Rage did have some of the most beautiful outdoor environments I've ever seen in a video game. 

lol, me too.

Once upon a time I had an idea for a long, story-based "episode" that would take place in several different games, including Myth and Rune. Then I realized that yeah, efficiency is a concern. 

When your game's just a prerendered slideshow the whole debate kind of goes out the window because there's a bunch of other tricks that come into play instead - noise based textures, editing and compositing in post, etc. Whole new renderer, whole new point of view.

I didn't mean as an example of practicality or viability. Simply, that unique textures offer a look that tiled textures could not.

For a hobbyist project, I think you can do whatever you want. Who cares? It's your time, spend it as you see fit.

Heh, a no point did I ever feel I was told I "can't" do this. I don't think anyone here would dictate to anyone else what they can or can't do. Should, well, that's another story... *cue Never Ending Story music*

For contextual purposes, this would be more than a hobbyist project. A potentially commercial effort with a small team of 4-8 people or so. Otherwise, the question is simply "should I spend my personal time doing this", which is something one could answer themselves.

You seemed to be on the same koolaid pretty hard, so I couldn't help but pound the keys. Sorry about that.

It's no problem. Hearing other perspectives was the reason for posting. I already knew what I was in for.

Like ijed said, a prefabbed repeaty space hall is the worst place to show this off.

Agreed, I mentioned this as well.

I'll get a better idea of the logistics of it all as the project evolves. It's still in it's infant stages and at a time when possibilities are on the table and examined 'tis all. 

 

And you got an answer:

discussion goes where ever discussion currently is. over the long run, the thread will go back to it's original purpose.

If you're not interested in intelligent discussion regarding game design, then, well, I have bad news for you. 

actually most of this HAS been directly related to the (numerous, cool, interesting) shots that KP posted.

I'm afraid that there aren't enough people mapping right now for a new 15-20 posts in a thread to be all screenshots (err wait... actually that's over in the Honey map jam thread!). 

Here are some screenshots from work in progrez.
shoot screen shots 

looks great, a few suggestions:
-marble tile floor texture looks out of place, I'd suggest something more like city4_1.
-I'd use a darker, solid rock texture (actually city4_1 might work) with less obvious lines, for the lining of the arch.
-See how it looks with a low minlight (30?) and fog; this might solve the issue of black surfaces next to lit ones.
-make it so rotfish jump out of the water (heh). 

And look at this explanation:

Link

Brushwork looks cool, needs ambience! 

what's going on at the base of the waterfall? is that an mdl?

also, on a scale of "yes" to "absolutely" how much is this your reference image for the first shot?
http://th05.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2013/082/1/4/a_narrow_and_desolate_ravine_by_crs1009-d5yy6s4.jpg 

Tronyn- brushtex is a bit out of order, as it was more a case of will-it work or collaps.
As it works I was planning to use the rock5_2 tex for the cliff.
The light errors were due to the light1.24 of BJ.

@mfx- thanks for the tutorial, almost gave it up after finding Tyrlight.

@Lunaran- whole waterfall is an mdl, at the base is what my poor imagination could think of turbulence.
On the scale to "maybe" and "sure" I must relay to the inspiration and reference thread like four elephants asking: someone should make this fifth.

Cliff Demons" .OBJ pack has fine eyecandy for skyboxes by Poison. 

wait, shouldn't that go in the Mapping Inspiration thread?
jokes... actually it's really cool to see what images mappers used for inspiration... perhaps the basis of a future article at Quaddicted. 

Yeah, that looks cool, MadFox. Although aligning all those textures will be a bitch. Great inspiration images, too.

On a somewhat related note, I imagine a Tronyn version of that Ukrainian castle would be like this. (Hint!) 

aka, with way less detail & is very angular, & I should stop pretending there's terrain around it, since any such attempts suck anyway? if so, totally fair!
sh(ee)it with how slow I am my levels should have more detail... so I'll just call it "oldschool/doom style" heh. 

actually it's really cool to see what images mappers used for inspiration
I used that IMAGE for inspiration for the bridge at the front of Zendar. It is not perfectly the same but it has the same vibe. 

that looks very nice. +1 on it needing some good looking fog. 

I have only just noticed you can link things with labels on func now.

test

cool! 

 

 

Here - check section - "What HTML markup is allowed in my posts?" 

Lunarana: you've been able to do that since the site was launched... even on Qmap you could do that. Possibly even on Qboard. 

it's like typing bananana you just can't stop 

actually i think i added the anchor tag support after launch... originally you could only put raw URLs and it would auto-convert to links 

HUMP MY RUMP!