Hi everyone,

Id like to announce my first COD4 map which Ive been working on for quite a while now. Its called House 2 House.

Its based in Fallujah, 2004-2005 when the US army was going house to house clearing insurgents mostly of foot and ran into fierce resistance. The map is named after a book of the same name by an Iraq veteran David Bellavia. That book was the inspiration to make the map.



Its available now from the downloads section:
http://modsonline.com/Downloads-full-5347.html

There are still some areas which could use more polishing but its definitely at a release stage so I though Id put it out there and get some feedback (please). Also, I could polish forever but I had to release it one day!

Its a MP map meant for 6-12 players. Although you may think its small at first glance, nearly all of the houses have two stores and lots of rooms, so there are dozens of places for close quarter firefights.

Checkout my youtube channel for more info and the second half of the map in video part 2:
www.youtube.com/hessbamboo

Comments welcome, enjoy!
BrockLanders (Hess)

PS: Extra big thanks to Foyleman! Hooah!

EPIC MAP! It looks better than some of the official maps . Just 2 things to tiny things to polish up. I don't think the blue cloudy sky goes with this type of environment and I noticed one of the houses was really bare.

Great job,

The map definitely looks promising, keep up the great work and thanks for contributing to the community!

I watched the vid and it looks pretty good, although I feel there's something missing. But can't quite figure out what it is.

It could use some detailing and polishing. Maybe some more things in the background. Also, you could set up the spawnpoints better: for example, put a BlackHawk near the US spawn and some transport trucks near the other spawn or something like that, so that the players don't feel they just teleported there.

Also, I did notice there are no sniper vantage points. You could create some taller buildings or a water tower for this.
I know your map is CQB but all classes must be playable on a MP map.

That's about it, on a first impression. Happy mapping !

Very awesome map, keep up the good work

Very nice work with your first map. I especially like your use with the glow sticks to add illumination in some parts, but not a huge amount to disrupt the feel of the map.

On another note I felt some areas were really dark and might cause a few problems for people getting in and out of rooms, but at the same time I liked it. Probably wouldnt change that aspect as people can set their brightness to what they feel is necessary.

I would say there were a few spots where I would snipe from, just not with a sniper, probably m4 acog. Maps do not have to please every class.

Nice looking map. Good first effort. You have some nice looking detail in your map. Haven't had a chance to play yet (just seen screenshots and movie) but definatly will this weekend.

What amazes me how we all have various projects we start and how similar they can look. Here is a screenshot of the map I started working on last year. I actually started mapping same map for both COD4 and 5. It amazing how different an eastern versus eurpean style looks but couldn't help but compare parts of your map to various areas in mine being so similar.



Look forward to seeing what you make next and congrats on the release.

Hey guys, thanks for the great feedback, I really appreciate it.
and thanks for the nice compliments, that's awesome!

There are some really good points and I like to explain some of the reasoning behind them..

lolwot - Firstly, the blue sky. I actually referenced dozens of images from a neighborhood of Fallujah and one thing I noticed was that the sky was as blue as it is in Los Angeles, which really makes those images even more surreal. There is the yellow, brownish almost desaturated colors of the dirt and and houses, and also horrible images of destruction and death, then the total contrast in the background with the beautiful blue sky. Thats why I went that direction and changed it from the original gloomy sky that I too expected to see.

Yes, some of the rooms are pretty bare, I do have to fix that, (its not completely finished yet) but again looking at the reference, a lot of houses over there don't have much in them, just a mattress on the ground here and there in a lot of them.. Weve been spoiled by all that lovely detail that Infinity Ward has put into their maps to enhance the eye candy.. But seeing it is standard now, I guess I should get off my ass and make it a little less realistic and more fun.

Yes, In the video it is very dark in some places, but in the game its not that bad.. Something happened when I uploaded it to youtube.. got a bit too contrasty.. sorry about that.

cskiller86 - I get what you are talking about with the spawn points and it totally makes sense although the original concept of the map was for one small squad having to clear that particular block, which is why there is a couple of US vehicles stopped at the end of the street as that's the side they used for their entrance. Now that it is a MP map, it doesn't make quite as much sense, you are right. I guess I could put like an Iraqi pickup truck or something at the other end, but again the whole point originally is that the insurgents are hiding in the houses..hmm.. good point though

Sniper points, yeah, its not really a sniper map as such, but you can get on the balconies of the end houses and get a good range on the street they are overlooking, and also on top of the middle house. I was going for a realistic Fallujah neighborhood so that's why there aren't many high buildings.. Also, if I add a high building you will see that the map world ends just outside the block. On my next map I will add more sniping points.

Ive attached a few of the reference images I used when designing the level (I had hundreds). But it may make more sense if you can see the inspiration.

Thanks again, awesome feedback!
Cant wait to hear what you think when someone plays an actual MP match!

Have you done any other mapping for any other games/engine before starting with COD4/Radiant?

Ive got some game experience. I was actually a lead artist / animator at Pandemic back in 98-2000. I worked on Battlezone 2 and Dark Reign 2, since then I haven't done much game art until recently with Radiant and now back in games production in LA working on an MMO, doing a bit of everything from game design to marketing..

Technically, I haven't done mapping before though, but I really love it as Ive been a hard core gamer forever and now have a chance to design my own levels for my favorite game of all time. As frustrating as Radiant can be sometimes I'm really enjoying it.