what drives you?

[Derimok]

I was just interested on what helps people complete their maps and why much of us don't complete maps? Whether its Real life that gets in the way, laziness or other reasons?

For me, I could of had 20+ maps out by now but I suffer from the "what if everyone thinks this will look crap" syndrome and the fact i have a problem with perfectionism. I can never complete most of the stuff i start because to me it doesn't look perfect, sometimes all the ideas are there to make a fantastic map, but fail to get them built in the editor.

So what drives everyone else to complete maps? What advice can you give?

[Mikemc]

I think my stuff looks like crap. The only reason I prefer console game editors (like Farcry) is because all the objects are already made and the lighting looks the same for everyone. It also takes me too long to make anything in Quake and I get bored of it. It's more for doodling now than trying to make anything useful.

- Mike

[grieve[Q2C]]

kold said:

I was just interested on what helps people complete their maps and why much of us don't complete maps?

owe, it's tough. I usually run out of some kind of fuel .... motivation has surely something to do with it. then the map gets stuck.

it surely has something to do with the quake scene as it is today, with not enough people left who pay attention if someone creates something.

however, still working to find a way to a regular production.

[Whirlingdervish]

I seem to finish my q2 maps a bit more often when there is some sort of community event goin on, but most of mine were just little spurts of mapping that I started on and suddenly had life spring up and give me something more urgent to do. On many of the occasions where I decided to start a map, I had some free hour, and I chose to use it to doodle out a basic map layout on paper. Then IF I somehow found that I had more free time I'd try and translate it into something in-editor that kinda resembled what I was trying to draw.

The downside to making them in spurts and starting with doodles, like this, is that only a few of the ones I have started that way have ended up in a place where I was willing to spend the time to finish/tune them at home.

I have a bunch of "false-starts"..

[Le Ray [Q2C]]

I never had a problem finishing my maps. I loved doing it, so it wasn't hard for me.

[Panzer]

That's a really good question. I have had some incredible ideas for maps that just fell to pieces during the construction phase and other ideas that were simply just a bit of toying around with the editor that made it to completion and release. Solar Winds was one of the later maps that I was simply playing around with and never expected anyone to enjoy it, but it turned out to be a great test map for some new ideas and a lot of fun to play despite how weird it was.

I think most of us who map have a slightly over-inflated ego due to the "god" complex given by the map editor and to think someone might not like your work is a huge slap in the face that usually results in weeks of testing on top of weeks or months of construction which leads to losing interest in the map and ultimately, many of these maps are not released.

I wonder what professional environment artists for games think about this topic. I think they have leads who are more focused and keep them on track to complete the game environments, but I would bet many of them, if left on their own, would suffer the same fates we suffer from.

[Derimok]

h0m3rc1d4l said:

I wonder what professional environment artists for games think about this topic. I think they have leads who are more focused and keep them on track to complete the game environments, but I would bet many of them, if left on their own, would suffer the same fates we suffer from.

Thats kind of funny that you say that Panzer, I work as a graphic designer for a newspaper and we always have pretty tight deadlines and no matter what you have to get the ad's finished on time every time, i guess the same would apply to people in the industry.

As hobbyists, its more relaxed, no deadlines and no pressure to complete our maps, for some people they find it a breeze and have no troubles completing their creations, for me i work better in a team environment with a leader and with deadlines.

Just if i could somehow apply this to my Quake 2 mapping etc..

[tmg]

I am able to relate to your post so well Kold, I suffer from that bug too. that and getting older - I am 25 in december! argh!!!! So at the moment it's taken a back seat as yeah, life's in the way at the moment and I have little time for my PC.

Neglect? I think so!