SPAMBOX for Greed

[ekay]

Played Shoebox and thought it was quite fun, makes a nice change from a standard map. But there were a few annoyances. It's ugly, it's far too hard to actually cap unless you use the boring tactic of just walking around the mezzanine.

So I then thought what better map to have a spam-fest, but still be able to cap than Spambox.
Anyone else think this would make a nice addition to the server? As far as I know, VCTF-Spambox does not exist, so I'll just make it (basically a box map, then make it look pretty).

And you can help me, by suggesting a name. I don't want to call it Spambox just incase fribble decides to make it himself at some point. So far some names I have got are;
VCTF-Fragtastic
VCTF-FRAGASM!
VCTF-SuperFragilistic

I'm thinking of putting the skull-collectors in the very centre of the map (where the nodes are) rather than on the opposite ends (like the cores), while having spawns on the default outside. This'll mean all the spam will be directed to the centre of the map and all the skulls should start building up inbetween the two flags/alters.

WAR-Spambox linkeh, for those of you unfamilliar with the map.

[Zeus]

I like the idea  :roll:

[ekay]

I see what you did thar Zeus!
I like it, but it means I'll have to make another map just so I can use "Fragasm"

Ok, just thinking more about the map, mainly the theme. ONS-Spambox works because matches could actually last a while, and therefore be quite entertaining. But in Greed I could see a potential problem, large amounts of skulls could build up in the centre and all it'll take is one lucky run to pick up 50+ skulls in one run and end the map.
So I think it'll work as a space map (or something else with death traps). A few edges or holes where the skulls can fall off the map but not too dangerous as so players wont keep accidently falling off the map too. So a way for the map to purge skulls itself.

Got some time next week so I can get an alpha layout done. Could we get it tested online to see if it actually works? (don't want to work up to beta if the concept fails anyway).

[Zeus]

you could put the skull scoring point (flag site) in the air and then use a jumpad to get to it. Makes you easy prey, But a good laugh.

Just I thought

[ekay]

Hmm, I'm wondering if it's possible to have one skull collector, rather than a red and a blue one?
Place the single collector in the very centre - like the double damage in DM-Gael. You'll need to double jump the pit to cap. Sounds like an interesting idea.

Can't wait to get working on this now. No matter how silly it is

[Zofo]

haha cool, but then all the skulls from anyone that tries to cap (and lets face it the middle will be spammed to death so...) will fall into the pit, is this a bad thing though?  i don't think so, at least that way u couldn't just be sneaky and dive into the middle all the time collecting the skulls, i also like Fragasm as a title

[ekay]

Hmm, not only is it hard enough to decide between Skullbox and Fragasm, I now have the earge to call it MaBaSploom!.

Anyway, sneaky peeky screeny of what I've done so far:


It's going to have a Stealthbender and a Shock-Turret.

[Zeus]

Me likes  

[ekay]

Ok, got it to beta now. Uncooked the map zips to 0.5mb, cooked it zips to 8.8mb  
The map is just not box-like and doesn't feel like spambox anymore. Gameplay is pretty ludicrous, never played such a OTT map since my RPG invasion days. So Fragasm definitely fits the map.

I wanted to just go final with the map, but I can't take screenies atm, so cant do mini-map/preview. So will just put it out as beta.
I'd appreciate it if anyone could make me some in-action screenies to post on epic pub forums.

Download:
Here
Uncooked - VCTF-FRAGASM!-b1 = 495kb
Cooked - VCTF-FRAGASM!-beta1 = 8.82mb

Both versions are the same, just one is cooked and the other isn't.

Edit: Screenies

[Zeus]

uploaded the Cooked version to server3 and just played it online - LOL

Should be a good laugh with players - could do with some health pickups and maybe the ring belt and the boots.

Do like the way you can fall to your death  

Didn't try it with the titan

[ekay]

No health and no shield was a design decision. The idea is people die fast, therefore more skulls and more spam. Hopefully this actually works out in practice.
No Avril is also because of that, maybe I under-estimate how good players are with the Manta, so I'll wait it out and see if it really is needed.
I wanted to put boots in, just couldn't decide where.

It's pretty mad with bots, and absolutely mental with Titan and bots. I added the other two spawn points (the one underneath, and the one at the back) to counter Titan spawn camping. Pretty much at the 50 skulls point the entire team turn into Titans, its flippin' hilarious.

Why upload the large version to the server? Still not sure how to distribute the final since I don't like the fact cooking multiplies the file size x10.

[Zeus]

will download the smaller version and try tyy out too

[ekay]

Noooo! Its the return of the black texture!
If you get Udamage, and get inside the ShockTurret, the flashes from the muzzles are black rectangles. This is on the cooked map.
Gah, I searched for this last time it happened on the epic forums and couldn't find anybody else with the problem. Very strange.

Also, lols at the game. I can't help but laugh my ass off when playing this, especially when either just missing that double jump or stopping others make it.

[Zeus]

I've upload the uncooked version too - on custom maplist again

[ekay]

Final is done.
Linkeh
One is in a .zip @ 1.1mb the other is .7z @ 800kb. Both are the same, just different compression format. Not sure which one you prefer Zeus so I just put them both up.
It's uncooked. Ini files contains description and point to map-pic preview.

Changes to final:

# Added new spawn points to counter shock-turret spawn killing with an alt-locker with avril and sniper
# Repositioned rear spawn points to counter Titan spawn killing
# Total spawns points now 18 per team
# Added team colours and deco to floors
# Added jump boots
# Moved Udamage from in front of turret to centre of map
# Increased movement speed of turret
# Moved blue manta to same side as red
# Added colour correction with post-processing
# Added music and mapinfo and map preview image
# Further optimisations
# Fixed some shadow issues

Adding Mapinfo has made quite a few changes; It now has a minimap, which I just used a default texture for. There are more announcing and objection sound effects, which could either be seen as annoying or quite funny. And somehow bots are allot more aggressive now.