The Phobos Directive: 9-map E1 GZDooM hub: New Pix 1/2011

[ReX]

The Phobos Directive is a 9-map hub for GZDooM. Each map has a "core" area that is based on the respective maps of E1, but also includes new, industrial-type areas to explore. To make the game less repetitive and more challenging, gameplay will not be restricted to Episode I weapons & enemies. It has many new graphics and new skies, will have new music, and features an inventory system and new powerups.

More information and screenshots are available at the usual place.

[printz]

Like I say, awesome.

[Big C]

Noice. I'm a sucker for E1 replacements.

[Shadelight]

That looks incredible!

[ReX]

Heh, heh. Thanks; you all are too kind.

[David Ferstat]

Ooh! More from ReX! Yay!

[Salad Viking]

I dunno. I know KDiZD was quite hated (I didn't think it was that bad, personally), but the maps just doesn't look detailed enough. Or maybe they're too detailed. They're kind of halfway between "Tormenter667 over-the-top" detail and classic Doom medium-low detail. But I'm not going to judge until it's ready for release.

[esselfortium]

I dunno. I know KDiZD was quite hated (I didn't think it was that bad, personally), but the maps just doesn't look detailed enough. Or maybe they're too detailed. They're kind of halfway between "Tormenter667 over-the-top" detail and classic Doom medium-low detail. But I'm not going to judge until it's ready for release.

My thoughts on that subject.

[Hellstorm Archon]

I dunno. I know KDiZD was quite hated (I didn't think it was that bad, personally), but the maps just doesn't look detailed enough. Or maybe they're too detailed. They're kind of halfway between "Tormenter667 over-the-top" detail and classic Doom medium-low detail. But I'm not going to judge until it's ready for release.

Concerning KDiZD: There's one thing I don't understand. Why was KDiZD considered infamous and was hated? If it was hated so much, why didn't it just win the Worst Wad Cacoward? I thought KDiZD was great; the detail was awesome, the new stuff made the remake exciting, and the features in ZDoom only created more awesome in KDiZD.

Back to the topic: Looks awesome, can't wait to play it someday!

[ReX]

Concerning KDiZD: There's one thing I don't understand. Why was KDiZD considered infamous and was hated? If it was hated so much, why didn't it just win the Worst Wad Cacoward?

KDiZD was tagged with an unfavorable reputation primarily because of personalities. There were some that disliked the hubris being displayed by a few of the KDiZD team members, and appeared to embark on a petty and vengeful rampage. As for the game itself, it was groundbreaking in some respects and clearly caught the attention of the judge(s) at CacoAward time.

[esselfortium]

KDiZD was tagged with an unfavorable reputation primarily because of personalities. There were some that disliked the hubris being displayed by a few of the KDiZD team members, and appeared to embark on a petty and vengeful rampage.

You know, there are some people who just have legitimate qualms with the way it was designed. You don't have to pan all criticism you disagree with as being either absolutely wrong or somehow ill-motivated. It's okay to just say you disagree with them.

[Csonicgo]

It's okay to just say you disagree with them.

I disagree.

And that's okay.

[ReX]

You know, there are some people who just have legitimate qualms with the way it was designed. You don't have to pan all criticism you disagree with as being either absolutely wrong or somehow ill-motivated. It's okay to just say you disagree with them.

The question to which I was offering an answer was: Why was KDiZD considered infamous and was hated? I was hardly panning "all criticism you disagree with as being either absolutely wrong or somehow ill-motivated". In fact I don't believe I even expressed an opinion one way or the other regarding the matter - even though anyone who was reviewing the discussion groups at the time would agree that there were some who were carrying hate to new heights.

Having "legitimate qualms with the way it was designed" would not account for the vitriol that was being spewed in discussion groups, much of which emerged well before the game was even released. Hate implies an emotional context - it's difficult to see how someone would "hate" a game (and its creators) just because they had issues with the way it was designed. Also, the fact that it was not universally hated - there were in fact many players that really enjoyed it - seems to suggest a personal nature to some of the attacks.

It's a matter of record that I was one of the first to point out both the good and the bad. It was not a game for everyone; however, I doubt that the game would have acquired its reputation merely because people had problems with its design.

Now can we get back to how nice my screenshots look like? Heh.

[CrystalWolf]

I dunno. I know KDiZD was quite hated (I didn't think it was that bad, personally), but the maps just doesn't look detailed enough. Or maybe they're too detailed. They're kind of halfway between "Tormenter667 over-the-top" detail and classic Doom medium-low detail. But I'm not going to judge until it's ready for release.

Concerning KDiZD: There's one thing I don't understand. Why was KDiZD considered infamous and was hated?

[printz]

Concerning KDiZD: There's one thing I don't understand. Why was KDiZD considered infamous and was hated? If it was hated so much, why didn't it just win the Worst Wad Cacoward?

KDiZD was tagged with an unfavorable reputation primarily because of personalities.

You're (all) overcomplicating the matter. I'd say the main reason KDiZD got criticism (besides bad marketing) was the none-too-hectic gameplay. Sure, I was all over KDiZD when it was released, because otherwise it was solid and coherent. But I wouldn't replay it very much. Most encounters are either unfair or tightly controlled, not something random. They lack the dynamism of maps like original E1M5, E1M7 and such, all that torrent of shotgunners and imps coming at me, which I can enjoy further by boosting the monsters.

Saying this, this project screenshot set reminds me a lot of KDiZD. Too bad I haven't played the previous "Phobos" episode to get an accurate idea, but otherwise it looks a lot like KDiZD, with classic maps expanded with new areas and modern detail. Some of the automap screenshots are interesting, probably more than in KDiZD, because they have circular areas in them.

Since I'm extremely used to seeing clashing visual detail everywhere in real life, I'd only ask for good gameplay here. Please. Not just 2D & "monsters pop in your face" gameplay.