DM-WarmFusion
Map Info
	File Name dm-warmfusion.zip Author UArchitect Gametype UT Deathmatch Date Added 11-10-2003 File Version 1.00 File Size 1.63 mb Player Count 2-4 Map Description None Review Rating 3.5 User Rating 6 Overall Rating 4.5
Review
Reviewer Mister_Prophet Awe Score:  1.5/3 Date 03-01-2004 Build Score:  1.5/3 Review Schema Cast Score:  0.5/3 User Point:  +1 Overall Score:  4.5/10 I popped in this one a few nights ago, but neglected to post this review until now because I was too busy playing with my balls. See, I had these two hacky sack balls and was trying to learn how to play cus all my friends know how and I am that reject of the group who sits on the curb and makes fun of them because I am actually jealous of their awesome skills but don’t let them see my dark envy. My friend David said I was just bad at sports and I told him that playing with small fuzzy balls is not a sport, it is a sexual orientation. Then he threw a rock at me and I got all pissed off so I killed his parents. I found two of the balls lying around my house and tried it on my own. After a few days of realizing that I suck at tossing, I figured I’d just say the “sportâ€� was obviously ghey and went to play video games. Enter the review of DM-WarmFusion. DM-Warmfusion is a tough map to judge since the concept behind it isn’t such a bad game plan, but this is an example of how sometimes things don’t work too well. Instead of sticking to mainstream formula, the author went for a different kind of game-play approach, one I like to call “The Phone Booth Methodâ€�. I coined this utterly fantastic phrase after watching the movie Phone Booth, where this guy was inside a phone booth the whole film. Why? Dodging bullets, of course. This is the opposite of the “Speed methodâ€�, which I coined off the film where Keanu Reeves is on that bus, remember, and if he goes under…like…50 miles per hour, the bus blows up. This is because the evil genius villain, no other than my boy Denis Hopper, puts a bomb on the bus and taunts Surfer boy throughout the entire movie with amusing uber villain chit-chat. This Speed Method is what most DM maps try to do, give you a fast paced full throttle adrenaline ride. This method is often applied to small 1-on 1-type maps, which Warm Fusion is mainly designed for. Small maps with small player loads where the action is heated and the combat flows around every curb. However, since Warm Fusion adheres to this Phone Booth Method, the combat is quite different. See, this is what we in the industry call a “Camper’s Mapâ€�. The author tries very ambitiously to provide what I can only assume was meant to be a 1-on-1 camper match. This means the map consists of sniper and bunker type areas where each player has to relocate to and wait for their prey to slip into view. The problem? In this map, it doesn’t work. Firstly, the layout is very simple and not very complex. You have one large sky-exposed room that connects to some duck and hide spots, a lift area, some crates, and another lift. The lifts lead to a series of teleporters that transport you to either one of two sniper spots that opposite each other, a bridge that leads to another teleporter…and lastly…a bunker with triggered shutter. The problem with these sniper spots is that the only way to exit them is back out the porter or jumping out the window. The problem with the bunker is that you can ONLY enter and exit through the same teleporter. This goes for every area of the map, save the main room…which is the only place in here that provides more than 1 direction that isn’t forced. There are some side niches in the big room, plus the crates that provide cover when lurking out in that area…but otherwise every other room is pretty cramped and you should be prepared for close encounters. I played a few matches with bots and, well, they are very problematic. I was searching for high points in game-play but the bots are just motards. Seriously. If they spawn in a camper spot, they will stay, which is what they should do I guess, but that is a behavior they exhibit throughout the map. I saw them pause in other places of the map, like the bridge. They just seemed…well…like freaking morons. The only place they really moved around was in the big room and they never killed me once. They are just too easy to pick off since the bot-play is so clumsy. Human players would be a wiser investment for this map, but even then your options are limited because the camper spots have so much spam potential. There aren’t any real escape points. There are a few weapon choices, but only the rifle is necessary if you’re a good marksman. Logue thought he was hot stuff when he ran up to me with his feisty mitts held tightly to his big long minigun. But my rifle was bigger, and blacker. Visually, the map was more welcoming. The author used a tech theme set in…gee whiz…a sun-streaked sky. But I liked the sky, the cloud usage was pretty convincing. The map wasn’t exactly standard in visuals (by today’s standards) but wasn’t over the top either. I liked some of the touches the author added, such as the fan mesh and other custom decos for the lights. I thought the fan was a bit too loud and didn’t quite sound like a turbine should. Other than that, the sound effects were soft. I smiled when I saw the author thought to add bubbles to the industrial water zone under the lift, but the bubble effect was set to sustain a little too long. As a result, they kind float up above the water’s surface. Lighting was pretty ambient I noticed, but I could see everything. The portals themselves could have used a cool dynamic effect for...you know…portal effects. I liked how the author placed the barrels in that one lift area I mentioned, very simple but not just “click and placeâ€� like I see so often with barrels. Rare to see an author who knows how to respect the almighty barrel. Basically, the place might have been too simple in a lot of places, but other features are provided to give it spunk. I’ll be generous with this category on account that there is only so much you can do with this texture set. Oh yeah, I liked the Easter Eggs. The author’s self-bonus rocked my nuts so much that I didn’t care that I got vaporized into oblivion. Nice touch. There is also a hidden redeemer in the map, if you can manage to obtain it. The Prophet’s Verdict: Visually ok but really has game-play issues that prevent the map from being a real keeper. Lack of escape routes, bad bots, absence of flow, and sticky rooms…kept me from enjoying it. The score will be marred severely by this, but I hope the author takes flow and bot-play into account for his next map. I suggest you download some small 1on1 maps that have been known to be proficient in these areas and see how you can approve. I am a firm believer that every game-play method can have its day if only done right, and making a good camper map is pretty tough, so remember that when you cast your stones. No review screenshot available
Map Comments
<[DecoY]> 11-10-2003 08:53 AM MST Rating: 7   I must say, this map has potential... The layout is strange, teleporting you everywhere. I'd also say this a perfect 1on1-map. Very small, no camping spots (Yes there is a sniper ridge, but it's very easily accessible). Not the best map I've played, but certinly in the Top20. UArchitect 03-02-2004 05:03 AM MST   edit: i must be honest here, i was running out of time on the last bit, and wasnt sure how to connect the map properly..so i rushed and added teleporters :( edit: thanks for the review prophet! :D ill take those things into consideration for my upcoming map thanks again fik 11-10-2003 05:06 PM MST Rating: 5   yes it is a great map but it has some rooms that the only way in and out is a teleporter if some one see u get in u r dead. Homeslice 03-10-2004 11:19 AM MST Rating: 6   I didn't think it was too bad. Only gripe I have is that it is cramped in some areas, and the bots aren't the brightest. That's a damn nice skybox though. mangan }swe{ 03-14-2004 12:14 PM MST Rating: 7   woohooo nice map i really liked those funny special thing u made but it was kinda boring to play (nice visuals!) KosaPL 03-14-2004 04:21 PM MST Rating: 6   Very original map, interesting architecture, but...... [Dark-JaXx] 03-21-2004 08:37 AM MST Rating: 6   There's some kinda of fun in this! Ok. G-Play Sux, but there's some interesting architect in it.. I laughed at the room I should'nt enter;) I think I will look toward your next map..