Proposal : Clear Map Editing Instructions for Nexuiz

[Dokujisan]

I've been researching Nexuiz map editing over this past week. I've found bits and pieces of the puzzle and I've finally gotten started on mapping using gtkradiant. It seems that a lot of the mapping resources are based on other games and nothing seems to be written very clearly for a beginner (in my opinion).

I haven't edited Nexuiz maps before, but I have graphic design experience and I've used 3d modeling programs before. I've also watched a friend of mine edit Quake2 maps back in the dizzay. I aint skeered.

What I would like to do is create my own tutorial with instructions for editing maps specifically for Nexuiz using GTKRadiant. Maybe it could eventually be linked in the Nexuiz FAQ or something. My advantage in doing this is that I am currently a beginner, so I'm somwhat aware of what might be confusing about existing tutorials.

So far, I've gotten GTKRadiant 1.4 installed and setup with Nexuiz (couldn't get v1.5 setup with Nexuiz...that'll come later) and I've found a few decent tutorials to start with. I've created a basic room with textures, light, caulk in the right places, a spawn spot, and learned some of the basic terms used in game map editing. It's a start.

I would like to eventually cover everything involved with map editing...from room design to texture editing and even model creation (that'll come later). I would want to make it truly step-by-step, so they just have to do what the instructions say and they don't have to assume or guess anything.

Doing this cross-platform will be tricky. I currently use a Windows computer, but I have used Linux before and plan to in the future. I don't have access to a Mac.

If anyone is interested in helping me with this endeavor, private message me.

Ya know what else? I think burnt toast is an odd thing. It usually tastes disgusting, but every once in a while, it tastes oddly delightful, especially with butter, cinnamon and sugar slathered all over it. (added for randomness)

[ai]

Good that someone takes the first step. I asked morfar to make video tutorials of how for a complete beginner should start to do maps for nexuiz (with Radiant). He made the map Toxic which is popular and he's done a lot of level design in other games and other programs (me too infact). But right now I don't have the time to start over in a complete new program and learn everything and search for tutorials and such.

My suggestion is that you make video tutorials, use Camtasia or some other freeware software to record what you do, good thing with Camtasia is that it also records sound and you can choose both what sound codec and video codec should be used. I know a good setting with x264 to record with in 1024x768 15fps. You could probably make it even 10fps with 800x600 too for smaller filesize (or 1024x768 with 10fps works too).

I would actually like to help you but unfortuanly I opened GTK Radiant like two times and the second time I just made a box. I totaly got confused with the program.. but I also like spent a total of 10-15 min (for both times I opened the program ) If you want a total newbie to help you I'm your man

[Dokujisan]

Yes, that is a good idea. I also prefer video tutorials. They make everything so clear.
I've used CamStudio before (it's free and has a swf video export feature).

It will take me a while until I'm ready to do a video tutorial. Right now, I'm just going to collect notes and go through existing tutorials. I'm also trying to setup GTK Radiant with Nexuiz on different computer systems to see if there are any hiccups.

[C.Brutail]

useless. Nexuiz map editing is very relative to Q3 map editing, only you should follow 3 easy rules:

1st: no 2nd and more level shaders. DP doesn't suport them (this is the main reason in spite of all the eye candys Nexuiz looks "old")

2nd: use less patches, Dp can'T handle them very well,.

3rd: Use GTKRadiant 1.4 with tZork's nexuiz patch.

Ten search all the mapping tutprials for Q3, and you're ready to go.

[Dokujisan]

Useless?

I don't even know what step 1 and 2 (that you mentioned above) mean.

That is a good example of why there needs to be tutorials written clearly for beginners, using a step-by-step approach, giving clear examples, without using new terms before explaining what they are, and without using abbreviations for things.

I've been sorting through various docs and tutorials this past week, and I'll tell you that many of them are not written very well. I have found a few tutorials (one mainly) that are very good, and I'm going to start my learning using those. I'll try to pool together the good parts.

I'm not a stupid person (I'm in school for software engineering and I have a solid 4.0 GPA. also tutor other students) and I can say that there could be a lot more clarity.

How could this could be useless?

[C.Brutail]

Useless?

I don't even know what step 1 and 2 (that you mentioned above) mean.

So you haven't read the useful docs and tutorials, becouse these are not nexuiz related, but basic map editing for quake3 . Google is your friend, and you'll find answeres

There are some pretty nice tutorials for quake3 map editing out there, and nexuiz map editing is very close to it. Experience, and learn. Most of the stuff that works in q3, works in nexuiz too.

Tru, it's not useless, I've used a too harsh word, but these things are written down somewhere a million times, there's no need for a million plus one.

Btw, it's not a very good idea to write a tutorial as a newb. I'm not questioning your smartness, it ujst feels me stupid to write about something you don't know about. That's the reason I haven't written it yet myself

[Dokujisan]

heh... I'll make sure to add winks to my post too

Well, I'm not a newb at teaching people or writing tutorials. That is a skill that I have and I can use it to perhaps create a better tutorial than what I've seen thus far, and one that is specific for Nexuiz. There may be some good tutorials out there, but I have only seen one that is decent so far, and I've scoured through quite a few.

Besides, why ask users to scour through so many tutorials just to find the good ones? Why not create a good one, meant for beginners, specifically for Nexuiz? What is the harm in that?

The idea with me doing a tutorial is that I'll write about things after I learn them. I won't cover things until I understand them.

In my last class, I was teaching Java to other students as I was learning it, and it seemed to work out pretty well. I just have to make sure that I'm not teaching misinformation.

I was also asking for help in this project... hopefully from people with experience
*cough* C.Brutail *cough* Do you know anyone who might be able to contribute?

So you haven't read the useful docs and tutorials, becouse these are not nexuiz related, but basic map editing for quake3

I did not say that. In fact, the primary tutorial that I'm working with right now is a Q3 tutorial.

As for millions of tutorials.... methinks Quantity ! > Quality

[ai]

I was also asking for help in this project... hopefully from people with experience *cough* C.Brutail *cough* Do you know anyone who might be able to contribute?

I can tip you of morfar. That's the only guy I can think of except the devs.

And for the record making this kind of tutorial for beginners is very useful. As for people who don't actually know what Nexuiz is based on. Like if some guy somewhere just found Nexuiz and he loves it, wants to create maps for it but doesn't know how. Now he might look for tutorials of how to do that but all he finds is how to make maps for Q3 and he thinks this is not what I want to do. A person who doesn't know Nexuiz is based on the Quake engine, and this is is not a gamer either, more of a casual time-to-time player. Kinda like me.
I don't play a lot of games, I do know lot of information about them cause I'm interested in that, but that doesn't mean he/she is.

[tZork]

a good nexuiz oriented tutorial is a realy nice idea imo. I been planning to make one for some time, but i just never got arround to it. that and i sux at writing docs.

If you are willing to make the tutorial ill be happy to provide any information i can, you can usualy find me ideling arround #alientrap at anynet or #alaris at freenode.

[dfkgmasdfnasodrg]

i find this idea very appealing especially since the map pool is rather small i've been wanting to look at it myself but never got futher then install gtkradiant