Minedale - An exploration / puzzle map on a HUGE scale! - Games

[img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/threadlogo.png[/img] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-18_22.46.47.png[/img] Minedale is a work-in-progress exploration / puzzle map set in the eponymous fictional city of Minedale. [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/threadpremise.png[/img] [release]You are a mere tourist who is visiting the city of Minedale, an active mining town in the final years of its heyday. You begin at the city's central train station, armed with only your watch and a basic set of directions to the tourist office. From there, you can begin what you think will be a nice, relaxing holiday in one of the most intriguing cities in the country. With a large population of eccentric and interesting characters, the city seems perfectly happy even as its days as one of the nation's primary sources of ore are coming to a close. However, the more you explore this city, the more you think things may not be as happy and tranquil as they seem. With all the different personalities of the city and the scars of an incident no-one wants to talk about still lingering, you take it upon yourself to solve the mystery of Minedale and put the shadows of the past to rest. But what you don't know is that you are embarking on a journey of epic proportions, which will take you the length and breadth of the city of Minedale, both above and below ground, and even out into the surrounding countryside and nearby villages on your quest to solve the city's great mystery and find out who is covering up its secrets.[/release] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/threadgameplay.png[/img] [release]Minedale will not be a combat-oriented map, so when it is released it's recommended (if not essential) that you play in peaceful mode (primary because many of the map's puzzles will be based on gaining access to buildings, which would be much easier if a creeper had just blown a hole in one). Furthermore, due to the nature of the map's gameplay, you will be largely forbidden from destroying blocks unless you place them yourself. However, this shouldn't be a problem as the main focus of the map will be thinking puzzles, detective work, and manipulation of items (for example, one puzzle in particular will involve activating a pressure plate remotely). Since Minecraft does not have much support for extended pieces of text (at least, until Notch implements books as a useable item), the map will come packaged with a series of passworded .rar files. As you progress through the map, you will find passwords to these .rar files scattered across the city, which unlock the important documents in the .rar files (for example, you may find a password in a doctor's surgery which unlocks the .rar file containing medical records of several patients). Rest assured though, not all of the puzzles in the game are going to be soley intellect-based. Some of the puzzles I have in mind will require quick reactions, and the ability to work against the clock. Overall, I feel the range and diversity of the gameplay I have in mind will provide players with a massive challenge on this map, which should keep them going for an extremely long time, but making it very satisfying to complete.[/release] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/threadmedia.png[/img] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-18_22.30.04.png[/img] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-18_23.29.33.png[/img] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-18_23.28.31.png[/img] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-18_23.29.11.png[/img] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-18_23.44.41.png[/img] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/threadwipnotes.png[/img] I've currently only fully designed one district of Minedale (which is the Old Town as you've been seeing in screenshots), but I have more planned, including: -Commercial district (high-rise buildings and wide roads) -Suburban district (big houses and lots of greenery) -The University of Minedale (debating whether I should do this one; trying to think of a way to make it interesting and worthwhile) I also have in the works: -A semi-automatic metro (which stops at each stop along the line, though it's a little clunky right now) -Possible "boss puzzles" (self-contained, multi-layered puzzles which happen in one particular area) -Side quests in nearby villages, which don't further the main storyline but serve to enrich the background of the city and make it seem like a more real place [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/threadplaytesting.png[/img] [release]Although Minedale is still in heavy W.I.P, if you want to help me playtest it, send me a PM and I'll get back to you when I have a version of it which I deem suitable for vigorous testing. I'd at least like to have the old town finished before I do this. As always your questions/comments about the map at its current stage would be appreciated as well.[/release]

Looks cool, although districts should be a lot larger than that.

Bit on the small side? Emmerdale is huge.

I'd like to try it out.

[QUOTE=Raptor;32365585]I'd like to try it out.[/QUOTE] Hell yeah the metro sounds boss.

It looks dull, you should work on your artistic skills more.

[QUOTE=Flem;32363903]Bit on the small side? Emmerdale is huge.[/QUOTE] What's Emmerdale (other than a TV show)

Well tbh it doens't seem like anything special, but hell I'd try it, but thats soley on the premise I love the shit out of maps like these. The planned features look awesome though, especially the metro. I love subways/metros in minecraft, so having a section of the map based entirely on that is gonna be awesome.

Looks cool, I'll test it if you'd like, I like puzzles and maps like this. Wouldn't it be easier to just put a link with a WIP/beta/alpha warning?

[QUOTE=I am a noob;32375967]Looks cool, I'll test it if you'd like, I like puzzles and maps like this. Wouldn't it be easier to just put a link with a WIP/beta/alpha warning?[/QUOTE] Well, I'm building the storyline into the map as I go along (by way of placing signs etc) and don't want to spoil it for anyone just yet.

[QUOTE=Rubs10;32365995]It looks dull, you should work on your artistic skills more.[/QUOTE] In response to this, I tried varying the materials I build with a little more, starting with the church: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-19_22.41.21.png[/img] What do you think?

[QUOTE=CoolCorky;32380457]In response to this, I tried varying the materials I build with a little more, starting with the church: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-19_22.41.21.png[/img] What do you think?[/QUOTE] Apart from the cross its not very church like.

[QUOTE=CoolCorky;32380457]In response to this, I tried varying the materials I build with a little more, starting with the church: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-19_22.41.21.png[/img] What do you think?[/QUOTE] That's better, but if you really want to improve, you should start by copying real world buildings. You can pick up ideas, inspiration, and learn some architectural elements that way.

[QUOTE=CoolCorky;32380457]In response to this, I tried varying the materials I build with a little more, starting with the church: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-19_22.41.21.png[/img] What do you think?[/QUOTE] More cathedral elements!

[QUOTE=Flem;32380834]More cathedral elements![/QUOTE] Needs more buttresses and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_architecture]baroque[/url] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_architecture]gothic[/url] architecture. My opinion is that crosses are easy and Cathedrals are beautiful, but both overused. Try a [url=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDD3VyCbAhw/TEatnssFrOI/AAAAAAAAAFc/1-GJYtMOuMU/s1600/080505Mosque.jpg]Mosque[/url] or a [url=http://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/Grande-Synagogue-de-Bruxelles/Grande-Synagogue-de-Bruxelles.JPG]Synagogue[/url], it's the liberal thing to do and they look cool.

[QUOTE=Rubs10;32382395]Needs more buttresses and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_architecture]baroque[/url] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_architecture]gothic[/url] architecture. My opinion is that crosses are easy and Cathedrals are beautiful, but both overused. Try a [url=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDD3VyCbAhw/TEatnssFrOI/AAAAAAAAAFc/1-GJYtMOuMU/s1600/080505Mosque.jpg]Mosque[/url] or a [url=http://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/Grande-Synagogue-de-Bruxelles/Grande-Synagogue-de-Bruxelles.JPG]Synagogue[/url], it's the liberal thing to do and they look cool.[/QUOTE] Well this is part of the old town, which is mainly modelled on an old English village, but it's definitely something I'd consider for the more diverse commercial district Edit: changed the design a little more to make it more churchy: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-20_19.37.10.png[/img] Either way, I'm going to leave it as-is for now, as I don't want to get hung up on aesthetic details before I've really fleshed out the map

I've made a proof-of-concept map, showcasing the kind of puzzles and mechanics the Minedale map will use (including the rar file and passwords thing): [url]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/minedale-poc.rar[/url] When you've downloaded it, put the "Minedale Proof-of-concept" folder in your Minecraft "saves" folder, then read "intro.txt" for a rundown of everything you need to know before starting the map. Then when you're done, either PM me or post in this thread and let me know what you thought of the gameplay.

Neato. I think there's some pretty standard tricks in the test map though.

Cool Map Love The Church!:rock:

[QUOTE=Saza;32448311]Neato. I think there's some pretty standard tricks in the test map though.[/QUOTE] Which are you referring to?

[QUOTE=drsparta54;32454648]Cool Map Love The Church!:rock:[/QUOTE] Why Did You Make An Account Just To Post That? Oh And Typing In Capitals Makes You Look Like A Faggot.

Made some good progress with the big central mine today: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/minecraft/minedale/2011-09-24_18.32.17.png[/img] The entrance to the mine itself is in the hill in the background, where there's an extensive labyrinth of minecart tracks which I plan to be one of the map's major "events" (as in, puzzles you solve which push the storyline along massively or lead you to entirely new areas of the map) And as always, feedback is both appreciated and encouraged.