News of the Pickle

[Map Update] ctf_mercy_b3

Vilepickle — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:07:33 +0000

CTF_Mercy has been updated to beta 3.

B3 CHANGES/FIXES:
-NEW FEATURE: Mercy rule. When a team is ahead by 5 or more caps, the enemy flag gets disabled for 30 seconds after capture. This should ease some competitive games that are complete blowouts typical to CTF
-Mercy rule will not affect close games or publics limited to 3 captures
-Long horizontal sightline across the middle health pack removed by rotating the doors on this building. Also frees up room around that building by removing the cinder blocks.
-Skybox tree color darkened
-The route below the base is much more roomy now
-Below base route entrance extended slightly into the middle
-Flagroom entrance from spawn is much larger now, prevents some spam
-Can no longer have dispensers provide ammo through the wall behind the flagroom
-Flagroom window clipping tweaked to make passing the flag through harder
-Flag podium rubble visuals improved greatly
-Flag location on podium moved back some to get it further away from the main door
-Flag podium now has a railing on the end
-Further optimization

Download and Screenshots: http://www.vilepickle.com/map/screens/tf2_ctf_mercy
(You can always find the latest version at this location).

Finished TF2 Mapping

Vilepickle — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:48:43 +0000

After my current project, ctf_mercy, I am done mapping for TF2. It’s not worth it anymore, but it’s been fun.

[Map Update] ctf_mercy_b2

Vilepickle — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:54:18 +0000

CTF_Mercy has been updated to beta 2.

B2 CHANGES/FIXES:
-Flag return timer increased to 20 seconds
-Spawn timers slightly increased, still shorter than stock
-Flag podium can no longer be built on directly, it has taken damage and is unsafe for building. Sign added to indicate this.
-Flagroom flank window made more accessible with an additional branch for attackers on the bottom base route.
-More optimization

Download and Screenshots: http://www.vilepickle.com/map/screens/tf2_ctf_mercy
(You can always find the latest version at this location).

[Map Update] ctf_mercy_b1

Vilepickle — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:22:18 +0000

CTF_Mercy has been updated to beta 1.

B1 CHANGES/FIXES:
-Small detail updates
-There’s now an attacker-friendly 1-way window looking onto the defender’s sentry farm position
-Small wall-blocker added near defender flagroom entrance to stop new flagroom window from being spawncamp friendly
-Flag return time tweaked up slightly to 16 seconds
-Computer box in flagroom unclipped at the top

Download and Screenshots: http://www.vilepickle.com/map/screens/tf2_ctf_mercy
(You can always find the latest version at this location).

[Map Update] CTF_Mercy_a4

Vilepickle — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:51:16 +0000

Update to Alpha 4! I’ve worked on the visuals of the map and it has come out of its “orange” phase and is starting to look like a real map. It’s still in alpha, so any aspect of the level is still subject to change. Your feedback is important!

A4 CHANGES/FIXES:
(Still in alpha, anything can change)
-Major visual additions, much of the detail in the map has been added
-Flagroom tweaked slightly so the engineer position isn’t quite as powerful
-Some optimization added
-Most clipping added

Download and Screenshots: http://www.vilepickle.com/map/screens/tf2_ctf_mercy
(You can always find the latest version at this location).

[Map Update] CTF_Mercy_a3

Vilepickle — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:19:07 +0000

Update to Alpha 3! Fixes gameplay after competitive testing.

A3 CHANGES/FIXES:
-Middle health packs combined to one medium and placed in the middle center column, newly hollow
-Spawns have windows to see potential threats right outside the spawn easier
-Flag return time now 12 seconds, up from 11
-Far route into the base now has a 1-way door. Still 3 viable ways out with the flag including front door, battlements, and behind the flag

Download and Screenshots: http://www.vilepickle.com/map/screens/tf2_ctf_mercy
(You can always find the latest version at this location).

[Map Release] CTF_Mercy_a2

Vilepickle — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:38:18 +0000

Mercy is a simple CTF map meant to tackle the flaws of traditional CTF in TF2. I figured another stab at CTF wouldn’t

hurt… can’t let everyone else have the fun. Looking for playtesting and comments.

Features
-Small, very fast paced, reduced spawn timer
-11 second flag return timer
-Respawn with significantly separate exits, none in the path of the intelligence
-Several viable attack routes
-Bases that aren’t deep and intricate that result in stalemates

Download and Screenshots: http://www.vilepickle.com/map/screens/tf2_ctf_mercy
(You can always find the latest version at this location).

TF2 Low FPS Fix - Antivirus

Vilepickle — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:33:00 +0000

There is a post on the Steam forums about increasing FPS in TF2 by creating an exception in your antivirus for the application cache folder that is accessed very frequently. This looks very useful.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1093560

School’s out forever!

Vilepickle — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:27:23 +0000

The BS in Information Systems is mine! Now someone hire me

Remakes, Movies, and Video Games

Vilepickle — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:19:55 +0000

This movie article is a direct reflection of what happens in video games. Having made several level remakes myself, it rings true:

http://www.hollywood.com/feature/Remakes_Reboots_and_the_Death_of_Original_Thought/5734395