NEW MAP: Secret Weapon

A_SoSA_fre2d · 2004-07-18 19:35:28 UTC

So, finally we completed our first map! The Sons of Stollig present to you “Secret Weapon”. We did it the hard way and decided to create not only brushwork, but models, sounds and textures from scratch. Basically 95% is our own creation, the rest is standard stuff. Textures were photographed in Helsingborg, Sweden. Its been quite some journey from starting radiant for the first time in october 2003, and without previous mapping experience we must say thatÂ´s been hard work! Nobody told us it was gonna be full time

The map is quite small and intense, aimed for competitve play or small pub servers. The map will be used in a summer cup which I believe have some open spots - if you play in a clan, why dont you sign up http://deviant-et.kicks-ass.org/summercup/

Allied objectives: Blow a couple of doors, steal the secret weapon, deliver it to the airplane - but first build the radio which enables the drop point at the airplane. Capture the forward spawn. Watch out for minefields and rotating propellers - they hurt!

Axis: prevent all of the above

Big thanks to Stix for original idea for layout, Team Wolverines, Monika and Svarvsven for play testing and feedback, wouldnÂ´t have made it without you

Screenshots:

Download from
http://www.segerfalk.com/secret_weapon/sos_secret_weapon.pk3

Some may remember that we worked on a map called “Mona Lisa”- well, we ditched it because we didnt think it was good enough. But a sequel might show up!

Enjoy

TW_BadAss · 2004-07-18 19:51:05 UTC

Awsome Fre2d!! I think this map will be very popular…as mentioned, we will play this map during a summercup…a great test for it.

Try this map now,it :rocker2:

Cya
BadAss

Cartman · 2004-07-19 00:21:07 UTC

mh a little bit to big and mh behind the minesfield there are silly fog…the rest is o.k

A_SoSA_fre2d · 2004-07-19 08:54:11 UTC

Well, what took you some minutes extra to download, took us a 150 hours extra to create And the fog is not silly, its perfectly natural with fog coming in from a swampy area early in the morning. Enjoy

BroQ · 2004-07-19 11:25:17 UTC

Hmmmm

There are some bugs in in?

The sky is all in yellow squares and the trucks at 2nd allies spawn are black :x
Forgot to insert some textures?

thore · 2004-07-19 11:58:48 UTC

i like the achritecture, makes it all feeling industrial. i DON’T like the upper gangway on the
first pic as it looks somewhat misplaced, as well as i don’t really like all those custom icons.
the smiling head on garage doors, the mine flags, the ‘zuper zectret…’ writing on the
container plus the ‘n99b RTFM’ writing on the runway… too many gimmicks for my
understanding.

anyway, this is just by judging the pics you’ve presentet,
still have to have a walk on there though to say something
about gameplay…

:moo:

A_SoSA_fre2d · 2004-07-19 11:59:07 UTC

Sounds strange! I just tried it on a clean install, and there were no problems. Mayby you have an older version of sos_secret_weapon? There was a beta released some time ago. Delete all old files and try again!

A_SoSA_fre2d · 2004-07-19 12:01:33 UTC

thore: we like gimmicks Deploy mortarrrr

TerraForma · 2004-07-19 14:33:44 UTC

are the spelling mistakes gimmicks too? (
No offence :drink: i like the industrial charme and textures…
if u like (or need ) i will write u the right german words, i can understand if anybody have problems with spelling german right, even the most germans know their language well :disgust:
(not that my english is better )

greetz

CptnTriscuit · 2004-07-19 19:58:41 UTC

aside from the minor criticisms already expressed - very nice! You guys really went to town with the custom textures and models - always refreshing.

FrontRunner · 2004-07-19 22:01:21 UTC

Seems like a nice map! Like the textures, although must agree on the comment made about the custom icons. What i noticed is that you cant pick up the secret weapon without having blow up the front door. Could be me, but i tried it twice with the same result.

_Yojimbo · 2004-07-19 22:49:40 UTC

I can assure you that all ze zpelling “misstakes” are on purpouse :D. All Swedes have been brought up with 'Allo 'Allo and are therefore fluent in Ze German.

DG1 · 2004-07-20 14:56:00 UTC

Jolt download mirror (fast, but UK only atm Â¬_Â¬)

G0-Gerbil · 2004-07-20 23:53:00 UTC

Had a look, and since I’m an opinionated git, got some comments.

Negative:

A few of the rooms suffer from empty-itis. A common problem with custom maps I’d say.
The yellow/black trim to the catwalks is a bit oversaturated, downing it’s contrast a bit would help.
The catwalk above the pipes appears to be held up it’s entire length by the ladders at either end!
The world’s shortest runway! Actually it’s probably not, since I see this problem all the time in custom maps. Trying to land or take off there, especially with the mines at the end… even Biggles couldn’t manage it!
The odd framerate problem.

Plusses:

Great use of custom textures, really helps the map.
Great details in some parts (which just makes the empty bits stand out more)
Nice tanks
Very clear command map (even if I personally hate using it as a banner advert!).

Karrde · 2004-07-23 09:22:00 UTC

nice screenshots ill be testing this map tonight, some nice detail in this map (judging by the screenies)

A_SoSA_fre2d · 2004-07-24 11:41:03 UTC

Ah, back from a refreshing holiday in prague!

TerraForma: Ich spreche ein bissen deutsch All the “spelling mistakes” are, belive it or not, on purpose Thanks for the offer though!

G0-Gerbil: Yes, rooms are a bit empty - was in a bit of a hurry to complete the map due to it being used in a tournament. Runway length? Mommy always told me length wasnt an issue ;D In general our 1st commandment has been playability > realism, but I get your point. Commandmap: I work with advertsing, so not grabbing the opportunity to build our brand “SOS” would have been a crime! I dont know who made e.g. Supply Depot, which imo is an excellent custom map - if I knew I would be looking out for his/her next release. If people know our name, then its much easir to get the next map “on the market”, which is what I thiink all mappers aim for. Thanks you all for your feedback! Already have the next project in planning.

PS: Biggles can do anything!

G0-Gerbil · 2004-07-24 17:14:25 UTC

if I knew I would be looking out for his/her next release.
I follow the point, but a good map is it’s own advertisement.
IE when the guy who made supply depot releases another map, you won’t HAVE to know his name, because the map will be advertised everywhere as ‘Map XYZ from the guy who made Supply Depot!’

BTW building your brand name of SOS is a double edged weapon if the map bombs (Oh and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen another clan with the same tag, it’s kind of a popular acronym :)).

_Yojimbo · 2004-07-24 21:58:12 UTC

This might seem off topic, but: who made Supply Depot?

faltytower · 2004-07-24 22:33:56 UTC

ginc of the NA ET clan [20id] (20 inch dong).

A_SoSA_fre2d · 2004-07-24 23:15:59 UTC

It wont “bomb” since ÃtÂ´s not full of bugs and totally unplayable - a lot of game testing hours has been put into it just to ensure that. If the map is not a success nobody will remember it and it wont do us any harm. Remember, people can get hurt by cars flipping over or airplanes crashing, but not by ET-maps (errr… at least I think so!)

Concerning the name, IÂ´m sure of that there are lots of clans with the same tag, but theyÂ´re not even in the same category as us (map makers). I still think it makes more sense to build a brand than not to do it - ask coca cola, ferrari, mcdonalds or any other big brand company (ooh, I just love mentioning big brands in the same sentence as SOS! ;)), especially when it doesnt cost me a penny. A good map is its own advertisment - a good brand is also its own advertisment, so why go for only one of two good things? Lol, getting a bit off topic here, but its always nice to discuss interresting topics(and building our personal brands…) :bump:

Now, enjoy Secret Weapon