As technology gets better and better, videogame consoles are becoming more and more computer-esque -- and I, miserable curmudgeon that I am, resent it. I don't want forced installs, or patches, or limited hard drive space, and I certainly don't want people mucking about in my games. I just want my console to stay a console, without the headaches of PC gaming.
If, instead of spawning special infected in safe houses in Left 4 Dead, more modders used their skills to create gorgeous maps (like the one seen above) for console shooters, I would be singing a markedly different tune. In fact, I might carol it in the streets or shout it from the rooftops, that the air itself would reverberate with my happiness.
Nipper's de_vangogh map for Counter-Strike 1.6 is, in a word, stunning. Even as someone relatively unfamiliar with the perpetually active Counter-Strike scene, I am impressed. It could be a horrible map, for all I know, but it's undeniably gorgeous. Each texture is taken from a Vincent van Gogh painting, the sky a modernized version of his famous and unmistakable Starry Night. The most chilling part of Nipper's walkthrough, however, has to be the juxtaposition of the soothing backdrop and the carnage that would take place there, should de_vangogh ever become an online killing field.
[Editor's note: Yes, I know the video is from May, but it's new to me, and probably new to some of you. Instead of letting me know that the video is "OLD!" you could read about some Fallout 3 DLC or the Resident Evil 5 demo. Alternately, you can stick your head in an oven.]
[Via Geekologie -- thanks, Andrea!]
Contest:
11:31 PM on 12.10.2008
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Still awesome. I only saw it a week or so ago, so I can't say too much :)
Also, after realising the context the title made me chuckle.
I think it's the fact that both elements fit together so perfectly that makes van Gogh (and any good artist, really) so compelling.
Art critics, like so many other people who have self imposed, interpretive, titles have been proven to actually know very little and are more or less just talking to hear themselves... a little like me... right now.. :)
There are a few things I'm seeing problems with in designing L4D levels specifically, but once we get into it, I'm sure it will all become apparent.