Func_Msgboard: Q1Puzzle: Ascending And Descending.

Posted by negke on 2013/02/22 01:44:43

Or was it "Asshanding & Dazending"?!

This is a small medieval/realism puzzle map, complete with cramped rooms and oversized furniture. It's based on M.C. Escher's print of the same title, albeit without the visual paradox or any other weird styles for that matter. It's a bit of a blend between my very first Quake map, Scragbait's Fall Cleaning, and Lower Forecourt.

The gameplay is slow and focuses on key-hunting and finding secret areas. Requires a little thinking out of the box at times, but not excessively so. Try to discover, figure out and remember the hint messages.

It has a very open, nonlinear layout with terrible visblocking resulting in a high polycount and the risk of packet overflow on older engines. I recommend Fitzquake or one of its forks, but if you must play it with a vintage port, consider using some corpse removal mod.

Originally, it was supposed to be a quick and simple turtlemappish level to be released on Halloween or Christmas, but it dragged on and I ran into all sorts of technical problems (limit-related) which eventually made it a very frustrating experience - hopefully it won't be for you. Demos are appreciated.

Screenshot
Download

Note: There's quite a bit of compatibilty issues, be sure to check the readme for information. Most importantly, this map does not work with DirectQ 1.9.0 (use 1.8.8(1) instead), and Darkplaces users must set sv_gameplayfix_ q1bsptracelinereportstexture 0.

First | Previous | Next | Last

Of Course

#1 posted by Drew on 2013/02/22 02:55:29

You release a map when I have 2 midterms coming up. Thanks for your ongoing support of the scene (asshole)!

#2 posted by - on 2013/02/22 03:12:57

It's not named negkeycony?

rating -1/5 on Quaddicted

Think It Broke? :(

#3 posted by - on 2013/02/22 04:37:30

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/103186490/scampie_mce.zip

My play through, but I think it broke at the endish and couldn't complete... maybe I am dumb though!

I really liked playing it though! so many hacks!

#4 posted by digs on 2013/02/22 13:08:10

Very cool and very interesting. I still found three runes and can not move further. Thanks for the map!

W34fruiwehidfsw

#5 posted by DaZ on 2013/02/22 13:14:56

68:40 minutes
2/3 secrets
fuck you negke

Lovely construction and attention to detail as usual in a Negke map. The progression was absolutely horrible though. I was so utterly and completely lost for most of the map, and when I did eventually find the way forward it wasn't a feeling of accomplishment but rather that the level was cheap shotting me in the gonads.

Main issues I had were:

pressing buttons and having no idea what they did.
Seeing doors open but then having to run around half the map trying to figure out how to get to them.
Some architectural details felt like important clues or puzzle elements but ended up just being brush porn.

I think that making rooms feel more unique in their colour scheme would have helped a lot also, I had trouble navigating to where I wanted to go for the entire map.

#6 posted by DaZ on 2013/02/22 13:16:15

No demo, because I'm not that cruel ;)

Really Interesting And Fun Map

#7 posted by than on 2013/02/22 14:03:25

I tested this and although there are a few gameplay problems due to the crampedness, it's a fun map overall with a really great exploratory feel, a few nice little secrets and decent gameplay.

Nice work!

#8 posted by spy on 2013/02/22 15:17:03

http://www.quaketastic.com/upload/files/demos/negke_mce_spy3.rar

here is my skill3 demo of me wandering around clueless for ~ 40min

not completed though

very nice map and very negkish

Free Jazz In BSP Format -> Clearly Not A Map For Everyone

#9 posted by negke on 2013/02/22 17:25:23

Like I said, the hint notes (=orange headlines) are important as they hint at the areas where the runes are hidden. Once you've found a rune, the corrsponding hint will deactivate, so if you come across a 'silent' one, it means you've already solved that part and can ignore it. If you're lost, return to the hint notes, and start again from there.

You don't need to do grenade jumps or anything like that, and there's no need to shoot every single wall - only examine the areas in question. None of the cupboards and closets open, so don't bother with them.

You need the runes to unlock the seals (1+2 for the one in the basement; 3+4 for the one in the courtyard; all 4 for the one on the roof).

#10 posted by digs on 2013/02/22 17:44:34

I'm exhausted. I used to jump RocketJump boxes. And I still can not find the rune "S"

Cruel Mistress

#11 posted by sock on 2013/02/22 17:54:00

Amazing idea, I love the atmosphere of the place with all the attention to detail. I did find the progress strange, I was never sure if anything I was doing was the right way to progress. I would find a jump shortcut from a balcony railing and it felt like a shortcut, but turned out to be the way forward. Eventually I got all the secrets on my second play through and the MH was by accident which did not feel good.

The puzzles and progress just made me feel frustrated most of the time. I often found locked doors and did not know how to get past them. First time through I was hopelessly lost and spent ages just bashing walls with my axe. The lowest point for me was the picture puzzle, that should of been a secret not the way forward! That was just cruel.

From a technical point of view the map is amazing, I am sure most of what you have done will be lost on most people because it is not obvious the map hacks. The effort you must of gone through makes me wonder why? It could have been done with new entities and some QC scripts, but I suppose it is the challenge of doing it.

The visuals are amazing, texture alignment perfect and the roles of rooms linked together really well. The pillar details, the storage areas in ceiling spaces and notice boards were flawless. All the extra details created the right vibe for the place.

I thought the scale of the place added to the encounters, it made the knights and ogres feel more dangerous instead of the usual dance around the AI without much care for geometry. The AI certainly had some issues but overall they were fun. I noticed you sneaked in some spawns which made me laugh. My favourite encounter was the shambler in the box up in the attic, very cool story idea.

Amazing work as always.

I Finally Done It!

#12 posted by - on 2013/02/22 18:31:14

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/103186490/scamp_mce23.zip

2 demos.

only ever got 2 secrets, not sure how to get the last.

First | Previous | Next | Last

You must be logged in to post in this thread.