Early Shots of ONS-Sandbox

[Beezer]

I've been working on a new UT2004 map for the past month. It's for the Onslaught game type called Sandbox. I'm still a long way from finished, but it's finally starting to look like something I'm not ashamed of.
Here's some pics (still need to finished the terrain texturing and skybox needs more work...





[I]MGhttp://home.pacbell.net/fimbesi/Sbox4.jpg[/IMG]

[GNEP]

Looking nice Beezer! Let us know if you want any beta-testing done!

[SitFlyer]

I want it NOW

[Beezer]

Hopefully, I'll be ready for some beta testing in a couple weeks. I've made pretty good progress on the bot pathing and have actually been able to play some matches with them. I also need to optimize and compact the file. In its current state it's almost 50MB in size!

[Beezer]

Here's some updated pics... It's almost beta test ready, just struggling with getting proper frame rates (runs fine on my system, but I think it may be a bit slow on older rigs). I managed to shrink the file size down to a more respectable 12MB

[SitFlyer]

Lookin' good. I can't wait

[Helevitia]

Wow, very impressive! Keep up the good work!

[The Rock]

The only time I ever tried Unreal map making with the original UT, I found it weird. I couldn't get used to carving a level out of an already solid block. Much prefer the Quake\HL style map tools. So how are the mapping tools for UT2004?

[Beezer]

Well, I never really mapped with Ued 2.0 (original UT engine), but the methods are still the same with Ued 3.0 (UT2k3 & 4) in that you need to carve out "subtracted space" to create your level.
However, my understanding is that there are some new tools and methods that make the process a little easier than the 2.0 version of the editor -- mostly the use of "static meshes". This is a library of objects (everything from wall panels and light fixtures to trees and rocks). You just need to choose them, size them, re-texture them (if you want) and move them anywhere in your map you wish. Really quite easy once you get familiar with the process. Also making outdoor terrain environments is supposedly easier with the new editor. That said, the editor is still a very complex and powerful piece of software. You can do just about anything your imagination wishes, but it may take a lot of time and "hair-pulling" to accomplish it.