horrendous leveling

[Frankie]

I decided to take a look around the server to see what has changed and I've been very disappointed. I've noticed that the level design is awful and I wanted to voice my opinion. here are a few that stood out to me:


era grotto:
who thought it was a good idea to change this level? it looks like a jail cell. tinting the fountain green to make it look like it's shooting sewage is incredibly tacky. there was nothing wrong with the old level and I feel like someone changed it for the sake of changing it. unfortunately this change took a huge step backwards. just because it's underground doesn't mean it has to resemble the sewers.


era hotel:
just.. ugly. accurately represents the new style of leveling that has gotten really popular over the past few years. I have no idea why.

- gray scale color scheme with red as a desperate attempt to give this level color.
- gray carpets with red trimming.
- carpet squares scattered randomly with obnoxious red tinted lights conveniently placed over them as well as every seat and plant.
- the plants are black and white. this doesn't need any further explanation.
- overall everything I hate to see in a level.
- hotel or night club?

ammo mart:
the black benches outside foreshadow what will be seen inside. yet again, another gray scale color scheme.

- the safe in the ground underneath glass. obvious perspective error here and makes zero sense. never understood why this piece of detailing was ever created. I've seen it in the past.
- underground fish tank seen as a desperate attempt to make a boring level look interesting. clear perspective error considering the plants are placed at the bottom edge of the tank.
- rainbow flashing lights. no more needs to be said here.
- flooring is random and has no definite pattern. this has been a popular floor detailing technique for as long as I can remember, but I'm surprised it's still used. it looks tacky and unnecessary and also provides a lot of tedious work for the level artist.

example of what carpet design should look like: era_start.nw (auction house/gun shop)


fort knox armory:
another generic gray scale color scheme level. not much else to be said.


event house:
another generic gray scale color scheme level. tacky "ET" written in the floor. honestly the layout of this level has a very classic graal touch to it and is laid out very well. I just can't stand the repeated color scheme in all of these levels.


dairy hut:
for once the walls have color but the design of this level is ruined with ugly gray carpet. I understand these tiles have been on the era tileset for the longest time, but I think it's time something else is used. this level also succumbs to the phenomena of randomly placed carpet squares.

overall not a bad level but the flooring ruins it. pizza hut and dippin donuts share the same fate.


casino:
extremely well designed. perfect example of how levels should look like. creative, alive, and interesting.


bank:
another good example of what era levels should look like.


comic club:
a good example of where the gray scale color scheme with neon lights actually works.


I feel like a lot of these levels need to be redesigned. the server reminds me of what old era rip offs used to look like. the buildings are mundane and depressing compared to all of the colors on the gmap, with items, and even on our graal characters. if tile options are the problem then I'd like to see some improvement with that. any talented graphic artists shouldn't have a problem creating tiles with more color. it would be a very simple project in my opinion.


*this is all my opinion and you are free to disagree with me.