I've played a couple of map variants where the lighting is changed so that it is darker than it is on the original maps. There is a specific map variant that I am playing with right now though. It is called 30dayz of night and it is a variation of Cold Storage. The way the map is set up it starts out with the normal Cold Storage lighting, then like 40 seconds into the game everything turns sepia toned, and finally a minute and a half into the game the map goes completely dark (save for a few glowing walls). I'm trying to change the timing at which the changing of the lights takes place to make it happen quicker (so that the map is completely dark within 30 seconds of the game), but I have no clue how I would do this, or if it is even possible to do so. If anyone has any insight for me I would really appreciate it!
You have to find the glowing orbs on the map. I think I have played the game you are playing before and I never found the orbs. You are going to have to make your own map and varient if you want the timing to be the way you want it
You have to edit the spawn settings for the items. Press X on the item, change "Spawn at start" to "No" and switch the respawn time to however short you want it.