Metroid: Search for Samus (new thread)

[UPDATE]

The old thread here that got locked for some reason has a really old description, but there's a much newer description (and a pile of other info) at mod forge.

Link: http://wc3modforge.com/forum/ (you can find the project's subforum in the "Sponsored Maps" section)


Progress:
The project (just me right now =p) is still alive, although progress will be slower once agian, due to university. However, the latest version available for download has some major balancing problems, all of which are fixed for the upcoming release. BUT, I'm going to finish off the ending before I release that one. Don't ask me for a release date, I really have no idea.

So what is this anyway?:
M:SfS is a series of two custom maps that can be played in single player, or co-op multiplayer (including battle net). Currently, the first map (the "Prelude") is the only one in progress, and it is within a couple versions of its final release. After that, I hope to use the same stuff to make a new map, but with an entirely new (and significantly larger) area to explore, more bosses and minibosses, a few new enemies and items, and a more in-depth story that starts right where the Prelude map finishes. However, I most likely won't be able to make this second map alone - I'll need help to do the terrain/level design.

Beta download?
The newest beta is too unbalanced, please wait until the new one is done =]


Screenshots:

Ship model by Aznwhore, fixed some model stuff on the ship by Kelna2, original ship skin improved by me, all other 2d skins and graphics probably by me. Your character looks like a shaman for now, until the animations are done for the player model.



Statue model by Kelna2





Old OLD screenshot with an outdated tileset texture, but it has a door (made by kelna2) and some acid stuff in it. And the Power Suit model by Aznwhore (it doesn't have the animations and stuff done, I just used it for the screenshot)



Space Pirates!!




That's it for now (awww...). Post anything here, hope to keep this thread alive =]

Update/screenshot bump.

Nice tiles, the rest needs work - seem very low res/blurry.

That's partially the jpg compression (and the images are shrunken a bit too). And also everything needs to fit into less than 4 mbs, so I can't afford to the make textures too huge (or to spend too much time on it). But thanks =)

[edit]
Hmmm, I'm wondering where my angry attempt at putting a link in the first post went. Are we allowed to post links to other forums here?

You can always link to images from another site ^^

The screen shots look very nice. The one thing that bothers me is the selection circle around the units though, that was never in the game ;)

Tried experimenting with the selection circles, turns out setting the circle size low so it's invisible makes weird green dots on the ground, and shrinks the hp bar too. I've tried to replace the circle model in the interface constants, but that didn't work either =\

Anyway, that link in the first post is back up (or at least it will be right after I add it in a minute). And, there's some good news: I added more sounds and changed some other sound options, and it somehow really helped the atmosphere. Now there's new sfx for getting hurt (which actually helps you so you don't have to keep looking at your hp), and a bunch of other things (including some of the shooting sounds improved).

Aside from that, the boss is 99% done, I just have to make the stuff that happens when you kill it. And then finish the ending. And fix a few more bugs. But this could all take months before I get around to doing all that between homework. Also I think I'll take some screenshots today if I have time =)

Screenshot bump.


This one's not too exciting (the ice ribbon skin is sort-of changed), but I like how it turned out



New wave beam skin in this one, but it looks a lot better animated



And here's what the inventory screen looks like now (with a nice closeup of the player model)

Triple post, sorry! =/

Well, it's been a while since the last update here, just thought I'd give some news: I'm REALLY close to finishing an almost done version with everything in it except the finished player model and further balancing. BUT, I won't have much time to finish it and test it for a few weeks or so, but I might release the next (highly improved) map soon after that. Hope there's still some fans on this site who can test it =)

[edit]
And I finally found a way to get rid of the selection circle =D

I'm interested.

Nice screenshots, though. Everything looking rather sweet, except that suspicious Shaman...

To get rid of the circle I just replaced the smallest circle skin with an invisible picture. But it also means all the units with selection circles need to have medium or big ones. I'm pretty sure these are the right paths:

ReplaceableTextures\Selection\SelectionCircleSmall.blp
ReplaceableTextures\Selection\SelectionCircleMed.blp
ReplaceableTextures\Selection\SelectionCircleLarge.blp

And the Shaman's been replaced by a skeleton now. It even holds its sword out like a gun and shoots out of it =p

Hmm, I thought I must have been on the wrong textures... Thank you sir!

I love the way you did the Inventory system, nice idea :-)

Lovely character model.

Are you certain the selection circles work ingame? I'm sure that was down to a load order problem.

The circles have worked all the time so far, but I might not have tested it yet after playing another map first... I think I have though.

The inventory does look nice, but it doesn't have a use other than reading what the items do =/ But that leaves more time for fast-paced action!

I can confirm that selection circles are indeed replaceable!