Phoenixan

Ground Fault is a Quake map made in a timeframe of just under 48 hours, for SM227 – Thunderbolts and Lightning. It introduced a set of new power-ups: mini versions of the Quad Damage, Biosuit, and Pentagram, and was built around just one idea: the map needs to include a Thunderbolt (lightning gun).

I started by choosing the cr8 texture set for the map, since I felt it suited the Thunderbolt theme with its electric-themed switches and panels. It also features a lot of grimy metal, which I thought fit some ideas I had around gameplay with water, primarily coupling the lightning gun’s discharge with the mini-pentagram.

I also made some attempts to integrate a fair amount of verticality once more, with multiple walkways stacked on top of each other in the main hall. Overall, I think it came together nicely given the time involved. The only thing I wish I could have done more of was tighten up the combat, especially in the last room.

There are 9 maps in total in the pack, with my personal favorites being A Marshmallow Dream, The Lightning Lock, and Frankenstein or Supersham-bler.

I have a new map for Quake out, this time as part of FireBlu Jam! It’s a small Runic themed map that I planned and put together over about 2 days.

As is the case with Doom’s fireblu texture, this jam is full of alternating red and blue textures, and at times, flashing lights.

Overall, there are some maps with some really smart use of these textures. Of particular note is Fire Is Raging Eagerly. Blu Lingers Underneath. by IceColdTofu, FIREBLU Infestation by Avix, and Rottensweet by Adib Murad.

Updates:

This map has also been updated to better support co-op play (along with the rest of the pack). Also, if you have issues with photosensitivity, there is an alternative version in the Slipseer discussion tab that does without the animated red-blue texture.

I’m working on a little bit more of a buffer before I post more comic updates, since I want the next few pages to appear closer together!

Meanwhile, I’ve put together a couple more Quake maps over the course of the past few months. One is yet to be released, since it is part of a larger map pack, but is complete. The other has been released over the weekend, as part of Dog Jam, a fun little project with a restriction on using just the rottweiler.

The map is titled Licked Clean. You are stripped of your weapons and fed to the dogs in a metal dungeon.

The custom models by Kebby really elevated this to something a little more fun and unique; however, I do think the concept was somewhat under-utilized, where I wish more people joined in. All-in-all, this was a neat piece to practice with.

You can find and download Dog Jam on Slipseer.

It’s been a while!

I mentioned this in the comments for my latest comic page: I’ve been busy! I’ve ended up with my own house, so my life’s been consumed with furniture shopping, rearranging things, and figuring out how things are supposed to work out. As a result, I’ve had to take a break from updating the comic. I’m slowly getting back to it, now that I’m settled in again, and I hope to post some new pages soon once I feel comfortable with a small buffer.

In between all of that, I’ve also taken to dabbling in some new things lately, including mapping for Quake after discovering Trenchbroom. This isn’t my first experience with game development or mapping, but it is my first experience doing anything like that in a true 3D space! The result is my first completed map, Rancid Retrofit, which was created as part of Sewer Jam 2.

It’s a Rubicon 2 themed map, and has a few fancy tricks going on, thanks to the Alkaline mod, such as working ladders and rising water. There are also new enemies that don’t exist in regular Quake.

If you’re not familiar with Alkaline, I definitely recommend checking out the page and playing the mod’s campaign. Of course, you’ll need a source port, and the .pak files in the id1 folder from the original Quake game to play.

Sewer Jam 2 on Slipseer.