Ever Think About Forging a Map While Laying in Bed?

Of course. You get some of your most creative ideas when you're not forcing creativity.

I ended up forging Worthless...

In this case the idea was to make a miniature Onslaught early in Reach. Never got to it. Recently realized that I never did it, so I chose to make a 1/2 scaled remake of my map Worthy.

 

I designed the first version of "S", down to the piece usage in ten minutes in bed while trying to fall asleep. So that would be a yes. I also came up with another awesome concept while laying in bed just recently which I will be using in the future.

 

Well, usually, when I go to bed, I'm sleepy. So no, I don't think about forging while I'm sleeping. However, sometimes, in the morning, if I don't feel like getting up, I will draw sometimes.

 

sometimes I sleep on my couch, which is right in front of the tv because I get on these creativity streaks and and forge for about 7 hours until 2 in the morning.

 

Nah, I'm more the type who thinks up maps while making sandwiches, or looking at hanging flower baskets.

 

I've learned to keep a blank piece of paper with a pencil next to my bed before I go to sleep. That way whenever I get an idea I can just say, "Dang it, not again!" and write it down.

 

Try a notebook, and leave the design you've been thinking about most open. I tended to do that when designing my maps, even if I didn't think about it before sleeping or when I wake up (though I've had some great ideas from that, scribbled down onto paper). Sometimes waking up groggy and looking at your design when you've just woken up can kinda give you an idea of what area make absolutely no sense when you're not in the mindset of the creator. And if the idea is totally nothing to do with anything earlier, write it down as an entirely new one. Who knows what it'll become if you give it time to develop!

I know it's outstandingly nerdy, but I've recommended keeping notebooks or paper around you normally. Think about ANYWHERE you are, even your school or library or whatever. Other games, movies, books, anything is a good place to THINK (and yes, you need to do some real thinking if you want a map that plays uniquely). How would the game play if it was in the game with _____ settings? How about if you put a wall there? Or if you cordoned off the area to this specific area? Kinda try to imagine what it would be like, and maybe make some imaginary adjustments. Try to keep it abstract, you're just trying to get a general feel of what works, and maybe throw in some fitting aesthetics AFTER all of the gameplay's been worked out. All it takes in map design is some sense of imagination and willingness to take an idea and mess around with it in your head, and then test like a baws (I won't release maps without at least 100 tests done beforehand, often much more).

I also strongly recommend birds-eye views of your map designs, with limited detail. Doing that gives you more flexibility, and if you can visualize yourself running around the map, you'll be much better off than a higher detailed or angled picture.

 

I have two comments about what you just wrote.

1. Very good, thank for reccomendation.

2.Inspirational.

3. That's right three! Are you a indie game designer or something? The way you wrote that whole post tells me that you are. If not consider it a complement.

 

Thankee. I don't do any official game design work, just made a few maps (in Halo 3, lol) and know a good amount about map design and I'm asked for my opinion from some people in the industry. To be honest, you don't need to be a "designer" to have a map design sense, it's just a matter of thinking and abstracting. Me and Mickraider wrote a guide to basic design somewhere in the Halo 3 discussions (Forging 201? Is that still around?)... there's lots I would have changed around now that I know more, but still, you get the idea. Keep your mind open and think lots, think about gameplay rather than how something looks, and test until you can't stand the sight of your map anymore, and you'll have made a map you can be proud of.

 

That's cool man I'll have to take a look Forging 201 sometime (even though you think it's a bit outdated).

BTW, just so that this post is on topic. I think I spent 3 days straight one time without sleep because my mind was on fire with ideas. Imagine how I felt when I finally got to sleep.

EDIT:
All of the ideas I porbably stirred up during that time, was sadly forgotten.

 

My Ideas for maps tend to come to me while in the middle of forging another map. That is probably why I make lots of map, but never get far enough to actually release one!

 

I usually get ideas when in school, in a cool place, or while listening to Florence and the Machine.