TBF that does undermine “looks” to an extent, because aesphetics do have an impact on gameplay - though mostly just detracting from it if it’s really bad, and adding to gameplay atmosphere when really good.
precedence should be given to gameplay and after the basics of a good map are put in place the designer can have some fun making it look good and adding some funny easter eggs.
exactly, imho.
I love Venice and Caen, but that’s just me.
I love Caen too…Venice gets on my lil nerves ^_^;;
Can someone share what is so god awful about venice? I’m confused seeing how tc_venice has been adopted by several leagues. Perhaps some intelligent exposition about how venice sux0rs could help other mappers make better maps.
tc_venice rocks, and is probably the best custom if you take gameplay + looks into account. SupplyDepot is the best if you just consider gameplay.
This weekend I changed from r_picmip 3 to r_picmip 0 to see what effect it had online (have always used r_picmip 0 for watching demos) and I’m glad to say it has bugger all effect on FPS so I’m now using it all the time, and it makes most of the maps look bloody gorgeous. Still need to tweak a few other things to maintain the FPS at acceptable level, but it’s not entirely true that you have to sacrifice looks for frame-rate.
And I’ve just realised I can’t take anything fattakin says seriously anymore cos he reckons Fueldump is well thought out and developed. 
And I’ve just realised I can’t take anything fattakin says seriously anymore cos he reckons Fueldump is well thought out and developed.
Aw now come on Kendle, the Dump is a fun, movie like map, i know its not a Clan game style map but surely youve had a good game on it once… just once?? Never… Ah jeebus help me
tc_venice is a fine example of a map that looks good and plays good.
FuelDump is just far, far, far too imbalanced fattakin. The only good games I have on it are as Axis rambo Med, especially if I can hold the area around Sniper Hill for a good while, but then I feel dirty afterwards and either have to go have a shower or make myself play Allied Engy for the next 12 weeks so I once again know the true meaning of pain.
FuelDump is just far, far, far too imbalanced fattakin. The only good games I have on it are as Axis rambo Med, especially if I can hold the area around Sniper Hill for a good while, but then I feel dirty afterwards and either have to go have a shower or make myself play Allied Engy for the next 12 weeks so I once again know the true meaning of pain.
ive really enjoyed FD recently provided the CP allows allies to spawn there. its still hard to crack the axis defence but at least you dont have to walk ten miles every time to do it
True, ETPro has made it a different map. I still wonder tho how come we all play this game when Fueldump was the “showpiece” they used for et_test.
gameplay > eyecandy
I don’t know about anyone else, but after I play a map a few dozen times, I completely ignore the eyecandy. Same with easter eggs and other such gimmicks. They are cool the first time you see them, but either useless or distracting once you know the map.
If a mapper wants to make a map people will play (rather than just a show piece to look at), they should plan the basic gameplay (objectives, distances from spawn points, choke points, etc.) first, and then add eyecandy up to whatever performance penalty they are willing to accept.