WoLD: Gameplay Challenge - keithgarry

[keithgarry]

I swore I wouldn't touch Hammer, again but I just couldn't resist this challenge. Hehe. I've been prodding ideas around and testing game mechanics until I came up with something I felt was interesting and can be continually expanded upon. So without further ado I present my next map.

Game: HL2
Name: WoLD Inc.
Plot: Many years had passed and the once budding level design forums are now a wealthy and dominant company. WoLD Inc. has earned various awards, especially in the care and consideration of people. However, the strange treatment of the workers has led the player on journey to figure out just what has gone wrong.
Gameplay: Various puzzles with a moderate amount of fighting.


This banner challenged me to become familiar with GIMP.


Various notes and audio logs will be scattered throughout the level to inform you of Dave's escape and the strange things that he learns about WoLD.


Sentries ensure that workers remain at work...


...by alerting the guards.

[keithgarry]

http://www.mediafire.com/file/1zzy3j...prealphaV1.bsp

So I'm posting a prealpha to make sure everything is making sense and is somewhat functional. If you help test, I'm looking for these things:

• Is it fun?
  From 1 to 10 (10 being the hardest) how difficult was it to get to the "end".
  Do you like the "story" so far?
  Are there any bad/pink textures?
  Are there any major exploits or bugs?

Thanks!

The next post will show some of the design process I went through to get to where I am at now.

[AlexG]

Pretty cool stuff Keith.

I'll give it a play-through.

[Smog]

Heh heh, I like the story :-)

[AlexG]

I had a play through.

Is it fun?

Yes.

From 1 to 10 (10 being the hardest) how difficult was it to get to the "end".

6

Do you like the "story" so far?

Yes.

Are there any bad/pink textures?

No

Are there any major exploits or bugs?

I placed one of the maps (Oilcake's) and it didn't suck it up. I tried to grab it again to send it through, but I was not able to grab it again. Had to restart the map.

• The beginning is super fun. [/*:m:2bj5zfzp]
• Took me a while to find the secret passage. I thought the 'maps' part was supposed to open something up. Seemed like I was doing that for something but in the end it didn't lead to anything.[/*:m:2bj5zfzp]
• Voice overs are awesome[/*:m:2bj5zfzp]
• Food part was funny[/*:m:2bj5zfzp]
• Once I got outside it was a bit unclear of what to do.[/*:m:2bj5zfzp]
• Was there anything else beyond getting into the room with garage door? Was that where you intended me to end up?[/*:m:2bj5zfzp]

[keithgarry]

Thanks guys. Sadly, though, the editor is still broken on EP2 after two weeks. Meanwhile I've been working with C++, but, eh, at this rate the map wont ever be done in time for the contest, that's for sure. The idea is cool and fit perfectly into the HL2 universe(as I've been dragging myself over the ritual coals of Hammer to ensure it). I'm a little vexed, what can I say. Well, for whatever reason, I'll go into a little more detail about the level.

Characters

• You:[list:2mw9j1sz]
  You are a level designer for the now majorly successful World of Level Design Inc. You signed up for special servitude where you work on campus for two years- sucks but you get crazy bonuses and was all worth it up until the last couple weeks when things started to get weird.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*] Coworker Dave Z:

• Your best bud, coworker, and roommate Dave Z has disappeared. He left a note explaining that he's had enough and he wants out. Throughout the game Dave Z leaves messages and recordings that explain the weird stuff he sees around the WoLD campus. These things include game information, what certain items do, and major pieces of the story line.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*] Other Workers

• You can find these guys throughout the levels working away like ants and being bullied by combi- I mean "WoLD guards". A possible idea is freeing these workers and having them team up with you in certain scenarios. These are bonus NPCs that 'join the fight' when there is one.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*] WoLD Guards:

• These guys make sure you're busy working, or else. However, after a bit of exploring and help from Dave Z. you come realize that these guards are actually automated just like the observer robots. Actually.. just about everything around here is automated.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*] Computerized Voice

• This is the male version of the computer voice in Portal. He's there for comic relief only, though.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*] Alex G

• The antagonist, Alex G, is the founder of WoLD Inc. Throughout the years he has led a very successful and interesting life, that is until recently, when things around the campus have started to show their true colors. I have wrestled with the idea of making Alex purely evil, but what's an evil character without a little sympathy? So in the end I made some major modifications as to why he does the things he does, and yes, it has to do with zombies.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][/list:u:2mw9j1sz]


Special Items

• Data Disks:[list:2mw9j1sz]
  These usually have Dave Z's voice on them and explain the mishaps of WoLD, or reveal technical information about items, etc. They continually give you another perspective, sometimes clashing with what you already know.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*] Levels:

• These are the secret collectibles in WoLD Inc. They are imported images of the levels made by actual WoLD members(you guys). The more you collect, the more resources you can draw on for the special "scenarios" which I'll get to in a moment. Each level you collect gets hanged on your room wall.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*]Electromine:

• This little guy will zap electronics to get them working again. It has other uses for the puzzle aspect.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*] Hacked Robot Observer:

• The once annoying observer can be hacked and gives the player a tour of the campus. It shows spots on the map that makes the player wonder, "hm, how can I get there?", as well as short cinematics.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*]Standard Health, Battery, Weapons
[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][/list:u:2mw9j1sz]


Gameplay:
Get ready for some real spoilers now. Alex G has found a way to turn real life into levels. With this new power he has become mad and has been toiling every day to ensure that levels are the new reality.

• 2 Worlds: [list:2mw9j1sz]
  I have to admit this idea isn't totally tested, but I swear I'm not at fault for this(*cough* valve *cough*). Essentially there is the real world, aka, the WoLD campus on one side. On the other side, is the 'level world' where strange designs lie in wait.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*] Battle Scenarios:

• To escape from the campus the player has to shut down the level generators and turn the campus back to normal.[list:2mw9j1sz]
• Workers and resources
  NPCs from the half life 2 universe will try to stop you from changing the levels back into reality. So because of this, the workers you freed will now help you fight back. The resources ( aggregated from collecting the little level portrait items ) will let you spawn various creatures.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][*] Undoing the Damage:

• When you destroy a level generator, the level will change back to normal(somewhat), granting you access to the next parts of the level.

[/*:m:2mw9j1sz][/list:u:2mw9j1sz][/*:m:2mw9j1sz][/list:u:2mw9j1sz]

So, in closing, I'll continue working on the level when the editor works again.

[keithgarry]

Yeah that would be slick. You do any? :P

[keithgarry]

Yeah, I totally understand that there are some people that can and can't do voice overs. I barely pass, myself hehe. Well if you ever get a mic let me know. Send me some auditions some time

[Oilcake]

<- Terrible at voice overs! :lol:

[StixNStonz]

<- Done professional voice overs

[keithgarry]

<- Done professional voice overs

Lies! Prove it! :twisted:

[StixNStonz]

It was just one, and for a french translation. I did french immersion for 13 years, and apparently they liked my surfer voice. I find it's much better in english though :P

[Oilcake]

Any luck w/ the editor, yet, btw? I can't believe they've left it broken for this long... At least we can run the L4D2 SDK, and I can deal with the crap graphics I have to run the game on. Not running Hammer at all would ruin me.

Anyway, hope it's better soon!

[keithgarry]

Any luck w/ the editor, yet, btw? I can't believe they've left it broken for this long... At least we can run the L4D2 SDK, and I can deal with the crap graphics I have to run the game on. Not running Hammer at all would ruin me.

Anyway, hope it's better soon!

Nah, still a no go on the EP2 editor. But! Nexus and I are collaborating on a TF2 map and it's supa fun 8-)

[Oilcake]

Cool! I just saw your WIP thread about this! Have fun!