Megawad Release: A Newbie Project

[obake]

UAC Enterprises

This is my very first megawad release, 32 levels that I hope will bring you joy! The wad is entitled UAC Enterprises.

I know the levels here are not perfect. However, I have still put a lot of time and effort into creating them (making sure to get rid of all bugs and graphical glitches, that they look nice, have been playtested, etc).

The link to the actual project, with all of the information needed given in its file description, is here:
http://wadhost.fathax.com/download.php?view.219

I sincerely want and even NEED to hear your reviews and thoughts on this, especially about the later levels! I haven't received any one's opinions on the second half of the megawad as of the time of this writing, and I'm really interested in seeing what others have to say.

I will take all criticism with appreciation, hoping that whatever mistakes I've made in design will be outweighed by the good things, and that I can know of places to improve upon in the future.

Just a few screenshots:
http://www.4shared.com/folder/_Jp2gGG3/ ... gnout=true
(Note they are in low quality because I cannot successfully retrieve screenshots from in game, so I have to take them with a digital camera instead)

*Note that I have posted links to these in Doomworld, as well.

Thanks for your time,
Obake

[mistrneb]

Hey I will give it a try, but honestly man don't tell me you can't take screenshots. There's fraps, print screen, in-game screenshot taking. Either have proper screen shots or don't have them at all, if you are taking digital camera screens from a monitor for screenshots that detracts from the initial impression of the wad even before downloading it in my opinion. Still though I will play it but I don't think I can properly judge, I just like playing doom so I don't have any technical map making expertise.

[Matt]

At first the combination of "new poster", "hi everyone I'm a newbie doing a megawad" and odd implementation of screenshots set off a bunch of alarm bells, and the visuals I was presented with both with those shots and at the very start of the map left me unimpressed.

But this is actually really good.

Only played up to the end of Map02 so far (gotta get ready to leave the apartment in like 15 minutes ago), but it's some really solid gameplay with good ideas (and I love the combo-secret in Map02) that nearly got me killed on the second map due to some ambushes that, except for one particularly notorious ZDoom feature that actually gets used in a simple, surprisingly effective way, is all pure vanilla stuff that is used in a way that makes it very clear that the mapper knows what they're doing.

Could use some polish on the visuals (not any KDIZD "detail" bullshit, just some texture alignment and some more thought into colour schemes and developing a sense of place), but I definitely like where this is going.

[Gez]

Just a few screenshots:
http://www.4shared.com/folder/_Jp2gGG3/ ... gnout=true
(Note they are in low quality because I cannot successfully retrieve screenshots from in game, so I have to take them with a digital camera instead)

Ouch.

If you need help with that, take a look at the [wiki]screenshot[/wiki] article. There is no reason you cannot take screenshots in ZDoom.

Furthermore, keep in mind that in Windows, if you play the game in windowed mode, you can press Alt + PrintScreen to take a screenshot of the current active window into the clipboard. Then alt-tab to some image editing software (MS Paint is enough) and hit Ctrl-V to paste the screenshot into the image, save, and there you go.

Finally, for hosting the screenshots, I'd recommend uploading them to imgur. http://imgur.com/

[PFL]

But this is actually really good.

I'll go for that too. I began to realize this on map 2. Then map 3 confirmed this thought. I am beginning the 6th now and am kinda addicted by it. It certainly is not about graphics, since I have seen Masterpieces in those last 19 years. It's more about playing some old styled maps with some new ideas and little details that makes it very enjoyable. You little dirty switch "bastard"

I will enjoy this one up until the end and will come back as much as needed to shares my "feelings"

Very fine first attempt.

Prt Scr Prt Scr ...

EDIT: Choose one ... awesome 6 and menacing 7

[zrrion the insect]

(Note they are in low quality because I cannot successfully retrieve screenshots from in game, so I have to take them with a digital camera instead)

I had a similar problem with screen-shotting that I remedied by changing the folder I had zdoom in. It had something to do with my computer not allowing applications to write files to that directory (silly windows).

[obake]

First off, let me say thank you for all of the extraordinarily kind words you've said about my work.

I am ecstatic and very humbled by your responses, both to helping me get screenshots to work, which I'm still figuring out (I'm a bit of a derp when it comes to these things), and also to explaining how you like the levels.

If you like the early levels, I can't wait to hear what you'll have to say about the later ones! IMO, the first episode of the wad is the weakest in terms of personal favorites. Episode 2 is probably the strongest all around in terms of level quality, while episodes 3 and 4 are the most ambitious (especially episode 4).

The maps I'm absolutely most interested in receiving reviews for are these specifically:
Map 13 The City Scape
Map 14 Museum Storage
Map 16 The Hedge Maze
Map 17 Horror Awaits
Map 23 Attic of Anxieties
Map 25 Sunk
Map 26 House of Fury
Map 27 UAC Fortress
Map 30 Headquarters of Hell, Part 2
(Secret) Map 31 Grocery Shocking
(Secret) Map 32 Warhead-testing Island

Not all of these maps are listed because I think they're really good. A few of them (maps 16, 23, 25, and 26) will likely receive some fairly bad, or at least split, reviews.

Map 26, House of Fury, is admittedly my least favorite map in the wad, although I have personal affections for it. I doubt there will be a lot of other people who like it very much, however, as it is agonizing to traverse, especially for speedrunning, or trying to get 100% kills and secrets.

Map 27, UAC Fortress, on the other hand, is my personal favorite level for this megawad. There are so many different ways to go about beating it, yet it stays a good challenge no matter which route you take. Another really good map, IMO, is 17.

I will be absolutely stoked if any of you fine zdoomers would take it upon yourself to review some of these levels (or perhaps even levels I didn't list, if you should feel like doing so). I won't be disappointed if you have criticisms, either. In fact, I want to hear your full opinions about what things you liked and disliked about playing it, even if you didn't like the level (or the wad in general) at all!

Again, with gratitude, Obake

[PFL]

Well, I'm beginning the first one from your role of honnor. What a sudden change. Colorful, The City Scape.

This megawad will surprise most doomer. This is one refreshing gameplay you are giving us. I give you thumbs up for the variety found in it. Always something different. Sometimes unfair, hard secrets and many new things, many. You won't need reviews, really. You're doing fine ...

Edit.

---

Superb map 13. 14 was cool but somehow easy. But the features are top notch. Now, I found the boots and no exit in 15. Is 16 the right way through?

Also found A LOT of HOMs, especially in map 13 and in this 15:

[obake]

PFL wrote:
Now, I found the boots and no exit in 15. Is 16 the right way through?

I'm grateful for all of the compliments.

As for level 15, there is an exit (it's located just after the red door, facing left of where the player starts in the first room.)

16 is the right level to go through next. I can't wait to hear what you have to say about it!

[jpalomo]

I was really frustrated with Map07. Too many hitscan enemies to deal with, and very little cover. Also the lift platforms move so fast that the player clips into the floor partially when going up. Everything else so far is pretty good.

[PFL]

Awesome 16. Total gameplay. At some point I was wondering the f*uck what kind of baron would go on a trampoline. 17 had a neutral effect on me afterward, when compared, but still very good. I don't think I will be the right one for criticism over your work. It's been damn too long since I had this "what the hell is it gonna be this time" before the beginning of each single map of a megawad. I hope you will release some more, someday. 18 ...

[PFL]

Map 23 - Attic of Anxieties = Wow!
Map 24 - Damn
Map 25 - Water madness is simply CRAZY. What's gonna get out of your head once experienced but check this one out

---

Surprising effect that changes a bit when circling through that next room

[PaskaTykki]

I played this with Brutal Doom, and very funny maps. Im not yet played all maps. Map 13 is very fun.

[PFL]

Finished! If I resume my experience ...

- much fun (great gameplay)
- each map with it's own identity
- complex at some point (secrets & walkthrough)
- sometimes visually attractive, then not.
- final level deceiving and not polite
- some homs here and there ... there's always some.

Overall mighty excellent for a one man first megawad. Looking forward to try your next project.

I forgot: the doggy must never take as much dammage as a Hell Baron ...

[obake]

Finished! If I resume my experience ...

- much fun (great gameplay)
- each map with it's own identity
- complex at some point (secrets & walkthrough)
- sometimes visually attractive, then not.
- final level deceiving and not polite
- some homs here and there ... there's always some.

Overall mighty excellent for a one man first megawad. Looking forward to try your next project.

I forgot: the doggy must never take as much dammage as a Hell Baron ...

I'm very humbled by all of your reviews. It's taken a lot of work, and overall, it's proven successful.

As for the dogs, I did set their hit points lower than that of Hell Knights (at around 280, rather than 500), but perhaps I missed a few.

Plus, if you're interested in trying out a new level, here is a preview of my next project, level 3 of an upcoming megawad:
http://wadhost.fathax.com/download.php?view.233

Note: you will need crouch and jumping in order to be able to beat this level!

With much appreciation, Obake