The best map/area ever?

[DazZ.]

Recently I've decided giving map making a bash, and whilst learning all the little bits and pieces the tutorials don't really go into detail on what makes a great map great.

So I've been trying to work out why I love the maps I do (Carentan/Chinatown in Call of Duty for example) and most of the times I've realised it because I'm good at them, which helps me fuck all.

So what is your favourite map from any game? Would be awesome if you could give reasons why aswell but I'm just really looking for inspiration.

 

[BolognaBaloney]

Blood Gulch, blood gulch.

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

Recently I've decided giving map making a bash, and whilst learning all the little bits and pieces the tutorials don't really go into detail on what makes a great map great.

So I've been trying to work out why I love the maps I do (Carentan/Chinatown in Call of Duty for example) and most of the times I've realised it because I'm good at them, which helps me fuck all.

So what is your favourite map from any game? Would be awesome if you could give reasons why aswell but I'm just really looking for inspiration.

I'd say Valhalla, from Halo 3. I don't quite know why, but I enjoy it far more than any other map from that game.

 

[XSA37]

Probably the fourth part of "No Mercy" in Left 4 Dead. The atmosphere of an abandoned hospital worked perfectly, and the long, thin corridors made the zombie horde scenes so much more intense. Oh, and the stage proved that elevators are still the only safe place in survival horror games.

 

[Fire Daemon]

Hyrule Field.

If you mean Multiplayer maps, Gridlock in Gears of War. Actually most maps in that game were rather good, which made number two's lackluster maps seem even worse.

 

[curlycrouton]

Strike at Karkand or Wake Island, both from Battlefield 2 (PC). By far the most popular maps in the game.

 

[Armored Prayer]

I got a few...

Complex from Goldeneye

Area 52 from Perfect Dark

Circus form Timesplitters 2

Guardian from Halo 3

Gridlock from Gears of War

That boat level in CoD:4

Lobby from Shadorun

Thats all I can remember right now. I need to replay some of these games.

 

[j0z]

Any map I make.

Seriously though, I have no specific examples, but here is what I like in maps:
At least two sniper's nests
Passage ways for more close quarters combat
Lots of cover and blind spots
A unified visual style, and interesting/varied architecture/terrain
If the map has CP or bases, good balance (see anti-example- Battlefront 2, Geonosis, that astroid base map)
Out of curiosity, what game is this map for?

 

[DazZ.]

Probably the fourth part of "No Mercy" in Left 4 Dead. The atmosphere of an abandoned hospital worked perfectly, and the long, thin corridors made the zombie horde scenes so much more intense. Oh, and the stage proved that elevators are still the only safe place in survival horror games.

That's good to know, I'm trying to make an indoor L4D map because I can see less things going wrong with the indoors rather than wide open spaces. (I'm shite at the moment =])

Strike at Karkand or Wake Island, both from Battlefield 2 (PC). By far the most popular maps in the game.

Absolutely love Wake Island, I think its because your invading a whole island just from your ships. (or defending of course )

If you mean Multiplayer maps,

I mean either, anything that is considered good map.

Out of curiosity, what game is this map for?

Learning with Hammer at the moment, so Source games, TF2 and L4D specifically.

 

[JRCB]

Blood Gulch, blood gulch.

Roses are red, violets are blue, one we'll cruise down Blood Gulch Avenue......


I also enjoy Liberty City in GTA 4.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Any one map cannot be the 'best ever' because it's tied to a game.

However, de_dust is probably the most played map in any FPS ever in history since it's been the most played map on Countre Strike/Source for ten years(!!!). So by that definition it's the best.


The best types of map however are either the simple symmetrical maps with lots of cover (Blood Gulch, 2fort Operation Battle axe) or the bigger asymmetic maps that offer up specific strengths to each team whilst favouring neither (Karkhand, Dustbowl, Complex).

Maps that fall in between the extremes are rarely particularly balanced.

 

[DazZ.]

Any one map cannot be the 'best ever' because it's tied to a game.

Very true, was more asking what is the map you most enjoyed, but kept it short & sweet for the thread title.

The best types of map however are either the simple symmetrical maps with lots of cover (Blood Gulch, 2fort Operation Battle axe) or the bigger asymmetic maps that offer up specific strengths to each team whilst favouring neither (Karkhand, Dustbowl, Complex).

Like (almost) all the Quake CTF maps are symmetrical and that's the easiest way of getting balance, which is why I like Dust because its balanced but not just a mirrored image. I find symmetrical maps are good for competition, but not the most fun, and obviously not the most interesting.

 

[Dys]

Alright, I'll go over a few and why I like them.

Sidewinder (Halo:CE). I liked it because it was large, suited the way the game played (ie good for vehicles),had multiple ways to move around and was assymetrical.

PoWcamp (Call of duty). It was good because it was large with plenty of nooks to hide in. It was fun to charge along the rooves and duck into cover once you got through.

Railyard (call of duty 2). One of my favorite maps of all time, it catered to both open area and indoors short range styles of play, and still had a brilliant flow. It also had lots of little hidey holes around the map, so people could always dive into cover when necissary.

TF is fairly easy to design good maps for, just keep it simple and flowing (not necissarily symetrical, but not too cluttered). Flow is one of the most important elements in map design, remember not to let it get too cluttered or complicated.

Left 4 dead would be somewhat harder to program for, because the AI director will not necissarily work with your map design, I'd probably recomend making something that isn't overly linear (paths cross at various points), that has higher ground the infected can use (perhaps between two seperate paths?), I'd avoid gaping cliff faces and the like because it can be somewhat unfair if the AI director decides to drop a tank in at innapropriate times. Also, don't go overboard on activated scenes (calling elevators and the like), a few per map are fun, but too many and it becomes repetitive.

 

[Optimus Hagrid]

And a fantastic map to boot

 

[Valiance]

Hyperblast/Deck 16/Liandri.

 

[DazZ.]

-snip broken youtube-
And a fantastic map to boot

It's not working

A Left 4 dead would be somewhat harder to program for, because the AI director will not necissarily work with your map design...

Cheers for advice, I've realised L4D could be harder in some places, it appeals to me the most and I think id be better at making a co-op campaign than I would decent multiplayer map with balance. I'll ganders what you suggest.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

The Fenix estate in Gears of War.

 

[number2301]

2fort, or the other map off TFC which had the gas chambers and the tunnel which you could clear or block with a demoman. I forget the name of the second one but it was a great map

 

[grimsprice]

i'd have to say mothership zeta. i just love the atmosphere.

 

[Dr. Wily III]

Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix - All areas were beautiful designed (Fuckin' A UdonCrew!) but my favorite would be Spain

Super Mario Bros. 3 World 2 Level 4

An Half-Life 2 Deathmatch - Runoff and an Map I don't remember the name..