Mapping vs Real Life

[Hyp-R]

Well, for me. It's quite a bit of motivation. I can be home, and jsut browse lopers, and this other site for hours. look back and say, wow I could have been mapping.

One thing I hard find, is really telling the really important people around you that you map and such. Make's me feel like some kind of a computer junkie some times. But by even trying to map and getting this far with it, I've learned so much more.

But seriously, I told everyone. And they were amazed, even by my crappy work I usually do. I made a map of my house, and it wasn't even out of the dev textures, because it was over-scaled. But they thought I was the computer god or somthing. I found it quite rediculous.

But even since I've told people, whenever they have a problem with the computer, they call me up and ask.

"Why won't my computer turn on"
"Oh, and I know that cause I made a silly map?"
"Oh, I jsut thought you knew your stuff"
"haha, well. Is it plugged in"
"(Silence) Wow, you really do know your stuff"

I've done a shitload of photoshop work for my school, and friends. And I've even been asked to make a black and white scene for someone in HL2 with rain and really good scenery. I could only think "oh no, how do I explain that half-life rain looks like shit."

It's hard to juggle it abck and forth, but I've told people about it, and they udnerstand. Of course they come first, but if im deep into work, they'll wait for like an hour before telling me I've had enough for today. I really hate when my parents tell me I've ahd too much time on the computer, when obviously, I wouldn't be on if I had the chance to go out for the night. And they don't understand how "mod" deadlines work. And can really piss the hell out of me.

/off topic somwhere probobly

[Terminator]

Please tell me that was an attempt at an ironic joke...

I never joke. I do not understand the practice.

[super_gun]

Whenever I find time to model I usually have no inspiration to do so. The thing is, I have to either model one of two things for my mod, WTC, or I can't model at all or I'll feel like I"m wasting my time. For the last month I haven't been modeling at all, and I feel really unproductive. My social life is catching up with me and I just can't seem to choose between modeling and it. When I get on the computer I will honestly just sit there checking at updates on different sites over and over and over in till I"m satisfied and then it's usually to late to model.

Mapping is a different story. I seem to always have some inspiration to map because it's so different from modeling. I"m not controlled by mod work with it and I can do w/e I want when I map.

[mabufo]

compile times are a turn off.

[mabufo]

In all honesty, I'm taking a break from mapping I suppose - because I'm trying to teach myself C++ (a computer programming language). I feel that if I want to pursue a programming related job as a career, I need to get a jump on this stuff now while I'm young, you know? In the computer science industry you are not measured by what sort of schooling you had, but what you can do with the stuff you already know. IE: you don't have to get a bachelor's degree to get a job - just show that you can create viable programs. I however, plan on doing both...

Woe is me, because I hardly have time for mapping ... but when I do get on the computer to program... I just find myself spacing out - then I'll play DoD for a while. It's annoying how I get sidetracked like that! It makes me really agry at myself to know that I just wasted two hours playing a game when I could have been learning something important... or - mapping.

[alexroyce]

I spend weeks on end mapping nonstop. Friends wish I was out drinking with them more, but I just always feel like its unproductive and wont do me any good. Ive got an addiction to being productive, as I always feel that I have to be, even if my social life takes a nose-dive.

Once I get in the industry ill take a break. So far its been 2 years of just mapping nonstop mon-sat, drinking sunday (if I dont have anything to do), and small freelance jobs which gives me some pocketmoney. I havent slept well in ages (dont even own a bed, lol), but one day im hoping all this work will pay off.

Actually I havent just been strictly mapping, as ive also learned how to model, skin and compile props and create my own textures, but again that just fits into the broader catagory of mapping.

[Deathmonkey]

Hi Everybody!!! Seems like we all got somehow the same "problem". I started to map a little more then a year ago, before I was playing a lot. My parents always told "Hey go out do something, you are spending too much time in front of your pc!!!!" , well what can I say...THEY WERE RIGHT!!! But what the hell..I LOVE IT. They never really understood why I do what I do...but like a year ago I had a beer with my dad and explained him what is so cool about playing and mapping. Now they understand me and even my girlfriend is much more supportive.

I still go out a lot of times ...hey nothing against a nice cold beer ... but sometimes is just so relaxing to map all night and too see how your skills are getting better. And people...to be honest...its damn cool if people are downloading and playing your stuff!!!

ps: Here is a link to book...gonna come out the 1st of june!!!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193309 ... e&n=283155

[InsaneSquirrelism]

i know this is off topic. i know this is a long time between the posts. but seriously terminator... WTF. someday real life will catch up with you i suppose

on topic:
real life and mapping are the same thing. god is just a shitload better at optimization than we are. why do you think he is called god?

[Rustvaar]

Methinks you missed the point of this topic.

[Rocket_Robinhood]

Mapping is more of a hobby then a priority.

And of course you always have to put your priorities first, then your hobby in whatever time that is left.

i agree

plus i guess im lucky i usually find enough time to map as me and my buddies only go out on weekend nights and i usually dont have homework and i am currently unemployed

[Meotwister]

It depends how you see mapping. If its just a hobby then well obviously its going to be a bit down on the list.

Myself I don't just use hammer, If I get bored with one I either go to PS or 3DMAX. Also i'm contantly inspired by absolutly everything around me, I'm always looking at details around me and how they could be incorporated into my work. And the fact that I have the freedom to create anything I want is also a boost. Then theres the fact that I just love cramming everything and anything I can into my brain, I just love learning new techniques and ways to improve my work.

But then again like darkmortar said, sometimes you just have to see some finished work to get you motivated again, working constantly in editors can piss you off and you can lose interest very quickly. But when i can't seem to do anything right atol, I just take a break for like a week, go back refreshed
For me I'd nearly prioritiize working on the comp over my social life I just love creating and designing.

. . . . You're like my clone. . .

yeah, I had this problem and still do today but to a lesser extent. I had advanced classes in school with shitloads of homework combined with a weekend job, any extra time would be spent with my girlfriend or best friend and I was also picking up the guitar, so I would find myself on a weekday staying up till like 1 or 2 mapping/modeling with a guitar in my lap playing during compile times etc. Things have calmed down now as I no longer have a job and school is ending tomorrow. (graduate high school next sat wewt!)

But yeah, I had to kinda force out a weekly schedule to adhere by. I'd go to school, hang out with my gf after school, go home relax/map, and then do hw later that night and go out with friends on the weekend.

My parents know I want to become a level designer so they understand the obscene hours spent. My girlfriend understands, because I sat down and explained how passionate I was about this and that it was not just a 'hobby'. My best friend understands because he does the same thing! (ps he's on this site! you'll never guess. . )


That seems to work for me, but I guess it's about just figuring out a schedule that works for you that gives equal exposure to everything you want to do.

Hope you figure this out Barra and others.

[DarkMortar]

I have noticed an improvance in myself! My imagination is now roaring better than it ever, ever has before. I am comminng up with mapping ideas like the speed of light now... and possible ones too. I just collected more ref pics and know what I can do, plus I learned how to make some basic textures for myself. Such as famous white walls, and tan that I NEED for a modern map. And the textures look damn good for how simple it is, light just loves it! I can handel my new plan with confindence now. Even though I'm still worried about making good displacements and obtaining good resources (models) for my upcomming map, because I'm gonna need a dedicated modeler for my map when I can show it. Ok, ok, I have'nt actually started.. but I started actually for the first time, drawing up concept art. My damn plans seem so possible. I now can easily come up with solutions to ever nook and cranny of my mapping plan. I think I have went through another mapping revolution, as I call it. My other one was back in the old day with de_vast, but its ugly and busy for my taste now. I got a nice modern look cooked up, and it's gonna kick ass, easecitlly since I'm getting better at photoshop by teaching myself. In fact about 50% or more of my textures will be custom, and 25% of them from myself. I can't wait till the summer when I have time to start! Right now I'm working on a programming project I want to finish before schools out, because it want it good when it's due!

Just god damn, my imagination has never been soo clear as it is now! What a glorious day! I can even imagine the lighting.. in source! Now that I have a safe base for textures, it's all set. But i'm worried as hell about obtaining more grass resources, and frikn models.. they are so crutial for my next map! My intellegence has proably doubles since the start of the year. Proably because of all the pressures of a year like this. And my mapping has been dead silent, because I give up too much! Well anyway, I got a really creative layout plan... in my hands ad head. It will be beyond original.. never been done before. I don't care if people don't like the idea of a surreal building in nature.. it's my style and too bad! Inustrial is hard as hell for me to work on anymore because I'm tired of it!

Anyway, I hope I survive.

[Mangopork]

For a while now my "social" life has taken me lot's of time from mapping, so i tought it would be nice to see how every one else handles it.
Each day i seem to get less time and motivation to map, i get home after 10 hours at work and just don't have enough patient to start hammer. Then there's the girlfriend, and it's hard to explain that i can't go out with her cause i've to make something for a computer game, same thing with friends, it's always hard to explain.
Then there's my parents always saying that i spend to much time on the computer when i'm at home, wich is a rare thing this latelly, it's getting to the point when i'm considering that i don't have time for mapping anymore, but after so many years doing this it's really hard to just stop, and everytime i take a brake from mapping i just feel like something is missing. I think mapping is now a big part of me, and of my life, and it's something that i cannot live without, amd it's kind of sad when you can't do the thing that you love the most.
So what about you guys?

Well first of all, why are you even bothering with a girlfriend who wouldn't understand one of your hobbies?

My girlfriends (I have more than one) totally get level design, they understand it's important to me, and they love that i'm passionate about it. Because of this they understand that I need time alone every now and again, especially when it means they get something shiny to look at (skill or talent is attractive to most women).

Secondly, you really just have to carve out a set number of hours in your week for mapping.

If you are that exhausted, (even after 10 hours of work, which I know is a lot, but still....) consider changing your diet. Yes, you read that correctly.

Eat tons of fruit, veggies, meat, and drink soy milk instead of regular milk, drink TONS of water - at least half a gallon a day (just grab one of those gallon jugs from the store and down them or always have it on you and sip as you go). Cut back on soda (it tires out your muscles and dehydrates you).

Also consider taking supplements/vitamins to keep you going.

I did all of this and my fatigue has vanished. I can go 18 hours a day hardcore and I feel great throughout.

About five minutes a day of Stretching and walking (light exercise) will make a world of difference as well.

P.S. I swear you haven't lived untill you've had a hot girl give you head while you're mapping in hammer. It's totally surreal.

[dragonfliet]

P.S. I swear you haven't lived untill you've had a hot girl give you head while you're mapping in hammer. It's totally surreal.

You know, I'm all for multi-tasking and all, but I think that SOME things demand your my full attention.

As for friends/gfs wanting more of your time, it's alwasy the case of balance. If it's something you're passionate about, of course you have the right to spend time doing it, on the other hand, that time needs to be limited because let's face it, other people are surprisingly good to hang out with every once in a while

I don't think I've said anything here: I suck at mapping. I suck very, very, very badly, and on top of that, I'm very busy with work/school/wife/writing, so I only put in about 1-2 hours a week (on weeks I touch hammer at all). That time is spent pouring over the tutorials here and slowly building something that may in the distant future be called skill. However, as this isn't exactly my calling in life, when I something else comes up, I drop hammer like a hot plate.

~Jason

[Mangopork]

P.S. I swear you haven't lived untill you've had a hot girl give you head while you're mapping in hammer. It's totally surreal.

You know, I'm all for multi-tasking and all, but I think that SOME things demand your my full attention.

As for friends/gfs wanting more of your time, it's alwasy the case of balance. If it's something you're passionate about, of course you have the right to spend time doing it, on the other hand, that time needs to be limited because let's face it, other people are surprisingly good to hang out with every once in a while

Well sure. Whenever a concert comes along or a chance to go clubbing or a nice movie or whatever, I take the opportunity.

Other times I just invite people over. But honestly most of my time is spent on myself (i'm building up skills for a career) and I like it that way.


Anyways, surely SOMEONE else can benefit from the advice I posted above......