As someone who enjoys mapping as much as playing the last year or so has been a frustrating time, especially with the sequels to 2 of my favourite online games not supporting mod tools (FEAR PO and MW2) therefore for me the Galactic mod has came along at the perfect time. What makes this an interesting mod is that it gives a mapper an excellent opportunity to create something a little different from the usual CoD4 maps and presents a far greater challenge in doing so.
Most mods and custom maps take advantage of the many available assets contained within CoD4 such textures, models, effects, sounds etc and combines them together to give a new mod or map which quite often is a variation of what we have seen before. The Galactic mod is completely different in that respect, it packages up a whole lot of new assets to give CoD4 a complete makeover, therefore making a map for the mod requires that same level makeover, after all it is unlikely you will see a rusted car, helicopter or MP5 in the Star Wars galaxy.
Mp_Rebellion was roughly 3 months in the making, the first week of which was spent getting back up to speed with the mod tools and reviewing all the available information on the maps made by the Blackmonkeys so as not to avoid duplication. The hardest part was deciding what theme the map was to be and what Star Wars environment it was to be set in thus after many false starts with such places naboo, coruscant, tatooine, geonosis, Endor and even the Death Star I finally settled on making a map based on the old Star Wars game ‘Empire at War’ and not to base it on a particular Star Wars location.
Although Empire at War is more of a strategy game than an FPS some of the building models in the game fit in excellent with the CoD4 engine and more importantly it allowed me to create a map with 2 distinct halves meaning that the objective based games (CTF, Sabotage and S&D) have a different feel when you are on a different side. Collection of the assets to be used (mainly textures) was a time consuming task, in the first week I probably added 200 textures to the mod tools and then a further 100 as I went along, I eventually ended up using about 140 in the Beta release meaning a big IWD within the download but this cannot really be avoided if you want to make a map look different from others.
When laying a map size and shape out I try to follow a few simple rules:- Build it to be played with about 8-16 players. Build it with objective based games in mind. Give each team an equal advantage with their base. Use elevation where possible. Make every object, building, effect and sound in the map appear to have a purpose and most importantly fit in with the overall theme.
After scratching off a couple of early maps as they were too big and not balanced between the teams I decided on a mid-size square layout with a central underground section and to give each team a base that contrasts against the defenders colours. Then came the fun part (for me at least) of actually creating the buildings for the bases and applying the textures I had collected, this took around 3-4 weeks and was fairly painless after I had dediced to use a white theme for the Rebels and rusty theme for the Empire. Along the way I discovered a few tricks with lighting, agonised over the height of the Empire docking platform, finally figured out how to edit stock FX and I also toyed with Maya and radiant in the hope of putting a couple of static X-Wing’s into the game which never quite worked out.
Hopefully a final version which has a few modifications and fixes in it should be out over the next few days and then its time to rack up some play time.
Easybeat
www.thedowclan.com

Read the full post @ http://www.blackmonkeys.de/?p=2675

Over 6.100 modifications for 740 different games. A huge amount of great nominees were competing for the annual „Mod of the Year“ awarded by the modding-page moddb.com. We are presenting our total conversion „Galactic Warfare“ for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare also on this well-known modding platform, released the beta last-minute on 25. December 2009 and earned predominantly positive feedback for our not yet finished creation. However, concerning all the other big classy modifications there we never expected any award placement at all. Our entry in the top 100 as the only modification for Call of Duty 4 was already a big surprise for us.
During the „editor’s choice“ awards (which are given by an expert panel) we – as expected – even were not mentioned at all. All the more we were astonished by the results of the „Player’s choice“ published this weekend. And the players have decided to award us with an awesome 4th rank!
This could only be reached thanks to you all who have assiduously voted for our „Galactic Warfare“ modification. Such a great placement makes us very proud and shows that we have hitted the mark of a lot of CoD4-players out there. We would like to thank you for your support and hope, that you will be also that content with the next things to come.
Thanks to you all and stay tuned!
Here is a small video presenting a short insight into the top 10 of „Players Choice“ MOTY Awards 2009:
moddb.com – „Mod of the Year“ players choice

http://www.moddb.com/events/2009-mod-of-the-year-awards/features/players-choice-mod-of-the-year-2009

Über 6.100 Modifikationen für 740 unterschiedliche Spiele. Eine große Menge herausragender Kandidaten konkurrierten für die „Mod of the Year“ Awards, welche von der Modding-Seite moddb.com jedes Jahr verliehen werden. Wir hatten auch unsere Total Conversion für Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare auf dieser bekannten Plattform für Modder vorgestellt, die Beta in letzter Sekunde am 25. Dezember 2009 veröffentlicht und eine überwiegend positive Resonanz für unser noch lange nicht fertiges Werk erhalten. Trotzdem rechneten wir angesichts der vielen dort vertretenen, sehr hochklassigen Modifikationen nicht wirklich mit einer Platzierung. Allein unser Eintritt in die Top 100 mit der einzigen Modifikation für Call of Duty 4 war schon ein unerwarteter Gewinn für uns.
Bei der Verleihung der „Editor’s Choice“ Awards durch eine Fachjury fanden wir – wie erwartet – erst gar keine Erwähnung. Umso überraschter waren wir jedoch angesichts der jetzt veröffentlichten Ergebnisse der „Player’s Choice“. Dieses Wochenende war es soweit, und wir haben tatsächlich den 4. Platz erzielt!!
Dies konnte nur dank euch allen geschafft werden, die ihr fleißig für unsere Galactic Warfare gevotet habt. Ein so guter Platz macht uns wirklich stolz und zeigt uns, dass wir mit SWM den Nerv der CoD4-Zocker getroffen haben. Wir möchten euch dafür danken und hoffen, dass ihr mit dem was noch kommen wird, genauso zufrieden sein werdet.
Danke an euch alle!
Auf moddb.com zeigt ein Video einen kurzen Einblick in jede der Top 10 Modifikationen des Jahres 2009:
moddb.com – „Mod of the Year“ Players Choice

http://www.moddb.com/events/2009-mod-of-the-year-awards/features/players-choice-mod-of-the-year-2009

Our team mate Sizzer is actually working on the legendary Millenium Falcon. Please have a look on the work in progress:

View the progress here: http://www.blackmonkeys.de/?p=2584

Last week we where showing some screens from maps where we are actually working on. Another frequently asked question by the community was about "will there be more weapons? The answer is "Yes". Today we would like to present some of our new blasters, made by mapicted. Hope you like it!

View topic here: http://www.blackmonkeys.de/?p=2575

Thanks to your help, we have made it into the finals as the best mod 2009, and therefore in the top 100 at ModDB. A total of 80,000 votes for 3500 mods and indie games have been released! Thank you very much. Now it into the next round and we hope that you again give us your vote. We count ourselves from any great opportunities, but who knows in what place we landed. So: Please vote!

Click on this to the "Call of Duty 4: Modern". There you will see the Star Wars Mod: Galactic Warfare. Now it takes only a click on "Vote" and already you have given your voice. Thanks in advance!

Link: http://www.moddb.com/events/2009-mod-of-the-year-awards/top100



Dank Eurer Hilfe haben wir es in den Endausscheid zur besten Mod 2009 und somit in die Top 100 bei ModDB geschafft. Insgesamt wurden 80000 Stimmen für 3500 Mods und IndieGames abgegeben! Vielen Dank. Jetzt geht es in die nächste Runde und wir hoffen, dass Ihr uns nochmals Eure Stimme gebt. Wir rechnen uns keine großen Chancen aus, aber wer weiß auf welchem Platz wir landen. Also: Please vote!

Klickt hierzu auf das Feld “Call of Duty 4: Modern”. Dort seht Ihr dann die Star Wars Mod: Galactic Warfare. Jetzt braucht es nur noch einen Klick auf “Vote” und schon habt Ihr Eure Stimme vergeben. Vorab vielen Dank!

Link: http://www.blackmonkeys.de/?cat=11