Help pick the next HL2 map, win nothing!

[Creole Ned]

Assuming that it couldn't be worse and the first two HL map review sites I checked had last updated in 2002 and 2003, I decided to get FilePlanet's second Half-Life 2 DM map pack. The first was somewhere between "atrocious" and "even worse".

I've perused a few so far and the pack does seem better. I'd request others grab the pack and look over the maps (as well as the stock HL2 DM maps) and see which might be good for a little team DM.

Link to FilePlanet map pack here (http://www.fileplanet.com/152129/150000/fileinfo/Half-Life-2---FilePlanet-Deathmatch-Map-Pack-#2) - about 53 MB

[F7]

Have you checked out unrealplayground.com Ned?

[Circuit]

Unrealplayground has Half-Life 2 stuff?

[F7]

DOH my bad!

[Paladin]

Map Pack 2:

DM-Torque - Error on startup, failed to load

DM-Avalon - Tight map, looks like a cross between Myst and that UT map with the castle on the cliff. Real easy to fall off the edges. Ladder to the upper floor is hidden to the point if you don't find it before the match or see someone using it, you may not find it in the frenzy of play. Overall impression, it's too small and too easy to have falling death for a Smackdown.

DM-Agora - No fucking way. :) Seriously, it's a large, open, space map. There's no zero-gee feel to it, and it's pretty easy to jump from platform to platform. The platforms are narrow and fully exposed. Whoever gets the crossbow first would own this map. Like Avalon, it's prone to falling deaths.

DM-Clocks - Another island map where falling off means instant death. This one is centered around an old church. The interior of the church is very open, with several ladders and a spiral stair allowing access to the various floors. I got stuck, repeatedly, going down one of the ladders and had to use the jump key for several seconds to get unstuck. Unfortunately, I think the open layout, the insta-death water, and the ladder problem make this one a no-go too.

DM-District33 - A large urban map. Weapons were scarce, the only ones I found were hidden underwater in a sewer tunnel that runs under the streets. It's by far the best map I've looked at so far, although the lack of weapons is disturbing. Also, there is an aquaduct at one end of the map that I could get into but not out of. This one is a definite possibility, but I think we need to playtest it with several people first.

That's all I have time for tonight. I'll look at the rest tomorrow night. Also, every time I Alt-Tab'd out of HL2, I got an error and the game crashed.

I also found a handful of reviews here (http://www.hlccl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47446).

[Creole Ned]

Thanks for checking them out. HL2 DM has been locking up on me without even alt-tabbing. Not sure yet if it's related to the user maps or something gone awry in a recent Steam patch.

Given that this could be a big fat problem for all of us, I'm going to hold off on a HL2DM Smackdown for a little bit yet while I try to determine what the heck is going on.

[F7]

Same here.

While playing any Source based multiplayer games I get random in game crashes. Almost like I lose connection. I can ESC out so it's not a full system crash.

I wish HL2 mp worked for me because I really enjoy it.

[Tai]

In that case, anyone up for a Tribes Smackdown? *big evil grin*

[F7]

That would actually be pretty funny Tai just to see everyone trying to relive glory days but actually doing faceplants while trying to ski.

[Paladin]

That would actually be pretty funny Tai just to see everyone trying to relive glory days but actually doing faceplants while trying to ski.

Like Sonny Bono!

[Tai]

hey, speak for yourself, some of us kept our jetpack and skiing skills!! (such as they are)

NB: I never really had any glory days, but I sure did love lobbing mortars.

[Creole Ned]

As I've said before, if we can get at least eight players for a game, I'm willing to use it for a Smackdown (assuming I also have the game, of course).

We played five or seven T2 Smackdowns way back when but the original Tribes predates the SDs by about a year so we never did use that one. Provided we had sufficient turnout and could find a suitable map, I'm up for it or any other solid shooter, really.

[Creole Ned]

And fittingly, there was a Steam update today. Mostly bug fixes although I didn't see anything specific about the kinds of crashes we've been seeing.

[Paladin]

And fittingly, there was a Steam update today. Mostly bug fixes although I didn't see anything specific about the kinds of crashes we've been seeing.


Here's the error I'm getting...

Faulting application hl2.exe, version 0.0.0.0, faulting module datacache.dll, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x00008a37.

First forum thread I found about was after an early October update, and no fixes or any real solutions or even theories since.

[Tai]

As I've said before, if we can get at least eight players for a game, I'm willing to use it for a Smackdown (assuming I also have the game, of course).

We played five or seven T2 Smackdowns way back when but the original Tribes predates the SDs by about a year so we never did use that one. Provided we had sufficient turnout and could find a suitable map, I'm up for it or any other solid shooter, really.


I suggest Snowblind.

Please post if you are willing to play a T1 Smackdown. So far we have:

edit: as of 4/20/2006
Ned
Orion
Tai
Fitty
Paladin
Armerius
Snake

I'll work with Orion tomorrow to get the package zipped up and hosted for all to download.

[Paladin]

I'll play if it's team based.

[Tai]

Have to be team based! :) I'll keep the list above up to date.

[armerius]

i'll play if I i can find it.. it's a free download now, isn't it?

[Creole Ned]

Yes, it is a free download now. Check FilePlanet, they were the "official" hosts.

[Tai]

We will set up a single location for download, no worries. Orion has already collected the files. :thumbup:

[Snake]

I will also play T1

:bg:

[Paladin]

Reviews continue...

DM-Underpass - This looks, and plays, like an official Valve level. I think it was. Not sure how it ended up in Fileplanet's pack too. If it isn't an official Valve level, it's damn good. Certainly the best level in the pack so far. The map is divided into two parts, an upper level in a ruined train station and a lower level with a bunch of twisty corridors and sewers. I know we've played this level before as a group. I looked for it in the Smackdown history, but didn't see it, which was surprising. We may have used it after the QB.net site stopped getting updated. Overall, this is a pretty balanced map and worth considering.

DM-Foresaken - An Egyptian-y themed map, most of the level is a football-stadium shaped arena with a couple of upper catwalks and caves at each corner containing medkits. The rest of the level serves mostly as a place for weapons to lay and flammable drums to sit waiting to be shot. Along one of the long sides, the arena opens up into a flat dessert with an artificial drop off to contain the action. On the opposite long side of the arena is a very un-Egyption looking church-type building which serves solely as a tower from which to snipe with the crossbow. I ran into one huge clipping issue. When approaching this church from one side, it appears perfectly normal. When approaching from the opposite side, a visible plane with the building's texture covers most of the screen, completely blocking the tower from view. Aside from being annoying, this would make snipers very hard to eliminate from this angle, giving them an unfair advantage. Overall, not a suitable level.

DM-Motel - Now this one was used for Smackdown 148, Hotel du Headcrab. It's a fairly simple level, consisting of one building with a courtyard around it. The building is a burned out motel (I guess, the level's name is Motel... it could be a Moose Lodge for all you can tell). The main floor contains a large open room with several bedrooms off of it. Many of the walls are destroyed, as are parts of the ceiling, exposing the attic above. The attic is one large open room. Numerous holes in the floor make navigation difficult. The RPG is up here, and if you get it, you can rain death for a bit on the folks below. Just be aware you're completely exposed up here too. Finally there's a basement composed of 2 large laundry rooms. Stairs at each end of the basement lead up to the main floor, and a tunnel leads out to a manhole in the courtyard. There are fires scattered around both the main floor and the attic, and I think they will do damage if you aren't quick getting through them. Overall, it's a pretty good map, if not a pretty map. If I remember the Smackdown right, the combat was intense, and it was hard to get one of the more powerful weapons such as the RPG or crossbow... not hard to reach them, but deaths were so frequent you never really got much use out of them. Another Smackdown contender... Headcrab soup anyone?

That does it for reviews of the Fileplanet Map Pack 2, I think.

[Creole Ned]

I'd like to run the HL2DM server for a wee bit tonight with a base map as a test. Volunteers welcome! Come to IRC for the hijinks. Basically, I want to let it run and see if/when it crashes for anyone.