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Duke Nukem Boards => Duke 3D Modifications => Topic started by: James on 05 January 2014, 10:25:45

Title: help with AMC TC
Post by: James on 05 January 2014, 10:25:45
I posted this at duke4.net, but didn't get much reply so I thought I would ask here - me and Micky are doing pretty well with the TC but we could use another mapper or two to help things along. I don't mind creating new characters either as long as you're ok to do voices for them :) Simple truth is several of the other members have left the community (Geoffrey, rusty, Highwire, and Sang no longer maps) and the others are too busy to help with mapping work right now.

Micky did a pretty good job of 'selling' it so I'll just requote his post from Duke4 :)
Quote from: MickyC
I want to add to this thread that several maps in episode 2 are semi collaborative; me and James each have our own maps but there are others that we both contribute to somewhat. Not only does this get the maps done faster, but also boosts motivation and inspiration when you see how much progress is being made per effort you yourself put in, not to mention it's a cure for "mapper's block". As James has said we can definitely finish it ourselves, but for the above reasons (mainly the speed one) a new skilled mapper would help to streamline the mapping side of the TC.

Alternatively a new mapper could create a new map from scratch; either for episode 2 or if it's not finished by then, episode 3. The AMC TC is extremely fun to map for, with its huge texture set (including the original Duke 3D textures if that's all you're comfortable with) you can much more accurately create what you have in mind, and it's absolutely brimming with cool and interesting effects of which even the most fundamental can really soup up atmosphere or gameplay allowing you to do what you only dreamed were possible in Duke.
The new map route would probably be the one to take if you're 'relatively' new to mapping.

I'd suggest if you are even slightly curious about the TC and mapping for it, come have a look what we've got, maybe play around with something, and if you decide you don't want to help or make a map (or even if you change your mind after half finishing a map), then that's ok. Basically if you feel you may be interested, don't miss out due to some small hesitation or fear that you'd have to commit, we won't hold a grudge ;) but I think it's likely that you'd like what you'll see.

EDIT: also if there are any newcomers here, the AMC TC's first episode was released in 2011. You can check out it's homepage here (http://amctc.wikia.com/wiki/AMC_TC_Wiki) :)
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Micky C on 06 January 2014, 01:32:44
I'm willing to bet that we have a lot more content than people think (based on episode 1), that is; new art, new coded effects, and lots of maps (in various states of completion, most are at least half done).

There's been a lot of progress, and progress is happening at a lightning pace right now, but I'll have to tone down my mapping once Uni starts and the TC is still a year away from release give or take. We'd love to get it out the door this year, and any little bit of help would be useful - either continuing maps or starting new maps.

Like I said in the quote above; we'd be willing to let people look at everything we've done so far, and IMO each and every map is unique and very inspiring. And also like I said, you'd be free to back out any time. If you do make a small unfinished map before leaving the TC, we can probably turn that into something; one of the full blown maps currently exists because James started something before getting stuck for ideas, then I continued work and made it 10 times bigger.

You have nothing to lose by registering interest. Let us know in this thread or by sending me or James a PM  :)
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Forge on 06 January 2014, 15:01:16
Any way to reach the megaton community?
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: James on 06 January 2014, 19:24:19
I'm willing to bet any new mappers from the new Duke port won't be interested in non-vanilla Duke mapping. It's a shame, but there you go.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Micky C on 07 January 2014, 02:03:52
Having a read of the forums over there yield quite a few (anti-eduke32) idiots over there. For example, someone might request a feature/gameplay mode for Megaton, then somebody else goes "oh, that already exists as a mod for eduke32", then the OP says "I don't want a mod, I want this as a feature". So the very thing they want exists right now yet they knowingly choose to ignore it.

Apparently the motivation for people to map for megaton is that lots of people will play it. But then again with TCs like WGR2 and the AMC TC, since you don't need to own Duke to play it, there's no limit/restriction to the number of people who can play your work; that's one of the motivators for me anyway.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Forge on 07 January 2014, 04:33:25
i wouldn't call them idiots; they just don't know they're defending a port that was abandoned almost a decade ago.
the advantage is relatively stable & abandoned = no constant updates
the disadvantage is relatively stable & abandoned = no constant updates

any case, you never know until you try.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: High Treason on 07 January 2014, 05:53:13
I would offer to help, but I'm very busy these days and every time I've gone near any community-type thing there have been way too many creative differences which I am in no mood to start arguments over, unlike, say, a CBP it also means I can't just pull my work and release it seperately... Well, I could, but I'd have no motivation to. Not to mention I don't want to make enemies...

The history goes;

I have no intention of going through that stuff again, I'm not pointing fingers you understand. Either way, best of luck.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: MikeNorvak on 07 January 2014, 06:41:30
Quote from: High Treason on  07 January 2014, 05:53:13

The history goes;

  • CBP8 - Somebody broke my section and did things to it I explicitly stated should not be done making it damn near impossible for me to work on any further (What you got was a copy-paste of a very early revision as I couldn't enter 3D mode).

I broke your part High Treason, I think I was an ass, sorry for that. I think I hadn't apologize before. Sorry again man. I didn't mean to ruin anything.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: James on 07 January 2014, 10:58:37
Well I enjoyed your maps HT, and it would be nice to work with a fellow Brit :P If you ever get some more time and you feel up for it let me know.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Forge on 07 January 2014, 14:09:58
It wouldn't be like working on a cbp.

From what i understand, you'd either be making your own independent maps, or finishing up other maps. You'll be using different art/assets, but nobody would be coming behind and breaking your stuff.

If you find some free time it might be worth looking into.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Micky C on 07 January 2014, 14:24:16
QuoteNBCBP - That fell apart quickly, but it was a noob project.

This isn't a noob project  ;)

QuoteCBP8 - Somebody broke my section and did things to it I explicitly stated should not be done making it damn near impossible for me to work on any further (What you got was a copy-paste of a very early revision as I couldn't enter 3D mode).
QuoteCBP9 - No rules set in stone, this map, that map, night, day, someone broke my wave timer and some walls got messed up somehow.

No one will mess around with your stuff if you don't want them to.

One of the strengths of the AMC TC is its highly diverse levels, so it would be difficult to have creative differences, at least in any independent maps. You could have any theme or gameplay style under the sun, including Shadow Warrior and Blood type maps. Of course if you're busy or lacking in motivation then I understand, we've all been in that boat.

Quotei wouldn't call them idiots; they just don't know they're defending a port that was abandoned almost a decade ago

Sounds like the definition of idiotic to me :P Still I guess they're not all like that, only a select vocal few.
It wouldn't hurt to make a thread over there I suppose... don't expect too much out of it though, but you never know.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: James on 07 January 2014, 15:23:58
The only real limitation is a few gameplay and story related things, but that's more to make sure it's cohesive rather than a crazy miss-mash of enemy styles and stuff.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Forge on 07 January 2014, 15:33:16
Quote from: Micky C on  07 January 2014, 14:24:16
Sounds like the definition of idiotic to me :P Still I guess they're not all like that, only a select vocal few.
i prefer the term "ignorant" due to lack of situational awareness.

i never mapped with the JonoF port. I know the game played in 32bit, but is the editor that came with it stuck in that render mode?
Would a megaton user still be able to make a map with their port, using the basic assets, and still be usable for the TC?
I'm sure if it's a good map it wouldn't take much to go through and add the necessary things to make it compatible. Probably less work than making a map from scratch.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Micky C on 07 January 2014, 16:06:12
Vanilla maps are already fully compatible with the TC, since it includes the original game's tile set (just don't point it out to 3DR). I suppose you might mean replacing some enemies, textures and adding special effects, which is doable. But it would preferably be a fancy map since the point of a TC is to do what's not possible in the original game.

I've tried out the megaton editor, and it is the most backward, messed up software I've tried in years. It doesn't even show the Duke tile set.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Forge on 07 January 2014, 16:14:46
I don't know what editor Ancient Coffee Bean used, but if there's talent like that floating around over there it's worth pursuing.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Micky C on 08 January 2014, 00:28:13
He used mapster32.

It'd be great if we could get another Ancient Coffee Bean (or the original for that matter  :P )
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: High Treason on 08 January 2014, 05:43:43
I'll consider it when (currently if) I get off of my current mapping project... Basic layout for all but two buildings and one street are completed at any rate. I'll try and get a screenie in the "What are you working on..." thread tomorrow.

Seems my workstation has died on me and I cannot trace the fault, given the fact the northbridge is known to be faulty and that I lost two USB ports, an Ethernet adaptor, 1394 and onboard audio in recent times (They no longer exist as far as the machine is concerned) I am inclined to think it might be time to throw in the towel soon and we're looking at over a year to get it replaced (I don't (http://ark.intel.com/products/75056/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E3-1270-v3-8M-Cache-3_50-GHz) do (http://www.supermicro.co.uk/products/motherboard/Xeon/C220/X10SAE.cfm) things (http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-d8000/) by half) - though I am determined to get it to April 2nd with some functionality, it turns 9 on that day.

You never know, I may be lucky and find it's a dead spider or failed GPU given there were massive temperature increases lately (overheating is near impossible, I have a thermal switch installed in the cooling loop that trips at 60'C) though I'll be limping over the line on a GeForce 7300 if that is the case...  Is it a bad time to mention the cooling system pisses water by this point and the insides of the machine are coated with dust, nicotine, oil and the ethylene-glycol-based cooling solution?

Sorry for rambling, I'm tired and I've had nothing but hardware failure - laptop, 486DX4, failing mobo in U5S (UMC 486SX (http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4624/k3uu.jpg)), P60 - and financial problems as of late and I think I'd explode if I didn't rant about it a little - feel free to ignore me, bashing this into the keyboard makes just makes me feel a bit better about a potentially boring year - I guess I'll have to find other things to do.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: James on 08 January 2014, 10:45:44
Nah that's cool, rant away. Computer troubles are the worst because it could be any number of things and it can be expensive to work with or fix.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Merlijn on 08 January 2014, 19:13:08
I can't promise anything, but I was playing around with the idea of doing a city map where the aliens have frozen the surroundings (Mr Freeze style) and the player has to destroy the huge freeze gun to 'defrost' the city. ;D Originally for vanilla Duke, but it might also work as a TC level.

If you'd like that type of map in your TC, just tell me.  :)
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Forge on 09 January 2014, 14:11:10
who's this Merlyn guy?
noob help is better than no help; make him prove his skills and finish that half map i dumped on you.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: James on 10 January 2014, 00:41:28
Quote from: Merlijn on  08 January 2014, 19:13:08
I can't promise anything, but I was playing around with the idea of doing a city map where the aliens have frozen the surroundings (Mr Freeze style) and the player has to destroy the huge freeze gun to 'defrost' the city. ;D Originally for vanilla Duke, but it might also work as a TC level.

If you'd like that type of map in your TC, just tell me.  :)
You're a character in the TC dude (and your brother too although he didn't do voice acting) you tell me if I'd like a map by you in it :P

(yes that would be fantastic)
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Micky C on 10 January 2014, 02:33:46
Not to mention Merlijn's character apparently saved the Netherlands from a rogue necromancer. Perhaps it could be the necromancer who is back for revenge by freezing a city?
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Gambini on 10 January 2014, 02:50:09
Quote from: Forge on  09 January 2014, 14:11:10
who's this Merlyn guy?
noob help is better than no help; make him prove his skills and finish that half map i dumped on you.

It´s spelled Merjyn. Put some damn attention in the way you write. You may scare him away mispelling his name.  :-\
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Forge on 10 January 2014, 14:03:14
Quote from: Gambini on  10 January 2014, 02:50:09
It´s spelled Merjyn.
Mary Jane?

Quote from: Gambini on  10 January 2014, 02:50:09
Put some damn attention in the way you write. You may scare him away mispelling his name.  :-\
Next month he'll pop his head out of the ground, see his own shadow, and disappear for another month anyway.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Merlijn on 12 January 2014, 13:03:29
Quote from: Micky C on  10 January 2014, 02:33:46
Not to mention Merlijn's character apparently saved the Netherlands from a rogue necromancer. Perhaps it could be the necromancer who is back for revenge by freezing a city?

Yeah, it would be cool if it's a map intended to be played with my character. I thought of trying to replicate some locations from Amsterdam, so it would be an adventure in the Netherlands.  :D

And be careful, misspelling my name 3 times in a row summons an evil demon.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: James on 12 January 2014, 16:14:35
Well you still got access to the AMC TC hidden forums over at the ancient lost city of AMC, so if you do decide to work on a map or something feel free to swing by there for ideas and stuff (or requests for features .etc) :)
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Merlijn on 12 January 2014, 22:34:11
Sure, I'll drop in a message. I still don't have much spare time though, so if I make a map, it probably won't be too big or too ambitious.
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Forge on 13 January 2014, 15:10:10
Quote from: Merlijn on  12 January 2014, 13:03:29
And be careful, misspelling my name 3 times in a row summons an evil demon.
Merlingeuse
Merlyngeuse
Merjyngeuse
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Merlijn on 13 January 2014, 18:34:44
(http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130327011310/nicktheultimaswordwielder/images/2/27/Beetlejuice.jpg)
Title: Re: help with AMC TC
Post by: Gambini on 14 January 2014, 03:40:14
lol  ;D

Are you sure that isnt Maarten dressed up for halloween?