A new community pack idea.

Bakscratch

Finisher of Maps
aa
Oct 29, 2010
714
1,492
Ok so valve released the shogun 2 stuff and Is pritty sweet, and then the Japanese disaster relief which were awesome as well, So I was thinking that what would TF2 be like in medieval Japan?
I think it would be a really cool art style for tf2. So heres some ideas for what could be added.

So maybe a Tōrō which is a old Japanese lantern
HiroshimaShukkeienLantern7324.jpg


Chōchin which is another lantern
Cyochin2.jpg


Maybe a Cherry blossom tree
cherry-blossoms.jpg

(maybe some cool particle effect of blossom leaves)

I better not go on for too long but you get the idea?

PS few more images,
cherry_blossom.jpg

matsumoto-castle-small.jpg
japanese-landscape-painting.jpg
436838.380ff6ad.jpg


Thanks
 

Jeremy

L11: Posh Member
Oct 24, 2010
829
299
This seems like a good idea, but I think we should be less specific. Otherwise either there will be a huge explosion of Japan-themed maps or this pack will be almost entirely useless.
 

ardysqrrl

L4: Comfortable Member
Oct 26, 2009
173
159
I don't like this idea much for a few reasons. The assets would inevitably be very difficult to combine with existing assets (aside from nature I guess, which mixes with everything). Additionally a lot of the architecture tends to be very high-contrast; white walls with red trim etc.

just my two cents, people love asian design so I can't really see this failing too badly, so best of luck with it.
 

Mr. Wimples

L6: Sharp Member
Jan 27, 2010
276
226

REEJ

L420: High Member
Aug 26, 2010
437
176
EArkham with a few more models could release a full pack by himself.
Do need cherry blossom tree badly, btw.

And imo:
1. no need for the Tori-gate, it's easy to do with brushes
2. bridges are also a brush work
3. some lanterns might look better when done with brushes (like a fire sprite inside of it)

This seems like a good idea, but I think we should be less specific. Otherwise either there will be a huge explosion of Japan-themed maps or this pack will be almost entirely useless.
Japanese architecture is largely based on chinese, it's also the most estetic one and LEAST detailed compared to chinese/korean. We should actually go with one that has a bit less details. Furthermore, most people don't see difference between these 3, it all looks asian to them.
 
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Exist

L6: Sharp Member
Oct 31, 2009
306
136
Just a quick note, Japan wasn't really Medieval, Japan was Feudal. I use Feudal loosely, as their system was almost the exact same.
 

Sgt Frag

L14: Epic Member
May 20, 2008
1,443
710
Working on the maps I have I often get varying comments.

Most people are receptive to it. (as long as it fits the art style - ie texture wise, shape/proportions wise)

Some people don't think it fits TF2 at all.
I don't agree though.
TF2's plot is 'Invade the other team's secret base' which is always behind a facade of some sort.
TF2's art style is textures, proportions. The original maps were all American Mid/Southwest, but that's the location of those maps, not the art style. So in that effect Alpine doesn't fit, nor does Egypt. Alpine climates along with desert climates can be found in Far Eastern countries.
When TF2 was released the team was working on a game that took place in a fairly specific time frame/area, but it was on earth and did resemble James Bond movies quite a bit. Bond was a world traveler and the teams are made up of very different nationalities, so it's not like TF2 can't take place outside of America.
But it's definitely easier for a studio to work on American (1 country) assets that can be used throughout their entire range of what, 10 maps, rather than trying to build a custom asset pipeline for 10 countries. Even when they did Lumberyard they expanded the assets with only a few textures, a saw blade, a tree, a backdrop and a log.

A few people have commented that they don't get the mix of oriental/hi tech.
Oriental isn't 'medieval', it isn't 'ancient'. It's 'highly decorative' compared to other cultures.
They do have warehouses, etc.. in oriental countries that also have temples, etc...
And in that vein the TF2 teams bases would mimic the surroundings to blend in, but they wouldn't lack spy-tech just because the facades look different, they are still carrying out their secret plans.

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I also don't see it as white walls with red trim. There's quite a bit more going on then that, though white walls with wood trims (painted or not are pretty standard). The main thing is finding good pics online that aren't the same 20 that always come up (see OP).

I tend to see Chinese as more of a red/gold (dustbowl/2fort woods) palette, japanese more of the blu/silver (lumberyard woods) palette.
And I think as a base a lot of the white/blu/red concretes and woods and stucco are quite suited to an oriental theme. I'm going to combine some of those into trimmed walls (ctf_orient was heavy on func_details for trims) to save on performance.
We have a few stones (namely the cobbles from medieval), I plan on one or two more of these also.
the medieval wood roof tiles are good too.

Most of the vegetation works fine imo. A few things from Swamp are nice to include.

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EArkham has the screenwalls, paper lamps I believe. Maybe more? Or maybe those are someone else's?
-released in models section

I've got bridges, stone lamps, roof segments, cherry blossoms (and decals), 2 lamps, Torii gate, wall gates (a few trims, bridge pieces and doors in ctf_orient) and have statues, vases, trees, textures, etc.. wips.
-probably released after contest

Aly has some cherry blossoms and windows (maybe more) in cp_serenity)
-unsure of release plans

The contest is up in 2 months, so if anyone wants to make an oriental themed map they could actually start working on it now and would have quite a bit to work with by detailing time anyway.
 

TheBestUsername

L4: Comfortable Member
Jun 25, 2013
151
96
I know we're talking about Japanese architecture here, but I still can't believe no one's mentioned Kong King yet. I would think some of its assets could be potentially repurposed for a Japan-themed level (although Chinese and Japanese styles are noticeably different from each other).
 

Freyja

aa
Jul 31, 2009
2,994
5,813
Did you miss this, TheBestUsername? That's what the whole "welp" thing was about.

But yes sometime in the future I hope to blend koth king's assets with my pack to create a urban japanese setting.