UDK

Pc-Gamer12 · 6 Jul 2013 at 21:25

How long would it take to create a reasonable quality map using the unreal development kit for a first time user ?

Rroff · 6 Jul 2013 at 21:27

Somewhat a how long is a piece of string question, depends a lot on the experience and ability of the person, theres quite a lot of tutorials for unreal engine based level design and modding tho which should get you up and running fairly quickly.

Mint_Sauce · 6 Jul 2013 at 22:00

Reasonable quality (a map people would give the time of day for) would take around a year from start to finish (rough guesstimate, too many variables!).

I'm assuming someone who has had previous interest in 3d packages or similar, has a basic/good understanding of how games are put together (triggers, ai paths etc).

Single player map or Multiplayer?

Rroff · 7 Jul 2013 at 14:15

Mint_Sauce said:
Reasonable quality (a map people would give the time of day for) would take around a year from start to finish (rough guesstimate, too many variables!).

I'm assuming someone who has had previous interest in 3d packages or similar, has a basic/good understanding of how games are put together (triggers, ai paths etc).

Single player map or Multiplayer?

Yeah theres waaay too many variables...

Gimme a solid and complete layout and/or good quality concept art to work from I can rough a map up in a week and have a fleshed out version done in another week... only takes longer usually coz I start with 40% of an idea and get stuck on getting the remaining 60% upto the same level :S but then I've been level editing since about 1995

Rozzy85 · 7 Jul 2013 at 17:14

Probably a long time if you're not experienced with the tools. Even if you managed to chug out a map you probably wouldn't have optimised it properly or followed accepted standards for doing stuff and would have to go over it again to bring it up to scratch.

Then there's designing the map so it's balanced and flows well which is one of the hardest things to do. Would be best to start on a symmetrical map.

Pc-Gamer12 · 8 Jul 2013 at 18:33

need a little help ive built a simple floor and i click play from here then i just get a windowed black screen which sais paths need to be rebuilt ?

Smit · 9 Jul 2013 at 10:03

Probably already tried this and not sure if it's still there (haven't used the UDK in a long time) but there used to be a "Build All" button somewhere.

Pc-Gamer12 · 9 Jul 2013 at 20:29

Done it thanks

MouthBoy · 10 Jul 2013 at 00:54

http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/VideoTutorials.html

This is how I started learning UDK. Have a watch of the video tutorials and go from there. I believe there is a good series on creating a simple level from scratch by just using what is available already in UDK.

After watching those videos, you will have a better understanding of time scales etc.

In regards to the blank screen, do you have a light source in the game?

Rroff · 10 Jul 2013 at 00:58

Rozzy85 said:
Probably a long time if you're not experienced with the tools. Even if you managed to chug out a map you probably wouldn't have optimised it properly or followed accepted standards for doing stuff and would have to go over it again to bring it up to scratch.

Then there's designing the map so it's balanced and flows well which is one of the hardest things to do. Would be best to start on a symmetrical map.

Forgot about that, it took me a good year or so to polish my level editing upto a relatively decent standard and probably another year to really learn some of the subtleties i.e. so the edges of brushwork doesn't stand out, textures merge into each other without looking out of place or noticeably tiled and so on.

d_brennen · 10 Jul 2013 at 01:12

I've found Unity very friendly and quick to make progress in. UE, took me forever to get a basic grasp