Really interesting color palette and distribution, reminds me of another @Hipshot 's map RUSTGRAD, which I think is safe to say is inspired by this one. The design of this level is unique, which is even rarer for an industrial map, at some point it reminds me of the Return to Castle Wolfenstein atmosphere. The window with a slope inside definitely gives some tactical advantage that is quite useful in a duel.

However, I think the problems of this release are the excess of ads (which is understandable, as it was one of the requirements for the Maverick Mapping Competition) and the lack of Grenade Launcher. As for the latter, I think the weapon is really needed on this level, especially considering that the gameplay is aimed at 1v1s — there's just so much verticality and turns.

At the same time, the verticality along with various twists, jump pads and carefully spread around the map staircases, as well as the proper item placement, and a unique realistic design with an interesting and memorable color palette and architectural elements, is what makes this level such a worthy release. The RA placement is unusual in a good way from the gameplay standpoint too, and the lighting is done good enough.

A version of this map with a GL could be a 4.5/5 for me, but as it is now it is also some very impressive work!

Superb tourney map! Well designed, great atmoshpere, excelent flow through the different layers and spaces. Against a human this would really be an addicte map to play. Bots play ok.

Extremely atmospheric map! And all this design in no way hurts the gaming aspect. There are a couple of features done so subtly that I just can't imagine how it was done. =)

I love this map!!! play it more than my own.. lol
Your work is by far my favorite. . Would give a left love spud to be as good. :)
Please oh please keep them coming Hipshot...

This map can be found on Map-Factory.org!

www.map-factory.or...h/solitude-2632
Edited: 21 Jul 2012 AEST

Now that the competition is over I can quit telling myself "don't worry, it's not THAT good," and actually appreciate how incredibly badass this map is. Inspiring work, sir.

Why this map still hasn't been featured in Quake Live is a mystery to me. Excellent combination of novelty gameplay and splendid atmosphere. Truly deserves an official tournament status. Great connectivity and thoughtful use of LOS allow for many non-repetitive ambushes and races for powerups. Some of the features I particularly like:

• RA teleport jumps and loops (seems to be inspired by portal :) )
• plenty of small ledges (doorways, wood beams etc.) for occasional funny camp or 'parkour' shortcut
• plasma climbs are actually useful here
• nice upgrades of 'map citations' (GA stairway from dm6, jumppad reminiscent of cpm5a)
• many routes to MH and the holes beneath railgun

Overall a yum map! I will pray for grenade launcher version :)

Great visuals and good gameplay. BTW, I don't know why, but the visuals reminded me of Half-Life 2.

It would be cool if lvlworld could get together with lvldesign.nl. :P Just saying.

Glad you decided to do that Tig. Thanks for all the work you put into lvl::.. :)

@All: Work has started (well, a design has been started) on a general discussion forum. No idea how long it will take however :]

Going with sst13's idea, LvL really should get a forum together :) It could even be good for beta testing maps.

@lol, Tig is one of the Administrators of this site for Quake 3 maps. Along with Mand0g but He barely makes any comments. Tig has control of whatever goes on to this site and its up to him, the "boss" to do things for vids.

By the way. I have wanted to ask him something he didn't reply to yet. I posted the question on the map Palace of Arioch.

Another GREAT map by Hipshot. This reassembles some of the architecture I've seen in an spanish blog about photos of abandoned places (Abandonalia, its the name). Also, the gameplay is similar to crescent. I think Solitude and Crescent are my favorite Q3 maps (trhough my ooooold computer runs slow in some places). 10/10

How about a "main/off topic message-board" on ..::LvL for non map related conversation?

Woow, Nice Design!!! Like it!!!

@lol: As stated before, I use IOQuake3 instead and have no issues with sound.

Tig, I want get avidemo sound working, other Q3 players to get sound work in avidemo, but how?

Tig, are you record your Quake 3 map videos in 1,024 by 576, windowed? If you running ioquake3 with outdated graphics card, The framerate locks up to 60.
My laptop also, I set ultra high graphics in OpenArena with 1,280 by 800, fullscreen. and the fps locks up to 60, that says my graphics card is outdated.
My laptop have Intel 945GM graphics card and now I have 3 years desktop with Radeon 9550 and runs very well with ioquake3 unlocks the framerate to 125.
=)

Also, some of maps with ultra high textures as Id Tech 4 engine textures, please ensure your RAM is enough and system requirements must meet or exceed,
Tig.

The video you captured with 1024x576 and me captured with flares and bloom effect, 800x600 16xAF(Anisotropic Filtering) and No Anti-Aliasing.
The screenshots you taken is 1600x1200 me taken some screenshots is 800x600 =)
Because 800x600 in ioquake3 I love the res :D

Great textures, lighting and gameplay. Awesome map.

@lol: For your information, the screenshots are taken at 1600x1200, then re-sized to 640x480. The videos are recorded at 1024x576 then resized to 512x288. After a lot of testing I found these setting to give the best visual result once compressed for web.

Tig, you run Quake 3 with 800x600 res or anything else? I seen your video is set to 800x600 =)

The real problem here for me was the items: it really needed the grenade launcher, another rocket launcher and another yellow armour. The health was a bit sparse. It could have also done with a 50 health. What is there is well spread but a little sparse. And a few extra jump routes wouldn't have gone astray. But otherwise a nice layout and very clean in design.
Edited 3389.15 days after the original posting.

Hmmmmm looks very Kingpin'ish. Suppose you are as fan of Xatrix as I am =)

I still wonder how you could pull this off in such a short time - great job, had a good time playing it. I hope we can finish ours soon. :)

Beautiful map. Top of the tops, only to be aspired. Congrats, Hipshot. Fully deserved its competition ranking.