DOCUMENTATION
This is my first DM map that I am releasing, when I started on HOTEL my knowledge of Worldcraft or about HL mapping was limited, that was soon to change. This map was a personal achievement for me to finish! It's easy to set out making a new level - but actually finishing one is another thing! It proved to be a very steep learning curve that opened up a 'New World' - the world of level editing - which I now find fascinating!
Title :- HOTEL CALIFORNIA (project title)
Filename :- idb1hotel.bsp
Author :- IAN BURKE (GROO - ...*PolyG@D*)
Author Email :- user@buildingdesign.in2home.co.uk
Author Website:- www.buildingdesign.in2home.co.uk
HL Clan :- Deputy of RDoGz Clan (UK Wireplay 5v5)
Clan Home page :- www.alborac.claranet.
Description :- Half-life DM (or Teamplay) level for about 8-16 ppl
I'd like to Thank Siobhan & Baby Emily - The two most important people in my life. Thanks for understanding my interest in 3D Computer Graphics and VR environment design. My daughter Emily was born on 21st Dec. 99 and was the perfect ending to any Millennium.
Norman Chapman - 'A good friend' and for giving me lots of e-mails to read - hope your well mate!
T1000 [QID] - Even though you prefer Quake2! - hope you still have a Girlfriend you sad geek! Lol.
All RDoGz (past and present) HL Wireplay Clan - for watching my back in Undertow and just being there when the shit hits the fan.
RADIUM site (http://www.planethalflife.com/radium) - For the best HL MAP REVEIWING site in the world (do I get a few extra % for that? lol) Nice to see you back with use m8.
Tutorials on the net - To everyone that has took their valuable time righting HL tutorials - thanks for sharing your knowledge with me.
VALVE & ID Software - Obviously - without whom I'd have a whole life - not just HALF-a-LIFE! lol.
Also anyone that knows me or is involved with the HL community!
Deathmatch : YES - bring it on.... INTERNET OR LAN... I love it
Single Player : SORRY NOT THIS TIME - but there is a PLAYER_START.
Map Description : This map is centred around a HOTEL building; Entrance Lounge, Swimming Pool, roof level and Dinning areas are featured, allowing close combat internal areas. The surrounding streets create a large open environment providing more movement and long range weapon usage.
The Hotel roof is accessible - don't look down! - this provides a dramatic vertical scale to the map - even the bravest players will feel a twinge of vertigo.
The subtransit METRO station provides an excellent opportunity to 'get out of the light' and who knows what might be lurking in the dark!
How Many Players: about 10-16 ppl (ideally for Wireplay 5v5 Teamplay)
New Textures :- NONE I wanted to include my own textures (it's easy to do) but it needs a WAD file distributed with the BSP map. This is a problem when you download the map direct from a server running the game because it will not d/l the WAD file (I still can't find the WAD file needed for SODIUM map!!!!! lol). So I decided to stick to the original HL textures only - which is a harder challenge than creating your own! I also contemplated using '-nowaddtextures' switch when compiling - but I didn't want to jeopardise the map if something went wrong. MAYBE NEXT TIME.
New Sounds :- NONE (Original PAK0 only)
Prefabs Used :- NONE, all objects found within this map where created by GROO (with the exception of some standard Worldcraft crates, barrel, cage and sofa etc.) Lamppost prefab created by GROO and is copyright.
Base :- Created from original material by GROO. Inspired by 'EAGLES' song!
Editor(s) used :- Worldcraft 2.0, planning and concept drawn on AutoCAD R14 first for correct scaling of Architecture.
Compile Machine :- P3 450mhz, 192meg ram, Geforce Annihilator PRO256 DDR
Compile time :- About 3hrs at present - full compile
Playtest time :- Thanks to Alborac, BEVERIDGE and JACK for their invaluable playtesting and constructive criticism. It makes me happy to know others appreciate my hard work.
1. Unzip the files in the archive. Place the map, "idb1hotel.bsp" in your half-life/valve/maps directory.
2. Use the following command at the console: map idb1hotel. Item's don't respawn with this method so its best to use LAN set-up below (LAN connection not required for this to work!).
If you want to set a LAN or look at the map as a single player, go into Multiplayer/LAN Game/Create Game and select idb1hotel map from the list, then click OK.
- I've never been to CALIFORNIA (maybe sometime in the future!) so don't complain if it looks nothing like it! It's in name only and i got the project title from the classic eagle's hit (as if you didn't guess!) I heard it playing on the radio and it inspired me to make this level. I am also limited to Half-life's standard sky environments :(
- If, like me, you've always enjoyed (and wanted to perform!) the classic movie stunt 'hotel roof jump into the swimming pool' Now's your chance!
- An article by Likka "Fingers" Keranen of 'Looking Glass' gave me invaluable advise on great level design - "concentrate more in creating a sense of actual location, which is lacking in most levels these days... settings and themes that don't fall into a 'done-before' category of any kind." I've tried to make this map unique and stand out from the 'run-of-the-mill' endless corridor levels than most amateur designers tend to come up with. From the feedback I've received so far, I think I've succeeded.
I found Worldcraft easy to learn, working within Architectural Practices for the past 10 years has learnt me a lot about 3D environments and 3D graphical interfaces (8 hrs a day working on AutoCAD helps - lol) I had previously created 3D models using 3D Studio and other modelling software - so 'Brushes' was easy to pick up! 'Entities' well., I'm still learning them. I would like to mention 'r_speeds' - if you are new to HL editing then you will probably say 'what the hell are r_speeds?' like I did at first. Someone could right a book about r_speeds, so I won't go into explaining them here. Go to a popular editing site (RUST for e.g.) and read their tutorials. Please find out about them SOONER rather than LATER! Or you may as well forget about HL Mapping! You'll thank me later.
Important Note: This Map was totally remodelled three times to reduce r_speeds (maybe I should've mapped for Q3 - lol) "If only I had known what I know now." I have set a r_speed budget of 800 for this map. This is slightly higher than VALVES original DM levels that have max. r_speeds of about 600-700 - but I feel that they are visually quite 'bare', 'enclosed' and 'empty' in comparison. Anyway, An increase of 100 is negligible and only occurs in one or two places, over 90% of the maps areas are below the 500 mark. I also feel that if you are a serious HL DM gamer then you will not be playing in SOFTWARE MODE. lol.
Anyone who likes (or even dislikes) my maps and would like to contact me - please do so I love reading E-mail. If you have a proposition then don't hang about! Or if you work for VALVE and you want a great level designer - just send me an e-mail and we can chat over a pint! (I wish) - worth a try!
I may be willing to make MOD maps for recognition - although my time is limited! But feel free to contact me with your suggestions. I'm hoping to start a MSc Virtual Reality course in September 2000, so I can't commit too much time after that date. I've also a young family so out-of-work hours are limited. Don't despair, i may be able to help anyway! EVEN BY GIVING MY OWN OPPINIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ON YOUR WORK!
This doc was created from a 'template' available at The radium Half-Life Map Centre...http://www.planethalflife.com/radium
Authors MAY NOT use this level as a base to build additional levels. You MUST NOT distribute this level UNLESS you INCLUDE ALL FILES WITH NO MODIFICATIONS!!!. If you don't co-operate, then DON'T DISTRIBUTE IT IN ANY FORM!!. This BSP may be distributed ONLY over the Internet and/or BBS systems.
You are NOT authorised to put this BSP on any CD or distribute it in any way without my permission. Although, if you ask me nicely i'm sure it will complement any compilation!
The name's GROO - ...*PolyG@D* - remember it - I intend to make an impact!
Q3A is here and maybe it's about time I learnt Q3Radiant!