Quake 4 Mods for Dummies?

cuetip · **Joined:** Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:29 pm **Posts:** 26

Anyone have an opinion on this book? I bought it a few years back but never got around to reading it or modding anything, but I recently decided to take it off the shelf and blow the layers of dust off it. I'm fairly new to the whole modding scene but I'm pretty savvy when it comes to software. I'd like to create single player maps. Do you think this book will start me off in the right direction? I installed Quake 4 and the SDK today and was messing around with the interface a bit.

solarsplace · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:32 pm

Hi

Not got the book and had to Google for it as you didn't include a link

Sounds like a basic introduction to get you started with the basics of mapping and the very basics of scripting.

Is probably a good place for a beginner to start as all the information is hopefully concise and to hand in a structured and ordered way.

You should most likely consider it a basic introduction to the more thorough wealth of information available on this site.

The 'bonus' CD it includes which seems to be exclusively trial versions of software is a heap of shit and an embarrassment to include if you ask me.

cheers

BNA! · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 8:19 pm

cuetip wrote:

I'd like to create single player maps. Do you think this book will start me off in the right direction? I installed Quake 4 and the SDK today and was messing around with the interface a bit.

To create single player maps you only need:
1. Creativity
2. Good handling of the editor
3. This site for reference

=FF=Sturm · **Joined:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:34 pm **Posts:** 636

let me expand it to you:

Quote:

To create ''GOOD'' maps you need to follow the next steps:
1. Creativity, not just make a box and add monsters to it... Create concepts and ideas before making a map.
2. Good handling of the editor and know the lighting principles as well as good architecture design.
3. Ask on this site (or whatever), in case of having problems/questions.
4. Don't be hurry, take your time. Remember that a map is your piece of art. Make it also playable... you know... fps friendly.
5. In most of cases, use custom assets. Jump over the standards. We are in 2011, not 2004. Sometimes using more tris is better than super HD textures.Even if you add 2048x2048 textures to a full-edge box, it will still be a box.
6. Create an atmosphere to your map. ||FullWhiteLights and boxes = BAD, atmosphere killer||
n. (add more steps if you want)

Most of these steps are not found in a lot of maps.
For example:
http://screenshots.filesnetwork.com/18/ ... 6035_6.jpg
That's Not how to do it.

David_020 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:23 pm

It's a decent primer for getting started creating maps. I'd say once you read through it and done the exercises, you can expand out to investigating sites like this one to gain more information. If one's just starting to map, I'm biased to guide them to focus on creating maps with the original content (models and textures). That way one is trying to create solid maps maps without taking on challenge of creating custom content to match the game's standards. Baby steps to reduce the frustration for newcomers. Just one approach...

cuetip · **Joined:** Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:29 pm **Posts:** 26

Sorry about not including a link...here's the book on Amazon.

=FF=Sturm wrote:

Most of these steps are not found in a lot of maps.
For example:
http://screenshots.filesnetwork.com/18/ ... 6035_6.jpg
That's Not how to do it.

What do you mean?

aphexjh · **Joined:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:48 am **Posts:** 98

this book is a good source of a lot of information specific to Id tech 4.

cuetip wrote:

Do you think this book will start me off in the right direction? I installed Quake 4 and the SDK today and was messing around with the interface a bit.

it touches on a lot of important topics, but i wouldn't consider it a mappers reference. still a good start. go for it.

Doom3world

Quake 4 Mods for Dummies?

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