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Urban Terror
QA Goes Bananas
Aside from being the final weekend of 2006, as we look forward to ring in the year year with a whole lotta terror, we had plans this weekend for some major testing. Sure, over the course of the past few months we have had the QA Team testing bits and pieces of the new version of Urban Terror. Of course a day does not go by that a community gamer asks to be brought aboard to test the new release.
Up until now, most of the testing was just that. Testing. Going into a server with a development team member and doing what they ask in order to test a new feature or to check the results of a change in game code that rids the game of another nasty bug. At times there was some fun games going on, but a majority of the time was spent discussing and testing potential changes to improve the overall game.
Up until now, most of the testing was just that. Testing. Going into a server with a development team member and doing what they ask in order to test a new feature or to check the results of a change in game code that rids the game of another nasty bug. At times there was some fun games going on, but a majority of the time was spent discussing and testing potential changes to improve the overall game.
"Fun Stuff"
We decided to stuff your Urban Terror stockings full of "fun stuff" this holiday season. As I mentioned earlier, development is not over and we are continuing to work towards that all elusive release date. We continue to show off many of the new features, exciting levels and updated models and skins that will enter the Urban Terror Community.
While we are working on a few different fronts in order to finish up Urban Terror, we decided to create a little something "different" that can be used when you game. We call it fun stuff because, it really is nothing more than that. Fun! Then again, isn't that what Urban Terror is "fun over reality?" The name was derived from the actual cvar that is used /fun in the console.
While we are working on a few different fronts in order to finish up Urban Terror, we decided to create a little something "different" that can be used when you game. We call it fun stuff because, it really is nothing more than that. Fun! Then again, isn't that what Urban Terror is "fun over reality?" The name was derived from the actual cvar that is used /fun in the console.
Tomb Sweet Tomb
BladeKiller has updated some of the work on Tombs (ut4_tombs) recently. We thought we would give you something to drool over. This level was recently used in the STA ProBowl (Team Survivor) last week and saw a bit of early community action. Here are some of the new screenshots of Tombs:
Spreading Urban Cheer
In every gaming community I have been a part of there was one thing we gamers wanted. The next release. While enjoying the current version of the game there was always talk, comments and many, many suggestions on how to improve the current game. The Urban Terror Community is no different. In fact, we (as a development team) are probably spoiled by our community as they are a very informed and supportive group. Not to mention good, skilled gamers.
Over the course of the last 18 months it has been some sort of rollercoaster ride. There were highs with announcements and anticipation, only to be told months later plans have changed. Unfortunately, that is how development goes sometimes. While we do control our own destiny (now as an LLC) we set out to fulfill a commitment many of us agreed to long ago. We set out to provide a "finished" version of Urban Terror. It is rare of a mod to last more than a few years. It is even more rare to have a mod be released as a finished product. Of course there are some exceptions. We don't see Urban Terror as an exception, we see it as an accomplishment of many years or work, long hours of development and more development, along with many testing cycles.
Over the course of the last 18 months it has been some sort of rollercoaster ride. There were highs with announcements and anticipation, only to be told months later plans have changed. Unfortunately, that is how development goes sometimes. While we do control our own destiny (now as an LLC) we set out to fulfill a commitment many of us agreed to long ago. We set out to provide a "finished" version of Urban Terror. It is rare of a mod to last more than a few years. It is even more rare to have a mod be released as a finished product. Of course there are some exceptions. We don't see Urban Terror as an exception, we see it as an accomplishment of many years or work, long hours of development and more development, along with many testing cycles.
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More Lavatubes
Quite a response to the first look at the upcoming level, Lavatubes (ut4_lavatubes) created by TwoSeven, after posting news about some of the inner workings of the levels a few days ago. As promised, we are back to bring you some more screen shots of the level.
Developer Notes: ASE & Lavatubes
ASE and ut4_Lavatubes
I've spent a considerable amount of time messing around with the source to the Q3 map compiling tool, Q3map2. Bug fixing someone elses big and complex source tree isn't a whole lot of fun. I've eaten my vegetables though, so my "dessert" is that I've taken what I've fixed and built my own little showpiece map.
It's a quirky one-room terrain map called ut4_lavatubes, and it does alot of things differently then traditional brush-based q3 mapping.Probably the most immediate thing when you look at it is that it's really curvey compared to normal q3 maps. This is because the map is entirely constructed in a 3d modeling program (3dsmax) and exported into an '.ase' model.
3ds max -> Radiant
I've spent a considerable amount of time messing around with the source to the Q3 map compiling tool, Q3map2. Bug fixing someone elses big and complex source tree isn't a whole lot of fun. I've eaten my vegetables though, so my "dessert" is that I've taken what I've fixed and built my own little showpiece map.
It's a quirky one-room terrain map called ut4_lavatubes, and it does alot of things differently then traditional brush-based q3 mapping.Probably the most immediate thing when you look at it is that it's really curvey compared to normal q3 maps. This is because the map is entirely constructed in a 3d modeling program (3dsmax) and exported into an '.ase' model.
3ds max -> Radiant
Living in Paradise
The development team was recently contacted by Pablo Gil Fernandez, better known as eXKalibuR, the level designer behind such Urban Terror levels as Museum, Rucab, Half-Rucab, Com and especially Paradise. He contacted the team in order to "donate my editable maps (*.map) and permit you to edit and release them.
This is excellent news for gamers (mainly CTFers) in the Urban Terror Community who have been yearning and desiring a new and updated version of Paradise, due to some minor niggles with the level. While we are still in the process of acquiring the levels (.map files) we will be looking to update his outstanding work and pass it on to the community.
As eXKalibuR states, "in the end the most important thing to me is to share them to the UT community so that everyone can enjoy them again." And the development team could not agree more with this great news from eXKa. Stay tuned for more information and details on Paradise and his other Urban Terror levels.
This is excellent news for gamers (mainly CTFers) in the Urban Terror Community who have been yearning and desiring a new and updated version of Paradise, due to some minor niggles with the level. While we are still in the process of acquiring the levels (.map files) we will be looking to update his outstanding work and pass it on to the community.
As eXKalibuR states, "in the end the most important thing to me is to share them to the UT community so that everyone can enjoy them again." And the development team could not agree more with this great news from eXKa. Stay tuned for more information and details on Paradise and his other Urban Terror levels.
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The 27 Days of Terror: Day 25 - Crenshaw
Life in the hood, through the eyes of |NV|S, developer of Crenshaw. While there were mixed feelings towards the original level, Crenshaw has undergone a big transformation in recent months. His level development has impressive with some of his first offerings when he managed his level design site, Section 8 Studios.
Gameplay on Crenshaw seemed to favor the CTF crowd due in part to its size and layout. In subsequent releases, there were some modifications to the level in order to ehance appearance, a feature which |NV|S is never short on, and improve gameplay.
Gameplay on Crenshaw seemed to favor the CTF crowd due in part to its size and layout. In subsequent releases, there were some modifications to the level in order to ehance appearance, a feature which |NV|S is never short on, and improve gameplay.
The 27 Days of Terror: Day 24 - Tombs
During Urban Radio, a question was asked about what levels would be included in the upcoming version of Urban Terror. The tentative list included 22 levels 3 or 4 levels that were created by community level designers, who then gave the development team approval to test, redo and include in the release.
Since that time, our level designers have been quite busy, not only correct issues that have been brought to their attention by the QA Team, but also working on some new levels that have never been seen before. The last day we cover Prague by RabidCow, as one of those new offerings.
Since that time, our level designers have been quite busy, not only correct issues that have been brought to their attention by the QA Team, but also working on some new levels that have never been seen before. The last day we cover Prague by RabidCow, as one of those new offerings.
The 27 Days of Terror: Day 23 - Prague
Along with many of the "older" levels that will be included with the new version of Urban Terror, our level designers have been hard at work creat some new offerings. In previous updates we have shown you levels like Thingley. This time around we come bearing gifts courtesy of RabidCow.
The level is called Prague after the capital city of the Czech Repbublic, a city also known as "city of a hundred spies" and the "golden city." RabidCow has been working and reworking this level since May and the final version has been distributed to the QA Team for final testing before the release. Comments such as, "looks real good and seems to have a good playability to it" echo through the gamers who have test played the level and given their feedback and input.
The level is called Prague after the capital city of the Czech Repbublic, a city also known as "city of a hundred spies" and the "golden city." RabidCow has been working and reworking this level since May and the final version has been distributed to the QA Team for final testing before the release. Comments such as, "looks real good and seems to have a good playability to it" echo through the gamers who have test played the level and given their feedback and input.
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