(Blast Pack-arama-thon, got it?)
Due to Quake2's map difference checking, you'll probably have to re-download the pack to play with other people, but its under 700k, so big deal. Grab it.
I think we all know what time it is. Yes, its time to have an
old school deathmatch Quake2 beat down. No more of that pansy "let's run
patterns on a goliath 4000 brush map and see who has da skillz", its
time to bust loose in some way way down to earth arena style smack down
bakeries. Yes, its time for the Blast-Packaramathon. 10 tightly packed,
quickly learned, storage places of mass carnage. 10 frags a minute and
no place to hide.
Now that we have all the bravado and self promotion out of the
way, here's some important details: Like one of my earlier projects, a 5
level deathmatch wad for DOOM2 called Avatar1, these maps were quickies
to supplement the available Quake2 diet of dm levels (well Avatar1 was
for DOOM2, but you get the idea). This means that while they're unusually
(for me) sparse on details, for the most part they really have it
together for pure dm sparkling quality. Part of the purpose of this
project, for me, was to start gettin a grasp on all the neato Quake2
innovations like rotating brushes and moving water brushes. So don't go
in expecting the details to just exude fragarance or whatever.. the
point is in the playability this time around. Sometime in the future I'm
sure I'll do some maps where I spend goliath amounts of time fine tuning
the details.. but not this go round.
Some notes: Playing without Weapons stay is a SIN, a CRIME, and if
you turn off weapons stay it means 10 to 1 you're a KEYBOARDER, and we all
know what that means. So make sure weapons stay is flagged on. Also, I
personally am anti-falling damage. Lastly, you'll probably want to force
respawn, otherwise there's a chance some of the rotating brush based levels
will get stuck up (quake2 still be buggy like dat). Some similarities in
the levels are (usually) 4 dm starts, near each other, sometimes 4 100 healths
and a chaingun there too. Symmetrical design pretty much throughout. Mind
boggling innovation with so few brushes. Etc.
Installation:
Put avblast.zip in quake2\baseq2\maps and unzip. Thats all! To
play, run quake2 +deathmatch 1 +map welcome. The dll from the original
avpak release was giving NT players headaches and didnt function in
dedicated server mode. I'll just have to live with dm start pads in
Strange and Wheel! Ack!
-*Avatar*-
Here's some map specific notes:
WELCOME
Deceptively simple. That's what you call your maps when you want
people to think there's more there than there is. Sure, this map
ain't a mind bender to figure out, but its got some neato king
of the hill and bfg dodging themes running around.
TOOCOOL
Might as well get most of the bfg battles out of the way quick,
right? Try this one with sv_gravity 50 some time. Gets harder
to kill with the bfg, cause you have to be close, and shifts more
to a railgun battle. This here be my first Quake2 map. Oh.. can't
you feel the Casa permeation?
SPINCITY
Did you know rotating brushes are leet? Well now you do! If you
try to "take this map by storm", you will end up one sad piece of
fried tupperware. This map requires a little more thought and
stationary activity than most others.. if you dont plan jumps
well, you go swimming.. and the water's hot.
STRANGE
There's just.. something strange about this map!! I can't quite
put my finger on it.. just be sure to play for a minute or so..
it's not immidiately strange, ya know?
ACIDBATH
I figured it was about time to reincarnate my second DOOM2 map,
HeadAche (map01 of Avatar1), in Quake2 form. Added the nifty
rising acid, just cause moving water is really cool (I know its
something we've all wanted a long time, huh?). Hmm.. a cat has
jumped in my face, I cant see! This may take awhile.
PILLARS
They go up.. and up.. and then you die. That about sums it up.
Was even more interesting back when it had lava.
TAKEOFF
Space.. the Final frontier.. these are the voyages of.. ahem..
If I had that dll that plays midis in Quake2.. I would be playing
like.. the 2001 music.
WHEEL
Some maps are made.. just cause they have to be done. Albeit A
rather disturbing experience.
SPINOUT
Spincity in its original form.. meaner! Stand on the lift and jump
to make it go.. but if you dont see it there.. back up!
WAYLEET
With a title like Wayleet, you know this is the sequal to Toocool.
BFG tactics have been replaced by neato moving lava stuff.
Check out my (and Wendigo's) movie,
Thanks to JK for testing, even if he didn't have any choice.
Oh yeah, click anywhere on that big "Blast Packaramathon"
picture to get the actual file.
other people!