I missed this until now. Very well written and interesting article. It's great to see a pro designer taking the time to make a Doom level. I just picked up Bioshock not to long ago and I'll probably finish the game and then check out Jean-Paul's map.
I just played the map, pretty good. I like the modified pallete. It was a bit on the easy side, but I didn't expect much there. Great detail, layout and atmosphere.
JPL said: Thanks for the response, folks. I've loved and played Doom for many years, and this was partly my way of paying tribute to it.
This is an awesome community.
I enjoyed this level. Having not played Bioshock 2 (a shame, I know, I don't have that much money), I was surprised to find how well the map worked in Doom--it felt like a Doom level, not an alien level design imposed on the Doom engine. It wasn't particularly difficult, but some of the teleporter traps caught me off guard. Now you see him...now you don't...now he eats you...
I'm also impressed at how well-crafted the level is for what I assume your first map--it is truly professional quality, and absolutely drips with atmosphere. It's easily one of the spookiest maps I've played in Doom. The detail was spot on, although it was a little too dark near the end, at least with my settings.
So yeah, this map kicks serious ass, and has certainly made me more interested in playing Bioshock 2.
By the way, have you ever played Descent? In some ways it mirrors Doom (maneuverability as defense, abstract level designs, gameplay-centric philosophy, extremely varied cast of monsters robots) but in its use of 3D it is more ambitious than any modern first person shooter--you can move easily in any direction, even vertically; the level designs are extremely 3D with walls, floors, and ceilings being interchangeable concepts; all enemies also have flight and free movement on the X, Y, and Z planes; etc. I think it deserves a design commentary similar to what you did for Doom, especially considering how unique it is--I've never played another game even remotely like Descent.
03-06-10 17:50 
