Map Making Questions

[Cronky]

Now eventually a PS Specific Map Maker will come out, or at least I expect one. I myself have never used a map maker in any sense other than watching someone play Forge mode on Halo for a few minutes.

My questions pertain to how free are we all going to be able to make stuff.

Will there be a number of set pieces that we can arrange to our liking, or can we build whatever we want from scratch? (Set pieces like Forge Mode)

Will there be limits? Like, "You cannot make a map bigger than X*Y*Z", "You must have X amount of hack spots", "You can only have 1 spawn point for each team", etc.

Will we have to go through the UDK Editor, or will there be a PS Specific Editor?

To create truly new stuff, such as a new material texture, would you have to know Maya or 3dsMax? If so, would you be able to import it easily?

Will there be an easy way to download said maps, such as auto-download in-game or uploading them to PS site? (This was answered before I believe, but oh well)

If uploading to the site is the process, would there be a size limit? (As in megabytes size, not level.)

Again, I'm not exactly sure how a Map Maker works, so these are just random questions off the top of my head.

[frvge]

No limits on 'sets'. You're (probably, will have to check with the modelers) free to re-use the stuff we made, as long as you don't claim ownership. You can build stuff from scratch.

Limits in map-size are so enormous that there are basically no limits.

Limits in game-specific stuff like hack spots and spawns can be enforced, but will probably be fairly simple. And if you don't want people to hack, just put a hack thing surrounded by walls.

We use a modified version of UDK. We are mostly compatible with UDK.

There will be easy ways to upload your map so it can be distributed. The exact way that's going to happen hasn't been decided yet.

Size limit with respect to uploading: I think 300 MB is probably enough.

[Cronky]

Thanks Frvge. On the ball with the answering.

Next question.

Say someone was making a... old military base level. Say they wanted an active minefield as part of their level.

Would someone be able to place things such as... Map specific "Traps"?

Or for another example. Imagine that there is a... Billionaires mansion level (Not unlike Lakehouse). Someone put two hack spots next to each other, but one is a "Decoy". That when you start hacking it, it drops you down a trapdoor or something.

Would that be possible?

EDIT: I guess it wouldn't be that much different than Aquarius's "Drop Box", but I believe the ideas I presented are a little more complex then that.

[frvge]

With kismet scripting, sure.

[Cronky]

Suppose now that you have a level much like the Bank one from CT. The creator of this level has made some nice Cops and Robbers skins, and wants them to be used instead of the Spies and Merc ones.

Would a mapper be able to change skins on their level only without much hassle? (So Level Specific Skins)

Also say that someone decided to be devious. They made a new model of the static camera in levels that has an added GUN attached to it. It's used in the level, but not all cameras are sentry cameras.

Would a mapper be able to add static defenses that aren't made by you all if they were so inclined? Again, without much hassle.

[CurdyMilk]

Dude just download UDK and start figuring it out.  But just so you know, it is not nearly as simple as forge.

[frvge]

The answers are: no idea. You get the same tools that we use, so I think you can get pretty far. Level-specific things... I dunno.

[Cronky]

Dude just download UDK and start figuring it out.  But just so you know, it is not nearly as simple as forge.

I was just getting questions out that were on the top of my head. I don't really care for actually making maps or anything.

I ask instead of figuring out on my own because... why would I spend the time figuring something out when I have a wealth of information pertaining to my subject mere keystrokes away? The PS devs would know the answers, or at the very least have an inkling of an Idea if it's a Yes, No, or Maybe. Especially when it comes to PS specific things, to which I assume only fit into their scheme they've cooked up that none of us can actually use yet... or at use past just designing a maps layout.

...Just to clarify ;D

The answers are: no idea. You get the same tools that we use, so I think you can get pretty far. Level-specific things... I dunno.

If you were to put a general guess to it. How long would you make out till a map maker to be released? With all the PS Specific bells and whistles (Not just grabbing the UDK and playing around with it. I understand that it easily transfers, but again that does nothing for actually refining a map).

[frvge]

When we release the public beta.

[MulleDK19]

Will there be a number of set pieces that we can arrange to our liking, or can we build whatever we want from scratch? (Set pieces like Forge Mode)

I'm not entirely sure I understand what you mean.

But you'll be able to design the map and place objects (plants, railings, tables, etc.) in any way you want to.

Will there be limits? Like, "You cannot make a map bigger than X*Y*Z", "You must have X amount of hack spots", "You can only have 1 spawn point for each team", etc.

The only limit is your memory and hard drive space.

Will we have to go through the UDK Editor, or will there be a PS Specific Editor?

PS will have its own editor. The editors are technically identical, but the PS editor will contain PS specific stuff.

To create truly new stuff, such as a new material texture, would you have to know Maya or 3dsMax? If so, would you be able to import it easily?

For new models, yes, you'd need to know Maya or 3dsMax. For new textures you can use Paint.

Will there be an easy way to download said maps, such as auto-download in-game or uploading them to PS site? (This was answered before I believe, but oh well)

Everything will be downloaded from the server you join.
If you don't have the map, the server will send it to you, along with everything needed for it to run.

If uploading to the site is the process, would there be a size limit? (As in megabytes size, not level.)

No idea. Even though the servers will send maps to every client that joins, having a site for maps would be a good idea.
Especially because people won't bother having a server running 24/7 just to release their maps :P

Again, I'm not exactly sure how a Map Maker works, so these are just random questions off the top of my head.

It works fine.

Say someone was making a... old military base level. Say they wanted an active minefield as part of their level.

Would someone be able to place things such as... Map specific "Traps"?

Through Kismet (Unreal Engine 3's drag & drop scripting system) I guess you could make a trigger that hurts you and spawns an explosion particle.

Or for another example. Imagine that there is a... Billionaires mansion level (Not unlike Lakehouse). Someone put two hack spots next to each other, but one is a "Decoy". That when you start hacking it, it drops you down a trapdoor or something.

Would that be possible?

Sure. Just place a hackable panal, change its model to the computer, make a hole with a trap door, and make the hack panel open the door when triggered.

EDIT: I guess it wouldn't be that much different than Aquarius's "Drop Box", but I believe the ideas I presented are a little more complex then that.

Actually, they're quite simple.

Suppose now that you have a level much like the Bank one from CT. The creator of this level has made some nice Cops and Robbers skins, and wants them to be used instead of the Spies and Merc ones.

Not possible.

Would a mapper be able to change skins on their level only without much hassle? (So Level Specific Skins)

Not possible.

Also say that someone decided to be devious. They made a new model of the static camera in levels that has an added GUN attached to it. It's used in the level, but not all cameras are sentry cameras.

I guess, if they made a camera model with the same bones as the original camera, then placed the camera in the level, and changed its model to their own model, it would work.
However, it would not be able to shoot.

Would a mapper be able to add static defenses that aren't made by you all if they were so inclined? Again, without much hassle.

Not possible.

If you were to put a general guess to it. How long would you make out till a map maker to be released? With all the PS Specific bells and whistles (Not just grabbing the UDK and playing around with it. I understand that it easily transfers, but again that does nothing for actually refining a map).

Not until the public beta... At least.




PS: All this is subject to change. Don't quote me on it.




Note: With "Not possible", I mean for the community. We can do anything.
But when it comes to you, as the community, you are limited to what we give you.

And I doubt we're gonna make a supersonic water cannon with laser eyes, whenever someone asks for it.

And if you don't want people to hack, just put a hack thing surrounded by walls.

Simply place a static mesh, and change its model to the computer. That way, you won't be able to hack it... As it's not really a computer... It just looks like it.

[DreadStunLock]

Will you allow us to make some sort of points to be able to teleport instantly? Like for example make a nice Chamber and when you step inside it, it teleports you to the area? I think that would be quite nice.

[frvge]

You can do that with Kismet as far as I know.

[DreadStunLock]

Even though I am not sure what Kismet is, overall that a yes? :P

[tigaer]

I have a cool design for a snow level that I was working on for SCCT that would require white skins for both teams. It would also require a swimming animation for the spies... a grabbing animation while swimming... and a getting in/out of the water animation... oh yeah, and also a diving animation.

Yeah... I'll keep that design until Project Stealth 3. ;)

[DreadStunLock]

Project Stealth III: Double Agent Edition?