Hello. I am finished with my very first map, and I uploaded it. here's the download:

dload.php?action=filefile_id=159

I couldn't think of a good name for the level, so I'll let people suggest names for it, then I'll choose one from the suggestions.

Since it is my first map, there's not any super-hard or super-clever puzzles, or anything too advanced. I'd just like people to play it and provide feedback. Thanks

some screenshots are attached:

&&

another

and another:

Work on detailing and texturing.

Work on alot, and whats with the Crowbar??

the crowbar is in case you miss the box when you fall.

I started this level not knowing anything about texturing, so it is very weird measurements. I will probably work on the textures soon, but I can't make it perfect. I really just want to start working on a new level now that I learned lots of things, and I can start it with texturing, lighting, etc, in mind.

cornontheCoD wrote:
the crowbar is in case you miss the box when you fall.

I started this level not knowing anything about texturing, so it is very weird measurements. I will probably work on the textures soon, but I can't make it perfect. I really just want to start working on a new level now that I learned lots of things, and I can start it with texturing, lighting, etc, in mind.

With texturing keep in mind the smallest tiles are 32 units, the medium is 64, and the large is 128. also, the L(left),R(right), T(top), and B(bottom) buttons on the texture application window can save a lot of time with aligning textures.

ok, I'll keep that in mind

so anyone think of a name for it?

No name, but I thought the map was pretty fun.

The only thing I can think of when I see this map is the Curiosity sphere saying "What is that?"

^did you play it? and was that supposed to be an insult? Its my first map. I've never used hammer before. I've never created maps before. My goal was to create a functioning map and experiment with a few things, learn how it works, and not care what it looks like. I'm working on a second map right now, and it will be much better, look much more in the style of portal, and have buttons, elevator at the beginning, emancipation grids, etc.

cornontheCoD wrote:
Its my first map. I've never used hammer before. I've never created maps before. My goal was to create a functioning map and experiment with a few things, learn how it works, and not care what it looks like.

Then it's a testmap, and testmaps should stay on every mapper's computer.

^ya, but i wanted to get feedback

NykO18 wrote:
Then it's a testmap, and testmaps should stay on every mapper's computer.

Why must you be a jerk?

although i agree that was pretty jerky, i DO agree element testing maps should stay one ones computer,

no offense to cornontheCoD cuz i downloaded and played it :-/ if i can tell a map is totally n00b i don't even comment lol. i mean i got some semi-descent room maps. but i don't upload them cuz i just made them to learn hammer, portal, and resharpen my mapping skills.

anyway. like i said. although i agree that those maps should stay on ones computer, there is no ruling in the quality a map HAS to be before its uploaded. so yeah try not to be a jerk. the dude knows he's new. and this is supposed to be a "COMMUNITY" :-p

Duffedwaffe wrote:

Why must you be a jerk?

Why must you say that?
Ok, everyone makes test maps, me first.
But I'm one of the administrators of the most frequented French mapping community, and believe me, we have to deal with that every day, on a way larger scale. Each mapper wants to share his first creation, it's human. But 90% of the time, it's just basic rooms with entity tests, absolutely no logic at all and inferior quality.

We all did test maps to train ourselves with 3D engines, but if everyone were releasing each of these test maps, the forum would be totally flooded in a month, and we could say goodbye to quality forever.
I know it was a bit harsh, but as I said, I had to deal with that kind of problem, and at a given point, it almost destroyed our own community.
Anyway, I will no longer interfere, sorry for the strong opinion.

NykO18 wrote:
But I'm one of the administrators of the most frequented french mapping community, and believe me, we have to deal with that everyday, on a way larger scale. Each mapper wants to share his first creation, it's human. But 90% of the time, it's just basic rooms with entity tests, absolutely no logic at all and very poor quality.

We can all agree that the design of this map is ass on a stick (no offence to the mapper). You have to realize though that crushing someone's self esteem like that can make the person completely lose the will to learn.

I made a map like this once. actually, I've only made 3 maps. If I didn't get nice comments on the crappily done one, I wouldn't have made Snakepit and Rainbow Palace.

Roger that.
In fact, I'm coming from a very "strict" community where there's a time to learn, and a time to release. There, we don't accept testmaps, fun maps, aim maps (counter-strike) and in fact, everything that looks poorly designed.
Sorry if I went a bit too far.

This is a tough debate.

Because a community is the best place to learn from your mistakes, but at the same time I perfectly understand Nyk018's fear of seeing the download database flooded with poor work like "look, I made a cube dispenser" (but you have to admit this map, even if obviously beginner-made, is above the "very basic").

I think the "work in progress" section fits this purpose nicely of separating tries and in development maps with releases.

To make it more effective, we could give a quota of 2 or 3 maps in WIP at the same time. That would force people to either remove low-quality maps, or finish them so they reach release status in order to get new slots available for WIP.
That would probably prevent flooding and improve global quality, without closing the door to beginner's work who need constructive criticism to make progress.