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Progress alert:
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The first six maps in the series have been released!
Current progress:
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oc_return_c17_01 - 92% Complete
oc_return_c17_02 - 90% Complete
oc_return_c17_03 - 88% Complete
The two other beta maps: 92% complete
Series (as envisioned): 4/12 maps (mostly) completed, with 1/12 maps half-way done.
Probably will be cut down to 9 maps though...
Faceposer has been abandoned for now, though I might come back and try to fix it later.
2 maps currently in closed BETA testing! Let me know if you want to test!
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oc_return_c17_01
Supermegahyperupdate!! Well, actually no, just pictures. But lots of them!
Anyways, these are pics of the first map in what is proving to be a very large series. It's almost 3:00AM... again... and it just finished a fast rad compile, so I figured I'd slap a few shots together and see what you guys thought, mabye get you excited, etc.
Inside the Green Bay underground complex:
Outside, in (presumably) Green Bay:
This particular shot is at a FOV of 120 degrees. Thought it was interesting/pretty:
Enjoy!
I hope to have a beta out sometime, as I'll be away from my compiling computer for the rest of this week (I'll have access to internet computers, so please post your thoughts!). With only one or two minor bugs to fix that I found today, it's looking pretty good.
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oc_return_c17_02:
An indoor shot:
An ominous sign of things to come:
There are, as always, still a number of glytches to work out (like a few scripted sequences not assigned to the right actors
). Also, my entdata is up to 126% 
, so I'm thinking of cutting down on a few things, as I have yet to soundscape and cubemap the map... yea... ouch...But regardless, work is progressing. Stay tuned!
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oc_return_c17_03
Anyways, speaking of the third map... Screenshots!! Yea, the making of this map kinda started off with a bang - something clicked and I managed to set down a good 1/8th of the map in one go. So yea... screenshots...
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Old stuff:
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Damn, it's been a long time since I've posted any sort of work in progress map for any sort of mod, so I thought it was about time to post up some pics. (Actually it was envy at the responses W0rf0x and Gandorques Hikla were getting - jk
)Lately I've been working on a large co-op multi-map series (as you may have guessed from an earlier topic of mine), intended to be more story-line driven, like HL2 singleplayer.
Over the last few weeks as the end of the semester has wound down I've had quite a mapper's itch (they have a powder for it, but it doesn't work) to try and get some of this storyline down on paper, err, hammer.
Anyways, after mapping for a couple of weeks on and off, I'm nearing the completion of two sequential maps in the series. Since the maps are a little later in the storyline, I've decided not to reveal anything about the actual storyline, because it will most likely change as I map the rest of the series. (Also, I might get entirely fed up with the whole project). But the name (as you can see from my sig) is Return to City 17.
But without much further rambling, screenshots! (See the end of my post for a bit more info)
So, I've kinda posted things a little bit backwards - this map actually comes before the other map I posted... but oh well. Screenshots anyways!
Screenshots of the first map:
Emerging from a cave system onto the coast:
Another bridge... not too far...
Soldiers always pop up when not invited
Ouch...
A combine APC just past the bridge, with a shield in the distance
A view of the bridge:
A nice little section of coast:
More soldiers than you can shake a stick at, unless it's a big stick:
A glimpse of the industrial area:
Shipping area:
Screenshots of the second map:
A bridge... not too near...
Neat little windmill:
A house, part of a village, overlooking the ocean:
A section of coastline (the village is on the right):
An old bunker, re-furbished to brace for the oncomming attack:
The helicopter attack begins...
The village, being overpowered by three attack helicopters:
You can run, but you can't hide. At least not for long.
The village under attack:
Aftermath:
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So, yea. That's one map. The other is compiling on my brother's computer (mine tends to crash when compiling big maps), so I'll get screenshots of it up ASAP..
I could use a playtester or two to go over these maps and see if anything really screws up, (other than the lag, I'm still working on that...).
EDIT: My brother's computer has just finished compiling the other map, so I'm going to boot up OC and test out how the lighting went on it. (Because the maps are so damn huge (1/2 the largest mappable area in Hammer), it has taken me all day to compile them both. If anyone has a fast computer they could compile some of these maps on, that would be one hell of a help.
Another Update:
I finally got cubemaps working - it seems I have to buildcubemaps, shut down obsidian completely, then open it up again
Anyways, they're working and it looks absofuckinglutely beautiful. 
The only major gripe I have with it now is the lag - in some spots it's patchy, and it's really annoying me. I mean, it's playable (~15-20 fps in some spots) on a listen server, but I really want to get it running smoother.And also, the moment many of you have been waiting for, this map section will be ready for testing very soon. I've got to add proper cubemaps into the second map, then check if it all compiles properly, and then we should be ready to do some BETA! So I'm hoping sometime tomorrow (Sunday) night.
Stay tuned!
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M-M-M-M-MEGAUPDATE!
Well, perhaps not so mega.
Anyways, I've just completed my latest compile of the two maps, and, seeing very few things worth spending another 8 hours compiling, I've decided it's about time for some beta testing action!!
Currently, I've PM'ed the map download link out to all those who wanted to beta test (gtaiilc, W0rf0x, Gandorques Hikla, fug4life and Fenrir!), and if you also want to beta test, let me know and I'll send you the link. And I'll probably make it an open beta at some point. (Maybe after those five get back to me with feedback).
And to you, gtaiilc, W0rf0x, Gandorques Hikla, fug4life and Fenrir!, get testing! I'm expecting feedback!
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Recieved some very excellent feedback from fug4life and W0rf0x, pointing out things i had completely missed, so I'll be changing those things around and re-compiling ASAP. Which might not be very soon, as I'm currently distracted with the next map in the series...
Thanks again fug4life and W0rf0x for the testing!
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Too small an update to actually post - currently working on 3rd map - comming along nicely. Also, large parts of the map will be used in another map, so it's really like doing 2 maps in one. Currently I'm having an annoying time with areaportals, but other than that it's proceeding smoothly-ish. I was sick today so got a lot done. Look forwards to some screenshots sometime next week!
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Well, i hadn't actually planned on releasing any screenshots of the map until I ironed out some more bugs... but fug4life convinced me to post up some more. I guess I haven't released any screenshots for a couple of months now, so it's certainly due.
I'm not going to say much for these shots, trying not to give away too much story, so just enjoy all the pretty pictures.
That's it for now. I'll see about putting together a few from the first map in the series (which I'm working my way through). I'm hoping to get the first, second, and third maps in the series released at least in beta version as soon as possible. (No dates! Dates mean overshooting them by months!)
For a bit more news, I've kinda sorta mabye almost settled on my story-flow. Parts are starting to come together, and it might not be as omfgepic as I had originally intended, but I'm still going for semi-epic.
Should be good. I'm starting to get excited!
