks again. Peace. :D :up:

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Originally posted by Scify
DM-Essence is Ture remake. I got one Question.DM-Essence of UT 99 I have isn't rainning? Is there one was rainning? I know there lot differrent verison that out there other maps.Lighting is fine.:up: :up: :up: :up:

AFAIK there is only 1 UT version and it doesn't have rain... It was quite a bit brighter too.

[legacy-Scify]

Thank you tell me.

[legacy-Homeslice]

Looks awesome, dude! I'll have to download it soon, though - I'm up later than I should be....

EDIT: Wow, it plays really well! Nice lighting and good stuff with the visuals (lava and slime steam rising, for example) and sounds, and the bots do well. This will be great upon its release! Good to see a true classic revived.

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Beta 5 (http://www.unrealplayground.com/download.php?mapid=7236) up for testing now.

- Added some more trim
- Added lighting flashes to the skybox
- Made rain drops look smaller
- Replaced a bunch of small static meshes with a few larger ones
- Fixed collision on slime pit grates so rockets, etc. explode on them
- Changed/tweaked some textures
- Tweaked lighting, sound and botpathing some more

[AnubanUT2]

Originally posted by {DAM}MoxNix
Beta 5 (http://www.unrealplayground.com/download.php?mapid=7236) up for testing now.

Gracias Amigo!! :D

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

It's pretty much done now, except I'm not happy with the look of the roofline... Suggestions anyone?

I still need to put something in the skybox or outside the windows to improve the view through the windows too.

[AnubanUT2]

Originally posted by {DAM}MoxNix
It's pretty much done now, except I'm not happy with the look of the roofline... Suggestions anyone?

I still need to put something in the skybox or outside the windows to improve the view through the windows too.

Well I finally got around to playing it and WOW!!! :eek: :eek: :D :D :up: :up: I couldn't see anything really wrong with it but then again I was busy fending off bots!! GJ!!! But I didn't get stuck and the rain was much better and all in all I think it is ready to be released. But hopefully now others will add any final comments. Peace.

[AnubanUT2]

Originally posted by {DAM}MoxNix
It's pretty much done now, except I'm not happy with the look of the roofline... Suggestions anyone?

I still need to put something in the skybox or outside the windows to improve the view through the windows too.

The roofline is not bad but I see what you mean about the skybox and the windows. Well think about what the surrounding environment might be ... it seems high up so maybe mountains or other castles ... or if it is the highest then add a few more clouds ... a bit more color and some lightning strikes outside happening outside the windows ... maybe some birds (or other small flying creatures) passing by every three minutes may work. Peace. :D

[legacy-Carbs]

Build one huge castle or city around it, as if the map took place in a giant tower. That'd be niiiice (IMO).

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Beta 6 (3rd public beta) up for testing.

http://www.unrealplayground.com/download.php?mapid=7543

Changes in this version:
- Added some outside details making the view from windows better
- Tweaked botpathing
- Tweaked lighting
- Optimized for slightly better framerates
- Many small details changed

This will probably be the last beta, anyone with criticisms, comments, suggestions, ideas or especially bug reports, please speak up now.

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Just a quick note about performance.

For anyone with performance issues in the green fog, if you turn world detail level to anything but high the fog (as well as some other eyecandy details) will dissappear.

Edit: Oops! Make that with world detail on low the green fog dissappears and it shows on normal and high... For beta 6 that is... In the latest working version here the fog only shows on high and not on normal or low. :D A bunch of other eyecandy stuff appears on normal or high but not on low.

[legacy-d12disturbed]

A brighter version of this map has been
on my DM server for months. Very good battle
map. One of my UT99 favorites.



216.15.183.199

[legacy-Whiskey 7]

Originally posted by {DAM}MoxNix
[B]Beta 6 (3rd public beta) up for testing.

http://www.unrealplayground.com/download.php?mapid=7543



Aghhh... I did't read the thread before downloading...

There's a new beta...

First one was great DM gameplay {DAM}MoxNix, but I'm off to download the other beta...

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Originally posted by Whiskey 7
Aghhh... I did't read the thread before downloading...

There's a new beta...

First one was great DM gameplay {DAM}MoxNix, but I'm off to download the other beta...

Whenever I release a new beta I update the link in the first post to point to the new version too. ;)

Good to hear you like it. :)

[legacy-Yournan2000]

looking good, like maps of this theme.

The lighting could be a little darker, and maybe bump up the lightmaps as well.

I'm guessing the entire ceiling is open to the skybox, thats why its a bit brighter perhaps add some beams going across and spotlight actors to make some cool shadows.

The rain would look a bit better slightly angled, with a few puddles here and there. Might look good, might not depends some missing tiles with plants poking though or a bit of terrain.

MsM

**edit**

didn't realise it was your thread, you want me to delete my comments as we had our special agreement.

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Originally posted by Yournan2000
looking good, like maps of this theme.

The lighting could be a little darker, and maybe bump up the lightmaps as well.

I'm guessing the entire ceiling is open to the skybox, thats why its a bit brighter perhaps add some beams going across and spotlight actors to make some cool shadows.

The rain would look a bit better slightly angled, with a few puddles here and there. Might look good, might not depends some missing tiles with plants poking though or a bit of terrain.


From a purely aesthetic point of view it does look a bit nicer when it's a little darker. The problem is when it's any darker it's difficult to see enemies. In fact some think it's too dark as it is now. The skybox and sunlight actor are probably a touch too bright, I'll be tweaking that before final release.

Lightmaps, ya they need to be bumped in some spots... Thanx for pointing it out, that's the type of minor detail that can be easy to forget. :)

The entire ceiling is a single zone open to the skybox. Windows are another story, each outside wall has it's own seperate outdoor zone for the windows on that side. I'll likely add some more detail to the roofline and uppper walls yet (allready have added some) but I doubt I'll add any more crossbeams.

The rain is slightly angled. Initially I tried it at steeper angles but it just looked wrong in a lot of spots. At a steeper angle I'd have to add a whole bunch of "norain" zones so it doesn't look like the rain's coming right out of the walls. ;)

Plants poking through... Heh, I just did that a few days ago. There are some dead weeds in the corners by shock and mini now and some dead trees outside the windows on 2 sides. :) I decided not to put any terrain in this map, mainly because most maps I've done previously had at least some terrain.

I know I said beta 6 was probably going to be the last beta, but I've made enough changes allready that I should release one more beta just to make sure there aren't any serious bugs that have crept in. :D

It's got screenshots and cubemaps for the water too now. The biggest thing holding me back from releasing it is the roofline. I'm still not entirely happy with that.

I've also added some meshes the bots can use to dodge onto the slanted wall surfaces. That means bots don't have to shieldjump to get up there so low level bots can get up there too, not just masterful and higher bots... It's funny how low level bots can make fairly difficult dodgejumps with ease, yet they've got to be masterful or better before they'll even try the simplest shieldjump.

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Some new screenies:

http://img2.exs.cx/img2/4566/Shot00164.jpg

http://img2.exs.cx/img2/5739/Shot00165.jpg

http://img2.exs.cx/img2/4696/Shot00166.jpg

[legacy-Scify]

one art statue that was beta 4 was whole lot better http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/D7/D0/UTRedeemer/1/7f.jpg :up: Now on beta 6 need to gone http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/D7/D0/UTRedeemer/1/7e.jpg :down:
I see u have fix rain come down. Light is fine to me.Keep up with good work.

[legacy-{DAM}MoxNix]

Originally posted by Scify
one art statue that was beta 4 was whole lot better http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/D7/D0/UTRedeemer/1/7f.jpg :up: Now on beta 6 need to gone http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/D7/D0/UTRedeemer/1/7e.jpg :down:
I see u have fix rain come down. Light is fine to me.Keep up with good work.

Ya the ball is gone allready... Not sure what's going to wind up there in the end, but it won't be the spiked ball, you can count on that. :D

[legacy-Scify]

THANK YOU:D :D :D :D :D

[legacy-Yournan2000]

on the new screen, re-texture that mesh arch from the asian theme(?) just thought musky lighting as well might look good here too.

MsM

[legacy-Yournan2000]

Originally posted by {DAM}MoxNix
From a purely aesthetic point of view it does look a bit nicer when it's a little darker. The problem is when it's any darker it's difficult to see enemies. In fact some think it's too dark as it is now. The skybox and sunlight actor are probably a touch too bright, I'll be tweaking that before final release.

Lightmaps, ya they need to be bumped in some spots... Thanx for pointing it out, that's the type of minor detail that can be easy to forget. :)

The entire ceiling is a single zone open to the skybox. Windows are another story, each outside wall has it's own seperate outdoor zone for the windows on that side. I'll likely add some more detail to the roofline and uppper walls yet (allready have added some) but I doubt I'll add any more crossbeams.

The rain is slightly angled. Initially I tried it at steeper angles but it just looked wrong in a lot of spots. At a steeper angle I'd have to add a whole bunch of "norain" zones so it doesn't look like the rain's coming right out of the walls. ;)

Plants poking through... Heh, I just did that a few days ago. There are some dead weeds in the corners by shock and mini now and some dead trees outside the windows on 2 sides. :) I decided not to put any terrain in this map, mainly because most maps I've done previously had at least some terrain.

I know I said beta 6 was probably going to be the last beta, but I've made enough changes allready that I should release one more beta just to make sure there aren't any serious bugs that have crept in. :D

It's got screenshots and cubemaps for the water too now. The biggest thing holding me back from releasing it is the roofline. I'm still not entirely happy with that.

I've also added some meshes the bots can use to dodge onto the slanted wall surfaces. That means bots don't have to shieldjump to get up there so low level bots can get up there too, not just masterful and higher bots... It's funny how low level bots can make fairly difficult dodgejumps with ease, yet they've got to be masterful or better before they'll even try the simplest shieldjump.


The skybox, what textures are you using for it?Maybe a skybox like DOM-Scorched Earth would look good?

I take it your gonna use 8 or 4 lightmaps?

Cool about the crossbeams, reason i add them is only to make cool shaodws and to give the gab in the skybox look more interesting.

The rain i would tweak some more, try and make it a little more angled. If you haven't add that pool mesh from rankin and use the splash emitter as well, if you wan tto go the full mile add a nice greeny lighting like i did in my malevolence re-make and also a splash sound trigger, for when someone would through the puddle.

The plants make a nice effect, also try some of those thorns mesh from the citadel package, they might look good here.:up:, terrain i would use if i was you yes you use it in all your maps but you do a ace job on it, its one of your strengths:up: i use terrain only purely for detail, like in small mounts only maybe some terrain could be used for lumps of dirt or sometinhg lineing the walls?

bots are weird folk mate:confused: :bulb:

hope that help,s i'ii download it tomorrow and give it a whirl over.

MsM