Let me first start out by saying a few things. I have been playing DP (DigitalPaint Paintball 2), in some capacity, for many years. I have been in clans. I have created maps; of which most probably suck really bad.
My intention here is not to bash anyone. My intention is to ramble senselessly about my thoughts on map-making for DP. These are my thoughts and you may or may not agree with them.
The problem:
As I played a pickup game the other night I found myself in a map called Summer. Nice map. It looks pretty. Nice structure. But the map rambles on forever. What is the point? Shouldn’t DP maps be simpler? Shouldn’t you be able to traverse a DP map without getting lost? What is the point of hallways, pathways, and corridors that go on for an eternity? Isn’t confrontation, over exploration, the point of DP?
I don’t know about you, but I want the bell to ring, gather my gear, purge my CO2, and arrive at the point of confrontation in less than a minute. In some instances I think it’s a nice twist to have the initial confrontational point so close that you have to decide on whether to purge immediately and face an opponent rush, or wait to purge and be the rush.
Now I’m only pointing out Summer because it’s fresh in my mind. There are plenty of other maps out there that are similar. Painted Forest is a good example, and I’m sure you can think of many more. Why are we making maps with, literally, miles of long winding areas that make you feel like you are on survivor rather than playing a fun confrontational game?
For me I would like these maps tightened up a bit. A nice defendable base, and a transitional area that leads to an initial confrontational point (or multiple transitional areas leading to multiple initial confrontational points, or any combination there of.) make for an exciting, action packed map.
I hope I don’t make anyone mad by this post. I just get a little annoyed when I gather my gear, purge my CO2, and have to skippity-hop for 10 virtual miles before I ever come in contact with the enemy. Those 10 virtual miles are precious minutes wasted during the limited time I can spend on the PC as it is. When I come, I come to play. So let’s get our play on, and stop the expeditions into virtual no-mans-land.
S8NSSON
Just a nobody from nowhere