Contra - Serious and LONG

So im making a game Contra style, but it will be top/slightly slanted view of course. I'm looking for a terrainer mainly to help me with my(OUR) map. I'm only looking for 1 person to help, it's all i need. I don't really need anyone, but my terraining is horrid (im too technical, nothing seems to look natural), and i've seen some awesome terrains done by some of you on here, really im jealous. I'm also an experienced skinner/model editor, so this is a chance for someone who wants to work with a terrain a bit to push the limits. If you need a model for a doodad or something, I'll make it. Im still very new to animations, and you would do best to keep any requests as simple as possible, but i'm very picky about details.... Also, mainly besides terrain help any in-game ideas are welcomed as well. I have a few screenshots below of what ive started (i started this idea last night). the marine-esque unit is still in the works (the lights in front of his face are going to be turned into various pockets and placed around his clothes, and i might skinny him up some more as well. i just started the model a few hours before this thread, though its basically just editing the marine, it is far from done, and the camo color i may change, but its what i have for the time being, and may change to a uniform with vest and all that i dunno yet. Plus, im going to add in a team color, i just need a logo (any help with this would be nice too), for just a bit of team color... also, ive experimented with RDZ models (i like his buildings especially) and i reworked the city cliffs to work as walls with the rdz doors/buildings/turrets. i dont know if city cliffs are the best way for a military outpost, really if you are good enough at terraining let me know the scene and ill alter whatever i can to to fit to it. Well, I put some screenies below and explain more after them if you're SERIOUS and INTERESTED, brand spanking new controls and strategies are planned, a starter map has been made already and will send on replying to this thread so include your EMAIL i take mapping serious(i have loads of fun of course) and to be honest im not going to work on something with someone that is happy with mediocrity, im sure as hell not-

marine-esque unit i started making a few hours ago, bery much work in progress, will be done withing a day prob
quickly done RDZ walls, cliff system NOT a requirement


GAMEPLAY:
-use keys to move, mouse to aim, will not auto attack
-weapons planned - machinegun, grenade launcher, lazers, scope attachments, any help here is welcomed!! (only good ideas that are USEFUL will be implemented, if you see a flaw with any of my planning lets discuss it, same with your ideas) the guns are simple though because just like contra you get a basic machine gun and powerups until you die, this is not a big map of farming for gold and buying the uberest items, this is about action packed fast paced fun.
-weapons considering - flame torch type gun, shed spread, ice beam, homing missiles
-powerups considering - kevlar(armor), health pack, stim pack, resurection potion (works with death system), invul shield, self-destruct(may work on a sytem where it only works if your life is so low, or the damage it does is in a ratio to you life)
-for a few minutes was considering mechs but finally decided DEFINETLY no mechs, but i am thinking about some defensive turrets that have a limited ammo at the base, could be fun, and the system would work flawlessly
-will be set in 'waves' for levels, with the end of each wave some boss type
will be mainly a protect the base, but will have a small recon task at the end forcing you to run.
-was considering a life based system, where after you die, you can not fight until/if your friends survive the wave, then you are brought back on next wave.
-the life/number that spawn/amount of damage will be controlled by the number of palyers, so every game whether it be solo or full house will be challenging and fun.

BOSSES:
each boss will have a specific strategy or tactic ex)
- a boss that is a beast of a monster, but always attacks the last one that attacked him (refreshing every few seconds so its not going in circles in the middle) but to force players to 'share the aggro' requiring teamwork and to not be stupid about just blasting away
- a pack of elite mobs that resurect one another, so you have to get them alll down to red life, then kill them together so they all die within the same about of time or they resurect or whatnot...
-well so those are some ideas, i have more but im just giving examples but still need probably4 more ideas, they must have a definite tactic though...

STORY/THEME:
- a far military outpose on an alien planet hast sent an sos signal, your squadron was close and was sent to investigate. upon arriving you see the place was ravaged by gruesome creatures, they start attacking you... etc...
and after so many waves 'reinforcements arrive and when boarding the ship to leave the hopelessly devasted base you recieve work or the hive location and must go kill the 'brain bug or queen' or whatever, this is most defineltly not the style of wording well be using, but this is jsut a basic outline to get you on tune
- there will be many corpse style doodads and anything you can think i will supply, im going all out, the only limitations with this project is your imagination. =)

MISC:
- the game will also have a lot of intricate cinematic cut scenes, the waves may be split into 'nights' with dawn or dusk a custom cinematic scene for the approaching of the mob and when the boss comes. im probably average with cinematics any help here would be welcomed-
- also custom sounds will be included, ive worked with sounds in war3 for quite a while and i think i have it down. all sounds will be converted into the best rate/format to optimize space, but there will be sounds, lots of custom environmental, action-packed sounds.
- the map size im thinking of is probably 128 squared
- of course custom loading screen, and probably will black out all the ui, possibly import a new one, well see how big the map is after, im aiming for 2-3.3ish MB, but well see.
-all the ui will be clean, no unecesary 'stop' or 'attack' buttons, after all the attack is mouse controlled
-the view will followthe unit but the angle will be in that gameplay is not affected.
-gameplay/balance is more important that looks/spells, but this map will look pre-tay, thats why im seeking a terrainer to assist me.
-im not wanting to hog this map, i will help with any terrain ideas i have as well, but dont count on it. all the hard stuff is covered by me, lucky you, no triggering is necessary for you. like i said i will provide models and skins, i am very space concious also, and try to use as few or built in bliz skins as possible.
-also will have a save system just for points, so people know who the noobs are when they get to a final boss and who they should take advice from.
-was considering ammo system, but that hinders action, so unlimited ammo(except of special weapons, ie grenade launcher)
-all icons will be custom with disable icons as well
-i will add custom triggered a.i. to the mobs that require it, giving the aliens a creative feel
-so basically im kinda combining a contra/starship troopers game
-i expect this project to only last from 2-3 weeks, but i will be working on it a lot, and i expect the partner to do the same for his/ her end, if you dont have the time or are not willing to then this isnt for you, im not saying its going to consume your life but i expect you to spend an average of at least 1 hour per day probably (considering 3 hours in 1 day accounts for 3 days)
-the game is not contra, its just like contra so i used it to catch the attention of people that may be intersted in it.
-i use WE unlimited, so if you are going to do this, you will have to use it as well...
-i dont know jass, but ive experimented around with it enough to be able to make heads and tails or what its all doing, but i have been able to achieve anything without the use of jass luckily so far *knock on wood*




If you made it this far you are either really bored, or are geniunely intersted so heres the nitty gritty on terrain expectations and how to get invoved;

you will enter the map from a drop ship that fades in in black, so the map should be made to look good for the camera shots between scenes. the base will be empty when you arrive, but will be corpses and blood everywhere, freshly slaughtere corpses and possibly a few wounded aliens that werent able to wander off after the initial slaughtere that called you there. the military base should have a minimum or 2 entrances and a maximum of 4. i can make custom walls (doesnt have to be tileset walls but units that act/look as walls) so design a layout, download a sample or draw a sample of a wall, and ill make it and import it and all that. ok so eventually the base will be overrun, and as mentioned before a dropship arrives in the nick of time and on your way out you must be dropped off again and you go into the final boss lair, probably have many eggs that hatch when you get near them. prefered maybe a long caveway in which you dramatically go into the main hatchery chamber, in the midst of the queen or brain laying eggs, and the final epic battle beings. you finish by setting detonaters and the game cuts out to a cinematic of your group running with time counting down and aliens on your tail. you will of course make it back to the drop ship and right after entering the ship you take off as the ground/planet below you explodes dramatically. i can add some custom trees/foliage too if you can think of anything, but do keep in mind, im not blizzard, just a 21 year old with too much free time and a small knowledge of modeling/animating. also, the base im thinking should be about 4 screens total (2 screens high and 2 screen wide) and the view will be SLIGHTLY zoomed closer from the default game settings for best gameplay while getting as close to the action as possible IMO. so think of the terrain, why did the military pick this location for an encampment, is it next to some resources? next to a river? on a cliff/hill for strategic reasons, try to bring the whole map into life, not just throw a bunch of dead bodes and some walls, think =) in the words of jerry mcguire;
help me, help you
so tell me you thoughts on what you have in mind/would need modeled etc... also, i dont have any specific overall theme, ie dry, wet, hot, cold theme for the map, just that its an isolate military outpost that sent an s.o.s. signal and is geting attacked, but the hardest part may be how to include the hatchery and entrance to the hatchery/final boss area, think, did the quees pick close to a river, or gas vent for an odd reason? i mean, tie the terrain/environment in with what the game has to offer. =)

in order to protect both of our time/effort send me an example terrain or 2 (any alien looking ones would be great but ANYTHING is accepted) and i will send you a map, and if im not up to your expectations, no hard feelings. and if you arent up to mine then i will contiune this solo or keep searching for someone else. its mainly terraining and ideas that im looking for, all triggering is a piece of cake for me... =) so send your terrains to me at [email protected] or ill be on aol instant messenger under 'vinylswine'. i realize we dont know one another, thats why im requesting to go through this hassle to meet someone, im not looking for someone just interested in the idea, i need someone who can bring the idea to graphical life with a terrain.

if you had ventrilo or teamspeak that would rock, would make this much easier

ONCE AGAIN include email so i can send you the starter map i made for the gameplay with a few units included so you can get a hint of what the games about

so post links to your terrains if youre interested so we can get started...

Cool idea, lots of info too (rep added), not many projects are this detailed these days. Do you think I could get that cliff skin from you? I'm working on a campaign with RDZ and our skinner is pretty busy right now, so it would be good as a base so our skinner wouldn't have to spend too much work at it.

sure ill send you the cliff skin, i just cut and pasted the bricks from the rdz skin onto the city tile cliff skin, it was very basic, so overly basic the bricks were enlarged to massive sizes, you could always just scale them smaller if you like, but i dont have a way of uploading besides email, so whats ya email???

are you working with RDZ or just using all his stuff for a campaign? id imagine working with him would be awesome, top notch models from him consistently....

I read most of it, and have a question: how will you attack (attack ground, or right clicking units, etc.)? I might have missed it, or maybe I just didn't understand it.

I was slightly dissapointed when I read that you're protecting a base (very much the opposite of contra). Maybe most of the map could be the "base", and you have to travel a lot in each level/wave. Or maybe I misread that too =/

I'm looking forward to playing it, but it looks like a LOT to do in 2-3 weeks. Good luck with it

ehhhh, 2-3 weeks is a long time, the longest part of this will be ideas/bosses, chich ive got amny dieas that i know how to put into use. but how the control system works is as follows;

ONLY the arrow keys can/will move your guy, there is NO other way, and you right click anywhere on your screen and your guy autoshoot at the ground or target, it just fires where you click, and if you fire behind you, you face that direction and dont fire until you are facing it...

the base is for the begining waves, then the end is a recon mission to the 'lair' to set an explosives (kill the end boss).

i know many people have done the base idea, and at times it can feel like a cheap TD, but i dont plan on rushing the gameplay, i will enforce ways of making the players rotate from side to side/entrnace to entrance to back up whatever for whatever reason, so it wont be everyone take a side and protect it, well maybe for a wave or 2, but you have to start simple in a game then buiild on complexity to the end... i dont know if anyone will want to join me, in the next day or 2 i will set a night or 2 and just terrain it myself, but ive seen some that look so good, with the ability to request a model for their awesome terraining already, well i think we cfan mutually benefit and feel rewarded.

worse case scenario; the game dies out but the terrainer still gets satisfaction of their creation, because the terrain will be completed or at least on its way SOON. i can trigger the whole map in probably 2-4 nights, but its ideas that lack at this point, and with a terrain the game can get going! ive already worked the controls so the hard part IMO is done and am just casually adding weapons now.... but with the cinematic scenes planned a nice terrain could really enhance the feel of the game as you play it....

i did a bit more to the terrain, i got rid of the city tile textures and added in the matching rdz ones (from halo possibly??) anyways, i also cleaned up that marine, and the belt has 2 attached pckets, but are covered by the gun, i am thinking about adding a few grenades around his belt, but well see...
well im going to be updating this

-COMPLETED SO FAR-

WEAPONS;
ice beam
machine gun
homing missiles
incinerator (flame thrower type)

current bosses;
none

waves completed;
none

mobs;
zergling
hydralisk
2headed hydralisk
modified brute zergling
sludge
ultralisk
parasite worm





misc;



TERRAIN AND MARINE


a slightly modified hydralisk that now has 2 heads, may be a boss dunno yet
a slightly modified zergling, given only a ramming bone thing at the head will be a brute version of zergling
some of the mobs intended for the game, i will be using various starcraft units obviously, cause they rock, and i will be giving credit to whomever made the models i use in the actual game, not going to mention them here, im not taking credit for the ultralisk or rdz's great items im using as well



*will post a few ingame shots of some weapons later tonight, im late/leaving for work now*




SOMEONE GET SOME INTEREST AND JOIN UP WITH ME! =)

and lamalunatic you never responded to my aims when you were on, why is that???

Howdy, I'm Interested In this. And i've allready begun work on the 'entry' map, if it can be called that. Pm or go into my profile to get my Aim Yahoo or MSn, i'm usually on msn or aim. i look foward to talking with you.

My e-mail is [email protected]

ok so update:

unless a really nice terrainer fullfills the alien homeword look request, im going to do it myself, and i cant do shiznit for natural environments, so i may turn it into a single big base (that i can do). also, im not liking all the zergness in the map thus far, so i will probably be scrapping the ultralisk or a few others, and reworking the models sothey all work off the built in zergling/hydra model to save time. i may just reskin the already made starcraft ones, and redo the anims....

also, im going to be making a few doodads to get the scifiness out in all of you, (probably some giant test tubes with zerg parts in them or soemthing like that) so look for them soon!!


also if the change does take effect, new storyline:

AREA 51

(a giant interior make of a military reseach station, where the experiments have gotten out of control(killed all guards inside) and the auto defense has gone haywire (so turrets and robots/machinery etc are not on your side). i think this will bring a more uniquq 'contra-esque' feel of commandoes vs aliens and MACHINES as opposed to another straight marine vs zerg. also i think the area 51 path may be easier to fullfill the alien mob category since if it took place on a planet all the aliens would have to follow a theme, which is why i went zerg, but area 51 could have different rooms dedicated to different alien species/research etc....


also, im importing the konstruct anims into my marine, the crawl was vital in contra-

so my project just went from a quick 2-3 week project to something a bit more demanding, but thats ok, no rush here i guess.

so my next task is research station doodads, watch for them coming-



a test tube sort of doodad, will eventually add some bubble animations inside, and probably a stand and death animation. with no unit or alien inside, i will leave that for the world editor (so the unit can 'break' out and attack you

anyone interested in a co-op style action blow em up game????

all my ideas are up for grabs, ill change whatever (we both/all have to agree on it all).

and im scratching the whole 'only terrainer' request, anyone who wants to contribute is welcome, but keep in mind;

this is a battle.net map (ifi wanted a total solo game id program in torque or something) so the size has to be low
so im thinking we will only have to import 2-4 skins that should cover all custom models, plus trying to utilize as many built in skins as possible.

any triggerrs/animators/modelers/or just people that want to run solely on ideas and testing are welcome to come along.... it gets boring making maps solo... =/





to be honest; i know im new here and is it a good sign that the game concept has changed already? probably not, but i think the changes will only make the game better, and it can still change, i am basically just putting out ideas/various models&skins/perfecting controls (as i said the controls are not like usually seen in warcraft, and theyre pretty nice right now, but can always strive for better!)

join up and test the starter map and lets get going-

If someone creates this on northrend im sure to join it, when will you put up a test version of this? I wanna test! :O

Hey Ez. Sorry I don't answer my AIM i'm usually not on very much, my MSN would be much easier to get ahold of me on. but i'll try and stay on more. Ok as to your PM i'm still interested in this, just tell me some stuff you need done, or w/e and I'll work on it and send it to yah or w/e. So Yah, you were saying something about a home world? so is it basically going to be a barren land? or are you going with the Area 51 thing? i'm kinda confused right now, so if you could tell me exactly what you want I would appreciate it. i'm still eager to get started, this map sounds like it's going to be awesome.


p.s. this is for Bnet, so is it multiplayer?

p.s.s. I would post you a link to some terrains i've done, but their not my best and i did them a year ago, i've improved alot sicne then.

Revengeof_llama: no worries, im just curious, i was a bit gung-ho at first, but my urgency has subsided, im really trying to focus on some good boss style mobs now, so i plan on taking a bit of time on all this. as for your question is it for an outside or inside setting? well, i cant really answer that, thats the main reason i guess i went looking for a terrainer, what are some settings you think you could make? can you think of more terrain/doodad ideas that would bring an interior or exterior to life? maybe both? maybe an alien base? i dunno, im willing to make anything i can to help with terraining but its not a main concern of MINE. more doodads/models to come(damn work takes up too much time, and what little social life has survived my WoW binge...) shoot for starters (if you havent already actually started an ingame map, maybe just make some drawing in paint, very basic like a red area that is a this type area, mtns here, mes hall here, research laboratory here, etc.... maybe we can start simple like that and converse and build on it. but if you did get to anything ingame id love to see it! i mean it can be just outside, just inside, or both, the storyline will fill in IMO.

anyways i made a little control console thingy, i will probably have about 3-5 more computer type doodad things to fill the place up with, but space is limited sodont count on anyhting too uber (im a BIG fan of shrinking the skins down making for a lot less quality of skin but saves UBER room) heres a pic;

test tubes and console

I didn't read much. But i can terrain. Just PM or e-mail me an overveiw of how you would like it. Mabey a pic made in a paint program as a desk-side model. My terraining skillz are becomeing more 1337 every day.

Okay, I think the paint thing would be a good idea, it'll be alot easier to change it that way, then to have to re-edit terrain in a wc map. i'm gunna go doodle that up right now. And if you could send me a map w/ the custom wall/floor thingy you got for the base, so i can see what it looks like, i'd appreciate it. or the files for them, though i'm going to need help uploading them, i havn't figured that whole part out yet. okay doodle time.




EDIT EDIT EDIT
Okay here's what i got, i dunno what else you want
Contra Map 1

So do you want this on a new map? Or edit an old one? What about map size?