The BackRoads!

[Light1c3]

So thanks to everyone in the level design help form that help me :p ! Thanks to your help I managed to start my map and its going really well!

This map will be a back country road inspired by the learn to make a road videos.

If you could post how to put photos on the form that would be awesome!

Thanks again and I hope this well become something I do often :)!

[WarrenM]

To post images, you have to host them somewhere (like in the public folder of your DropBox account, or flickr, or whatever) and then link them from there. There's no hosting of images done by the forum directly.

[Light1c3]

this is what i have right now but i hope this week ill be able to finish it!
http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt181/Light1c3/Lake%20Side%20L4D2%20Map/Lake_side2.png

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt181/Light1c3/Lake%20Side%20L4D2%20Map/Lake_side1.png

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt181/Light1c3/Lake%20Side%20L4D2%20Map/Lake_side_river.png


Its not going to be a full map, just a test sample of what i can do so im making a small map but the best that i can !

Comment and tell me what you think! dont be shy!

[WarrenM]

This could be really cool! I like the idea of making my way along a coastline highway with blind turns and detours through gas stations/motels and sometimes having to move down near the water because the road is blocked.

[Nexusdog]

I agree, this has a good vibe to it, looking forward to your next update mate.

[Billiz]

I really like the first shot, great displacement work and texturing. One thing I have a problem with is the road, it starts just at the base of the cliff and the railing is on the end line of the road, you need some space on both sides of the road.

I found a few reference images to show what I'm talking about.

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/80417/80417,1181763496,1/stock-photo-alone-car-on-a-sunny-road-at-sea-coastline-3515113.jpg
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_170/1185830583mj60H3.jpg

http://www.bugbog.com/images/galleries/canada_pictures/new-canada-photos/atlantic-provinces/Nova-Scotia-road.jpg

How much space you want is up to you, depending on what kind of look you are going for. I suggest making small dispacement sections on each side.

I also found this image that I thought looked really awesome for a costline road.

http://www.audioconexus.com/resources/GPS-Self-Drive-Touring.jpg.opt439x329o0,0s439x329.jpg

[Light1c3]

Thanks! These ideas will really help me in the processes! I'll keep ya posted (hahaa).

[Light1c3]

If any one knows how to make a water fall with splashing water please comment and let me know!

Thanks!

[Nexusdog]

It's my personal opinion, but I think a waterfall would become the focal point of the scene, which may be nice, but what you've already created stands perfectly well on it's own composition. I feel it's understated which brings it to life, whereas a waterfall is dramatic but a bit, well, gimmicky.

Just my thoughts, I love it what you've created as it is, well done mate.

[Light1c3]

Jeez never though of it that way thanks!
I guess I can hold off on that waterfall until a little later in the campaign maybe that can be the focus of another level.
by the way, if anyone can help me, I'm trying to think where I can curve a road up wards and give the game a little more change in elevation.
ideas are welcome and ill soon get an update out on the level with pix.

thanks for helping and motivating me!

[MikeZ]

There is the highway in Washington State...I think...and I am not sure what it is called or it may even be in the south east somewhere...but anyway, it goes up into the mountains and has amazing views and it may be a way to create a multi level campaign where you are just stuck on this road because the only way off is down...just a though :)

your work looks great so far though!

[Light1c3]

Thanks for the idea! I think I'll use it in this campaign.
Ill need to look at some reference pix so if you think you have an idea post it :)!

and again, if you know a better way to make turns curve up please tell me haha!

[Light1c3]

So after working with the map I have a little more to show, still not close to being done but its a start!

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt181/Light1c3/Lake%20Side%20L4D2%20Map/Lake_side5.png

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt181/Light1c3/Lake%20Side%20L4D2%20Map/Lake_side4.png

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt181/Light1c3/Lake%20Side%20L4D2%20Map/Lake_side3.png


unsure of what to do at the ends of the road so ideas are welcome!

as always thanks!

[MikeZ]

Well for curved sloping roads I would likely investigate: WoLD (http://www.worldofleveldesign.com/categories/sourcesdk-authoringtools/creating-roads-in-hammer-source-part8-blocking-off-curved-surface-roads.php)

As far as reference I found this:

The Highway I was referencing (http://www.cherohala.org/) I was wrong it is in N. Carolina.
A page of images (http://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=Cherohala+Skyway&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=nVB-TfLVK8aJrQG49rXqBQ&ved=0CFQQsAQ&biw=1307&bih=1176)
Scenic stuff along highway (http://www.byways.org/stories/47550)

Hope that helps! Great opportunity for a lot of scenery!

[Light1c3]

Thats Fantastic!
Thank you so much, I'm just afraid that I'm not going to do it justice lol :D

[MikeZ]

I think just the effort is justice! I am sure you will do great!

[Light1c3]

So i finally compiled my map for the first time and it not looking good at all :( if anyone can help me, here is a video i took of the map while in game

http://video.xfire.com/42fddb-4.jpg (http://www.xfire.com/video/42fddb/)

[Light1c3]

and I know I need somethings like a 3d skybox and so on, and i think I'm looking for a different water texture
so if you have ideas let me know.

Thanks again

[MikeZ]

I have a question. Do you have any sketches or concept? It looks like you are slowly going the right direction and that over time you will evolve. If you don't have a plan, however, you will make very slow progress. I would avoid setting props until you have completely finalized the map. Blocking everything out and such. I have only been involved in a few projects and I am just doing my first from scratch solo but a routine that has worked for me and others I have worked with is to not get distracted by all of the bells and whistles. For a wide open outdoor level get the land done before you add water. Get the water done before you add a skybox. Utilize basic lighting for quick reference. Once you are happy then start adding your gas pumps, cabins, etc. Lighting should be the last step, IMO, because it will change based on what you have going on and it requires the most tweaking for realism.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

If you have some concept drawings or maps post them. Maps are important to help plan the placement, blocking, and most important of all the flow.

[Nexusdog]

I like it a lot, but that road needs to be a waaaaay higher, cliff side road instead of beach side. That way you get to show off a little, being able to overlook what's coming. :-)

[Warden]

I like it a lot, but that road needs to be a waaaaay higher, cliff side road instead of beach side. That way you get to show off a little, being able to overlook what's coming. :-)I agree. Both the cliff leading down to the ocean and the little hills by the shack need to be taller to make it look way more like a mountain-ish pass. The street itself look amazing though and I love the tunnel you added. There does need to be a guard rail though.

Also, your fog looks a bit awkward. Right now i looks like a sheet of white instead of something that slowly grows thicker in the distance. Try playing around with the settings (can't get much more in detail as I don't know the hammer toolset well enough to give any proper advice, maybe one of the other guy's could interject).

Keep up the good work! And as MikeZ said, you need some basic overview of the whole level. Even if you don't have anything now its not too late to go back and rough one up, you are early enough in the development where it will still be acceptable (I actually tend to block out sections of a map before planning the map's entirety myself).

[Light1c3]

So sorry for not being back to often, school kicked in and i'm neck deep in work so sadly ill need to let this go until summer :( Thanks for the help and ill be back once a week or so with an update but not like i was until now