HL2:DM dm_BCarena (My first)

[Ich 666]

Ok, here is a little update before I start my studying for the night.
I cant seem to be able to get sun to shine through the hole though, not sure why.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I have to spruce up the walls and decorate a bit more, but I think the textures are better choices at least. In this map, I am going less for realism and more for quick shooting action, but for future projects I will take all suggestions into account. I mean, I added the combine cameras to give it some kind of "story". Battle arena for convicts, death tournaments, or whatever a player in the level wants to make up. Every map needs to have some sort of story behind it, albeit simple in this case.

Yet again, thank you all for suggestions. I really am learning quite a bit (more than I do in my damn classes).

For the sun light effect make a light_environment, choose the angles you want the sun to shine at and select the color and brightness so it matches your skybox ((http://www.interlopers.net/tutorials/3964) best settings for the standart hl2 skyboxes which you seem to use)

If you want a visible sun make an env_sun.

And choose some more interesting Textures for the next time.

But hey your still learning

[surgeon]

i think the best way to learn is to go into whatever game you're mapping for, take screenshots, and then just remake those areas in hammer. i started mapping for moh:aa, and i spent about a year working on a map i was never going to release, just remaking buildings from the game in my own layout with a couple of my own ideas, and i also learnt about the entities, scripting etc for SP. obviously just copying valve wont get you very far, but you'll teach yourself all the tools like clipping and displacements, as well as how to detail - frames, trims etc.