a rascal cat writes:
Say whaaaaat!?
Moar maps.
"This week I will be featuring MADMAN Redux's map, Apex. Sound familiar? It should. Apex was one of the maps featured in Halo 3 in the playlist 'Bungie vs. World' on Bungie Day. Madman was kind enough to remake this map in Reach for our enjoyment. If you want to get a better understanding for this map, please feel free to read my interview with the mapmaker himself, MADMAN Redux. Thank you!
Q. What was your inspiration for Apex?
A. This is actually the seventh version of this map. I started working with a very specific idea in Halo 3. I was inspired by the idea that Apex would be a kind of gravity drive elevator that has lost its power, so it's this confined cylindrical room with tons of vertical movement and play. It was my first Forged map on Foundry. I rebuilt it several different ways on Sandbox, emphasizing different gameplay experiences and, ultimately, settled on the version that made it into the Bungie Vs. The World playlist. But I still felt that version had several flaws I just couldn't find a way around in Halo 3's Forge. I built it in Reach's Forge World and, and I feel like I was pretty successful at finally making it the map I wanted it to be.
Q. Where is Apex located and why did you choose that location?
A. I built Apex on the surface of the water past the island. I chose the location because, within the context of Forge World, I wasn't able to build it high enough off the ground for it to make sense with the fiction I had developed. So, it's now a gravity elevator that would get personnel from a facility beneath the sea floor to the surface of the water.
Also, I like that red side has its back to land and blue side has its back to the sea. I think it adds a really interesting feel to it. Since it's a symmetrical map, the background of Forge World should help players know which side of the map they're on.
Q. What separates Apex from other Slayer maps?
A. While Apex is a circular, symmetrical map, I don't feel players chase each other around the circle the entire match. There is a clearly defined line of conflict, and each team has its territory of the map. I think this focuses combat on and over the center rather than on the outer ring.
Q. Anything else people should know before they download?
A. Apex was featured in the first WorkPLace map pack, but this version is the final version. I have since fixed some technical issues and made some changes to geometry that I think helps the overall map performance. If you downloaded the previous version, I hope you can download this version, and please feel free to PM me feedback on the changes or with any other comments. I'm really trying to grow as a designer, so I'm open and anxious to hearing other people's experiences.
Also, thanks to my friends in the WorkPLace and T00LB0X for helping me test and giving me the tough love when I needed it the most.
No, thank you Madman for taking the time to answer my questions, and for making this brilliant map for all of us to enjoy! Note to the community: Below you will find a link to Apex, a rendered fly through of the map, and an overview snapshot of the map.
Map Link:
Apex
Map Fly Through:
Apex Fly Through
Map Overview:
Apex Overview
Cheers, and enjoy! :)"