What gives you inspiration and motivation for making maps?

[Konda]

Sometimes I have an idea for a map, but I don't get a clear picture of every area. For an example, I had an idea to have one area cave-themed, but when I started working on the area, set up some textures, seeing all that ashwall and those dark textures demotivated me to the point I had no idea what to do next. A few seconds later I hit alt+f4 :c

And so it goes on with every map and I leave those maps at 40% - 60% finished. At one point I just lose the picture of the (incompleted) map and spend days thinking of what to do. Then I find that doing more harm than good, so I leave it and forget about it, until I somehow get a spark for another map which ends up the same way. A few more maps and I have a megawad full of incomplete maps.

So, what gives you the spark? What pushes you forward? What keeps you going?

[Llewellyn]

Absolutely nothing, I never finish anything ever.

Okay, I lied, I only finish things if I have a deadline.

[Ivan]

I map as I feel like. I don't really imagine anything, I just make a random sector, don't like it, modify it and go with the flow. Usually the toilet is a good friend at this.

[Nati46]

You can gain inspiration by looking at parts of well made maps and trying to create something which is as unique and successful.
Sometimes I even look at real life structures and visualise how well they would act as maps, given that enough work and modifications are put to doing so :)

[Ænima]

Drugs. And playing other wads/videogames and saying "hey that's a cool idea, i think i'll make that but slightly different..." etc.

[Aqua Kitty]

Playing different WADs and video games, and borrowing some elements of different level layouts. I made several attempts at Final Destination from SSB, for example, but I have none of those now.

[-Jes-]

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Which is why it's amazing that I've managed to make this:

Granted, it's my first. Still, I doubt I'll ever make another.

[Zanieon]

Music and movies is my base for all, mainly music because i never found another movie that i got so fascinated with the visual like Tron Legacy.

[BURZUM]

I usually start mapping because of an idea of one room or trap! I dont know if you tried my survival-wad

http://www.doomworld.com/idgames/index.php?id=16288

-in level 1 it was the cave, in level 2 the castle that forced me to start doombuilder.


In times that I map I can not do anything but mapping. When I go to the supermarket I use 20% of my brain to buy stuff, the rest I continue mapping. That can get dangerous in traffic ;-)

But I always try to finish the map. It's done when it's done. Not before!

[Dusk]

I myself first layout the map on paper, thus there is no ashwall or any textures to demotivate me, it's the layout there and that alone; putting the gameplay bits and pieces to place, thinking about the core architechture and stuff. When actually mapping the thing, the layout is already planned and what's left is actually adding the geometry and everything. The question of colors and texturing arises here.. what fits and where? Color meshing and lighting are incredibly important. And then the monsters are put to the map, each based on some strategical thought and eventually, slowly, it comes together. :P

[NachtIntellect]

Sometimes I have an idea for a map, but I don't get a clear picture of every area. For an example, I had an idea to have one area cave-themed, but when I started working on the area, set up some textures, seeing all that ashwall and those dark textures demotivated me to the point I had no idea what to do next. A few seconds later I hit alt+f4 :c

And so it goes on with every map and I leave those maps at 40% - 60% finished. At one point I just lose the picture of the (incompleted) map and spend days thinking of what to do. Then I find that doing more harm than good, so I leave it and forget about it, until I somehow get a spark for another map which ends up the same way. A few more maps and I have a megawad full of incomplete maps.

So, what gives you the spark? What pushes you forward? What keeps you going?

If you ask me I just don't know when an Idea pops into my head or while I am out and see something I like that'd fit well in my map, I add it.

[Watermelon]

Music

Seeing a map from another game I like

[Jigsaw]

Basically what inspires me is some place I was at, and I think "damn, it would be epic to play Doom here". That's how I made my map for WhoDunIt. Other than this, just random stuff.