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.
-----------
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.
------------
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.
