How to make any map look 'Blockout' styled. (OFFLINE MODE ONLY)

(YeOldeButtcheek) #1

As I refer to blockout, I mean by the best standards of maps in development.
These maps have no textures, and are generally white and grey.

Firstly, bring up console:
Hit “`”, and or “~” this brings up console.

To go to any map, type: switchlevel OBJ/EXE_Mapname. Under this list are mapnames.
[spoiler](Copy/Paste these into console)
switchlevel OBJ_Bridge
switchlevel OBJ_CanaryWharf (Underground)
switchlevel OBJ_Trainyard
switchlevel OBJ_Victoria (Terminal)
switchlevel OBJ_Whitechapel (Chapel)

switchlevel EXE_Canal (Market/Dank Market)
switchlevel EXE_Overground
[/spoiler]

Once loaded into your map, open up console and type the following:

‘show levelcoloration’ without quotation marks.

This will make Dirty Bomb ignore textures, and leave them how they are normally which is grey.
This includes Decals, and more.

Pros
Greatly increased FPS
Minimalistic Look

Cons
Debatable whether this is ‘cheating’
Glitchy Lighting Effects (Can be changed with Minimal Graphic settings)
Only available in Offline Matches via Console.
Playermodels are also grey.

Images (9)
[spoiler]http://i.imgur.com/EfYxKpY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HUWP8r6.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/TtmlV5O.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/51WShpg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Fd3PaYU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mRrYZEA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ppda4Vx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qU4XDCx.jpg[/spoiler]

(Pacmikey) #2

I think someone dropped their vanilla ice cream.

(XavienX) #3

Don’t think it’s “cheating” since it could only be done in offline mode.

And also for some reason the maps kinda look cooler. We should have a map that’s just a blockout theme but of course with sharper details.

(YeOldeButtcheek) #4

[quote=“Xavien;154257”]Don’t think it’s “cheating” since it could only be done in offline mode.

And also for some reason the maps kinda look cooler. We should have a map that’s just a blockout theme but of course with sharper details.[/quote]

I’m talking about it being used in online play.

(XavienX) #5

[quote=“Ye_Olde_Buttcheeks;154261”][quote=“Xavien;154257”]Don’t think it’s “cheating” since it could only be done in offline mode.

And also for some reason the maps kinda look cooler. We should have a map that’s just a blockout theme but of course with sharper details.[/quote]

I’m talking about it being used in online play.[/quote]

Wait, this can be used in online also? Thought you said in the title it’s for offline only?

(Sinee) #6

Makes me want a snowy map so bad. Maybe a nice nuclear winter scene to go with the post apocalyptic theme.

Oooo… :*

(iPod_) #7

For some reason I can see these blockout maps to be “goodish” competitive maps since there are less distracting elements around the map and its easier to spot the enemy at certain points.

(Amerika) #8

Ahh, just like the good old Q3 days. This is a random match of mine from Quakecon years ago that I re-recorded at 1080p and I had the nicer looking lighting (I played at 640x480) a few years ago. But it gives you a good idea of what was competition legal and what you were able to do with the engine options.

We got to remove textures, normalize lighting and played at lower than normal resolutions (for the time) so we could keep constant frame rates on all kinds of PC hardware. It was also done because it was less of a distraction as well. The game even let us force team models so we could choose a quiet guy for our team and a loud/bigger model for the enemy team (hitbox was the same for all models though) and we also got to use bright skins.

-EDIT-

Oh, I found an old screenshot! It kind of shows what the game actually looked like. Screenshots always came out a bit brighter than what you actually saw though. Fun Fact: That X-D team in the screenshot is the team Joe Rogan played for before most people knew Joe.

(darlingClaymore) #9

no, this wont pass for online mode, take warthunder for example, they made gave the option to remove grass (huge part of camo in tanks) and now low end PC users get a huge advantage being able to see through foliage. This is same thing with white out maps, huge advantage to low spec, and competitive players will always suffer and do it, it only hurts those looking for a casual and enjoyable gaming experience.

(YeOldeButtcheek) #10

[quote=“Xavien;154285”][quote=“Ye_Olde_Buttcheeks;154261”][quote=“Xavien;154257”]Don’t think it’s “cheating” since it could only be done in offline mode.

And also for some reason the maps kinda look cooler. We should have a map that’s just a blockout theme but of course with sharper details.[/quote]

I’m talking about it being used in online play.[/quote]

Wait, this can be used in online also? Thought you said in the title it’s for offline only?[/quote]

No I mean if it were possible in online play, it would be controversial to use the command or not.
You cannot use this command in online matches.

(ZeroFactor) #11

But you can see in the images that foliage is still there…

(Black) #12

How is that the low end PC’s users fault? It’s the same thing with dirty bomb.

How is it “cheating” if every player can do it simply by going to settings and changing it?

(SiegeFace) #13
(Supa) #14

[quote=“Black;154530”]

How is that the low end PC’s users fault? It’s the same thing with dirty bomb.

How is it “cheating” if every player can do it simply by going to settings and changing it?[/quote]

I am forever torn on both sides when it comes to this subject. In my humble opinion, I cannot see the problem with removing things like muzzle flash and explosions from grenades/airstrike/etc if EVERYONE has the capability of doing it.

I cannot see why it is the low-end user’s problem. It isn’t like the low-end user has a choice other than to spend a bunch of money. If you have some tricked-out modern rig and run this game smoothly on max settings, that is fine, but if you want to play with better settings and play at a disadvantage, that is completely your own problem.

Some graphical restrictions ARE too much, and I think this command might be a bit over the top. However, Competitive gaming revolves around skill, not running the game at the pre-set low settings. Personally, I think the graphical restrictions have gone a bit too far in DB and have shut out a lot of players who could otherwise play the game.

(Black) #15

[quote=“Supa;154550”][quote=“Black;154530”]

How is that the low end PC’s users fault? It’s the same thing with dirty bomb.

How is it “cheating” if every player can do it simply by going to settings and changing it?[/quote]

I am forever torn on both sides when it comes to this subject. In my humble opinion, I cannot see the problem with removing things like muzzle flash and explosions from grenades/airstrike/etc if EVERYONE has the capability of doing it.

I cannot see why it is the low-end user’s problem. It isn’t like the low-end user has a choice other than to spend a bunch of money. If you have some tricked-out modern rig and run this game smoothly on max settings, that is fine, but if you want to play with better settings and play at a disadvantage, that is completely your own problem.

Some graphical restrictions ARE too much, and I think this command might be a bit over the top. However, Competitive gaming revolves around skill, not running the game at the pre-set low settings. Personally, I think the graphical restrictions have gone a bit too far in DB and have shut out a lot of players who could otherwise play the game.[/quote]

I’m fully aware that graphical restrictions can be game and map changing.
As said above, if you turned off grass you would be able to easily see enemies on the ground as oppose to someone having grass on where it’s harder.

However I’m talking about simple things such as not having a texture which isn’t game play changing. Or lessening the explosive effects while still obscuring the view for a few seconds. Changing the graphics while still allowing the environment to function as expected.

(YeOldeButtcheek) #16

I’m fully aware that graphical restrictions can be game and map changing.
As said above, if you turned off grass you would be able to easily see enemies on the ground as oppose to someone having grass on where it’s harder.

However I’m talking about simple things such as not having a texture which isn’t game play changing. Or lessening the explosive effects while still obscuring the view for a few seconds. Changing the graphics while still allowing the environment to function as expected.

This is one of the main reasons a High End graphically dependent games have struggles.
Unlike consoles, where everyone has the same setup, PC’s vary person to person.

But after moving around the maps, comparing the game with and without levelcoloration I would say, (in my opinion) levelcoloration could pass with changes.
Playermodels should still be colorized, along with abilities like ammo, grenades, etc.
Otherwise EVERYTHING would be white.
But other than that levelcoloration hinders the player.

(Black) #17

[quote=“Ye_Olde_Buttcheeks;154641”]

I’m fully aware that graphical restrictions can be game and map changing.
As said above, if you turned off grass you would be able to easily see enemies on the ground as oppose to someone having grass on where it’s harder.

However I’m talking about simple things such as not having a texture which isn’t game play changing. Or lessening the explosive effects while still obscuring the view for a few seconds. Changing the graphics while still allowing the environment to function as expected.

This is one of the main reasons a High End graphically dependent games have struggles.
Unlike consoles, where everyone has the same setup, PC’s vary person to person.

But after moving around the maps, comparing the game with and without levelcoloration I would say, (in my opinion) levelcoloration could pass with changes.
Playermodels should still be colorized, along with abilities like ammo, grenades, etc.
Otherwise EVERYTHING would be white.
But other than that levelcoloration hinders the player.[/quote]

Textures has no effect on game play. Whether or not a wall has color will not affect anything. The SHAPE is what matters. If it’s almost the same I don’t see a problem with it.

The same goes with player models. Player models should be whatever you want as long as it does not change the shape of them.

In quake live players can change what all the enemies look like to them, big or small, bright or dark.

(KnightDemon) #18

Looking at those screenshots reminds me of when I use to make maps for UnrealTournament and Tactical Ops via the early Unreal engine’s UnrealEd and having the 4 panels opened up with lighting, texture, or wire-frame windows. My perspective on that is those screenshots make it seem unfinished, sorta like how the original deck16 looked before the latter UT upgrade. Here’s some perspective that I hope will give some understanding as to the mindset of mappers. When making maps you add little things here and there for the aesthetic value or flow, down to the lighting, spawn points, volumetric fog, mesh, texture, or brush optimization(bsp fights) or tweaks. Other than the map maker, very few realize the effort put into to making a map work flawlessly and look good.

There used to be a console code called showall in the console that would allow you to see all the actors and objects in the map. Suffice it to say, if a map had easter eggs, hidden bot paths, blocked areas, or triggers, then you could follow the little apples or other symbols and locate them easily, but only other map makers would know how to use that, others would see apples, torches, and random demon headed thingies. I wouldn’t consider it cheating and don’t see much issue with people using ‘some’ of those alterations you’ve shown especially if it helps them with lower end systems or makes it easier if they have colorblindness.

Where this could be an issue is if certain areas are lit to where it is meant to be darkness, or trees that would otherwise obscure a spot that is now wide open. That can definitely have an impact on some of the gameplay. It also takes away from the mappers intention and artistic vision, but the view on that would of course be subjective.

Be glad the hell that is known as BSP goblin holes seem not to have affected Dirty Bomb since the move to an additive system of the newer UnrealED eliminated many of them. Btw, those lightmaps and untextured pics would help spot them those rascally devils :wink: .

(darlingClaymore) #19

How is that the low end PC’s users fault? It’s the same thing with dirty bomb.

How is it “cheating” if every player can do it simply by going to settings and changing it?[/quote]

Theres a reason some people put in hundreds of dollars into their PC’s to have nice graphics and steady fps. Whats the point of that if the game devs decided that you can remove textures, its not that I hate low end users, but its just not fair to those who want nice graphics and a competitive gaming experience they paid for both not just 1.

(Szakalot) #20

@Black the way a human brain perceives shape is all about contrast, thus the color of the texture has a significant impact on how quickly you are going to spot the enemy moving in front of it. simple textures are easier to process neurologically than sophisticated color mazes, if all walls were black and all player models were pure white spotting enemied would be a lot easier - redeyes ability