ZM maps

[75]

Some of the old maps just aren't as good as they should be. I'm thinking of replacing every Zorchmatch map except ZM03 (Mario Zorchmatch), ZM07 (Highlands), and possibly ZM05 (the quarry).

I would need to replace four maps; so far I've made four layouts, though one of them is too small for deathmatch/zorchmatch.

The maps I'm going to replace are

ZM01 -- "IFOC Underground Hangar"

Not awful, but I can do better.



ZM02 -- "Jade Plateau"

A ripped layout with a ripped song, not really all that great in deathmatch/zorchmatch anyway. Looks pretty, but again, just not good enough.




ZM04 -- "Subways"

Looks nice, but I never really liked the layout



ZM06 -- "Museum"



The outside area is almost never used, which isn't a good thing since that's probably the best combat area of the entire map.


For right now, these maps are made for Doom 2; this is only so that I can get more players, which is important since I want these maps to be able to support a lot of players. Most of them are also untextured layouts.

they will all eventually be re-textured and re-balanced for Chex Pack ; this map pack will be released for both Doom 2 and Chex Pack.


You can always get the latest release of FastDM (temporary name for these DM/ZM levels) at http://www.ifocserv.net/ftp/fastdm/.

You can also get some rejected (sometimes silly) concepts at http://www.ifocserv.net/ftp/fastdm/removed/

[MajorSlime]

Hmm... I'd say I support this decision. Personally, I think a subway map based more on the tunnels rather than the station might be interesting (like, a maze - well not really a maze, as that would be confusing - of subway tunnels to fight in)

[75]

I'm up to five zorchmatch layouts (and one layout that's too small for ZM-- Duel map, possibly)

[TrueDude]

Aw, had a soft spot for Jade Plateau myself since I  have a love/hate relationship with Blast Corps. ZM01 and ZM06 were decent too. Then again, I really never play much Zorchmatch (or Deathmatch) since I'm absolutely awful at it, so I guess their removal wouldn't really affect me much. Nonetheless, is there at least some kind of pack that includes removed maps from Chex Pack, or plans for one?

[75]

I was thinking of that. There are quite a few maps that got removed from Chex Pack over the years, I could make a single pack that had all of them, though the problem is that it wouldn't really be that easy to release, since not only the maps changed, but the weapons, enemy behavior, and editor numbers as well.

Probably the best possibility would be to just remove all content that doesn't exist anymore, (possibly even switch it to just using the stock chex 3 textures/actors/sprites), then release it as is.

EDIT - this is too much work; time I could be spending making better maps or converting Lucius' maps to Zandronum

[MajorSlime]

I would release each map separately as a separate WAD, as it is, and if anyone wants to mess with them then they can go and fix things, possibly upload a fixed version if they want. You know, just so people can see them if they want. I wouldn't do this with all the maps, but some of the more played on ones. Jade Plateau, Underground Hangar, the small CTF crate map, etc. Just my two cents.[size=78%] [/size]

[75]

I'm up to 10 maps now. I feel comfortable with 8 of them; two of them should probably be replaced

EDIT - also, an as-is release of the Chex Pack maps would result in a set of maps that have a lot of missing textures and actors

[MajorSlime]

Hence, why I said let someone else fix them if they want. If no one wants to, then its not worth it to fix a map up in the first place. So, release the broken ones, and if someone actually wants to play on it, they can take a look at it themselves. Less work on your part, and a lot more efficient.

[Datra]

If the outside area of the museum was the best part, would a zorchmatch map of just that area be a good idea?

[75]

Now up to 14 maps; I'm thinking of making 32.

[MajorSlime]

Better yet, 42

[75]

Update: Now up to 24 maps

[MajorSlime]

Nice! Is the server using them yet?

[75]

No permanent server is, but I frequently host temp testing servers. The layouts aren't all ready to be hosted 24/7, but I'm confident with most of them.

If you're interested in joining these testing servers, contact me on steam ([IFOC]75), and I'll tell you when I'm hosting them.

Keep in mind that for right now, you will need doom2.wad to play them. I'm currently testing the maps in Doom 2 so I can get more players, but I will re-texture and rebalance the weapons for Chex Pack usage after I am 100% certain that the maps are ready, based on Doom testing.

You can always get the latest release of FastDM (temporary name for these DM/ZM levels) at http://www.ifocserv.net/ftp/fastdm/.

You can also get some rejected (sometimes silly) concepts at http://www.ifocserv.net/ftp/fastdm/removed/

[75]

I made a quick review of all of the maps in the wad; I now have 28 maps (MAP01-MAP26 and MAP31 and MAP32)

http://www.ifocserv.net/ftp/fastdm/Status_07192013.txt