SC2Mapster Forums

HydraMannequin Author

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Hydra

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Join date: Nov 14, 2012

Location: Canada

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Last login: May 19, 2013

#1 Feb 01, 2013 at 02:06 UTC - 0 likes

Hi everyone! I thought I'd ask you guy to critique the progress I've made on my current project. It's designed to be purely for showcase, BTW. It is meant to represent a zoo.

Currently, I've only made any real progress on the rain forest exhibit, as shown in the images below.

Here is the whole exhibit:

Image 1: Entire area

Image 2 (left of image 1): Viewing area

Image 3: Entrance

Image 4: Section of viewing area

Image 5: Another section of viewing area

Image 6+7: Close-ups of decorative waterfalls

THESE IMAGES ARE NOW OUTDATED - UPDATED VERSION BELOW

Last edited Feb 01, 2013 by HydraMannequin

I do terrain stuff.

...

And in a Starcraft haiku,

...

That's all I can do!

Telthalion Author

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Telthalion

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#2 Feb 01, 2013 at 02:26 UTC - 0 likes

@HydraMannequin: Go

Needs some hills/mountains in the jungle bits. Particularly along the flanks of the river in the first screen.

And the visitor areas are really empty. They need something to fill the open space. Benches, trash cans, kiosks. Anything, really.

I love the waterfalls though. Those are awesome.

Edit: Also, the bottom of the river could use a rocky/boulder-style texture down the center. Dirt doesn't like to hang around in flowing water.

Last edited Feb 01, 2013 by Telthalion

Someday I'll get one...

Leruster Author

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Location: Poland

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#3 Feb 01, 2013 at 02:31 UTC - 0 likes

Those kiosks, benches etc that Telthalion mentioned would also help you to break this feeling of a sterile place as it is right now. Break the patterns.

Also, shorelines more to the northern east could use some ups and downs, just to (again) break the patterns.

Besides that it's very, very nice :)

HydraMannequin Author

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Hydra

#709 NA

Join date: Nov 14, 2012

Location: Canada

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#4 Feb 01, 2013 at 03:51 UTC - 0 likes

I made some updates, but I'm too lazy to crop/upload more screenies right now, so I attached the map.

(Note: I don't think the map will load for you if you don't have the beta)

Also, this attachment is regularly updated to the current version of my map - or at least I'll update it till I forget to do so.

Last edited Feb 02, 2013 by HydraMannequin

Name	Size	MD5
Zoo.SC2Map	840.6 KiB	3a08c47459fb...

HydraMannequin Author

Battle.net

Hydra

#709 NA

Join date: Nov 14, 2012

Location: Canada

Reputation: 17

Posts: 84
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Last login: May 19, 2013

#5 Feb 01, 2013 at 20:55 UTC - 0 likes

For those unable to / don't want to load up the map, here are some screen shots of the updated version.

Also, It may be hard to see in a screenshot, but I added some current doodads (Zerus River Rapid) to the streams in order to add life to them.

In image 5 (bottom, middle), there is some clutter in the plants to the left of the ramp. This has since been fixed through use of a few well-placed rocks.

Last edited Feb 01, 2013 by HydraMannequin

Newly updated waterfall added
Exhibit entrance
Section 1 of entrance
Another section
Yet another section
A back-stage area I made

SGTMeowmers9 Author

Join date: May 26, 2012

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#6 Feb 01, 2013 at 21:09 UTC - 0 likes

I'm gonna start out by saying this looks really good. However,

a) That podium doodad is out of place. You should probably remove it or make it the center of the viewing area.

b) Given the fact that your zoo lacks abundant human traffic, the zoo manager would probably decide he wouldn't need ten latrines in this viewing area. Two is usually fine.

c) As a suggestion, perhaps you could put some metal plating textures (even Terran Tarmac doodads) on the viewing area.

d) And finally, there is a poor ursadon in the middle of the screenshot, trapped on a cliff with no way out.

Any and all SC2 related things put on hold for now.

HydraMannequin Author

Battle.net

Hydra

#709 NA

Join date: Nov 14, 2012

Location: Canada

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Posts: 84
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Last login: May 19, 2013

#7 Feb 01, 2013 at 22:26 UTC - 0 likes

@SGTMeowmers9: Go

a) Well, I both added new podiums and rotated that one around. I'm using them to represent the info panels around the zoo about what is in the area.

b) Haha, I'll fix that up.

c) I'll try that out! - UPDATE - I found that, after investigating, I couldn't find many places to pull off laying down a tarmac, besides square ones on all the ramps - which are helpful for the eye in differentiating cliff levels.

d) Funny thing is, that Ursadon managed to climb over the protective fence, causing a disturbance. As punishment, it was sent to the dangerous cliff edge for the next few weeks. It nearly rolled off the edge just last night while it was sleeping! Hopefully it will have learned its lesson by the end of its punishment, and will not disobey the animals rule book printed in clear text by the zoo manager. Each square mile of the forest is given one to share; that seems like the only fair thing to do for both parties: us, and them. For the animals, it provides them with an evenly distributed copy of good rules to follow, and a way to develop their sharing mindset. For us, it's an excellent money saver, as we only needed to make 2 copies!

Last edited Feb 02, 2013 by HydraMannequin

Newbie4life Regular Shmoe

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#8 Feb 01, 2013 at 23:06 UTC - 0 likes

@HydraMannequin: Go

About the podiums...maybe you would like to use these? These are all billboards scaled down, then used storewindow to cover the letters, than used forcefield over the storewindow.

Edit, actually if you really want to use the podium then you can combine the two too if you wish!
- Double edit, made smaller information post, thought maybe small personal ones were in order?
  - Triple edit, maybe make the wood greyish colour so it doesn't look wooden? dunno what that'll do about the texture

Last edited Feb 02, 2013 by Newbie4life