CTF-Shire
Map Info
	File Name ctf-shire.zip Author buckyfg Gametype UT2k3 Capture The Flag Date Added 01-24-2003 File Version 1.00 File Size 8.18 mb Player Count Unknown Map Description None Review Rating 6 User Rating 6 Overall Rating 6
Review
Reviewer Qualthwar Awe Score:  2.0/3 Date 02-20-2003 Build Score:  2.0/3 Review Schema Cast Score:  2.0/3 User Point:  0 Overall Score:  6/10 The hills of Emyn Muil have some company. It’s a recreation of FrodoLand, complete with a pair of Gandalf bungalows; they serve as the bases. The author did a pretty good job of recreating the village, and the map plays decent. However, once you have the flag in your hands and are out of the bungalow, you have plenty of stuff to use as cover and lots of room to dodge artillery. You might need to turn the bots up a notch if you play with A.I. Elf archer Legolas and Gimli the Dwarf would crap their pants if they saw the weapons at your fingertips. They’d also feel at home in the surroundings that are created here. Custom Frodo music is included, so 10 of you can get in the mood as you hide behind broken carts or scout the cobblestone bridge. I did notice some sort of glitch with my 4600 video card. There are light cones coming into the bungalows and sometimes the texture of the cones change from a semitransparent texture to the default texture. When this happens, it can cause problems if you’re fighting because you can’t see through the default texture. I lost a few battles because of this glitch. See the last couple of screenshots.
Map Comments
Doctor Nick 01-30-2003 01:25 PM MST Rating: 9   This map is great. It (almost) perfectly recreates the atmosphere of the Hobbit with the great scenery and music. The level design is superb, especially the bridge area in the middle and it's obvious that a lot of time has been put into this. I especially like the eye of sauron in the sky. It also plays great with bots. There are a few minor flaws however. The 'jump pad rings' look a bit rubbish, i think something simpler would look better, and the bots defending the flag rooms sometimes walk into the fire and die. Other than that, brilliant! OMGTTFS 01-27-2003 11:06 PM MST Rating: 8   Superb map; however, the frame rates are pretty mean...even on a mid range comp like mine. One thing I don't understand: In the read me the author makes reference to one of the jump pads not being perfect and to "just let it go". One of the jump pads doesn't quite get you over the water, but inexplicably, instead of simply increasing the force of the jump pad, he put in a piece of raft wood to land on in the river. I don't understand why but other than these very minor and very picky concerns this map does live up to its expectations. Nothing is worse than to see a weak mapper try to bring a great idea to life...they don't do it justice; thankfully, this is not one of those maps. I highly recomend to all of those Hobitons out there. Cool screen shot too. DocEDo 01-28-2003 01:27 PM MST Rating: 4   Needs more attention to the detail and better optimization. buckyfg 02-22-2003 01:43 PM MST   More attention to detail? its already a demanding map. if you map you'll understand, I had a hell of a time trying to optimize it, if anything I should have removed some of that "detail" BTw thanks for all the kind words folks, I worked really hard on it. UPDATE: wow, a few of the guys below are the most spoiled kids I've ever heard! Fisrt of all do you even map and know how hard it is?, and you know that I do it for free so you can extend the life of your game? "Another terain map" and thats bad how? and Altan, I bet you like HallofAnubis? Altan, I was wondering if you could recreate Hobbiton for me, in your perfect vision, I give you 1 month. Get back to me when its done thanks. It amazes me how some of this community is. Well wether you like it or not I'm mapping for a mod now and you'll have to play my maps or not play the mod. I dont have a problem with critisism but bieng an As$ is just lame guys. To those that like it, thanks alot. I really apreciate the comments. Trynant 01-30-2003 08:49 PM MST Rating: 9   This is a really great map, amazing awe, frames could be better but hey what more could you ask for a map that looks like this! gameplay is solid, except that this map has so much damn stuff in it that it even slows the gameflow a little :). Saru 02-03-2003 04:09 PM MST Rating: 8   Nice map. The jump pads should be made more simple, the current ones look so out of place -- maybe a little tree stump or something. The music (I think) is also out of place -- yeah it's fitting, all nice and tranquil -- but dammit that's just not UT now, is it? Eye of Sauron -- nice touch. Or is it the Eye of the Announcer? Hmmm... Wow! It runs fine on a GF2, 800 * 600 -- chuffed :D Download it now or I'll bite all your knees off. SealClubber 02-03-2003 07:06 PM MST Rating: 4   its alright, standard 2 bases map 1/2LuNaTiC 02-20-2003 05:17 PM MST Rating: 5   This map was ok. Dun understand why its being rated so highly though. deadboy 02-21-2003 01:08 AM MST Rating: 9   This is a very good map. It would be a good map if it were called happy valley. It looks good. It plays well. My main issue is the bots in the bases sometimes take damage by walking into fireplace. Shadowlurker 02-28-2003 05:03 AM MST Rating: 5   another terrain map :/ theme is ok, looks a bit blocky in places, gameplay is lame too. To the Author: I really hope you read this, because I think that you can't take critisism. You should have expected this by making a LOTR map, people won't be satified for it. Now, this map IS just another terrain map, and that is a bad thing because i've not seen a good terrain based MP map to date for ut2003, and this doesn't change that. altan 02-28-2003 09:05 AM MST Rating: 4   I didn't like it at all. Ugly meshwork, could have been made a lot better. I strongly disagree with whoever said it really feels like Hobbiton, to me its just a bunch of bright green terrain with some orangey ugly meshes slapped on to it. Plays pretty crappy as well. Update aimed towards Buckyfg's new comments: Yay, I'm a spoiled kid because I like good quality maps and I don't like maps made by authors who didn't put as much effort as possible into their map. Yes, I do in fact map and I am well aware of the troubles and hardships, but they CAN be overcome. It just takes a lot of patience. Another terrain map = Unoriginal, for lazy authors that can't be bothered to build a proper environment so they just mess around with heightmaps. I'm not saying its a sin to use heightmaps at all, but it needs to be used in conjunction with proper meshes and shouldn't make up the majority of a map. ROFL @ You thinking I like HallsOfAnubis. I could make Hobbiton, but I'm not the greatest fan of LOTR in the first place (read the beginnning of the first book and the Hobbit, watched the movies) and I'm not too fond of the architectural style found in Hobbit-style dwellings anyway, both in construction and in practice. It could be done well though, and I would recognize the proper effort if done right. As for the time limitation, thats a load of balls. You should place goals for yourself, sure, but if its going to interfere with the quality of your map then it sucks. 1 month isn't a long time to design a level, make custom meshes and skin them, and then build the level. I like to work at a slow, easygoing pace and just try to put as much effort as I can into it. I don't have any intention to download Atlantis as I'm not a player really, and on the rare occasion that I do play I like single player mods the best cause they show the most thought and effort in my opinion, as well as atmosphere and immersion. Good luck with the mod, I hope you do better than you did on CTF-Shire. BTW: If I do download it, I'll cheat past your maps ;D j/k You seem to have a problem with my criticism, as it is my belief that I have kept from being an ass. I may have high expectations, but if you expect everyone to have pretty much the same expectations then you're the one with high expectations :P -Altan Update @ Morphias: As far as I know UT2 doesn't support Dual processor systems, it'll run alright but only utilize one processor. Programs have to be written to take advantage of 2 procs unfortunately :/ -Altan SirTahngarth 02-21-2003 04:23 PM MST Rating: 6   Nice map design, but the music drives me nuts. all this gunslinging and flak flying and shock combos blowing, while listening to peaceful, serene music. it just doesn't make sense, even for the environment. it sounds fine when youre just flying around admiring the view, but when youre actually playing, it gets on your nerves. I replaced the music file with a different, renamed one I got so sick of it. the map itself is nicely done beyond that. balanced without being a perfect mirror map, good item placement. some minor flaws mentioned in the review. fun map, but lose the music- I don't care how LOTR it is, it sounds awful in UT2003. ChrisBeaver 02-22-2003 07:49 PM MST Rating: 8   Me, I liked the music. It's kinda avant-garde, playing that in the middle of a royal maiming, but I dig it. I've actually had this map a couple'a weeks now; never taken the time to comment. There are only two thing that really bug me about it. 1) The bots, as said, will stand in the fireplace until they die, unless you push them out via rocket or something. 2) The sunbeams coming in through the hall windows look pretty unpolished. That's it; the rest is excellent. Shock6822 02-23-2003 04:00 AM MST Rating: 6   Wish I could rate it a 6.5...it's a decent map, definitely not a 4 (below avg) or a 5 (avg)...needs much optimizing for sure, and I don't like the flag areas...otherwise it's an admirable effort Morphias 02-23-2003 11:47 AM MST Rating: 5   Looks good, sounds good, plays terrible. and I have a XP2200+ GF4Ti4200.. I think open maps like this are only good for DUEL cpu systems, that can handle what this map needs. But it is still a good representation of the shire, especially the houses, only. Also, I don't think the spiral storm cloud really suits the map or the environment. Gargorias 02-27-2003 09:15 PM MST Rating: 5   Nice looking map except the sky which doesn't match the map. Gameplay is below par though. Louise 02-27-2003 09:18 PM MST Rating: 8   Realy nice map. Great job. Mister_Prophet 02-28-2003 01:11 AM MST Rating: 4   not feeling it, I like the idea of the Hobbit Shire, but this map really is just another terrain map. Claw 02-28-2003 01:12 PM MST Rating: 5   Well wether you like it or not I'm mapping for a mod now and you'll have to play my maps or not play the mod. We may just choose the latter. :rolleyes: ... you can just listen to the 100 "Oh d00d ThIS mAP r0xx0rzzszzzz" comments that all maps get and make average maps for the next 3 years without improving. Hmm... isn't this a rather promising strategy to get a job in the industry actually? Bot40 02-28-2003 01:35 PM MST Rating: 5   lol @ author. Yet another that can't take critisism. Well, you can either STFU and take it, and improve your maps and actually one day make a really decent map, or you can just listen to the 100 "Oh d00d ThIS mAP r0xx0rzzszzzz" comments that all maps get and make average maps for the next 3 years without improving. Hmm... isn't this a rather promising strategy to get a job in the industry actually? Actaully, if you ever manage to make an average map then you're already too good to be in the industry (See bad karma). Desperado#2 02-28-2003 02:57 PM MST Rating: 4   4.5 but I put 4 The new static meshes were made either using the engine editor or using very simple commands in 3dmax or another program equivalent. Many things like I mentioned a long time ago in your thread were boxy looking. Now you could have added a tad more polys in sections and planned the terrain better to block off views to add the detail need to make it less blocky. Smoothing groups in the new meshes are pretty much non existent. Smoothing groups can make objects look rounded with out adding polys if used right. The mesh work was in and I know you worked hard on it. But a little more thought would have brought this map to a higher grade. Many people who have posted here are map designers DO NOT please DO NOT go into conclusions before hand Buckyfg. That is all I will comment on the slight flame here. (Game-play) The game-play is simple. So simple that it works with out much attempt at it. But it is also not new game-play. It works and it is balanced but it is simple. Two bases with almost free form landscape it can not fail. Some snags in places in the terrain area. Not enough to be a killer though. Inside the game-play is very tight and the bases are very small for a ctf map, making it close to impossible to escape the bases. This is not good when we talk about capture the flag maps. You want to make the bases defendable but not a fort! (Lighting) Your outside lighting is well done for the most part you have some very nice colors in it. Some projectors for trees are misaligned and it looks bad. Lighting in the inside lacks a lot in this section. Lighting could have been used to make nice shadows and create a more atmospheric sense. Instead the lighting was just added in and forgotten. Should of taken more attention like you did on the outside. The outside is not grand but it is a lot better than inside. (textures) -nobody rates textures or mentions them- Textures that were stock are obviously damn good already so not much on those, except the use of some could have been put together better and scaled smaller. The terrain layers are good but than the inside is what really does not appeal. The textures used inside are too bright, cartoon like, and look out of place. The textures do not flow with the same style meaning all the textures used looks different as it all textures were made by very different people, Hence the taking of photo taken textures from websites maybe. You did not modify them at all or very little. Which makes each textures feel like totally different styles. This is a problem that some people can not see right out, but it is so easy for me to see it. So not good on this part. I know you tried hard and keep at it. (Misc) The raft in the pond is nice and really has a good sway on the water. The mover cogs for that water pump or thing on the tree could have been done a lot better in the sense that the movement looks all wrong and you could have made it looks like each moving piece was actually affecting the other piece as in pushing it. Right now those cogs look like they are entering each other and just look wrong. The ring lunch pad thing is neat. It looks good. But it still looks wrong. I won’t bother with saying it looks “badâ€� it is just weird for the sake of weird I guess. Sky looks good over all and matches with the outside lighting. Inside parts could have used more architecture like the movie as of now the hobbit holes look totally different. That is not all but this gives an idea of what I look into maps. I am not a pro map designer but I have learned a lot and will keep leraning a lot more. If you like to map make the best effort and if you know you could have done better than say it. I always say I can do better and try new things and try to make them work. Learn keep at it. If you are getting a good amount of people that say this map is a 4 than something is up. It is not the minority. Peace, Rogelio Olguin Klaa 04-05-2003 08:36 PM MST Rating: 8   No rating . . yet . . .because I am just about to download it tonight on my sucky, useless, POS dial-up (sorry, broadband spoiled me and I can only download on dial-up when i am sleeping LOL). Had to give it a 5 though as we cannot post here without ratings and I wanted to meet halfway and be neutral. Anyway - the point of my post - I know Unreal is a lean mean modern fighting machine, but dangit I LOVE how it plays, and as for UT2K3 I just LOVE it's graphics. This map gives me hope that hopefully there will be more medieval orientated maps out there. If anyone knows of any, do let me know. I'll be downloading shire tonight - no matter what the ratings are. Now . . . . if there was only a mod that made all weapons in UT2K3 medieval . . . . . this could be slick. Klaa UPDATE WITH EDIT!!!!!! Okay, guys, yell at me and whine and moan and complain if you want, but after downloading this thing and playing it, I am upping my rating. Of course, I will get flamed by those of you who believe that you are godly judges and think my opinion is worthless -- but then again that is what this board is for -- opinions :-) I have no idea what kind of systems you guys are running that you are having these framerate issues. My system is not all that, and I had no issues with all settings maxed out. The scenery seemed nice in my opinion. It looks enough like the shire to me. I have to admit if it was supposedly the Shire out of LOTR, it could have realistically done without the Eye in the sky and the volcano in the background, BUT . . . this is Unreal, and thus one wouldn't expect Flak Cannons in the shire either. LOL. I agree that the hobbit homes might could have had a little more detail, but I was still happy. After all i am trying to capture a flag from the enemy -- not inspect the home for the local Real Estate. I DID notice the flaw with the gears not interlocking correctly on the mill/tree thing near the waterfall, but only because I was blown up there from a rocket LOL. Otherwise i would not have noticed :-P. This map still looks cool. And it is also freeware made by someone who is trying to do this for a hobby and share his art with those of us who care to try it out, so i am a happy camper. I had the bots set on "Experienced" and they seemed to know what they were doing, and "Experienced" is an extremely low level for the bots. Running this map on a 4-computer LAN here none of the users had any problems or issues with the exception of one - but that is because his main graphic card malfunctioned and he resorted to using a PCI POS that he had handy for emergencies. The graphics issue stated in the review with the light funnels turning to default textures must be local to that type of graphics card. None of us on the LAN - even the poor chap with the PCI card - had any issues with that. If I were to change anything on this map it would be to put enough brains in the bots not to stand in the flippin fireplaces. Pathing, I suppose, but then again UT2K3 bots are stupid anyway and this cannot be blamed entirely on the map. Fire DOES burn, after all, in reality, so I do like the fact that it can hurt you. To the Author of the map -- just an idea for a deathmatch level -- Mordor -- eheheheheh. By the way -- if anyone is wondering about my high score -- no, in terms of certain things other reviewers look for, lots of maps have ownage over this one -- BUT -- I am a friggen fan of LOTR, a fan of UT2K3, a fan of user-made maps for changes in scenery, and a fan of anything medieval. This map won me for the moment. Be safe, all, off to go fill some more hard drive space . . . . Klaa ]UBC[ McNite 04-05-2003 05:04 PM MST Rating: 3   This map sucks. Gameplay and layout is only average, the music gives u the creeps fast and u get stuck for no reason in some places... or u cant jump over fences. Pretty poor graphic detail on some spots... the pics of Frodo, and the rings which are jump-pads... Damn UT is no jump-and-run for small kiddos so I think the theme s a really bad idea. imanidiot 01-21-2004 12:52 PM MST Rating: 7   I really like this map.....and considering lord of the rings is awesome i like it more....it recreates it great.