Jan

Classic Episode 2: The Singularity Complex is finished and has been uploaded to my site. Direct download link here: http://www.jvanderveken.easynet.be/classic2/download/class_e2.zip I hope you will all have a blast playing it, and feel free to let me know what you think. Merry christmas! Jan

On my website I mentioned Christmas as a possible release date, so I think the time's about right to post an update on this. Progress is still going well, and the episode is really nearing completion now. The basic layout of the levels is done, and if I pushed for it, I could probably get the episode out before the 25th. On some levels, I still have to do quite a bit of polishing though, mainly tuning the gameplay, balancing monster/health/ammo ratio, checking for texture misalignments, that sort of stuff. I still have to get feedback from some of my playtesters as well. To make a long story short, it will be released when I feel it is ready, which may or may not be before the 25th. I don't want to release half-finished work. Stay tuned.

Heh, you think you're too old to map at 24? I'm 30 and still mapping :) I do know that burn-out feeling very well though, and I've taken some long breaks myself in the past. Sometimes it helps to take a step back and let it rest for a while. In my experience, the urge to map and to create does return after some time. Another thing I've found helpful sometimes is to change style or theme. Do something different! For example, near the end of the Darkening E2 project, it was really starting to feel like a drag. I got so fed up with it at one point that I started the Classic series and I rediscovered the fun in mapping. Whatever you decide to do, best of luck! Jan

I map because 1. I enjoy creating new worlds and environments, so it's a creative outlet. 2. I'm relatively good at it, so it is rewarding. 3. I like getting positive feedback from people who are enjoying my maps 4. I still love Doom more than any other FPS

Hey Lee :-) About sc4.jpg: the level is based on an unfinished "idea" level I had lying around and which I picked up again and completed. Anthony Soto also used parts of the unfinished level in classic7 and integrated them with another unfinished level of mine, that's probably why it looks familiar. This version is 100% my own incarnation though, and I have always planned to complete it.

Right now I reckon that 80% of the architecture is finished, with just some loose ends to tie up so I have a pretty good idea of what the size is going to be like (ie. comparable to classic10). Monster placement, gameplay and gameflow are still very much unfinished. I got a bit bored with the level this weekend though, and worked on something different to distract me a bit .... but don't worry, I often do that. It will get done.

Ah the reason for the shortness is explained in the text file: it's going to be the start level of my upcoming Classic level set, and start levels are usually shortish. Other than that, I generally prefer to play (and build) shorter levels because they tend to look and feel more consistent. Classic10 is a lot bigger though, near the limit of what I'd consider too big. Classic12 is probably going to be about the same size as 10 though. Jan

Anthony, I kinda thought that project was dead ... so when I got the editing fever again a few weeks ago, and miraculously managed to finish this level, I decided to release it. I'm sorry to hear it complicates your project. Anyway, I still don't mind if you use your "alternate" version of this level in your upcoming project. You just won't have exclusivity :-) Jan

Nitemare: sure send it over :-) Nostalgia is cool

Torn: I'm inclined to say yes, because it's better that whatever material is out there gets released instead of gathering dust on someone's HD. But before I give you a definitive yes, can you mail the level in question to me? Just so I can rule out it's not one of the other 2 levels of the classic mini episode ;) You can send it to janvkn "at" yahoo.com Jan

Well if it makes you guys happy, I'll put up a version without a cyberdemon when I get home tonight. Re the marble textures: I suppose you mean the ceiling textures in the brown1 area near the teleporter? That's not marble .. but floor7_2 ... sort of a slimey gooey texture. I think it looks nice in combination with brown1, and use it in quite a few other places as well.

I just knew people were gonna gripe about the cyber ;-) Thing is, I put it in more for shock value than anything else. If you're a bit clever it is easy to kill ... if you're more clever, you don't have to kill it at all. (unless you're obsessive about getting a 100% kill score of course) Jan