Hey guys! I think it's time now to share my work with you all. I've decided to open this little thread (my first thread so far) to share the concepts and some preview pictures of this mappack. I didn't like much the idea of posting some pictures there in the Map Showcasing Thread, and I hope to be allowed to do this way by the administrators.

This is intended to be released as a mappack or a mod around July. I think the mod format would fit better for me as I expect to release 6 maps (fairly long) as a bunch at once, but go including more episodes each time (every 5 months or so...). The first episode is called "The Enceladus Initiative"

I must say this is the very first time I map for a game ever! I've been watching tutorials and reading SOOOOOO MUCH in order to approach myself to mapping and the hammer editor. I'm happy with what I've learned so far, and I must admit mapping is right the same funny (or even funnier) as playing the game!! So I hope everything work as I plan and you all like this stuff I'm creating.

Some of you have been already requested to be my beta-testers and some others will, in order to check out for any possible unintended solutions, bugs and such. I really hope the final release will be much a definitive version (... but I know it won't be... hehehe), that's why I'm taking my time...

You'll see I've opted for a personal style rather than sticking to an already existing Portal2 theme. I've done this way, not because I don't love each of the existing ones!, but because many many maps are released each week and all existing themes are to much seen and played already, and as this is a creative tool, I've experimented with the visuals until I'm happy with the style I've made.

I really hope you guys like it as well!!! Some pictures below... Any suggestions, comments or whatever feedback will be much appreciated!!

Updated 2012-06-26 Custom Arrival Elevators:

Updated 2012-06-26 Custom Departure Elevators:

Updated 2012-06-26 Regular cube collection mini-game chamber:

Map n?5 (already completed):

Map n? 3 (already completed):

...More at moddb: http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-enceladus-initiative

Looking splendid!
Unique style but a lovely one!
Keep up the good work, can't wait for a release

Looking forward to this, thanks for sharing the screenshots. Good luck!

Ooh! New art style! I'm an instant fan.

Wow, looks amazing! Did you make the custom textures yourself?

Can't wait to play it!

The water is amazing, just like the custom signage. The textures are also pretty cool. The only thing I'm not particularly fond of is the lighting. In my honest opinion, it's quite bland. I'd try making it seem more dynamic in terms of lighting.

I do however really like the sandy look of it all, and the story is fairly detailed.

PS: Is this just mere co?ncidence or did you reference Halo with the year in the summary of the mod? Either that or I'm just addicted and see this sort of thing everywhere. :O

Amazing! I'm hooked! Just a quick question, well... it may be a long one. But, how did you make the custom elevator? I've had some ideas but don't feel like messing around with the entities, did you just copypaste the entities from the elevator and edit them a but into another custom instance? Or did you start from scratch?

Thanks a lot guys for the feedback! I really appreciate it.

Kaleido wrote:
Wow, looks amazing! Did you make the custom textures yourself?

There are many custom materials here. I've made almost all of them. My friend Neco also made some stuff like the slanted supports and the white grates materials. Also one friend of mine here in Spain, Vanessa, is helping me with the signage.

p0rtalplayer wrote:
Ooh! New art style! I'm an instant fan.

Thanks p0rtalplayer! Coming from you it's a real honour. I'm a fan of you since Portal. Check:

FourthReaper wrote:
The only thing I'm not particularly fond of is the lighting. In my honest opinion, it's quite bland. I'd try making it seem more dynamic in terms of lighting.

Well, I guess lightning and the music will be the last things to tune up before releasing. Anyway, I'm placing like 4-5 env_proj_tex per map!! Don't worry, it'll be good at the end.

Paradoxic R3mix wrote:
did you just copypaste the entities from the elevator and edit them a but into another custom instance? Or did you start from scratch?

Well, I used the instances indeed. It's very complicated at a first time, because there's a high chance that you receive errors in compile constantly, but with patience you'll get it! Basically try to keep the things that are in the center mostly as they are... and change the surrounding stuff

I have tested a part of this map this guy is awesome

This looks incredible! I really love the feel of the arrival and departure elevator area.

Wow this looks amazing I'm definitely tracking the progress on this mod.

rock_n_rage wrote:
This looks incredible! I really love the feel of the arrival and departure elevator area.

Thanks! To be frank I've been trying different approaches for these elevators for 3 months! I'm happy with the result.

RubyCarbuncIe wrote:
Wow this looks amazing I'm definitely tracking the progress on this mod.

Thanks. I wouldn't like to overload the forum posting here many pictures, so I'll only post a few more every once in a while. But I'll work on the site at MODDB (just click on my signature below):

http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-enceladus-initiative

I like how you added a personal touch to every element and every part of the environment and keeping it uniform throughout.

FourthReaper wrote:
PS: Is this just mere co?ncidence or did you reference Halo with the year in the summary of the mod? Either that or I'm just addicted and see this sort of thing everywhere. :O

I also felt that way

chimera201 wrote:
I like how you added a personal touch to every element and every part of the environment and keeping it uniform throughout.

Thanks for your support Jithin! I'm putting much effort to each detail in order to get everything looks homogeneous, it's nice that you point that out!

chimera201 wrote:

FourthReaper wrote:

PS: Is this just mere co?ncidence or did you reference Halo with the year in the summary of the mod? Either that or I'm just addicted and see this sort of thing everywhere. :O

I also felt that way

Hehehe... this is soo curious guys! Will you believe me if I say that I NEVER played Halo? Don't even know how the game looks like... EEEEYYYY stop insulting me! I don't REALLY have much time to play many games and that's why I focussed in Portal since I met it... Anyway, I don't have the feeling like being missing something... I love this game.

To be frank, to me, the visuals remind me of Tomb Raider, even though I never tried to find the same look ever... Also to Prince of Persia...

The elevators look amazing. Nice job!

josepezdj wrote:
Thanks. I wouldn't like to overload the forum posting here many pictures, so I'll only post a few more every once in a while. But I'll work on the site at MODDB (just click on my signature below):

http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-enceladus-initiative

Man, I even love those custom observation chambers! Really can't wait to play this

Kaleido wrote:
Man, I even love those custom observation chambers! Really can't wait to play this

Thanks Kaleido! Hehe.. if you really can't wait to play this, well then I will have to send some map to you for beta testing, ok? I'll send via pm this evening (Spain time)!

Also, I would like to share a couple of screeshots more:

I think one of my favorite things in these images is the octagonal windows. I don't know why, but I think they're very cool.

Thanks mate! That's good news because you'll find many of them into the mappack!! hehehe.

josepezdj wrote:
Kaleido wrote:

Man, I even love those custom observation chambers! Really can't wait to play this

Thanks Kaleido! Hehe.. if you really can't wait to play this, well then I will have to send some map to you for beta testing, ok? I'll send via pm this evening (Spain time)!

Cool, I'll look forward to it!