Works in Progress

prodiG

Canada2016 Posts

December 24 2010 01:02 GMT

Note: Image heavy thread. If you're on a phone with a data plan you might want to hit the stop button ASAP

I've got like five map projects going at the moment and I thought I'd share them with everyone. Since my ISP has been basically destroying their service I haven't been able to stream anything but I've still been working on maps nonetheless. Here's what I've been working on:

The first project is one that I started in like October, but decided to put down for awhile. It's called Dark Sun, and it's a 4 player rotational symmetry map very very clearly inspired by Fighting Spirit. I like to think of this as a bit of a homage to Fighting Spirit and it's creator Rose.Of.Dream. since my port of Fighting Spirit is a large part of where I am today in terms of mapmaking.

Beta Overview
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I wanted to really make sure that I nailed the visuals on this one, so it's been taking me quite some time. At the time that I am posting this blog, I've only finished one of the corners and the center High Ground. Here are some pics:
+ Show Spoiler [Dark Sun pics] +

Main - Not sure I'm done with it yet.
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Natural

Third - The trees act as LOS blockers to prevent tanks from sieging into the main without a spotter. Pylons cannot reach across this gap.
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Void space deco between nat and 9'oclock third
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Center high ground
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The second project I want to share is (2) Nemesis. This is a map that looks almost nothing like it's sketch and has evolved quite a bit since it's inception. I was aiming for a sort of combination between Destination and Blue Storm here, but that goal has been blurred so much I think the map is pretty original at this point. EDIT: Special thanks to neobowman for helping me with this one.

Overview/What I've finished so far
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I'm experimenting with quite a few different things aesthetically on this map, for example "How many "Fire Medium" doodads can I place on a map before it breaks?" Note that some of these images are before the terrain overhaul, however I am aiming to recreate the same effects.

+ Show Spoiler [Nemesis] +

Old Terrain (pre-overhaul)
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Even older sketch - I flipped the map horizontally to avoid it looking too much like Xel'Naga caverns
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The third project is another attempt at a 45 degree map, this time 4 players. It is called (4) Destiny and uses reflectional symmetry. Reflectional symmetry creates a different game depending on each of the 3 possible spawn orientations that you'll get, and it's very interesting to create a map that isn't a complete ripoff of another reflection symmetry 4 player map (there's only so much you can do) and be balanced.

Destiny Overview - The rock between naturals is not pathable and will be filled with doodads. The green wall on the outside of the map is a flyer blocker to counteract the extra space you get when designing a 4 player reflection symmetry map that doesn't have close air positions.

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Not too many images for this one since I've been find of avoiding it because of how intricate the textures are going to be. You'll see what I mean below

+ Show Spoiler [Destiny pics] +

The main (only main I think I've finished texturing) & natural
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Beta textures on another main for comparison:
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The last map that I want to show is a sort of side project. I was watching some Terran cheese the hell out of a Zerg on Jungle Basin during the GSL and it dawned on me that I could make a map similar to Jungle Basin but a lot better in terms of balance. This is what I came up with: (2) Fatalist
(The watchtower in the center gold has 1500 life, 1 armor and can be killed. If you want the base, forfeit the vision.)
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I don't have any more images for this map as I've not put much time into it, let alone tested it at all. I am considering changing the tileset to an Ice Tileset because I haven't worked with one since I did Starchild and there are a few things I'd do different the second time around.

The rest of the projects I have are kind of just ideas I have floating in my head. I am strongly considering redoing Enigma to be quite a bit smaller and calling it Neo Enigma. I also have plans for an 8-player FFA with a super secret theme~

For all of the metalheads out there, I name my maps after awesome metal songs. Here are some youtube vids of the songs that I named the maps that I referred to in this thread after:
+ Show Spoiler [Map Name songs] +

Dark Sun // Beyond the Dark Sun by Wintersun

Nemesis // Enemies of Reality by Nevermore (I don't like Arch Enemy at all.)

Destiny // Destiny by Galneryus

Fatalist // The Fatalist by Dark Tranquility (This video is really fucking cool.)

Starchild // Starchild by Wintersun

Of these maps I only expect two or three to make it into the iCCup Map pool (pending further testing). They can be found on BNet US by searching:
Nemesis BETA
Fatalist BETA
Dark Sun BETA
Destiny BETA

Anyway, that's what I've been up to as far as maps are concerned. Enjoy! I hope to finish Dark Sun soon~

I've also been learning a little bit about photoshop and have created some overlays for my stream, as well as my new official logo. I plan on overhauling my website with this stuff soon as well!

+ Show Spoiler [prodiG propaganda] +

prodiGsc logo
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Stream Background/AFK overlay
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Overlay when I am streaming mapmaking
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In-Game Overlay
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All homemade :D

Finally, be sure to check out my website http://www.prodiGsc.com and follow me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/prodiGsc. I'm trying to plug my face off to get more followers. It's not going very well

EDIT: TL doesn't like resizing images inside spoilers, does it...

blahman3344

United States2015 Posts

December 24 2010 01:30 GMT

Those are some pretty cool maps there. Personally my favorite is Dark Sun, mainly because of the fighting-spirit-esque layout for the main/nat/3rd. The 2nd bridge between the nat and 3rd will really make things on this map much more interesting, imo.

Just a question, though: What effect did you use for the watch towers on Nemesis?

green.at

Austria1459 Posts

December 24 2010 01:32 GMT

i like all of them

just some minor things:
- i fear for my FE on most of these maps, did you think about wallins at the natural?
- on Fatalist i would make the 2 middle golds into a single standard expansion with double minerals and get rid of the watchtower (or place it somewhere else), it just feels not right to me

prodiG

Canada2016 Posts

December 24 2010 01:45 GMT

On December 24 2010 10:30 blahman3344 wrote:
Those are some pretty cool maps there. Personally my favorite is Dark Sun, mainly because of the fighting-spirit-esque layout for the main/nat/3rd. The 2nd bridge between the nat and 3rd will really make things on this map much more interesting, imo.

Just a question, though: What effect did you use for the watch towers on Nemesis?

I used a Fire Medium doodad, made it a purple-ish color and expanded it to about 250%.

On December 24 2010 10:32 green.at wrote:
i like all of them

I think about wall-ins on every map. Of all of these, Destiny is the one with the riskiest early expand. You just have to be a little innovative with your wall-in if you want to get away with it

SubtleArt

2710 Posts

December 24 2010 02:33 GMT

The second and 3rd maps you posted look really good

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