[zykov eddy]

Glad you enjoyed the map! I'm happy that the backpack now works fine for most players.

t800, on 01 April 2024 - 08:37 AM, said:

Spoiler

Phew, what an experience! If I were to describe it in two words it would be anxiety and disorientation. I liked that concept of gradual deterioration of reality. My two favorite moments were watching "documentary film" in cinema while anticipating arrival and nightmare version of original map with "voice of new god". That concept of voice commanding players to do things has potential for more interesting things. I am wondering how much does answers to "face in wall" affect rest of map? I let him out and he later appeared in that area with lot of spiderbabes (nice nightmare fuel of enemy by the way).

I was stumped only two times. Firstly I didn't know what to do with skulls and just run all over place. I was getting frustrated until I accidentally noticed those four piedestal. Also, keymaster got me confused for a while because I immediately pressed quickload after dying like reflex.
And I have to admit - I managed to find only two secret keys. But I was too curious about that secret and somehow figured out secret ending behind cinema screen via DNCLIP. Sorry! (But it was nice to how alternative, more optimistic/nostalgic ending for chance.)

My theories regarding original ending are two. First one is based on theory, that Duke and his world is real, he is just hallucinating about those "4th wall breaking things" and he somehow was only one who survived those drug induced nightmares thanks to his strong willpower. But only after very long time. Rest of mankind (and aliens too) were not that successful, thus he is the only survivor of this drug apocalypse. Second theory is based on out of box thinking. Duke is just playable character in fictive world. World looks that ruined, because while "corruption" got fixed, game got worn out by this long cycle (remember those 800-something days with voice of new god?)

Anyways, good luck with that big new project you just announced!

Spoiler

I live for this kind of feedback!

Seeing and reading the reaction of people to your work is the best reward.

I'm happy that people enjoyed the "Voice" segment. I didn't know how players would react, as I've never seen it done in an interactive game format. The Stanley Parable comes to mind, but the narrator there was rather playful, and the whole tone was comical. So, it's interesting to see people reacting to being controlled by a violent, twisted entity.

I think I'm gonna do a lot morre with that entity in my next project, whatever that might be. It's something new and unexpected.

BTW, the download is updated again. I recently saw a stream on youtube of someone playing the map, and spotted a few issues. For example, if you play this map with an HD music pack, it'll replace a very important MIDI track with one of its renditions. This issue, and a few others, are now fixed.

Hopefully I'll never have to update the map ever again. This is, like, the 20th time I'm updating it.

[formerlyTodd]

I'm still getting the cascade of RPGs. I've been able to proceed, albeit carefully because it seems like things are very different afterwards.

Spoiler

I've found everything except the yellow key. I know what section it should be in - thanks very much for the clue. I've been back and forth multiple times in there, and have come up empty. A somewhat obfuscated clue from someone who's found it (or from the new god) would be thankfully appreciated!

I love this map. Memories and Billy Boy's Lighthouse/Biglight are the two maps that I've spent extra effort finding every one of the secrets.

[zykov eddy]

formerlyTodd, on 01 April 2024 - 03:42 PM, said:

I'm still getting the cascade of RPGs. I've been able to proceed, albeit carefully because it seems like things are very different afterwards.

Spoiler

I've found everything except the yellow key. I know what section it should be in - thanks very much for the clue. I've been back and forth multiple times in there, and have come up empty. A somewhat obfuscated clue from someone who's found it (or from the new god) would be thankfully appreciated!

I love this map. Memories and Billy Boy's Lighthouse/Biglight are the two maps that I've spent extra effort finding every one of the secrets.

Spoiler

It's right after the mirror incident.

[formerlyTodd]

I probably have a snowman's chance in hell of finding it.

[fgsfds]

I'm still having infinitely spawning rpgs bug despite using the latest eduke and mod version.

[zykov eddy]

fgsfds, on 01 April 2024 - 11:05 PM, said:

I'm still having infinitely spawning rpgs bug despite using the latest eduke and mod version.

What happens after the bug? Does it still corrupt the game and transport you somewhere else?

[Mike Norvak]

Eddy, maybe this video can give you some ideas for your next project:

https://youtu.be/ZHm...QB1XH3WiYYzNjkJ

[Forge]

Mike Norvak, on 03 April 2024 - 07:14 AM, said:

Eddy, maybe this video can give you some ideas for your next project:

https://youtu.be/ZHm...QB1XH3WiYYzNjkJ

not clicking. sus site address.
it's not april 1st, but that won't stop the rick-rolling

[slacker1]

Forge, on 03 April 2024 - 07:27 AM, said:

not clicking. sus site address.
it's not april 1st, but that won't stop the rick-rolling

Link is legit. Pretty interesting too.

Mike Norvak, on 03 April 2024 - 07:14 AM, said:

Eddy, maybe this video can give you some ideas for your next project:

https://youtu.be/ZHm...QB1XH3WiYYzNjkJ

This video made me remember a possible potential bug I found on my first play through...

Spoiler

When the voice is telling you where to go and it eventually tells you to go to the store room of the pub, I instead went into the secret area behind the liquor bottles behind the bar into that cave section. I fell down a small amount to the ground back there and it wasn't possible to get back up to get to the storage room because at that point you're not able to jump due to shooting yourself in the foot.

Or maybe I just double shot myself in the foot by going back there.

[Mike Norvak]

Forge, on 03 April 2024 - 07:27 AM, said:

not clicking. sus site address.
it's not april 1st, but that won't stop the rick-rolling

[Do as you are told or I will remove your skin]

[zykov eddy]

slacker1, on 03 April 2024 - 07:20 PM, said:

Link is legit. Pretty interesting too.



This video made me remember a possible potential bug I found on my first play through...

Spoiler

When the voice is telling you where to go and it eventually tells you to go to the store room of the pub, I instead went into the secret area behind the liquor bottles behind the bar into that cave section. I fell down a small amount to the ground back there and it wasn't possible to get back up to get to the storage room because at that point you're not able to jump due to shooting yourself in the foot.

Or maybe I just double shot myself in the foot by going back there.

I think Forge's comment was a joke, as this thread is full of similar jokes.

The softlock error has also been fixed in one of the earliest updates.

[fgsfds]

zykov eddy, on 02 April 2024 - 02:12 AM, said:

What happens after the bug? Does it still corrupt the game and transport you somewhere else?

Yeah, it crashes with memory overflow error

[zykov eddy]

fgsfds, on 04 April 2024 - 06:10 AM, said:

Yeah, it crashes with memory overflow error

What happens after the error??

Why you didn't wait two seconds to see what'll happen? There are sounds and a cutscene to signal that this isn't what it seems, do you just immediately close the game when "error" appears on the screen?

Sorry I'm butthurt, I changed this sequence just so players whouldn't simply close the game and report fake errors, but I can't image how you just wouldn't wait two seconds to inspect the error uuuurgghhh

[fgsfds]

Spoiler

I feel so retarded right now

[Mike Norvak]

zykov eddy, on 04 April 2024 - 06:12 AM, said:

What happens after the error??

Why you didn't wait two seconds to see what'll happen? There are sounds and a cutscene to signal that this isn't what it seems, do you just immediately close the game when "error" appears on the screen?

Sorry I'm butthurt, I changed this sequence just so players whouldn't simply close the game and report fake errors, but I can't image how you just wouldn't wait two seconds to inspect the error uuuurgghhh

Plot twist: The problem is not the bug it self, but reading this thread before playing the map 😁

[Green]

Excellent work! Intensely atmospheric, and beautifully crafted.

[formerlyTodd]

Still getting the cascade of RPGs, sadly. I'm not gonna give up just yet!

Spoiler

I do not want to know the exact details so I can figure it out myself, but I would like to know approximately where the hint is located, that directs the player to the 3rd ending (eg with the Octabrain). I've read that the hint is in a chase part of the map, but just would like to know which one. Maybe the new god knows! I do know how to trigger that ending early on, but I have to clip (or find a jetpack) to make it happen then.

I do not mind replaying it to get the full experience. This map is a lot of challenging, scary fun

[zykov eddy]

Green, on 04 April 2024 - 05:21 PM, said:

Excellent work! Intensely atmospheric, and beautifully crafted.

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

formerlyTodd, on 04 April 2024 - 07:02 PM, said:

Still getting the cascade of RPGs, sadly. I'm not gonna give up just yet!

It's raining RPGs! Hallelujah!

formerlyTodd, on 04 April 2024 - 07:02 PM, said:

Spoiler

I do not want to know the exact details so I can figure it out myself, but I would like to know approximately where the hint is located, that directs the player to the 3rd ending (eg with the Octabrain). I've read that the hint is in a chase part of the map, but just would like to know which one. Maybe the new god knows! I do know how to trigger that ending early on, but I have to clip (or find a jetpack) to make it happen then.

I do not mind replaying it to get the full experience. This map is a lot of challenging, scary fun

Spoiler

Check the green key secret

[Ninety-Six]

I'm just gonna spoiler this entire thing.

Spoiler

This is basically everything I could have wished for from an out-of-retirement zykov eddy project, and more. I didn't expect it to be more than advertised from the WIP thread, but one look at this release thread and I knew what we were in for. The abundance of spoiler text only further reinforced that.

So then I had the idea to stream it for my non-Duke inclined friend, the same one I watched go through myhouse.wad with because my computer hard-locked trying it myself, as I expected a similar level of puzzle box solving. I wasn't completely off but it was nowhere near as intense. Still he enjoyed the ride (and now wants to check out The Dream, which I'd love to show him but last I heard it was very broken in current edukes).


What an experience. I couldn't help but draw parallels to most of your previous horror work. The Dream trilogy of course, but also sprinkled in some Octo Desperado and that one secret level from Moonbase Accident whose name I suddenly can't remember, and the Alternate Duke chase is right out of Pursuer. Regardless this feels like your magnum opus. I can't look at Hollywood Holocaust the same way ever again. And like, I tried. Lighten my spirits up with some duke 64 and I just kept having war flashbacks. Of course I recognized the pieces of other levels scattered about and so I expect similar results there.

The first few sections were absolutely terrifying. The biggest shift came from the doorway in the arcade storage room. I've never been so intimidated by a damn archway before. And then it was a masterwork of tension moving forward, with neither of us keen to ever turn around after literally every single thing that happened. And then the chase in the pool rooms... that was stressful.

I will say that once the warped geishas started appearing and the subsequent discovery that they are vulnerable to the holy buckshot, it wasn't as terrifying to move forward anymore. Still, the atmosphere did a good job of making up the difference (though credit to the pod girl enemy designs for being... I'm not sure what the word is honestly. But let's just say that even in the much more upbeat Duke64 I now feel the need to destroy every vacant pod).

About the only complaint I have regarding the enemies are the perpetually-dying Protector Drones in the underground. They come out just barely too fast to react to, even by single-tapping the walk forward key.


On the technical side... I have no idea how you pulled off half this stuff. The amount of scripting going on made it look like a Source game or something. I almost refuse to believe you pulled this all off in a mere two months. Most of your horror works involve a crapton of scripting but this is on another level. How did you change the menu into monochrome

(Speaking of that part, one bug I noticed. When paused (either bringing up the menu or the pause key) the pistol just kinda starts..."Walking" off set to the left. It's legitimately hilarious but that's probably not ideal for a horror map).


Eventually found all the secrets (I can't believe you put in fake secrets that is so rude.) First time through my friend and I didn't understand the significance of the paper in the arcade/trashcan/pipebomb alcove secret. Still managed to get 2 of the 4 keys, and was one half a screen away from a third (in the underground. I noticed that side path but was confused as to which was the progress route and which was the diversion and chose wrong, but then forgot to backtrack before it was too late). I also noticed the first one while running around in a panic but forgot about it by the time the chase ended. On that note, my second playthrough was done on CGS and I admit I don't think the LR disclaimer adds much. I only did it because I expected some kind of script or story difference. Had I known it was only difficulty, I would have gone CGS and I think I would have been just fine. I only noticed it added one or two enemy per section, but with how infrequent combat was to begin with that's not a whole lot in the grand scheme.

Save warning was totally warranted though, so good on that.


I ended up finding this "third ending" first as I was already on the lookout for secrets (Knowing the original levels like the back of my hand helped. In fact that goes for all the secrets). Actually the endings are the things my friend and I are the most confused on. Or the plot in general, even. Because it seems to start with some kind of in-Dukeverse event that bears a heavy resemblance to the early plot points of the Mandela Catalogue, then implies it all started with those golden cannisters at the start of the game. Then it gets vague on what "this world" refers to, whether it be a separate dimension, our own world, or Duke's world falling apart with the whole memories/nostalgia thing... And then in one ending the street is covered in foliage, in another it's the first experience of getting Duke 3D, and then the third ending is ???

While I'm at it, I also don't understand the significance of the messages "don't sleep" and "onlent?"



Regardless this was a phenomenal experience and an absolute masterclass in Duke 3D horror, by the master thereof. I can't believe you got me to be paranoid about the shadows in the movie theater that were there since 1996 and I never thought much about otherwise. Now I'll never unsee them.

[DavoX]

Loved it!

Spoiler

Seriously speaking, I loved it!. I just love when someone just has a vision for something and makes it come true.

I'm a guy that is basically too used to horror stuff from movies, etc. And still this map managed to lift a few hairs on my back.

I really can't say more than has already been said. I don't know which version I played, it was the one in the website with the RPG spawning. At first it actually fooled me heh.

It took me 75 minutes to complete. Honestly thought it used some kind of Hub maps system as it just kept going and going. When you think it ends, you're still only halfway through it, thankfuly, because it was really enjoyable.

For fun if you want to know my take on the lore, I have a bad memory so Im not very good at picking these things up apart, but i'll try.

I think we are dealing with two memories here. The memories from Duke, where he used to kill the baddies and all that where his own self ends where most people first memory of coolness started, when finding the secret RPG.

The memories of the player, trying to recall what these first levels looked like (Usually the most people will remember the shareware episode and the first levels, even people who didnt end up getting the complete game).

I would argue there's also a third memory, the memory of level designers who created their own stuff and usually a myhouse.map. Seeing some first maps with huge doors, stretched out misaligned textures, nonsense structures, etc... and the 4 keys ending encompasses everything at once... Duke nukem in his box, the players in their childhood room, and the level designers, in a house made in build...

[Ninety-Six]

I've finally finished reading the spoiler text throughout this thread, avoiding it otherwise for obvious reasons.

Spoiler

Apparently I'm the only one who noticed the signs in the bathroom? Or at least mentioned them. If anyone remembers the 867-5309 reference and Blum's email, look there. I feel they might be important. Likewise I assume the new "cheat code" itself bears some significance.

[Reaper_Man]

Ninety-Six, on 05 April 2024 - 07:55 AM, said:

Spoiler

(and now wants to check out The Dream, which I'd love to show him but last I heard it was very broken in current edukes).

Spoiler

The version that is in NightFright's compilation should work. Kayfabe aside, I actually did bugfix this a while back, the showstopping errors were some very specific scripting decisions that caused memory errors that EDuke previously didn't care about, but has since been hardened against. Eddy - feel free to pull those fixes for an updated standalone release, or if you have any questions about it send me a DM.

[Sangman]

Ninety-Six, on 05 April 2024 - 07:55 AM, said:

I'm just gonna spoiler this entire thing.

Spoiler

Regardless this feels like your magnum opus.

Spoiler

That's kinda the feel I had here as well, it feels like the combination and perfection of a bunch of ideas/elements from earlier projects. Not to imply I think Eddy's incapable of doing better but myself I don't know how you'd top this. While I hope he'll continue to make maps it would be totally legit to ride off into the sunset forever after dropping this off. Seeing as it's about the death of Duke (hell the normal ending ends up with you jumping into what is essentially a grave) it would be only fitting...

[Ninety-Six]

Reaper_Man, on 05 April 2024 - 01:07 PM, said:

Spoiler

The version that is in NightFright's compilation should work. Kayfabe aside, I actually did bugfix this a while back, the showstopping errors were some very specific scripting decisions that caused memory errors that EDuke previously didn't care about, but has since been hardened against. Eddy - feel free to pull those fixes for an updated standalone release, or if you have any questions about it send me a DM.

Spoiler

Very much appreciated, thanks.

Sangman, on 05 April 2024 - 01:13 PM, said:

Spoiler

That's kinda the feel I had here as well, it feels like the combination and perfection of a bunch of ideas/elements from earlier projects. Not to imply I think Eddy's incapable of doing better but myself I don't know how you'd top this. While I hope he'll continue to make maps it would be totally legit to ride off into the sunset forever after dropping this off. Seeing as it's about the death of Duke (hell the normal ending ends up with you jumping into what is essentially a grave) it would be only fitting...

Spoiler

So many parts of this reminded me of earlier pieces of his work that a small part of me wondered if it was all connected, even though there's no plot/event resemblance in any way, just "hey this part was kind of like that." The normal Duke level turning nightmarish from Dream 1, the psychological horror of Dream 2 (and the underground part with the drones reminded me a lot of the ghost maze), the keymaster ending resembling the end of Dream 3 (albeit much more upbeat), the aforementioned Alternate Duke chase coming from Pursuer, the destruction of the 4th wall like from Depressivo, the void maze like Octo Desperado...

Of course I don't genuinely believe that they're connected in that sense, but nonetheless everything here feels like a refinement of what came before, but now mixed in with the analogue horror trend along with the liminal space thing plus a dash of myhouse.wad. I don't know how he could top it either but he certainly seems eager to try and I would love to see where the fully original version goes.

[zykov eddy]

Ninety-Six, on 05 April 2024 - 07:55 AM, said:

I'm just gonna spoiler this entire thing.

Spoiler

This is basically everything I could have wished for from an out-of-retirement zykov eddy project, and more. I didn't expect it to be more than advertised from the WIP thread, but one look at this release thread and I knew what we were in for. The abundance of spoiler text only further reinforced that.

So then I had the idea to stream it for my non-Duke inclined friend, the same one I watched go through myhouse.wad with because my computer hard-locked trying it myself, as I expected a similar level of puzzle box solving. I wasn't completely off but it was nowhere near as intense. Still he enjoyed the ride (and now wants to check out The Dream, which I'd love to show him but last I heard it was very broken in current edukes).


What an experience. I couldn't help but draw parallels to most of your previous horror work. The Dream trilogy of course, but also sprinkled in some Octo Desperado and that one secret level from Moonbase Accident whose name I suddenly can't remember, and the Alternate Duke chase is right out of Pursuer. Regardless this feels like your magnum opus. I can't look at Hollywood Holocaust the same way ever again. And like, I tried. Lighten my spirits up with some duke 64 and I just kept having war flashbacks. Of course I recognized the pieces of other levels scattered about and so I expect similar results there.

The first few sections were absolutely terrifying. The biggest shift came from the doorway in the arcade storage room. I've never been so intimidated by a damn archway before. And then it was a masterwork of tension moving forward, with neither of us keen to ever turn around after literally every single thing that happened. And then the chase in the pool rooms... that was stressful.

I will say that once the warped geishas started appearing and the subsequent discovery that they are vulnerable to the holy buckshot, it wasn't as terrifying to move forward anymore. Still, the atmosphere did a good job of making up the difference (though credit to the pod girl enemy designs for being... I'm not sure what the word is honestly. But let's just say that even in the much more upbeat Duke64 I now feel the need to destroy every vacant pod).

About the only complaint I have regarding the enemies are the perpetually-dying Protector Drones in the underground. They come out just barely too fast to react to, even by single-tapping the walk forward key.


On the technical side... I have no idea how you pulled off half this stuff. The amount of scripting going on made it look like a Source game or something. I almost refuse to believe you pulled this all off in a mere two months. Most of your horror works involve a crapton of scripting but this is on another level. How did you change the menu into monochrome

(Speaking of that part, one bug I noticed. When paused (either bringing up the menu or the pause key) the pistol just kinda starts..."Walking" off set to the left. It's legitimately hilarious but that's probably not ideal for a horror map).


Eventually found all the secrets (I can't believe you put in fake secrets that is so rude.) First time through my friend and I didn't understand the significance of the paper in the arcade/trashcan/pipebomb alcove secret. Still managed to get 2 of the 4 keys, and was one half a screen away from a third (in the underground. I noticed that side path but was confused as to which was the progress route and which was the diversion and chose wrong, but then forgot to backtrack before it was too late). I also noticed the first one while running around in a panic but forgot about it by the time the chase ended. On that note, my second playthrough was done on CGS and I admit I don't think the LR disclaimer adds much. I only did it because I expected some kind of script or story difference. Had I known it was only difficulty, I would have gone CGS and I think I would have been just fine. I only noticed it added one or two enemy per section, but with how infrequent combat was to begin with that's not a whole lot in the grand scheme.

Save warning was totally warranted though, so good on that.


I ended up finding this "third ending" first as I was already on the lookout for secrets (Knowing the original levels like the back of my hand helped. In fact that goes for all the secrets). Actually the endings are the things my friend and I are the most confused on. Or the plot in general, even. Because it seems to start with some kind of in-Dukeverse event that bears a heavy resemblance to the early plot points of the Mandela Catalogue, then implies it all started with those golden cannisters at the start of the game. Then it gets vague on what "this world" refers to, whether it be a separate dimension, our own world, or Duke's world falling apart with the whole memories/nostalgia thing... And then in one ending the street is covered in foliage, in another it's the first experience of getting Duke 3D, and then the third ending is ???

While I'm at it, I also don't understand the significance of the messages "don't sleep" and "onlent?"


Regardless this was a phenomenal experience and an absolute masterclass in Duke 3D horror, by the master thereof. I can't believe you got me to be paranoid about the shadows in the movie theater that were there since 1996 and I never thought much about otherwise. Now I'll never unsee them.

OMG I was afraid that a spoiler post might show up in this thread. Everybody, look away!

Spoiler

Thank you for this magnificient feedback! Truly a pleasure to read. Your feedbacks are always the best. Also, thank you for sharing my work with your friends.

I agree that this, for the most part, is a compilation of my previous concepts, updated and refined, with some new stuff thrown in. It's been so long since I've made something substantial for EDuke32. It could be very overwhelming to try and do groundbreaking stuff, so this map is an artistic compromise. I love doing classic creepy scenarios, and without them, I doubt this map could be finished, because my rusty motivation would just dry up quickly. It's mostly in my comfort zone, and actually made me warmed up to do more EDuke32 things.

And I do realise that I've pulled the "this map isn't scary guys, trust me" trick far too many times at this point. But damn it's so satisfying to read people's feedback afterwards. And I think this map is, so far, my ultimate version of this trope. Even some folks who are familiar with my style were surprised by its twists.

But I realise that this is the last time I can do that to a Duke 3D community. Was worth it anyway.
Although, I've never pulled that trick in a standalone EDuke32 project yet... wink-wink

And yeah, the underground section with newbeasts is by far the least favorite for many players, seems like. Dunno if it's worth to try and change it and update the map. I'll see if I can make enemies slower. Although, honestly, the idea of walking slowly and quickly reacting to them was my original intention. It's like a twisted arcade portion of the map. FPS genre stripped to its bare minimum. See enemy. Shoot. Repeat. It's also the portion with the most angst in it, so the gameplay was planned accordingly.

The monochrome effect on the menu is a simple palette swap, nothing magical really. Was actually very easy to do!

"Don't sleep" and "onlent? messages are, as most stuff in this map, red herrings and thrown in just to confuse the player. Onlent is a reference to a youtube video that inspired me greatly...

DavoX, on 05 April 2024 - 09:08 AM, said:

Loved it!

Spoiler

Seriously speaking, I loved it!. I just love when someone just has a vision for something and makes it come true.

I'm a guy that is basically too used to horror stuff from movies, etc. And still this map managed to lift a few hairs on my back.

I really can't say more than has already been said. I don't know which version I played, it was the one in the website with the RPG spawning. At first it actually fooled me heh.

It took me 75 minutes to complete. Honestly thought it used some kind of Hub maps system as it just kept going and going. When you think it ends, you're still only halfway through it, thankfuly, because it was really enjoyable.

For fun if you want to know my take on the lore, I have a bad memory so Im not very good at picking these things up apart, but i'll try.

I think we are dealing with two memories here. The memories from Duke, where he used to kill the baddies and all that where his own self ends where most people first memory of coolness started, when finding the secret RPG.

The memories of the player, trying to recall what these first levels looked like (Usually the most people will remember the shareware episode and the first levels, even people who didnt end up getting the complete game).

I would argue there's also a third memory, the memory of level designers who created their own stuff and usually a myhouse.map. Seeing some first maps with huge doors, stretched out misaligned textures, nonsense structures, etc... and the 4 keys ending encompasses everything at once... Duke nukem in his box, the players in their childhood room, and the level designers, in a house made in build...

Thank you for the feedback! Glad you enjoyed the map

Spoiler

75 minutes is long, damn! But you did find the keys on your first playthrough right?

And yes, the map's storyline does involve various memories from different time periods.

Reaper_Man, on 05 April 2024 - 01:07 PM, said:

Spoiler

The version that is in NightFright's compilation should work. Kayfabe aside, I actually did bugfix this a while back, the showstopping errors were some very specific scripting decisions that caused memory errors that EDuke previously didn't care about, but has since been hardened against. Eddy - feel free to pull those fixes for an updated standalone release, or if you have any questions about it send me a DM.

My code has always been weird. Even the way it's structured is completely screwed up. Can't do it any other way though. Once I picked up the bad coding habits, it's really difficult to get rid of them.
Thank you for fixing my stuff for the compilation! I should probably grab these fixes and update versions on my site.



On the topic of this map's storyline...

Spoiler

The thing is, everybody's trying to understand this map literally, while it has to be understood metaphorically. Like a David Lynch film, for a lack of a better comparison
David Lynch films have a basic plot, but the main focus has to be on metaphors, and this map is like that. Althoung I understand that it's very unusual for a Duke 3D map to be a metaphor.

Not to say that there's no literal storyline to this map. But understanding it would be so much harder, due to a lot of red herrings. The point is to add to the mood and force the player to see the map's storyline from other perspectives.

[Ninety-Six]

zykov eddy, on 06 April 2024 - 05:42 AM, said:

Spoiler

And I do realise that I've pulled the "this map isn't scary guys, trust me" trick far too many times at this point. But damn it's so satisfying to read people's feedback afterwards. And I think this map is, so far, my ultimate version of this trope. Even some folks who are familiar with my style were surprised by its twists.

Spoiler

It's definitely the most intense, absolutely demolishing the second version of Dream 2 which was previously the scariest Duke mod I'd ever played. Left more of an impact too. Like I said I can't see Hollywood Holocaust the same way ever again, and I go through the vanilla game (+expansions) 2-3 times a year. When Dream was over, it was over for the most part besides a lingering pity and sadness at the ending of the trilogy. This I can actively say still haunts me. That we haven't figured out what's going on yet only intensifies that, so I'm determined so try and solve this before I lose my mind.

I may have gone in expecting the patented zykov eddy horror experience, but it still exceeded every expectation I had.

zykov eddy, on 06 April 2024 - 05:42 AM, said:

Spoiler

But I realise that this is the last time I can do that to a Duke 3D community. Was worth it anyway.
Although, I've never pulled that trick in a standalone EDuke32 project yet... wink-wink

Spoiler

I wish you the best of luck. This deserves the kind of analysis and attention something like myhouse.wad got, but sadly probably won't just because it's Duke 3D. As standalone it'll probably get more attention. I know Mask got some notoriety, relatively speaking anyway.

zykov eddy, on 06 April 2024 - 05:42 AM, said:

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Although, honestly, the idea of walking slowly and quickly reacting to them was my original intention.

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I kinda figured, but even doing that they were very difficult to react to. And in open areas where they could come from more directions than just straight on it was outright impossible without taking heavy damage sometimes. Had to do a lot of saving and loading after every step.

zykov eddy, on 06 April 2024 - 05:42 AM, said:

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The monochrome effect on the menu is a simple palette swap, nothing magical really. Was actually very easy to do!

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I had no idea you could change the menu palette on the fly like that...

zykov eddy, on 06 April 2024 - 05:42 AM, said:

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I should probably grab these fixes and update versions on my site.

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I hope you do. The Dream was always one of my favorite Duke mods of all time (and now this sits alongside it) and I was really sad when I found out it was broken. Now that it's fixed I'm hoping more people get the chance to play it (or watch it in my friend's case).

(I've also been sending him every info drop and theory in this thread so we can try to dissect it together like we did myhouse).

[zykov eddy]

 Ninety-Six, on 06 April 2024 - 10:27 AM, said:

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It's definitely the most intense, absolutely demolishing the second version of Dream 2 which was previously the scariest Duke mod I'd ever played. Left more of an impact too. Like I said I can't see Hollywood Holocaust the same way ever again, and I go through the vanilla game (+expansions) 2-3 times a year. When Dream was over, it was over for the most part besides a lingering pity and sadness at the ending of the trilogy. This I can actively say still haunts me. That we haven't figured out what's going on yet only intensifies that, so I'm determined so try and solve this before I lose my mind.

I may have gone in expecting the patented zykov eddy horror experience, but it still exceeded every expectation I had.

Thank you very much! BTW, I just updated the Dream Trilogy original download link with a version that's fit for modern EDuke32 versions.

 Ninety-Six, on 06 April 2024 - 10:27 AM, said:

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I wish you the best of luck. This deserves the kind of analysis and attention something like myhouse.wad got, but sadly probably won't just because it's Duke 3D. As standalone it'll probably get more attention. I know Mask got some notoriety, relatively speaking anyway.

The Mask was played by some big youtubers like Markiplier, but I wasn't satisfied with that project and it seems very tired and boring to me now. I have much more faith in standalone Memories concept.

 Ninety-Six, on 06 April 2024 - 10:27 AM, said:

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I had no idea you could change the menu palette on the fly like that...

You just use setgamepalette command for that. Although, it's weird how wiki says that this feature is "deprecated"...


An important message to people who are planning to reupload this map on other sites!

Please, make sure you have the latest version of Memories. Even if you think you do,
download it again just in case you missed one of many minor updates. Thank you!




Also, I have a crazy idea...

What if the original Duke Nukem 3D level designers played Memories? Is it worth sending them this map to see their reaction?

[Reaper_Man]

 zykov eddy, on 08 April 2024 - 12:13 PM, said:

You just use setgamepalette command for that. Although, it's weird how wiki says that this feature is "deprecated"...

Access to this changed to a player member, so now you should set it as:

setp .palette 2

Like using myospal instead of rotatesprite, or gametext instead of screentext, the deprecated methods still technically work, but under the hood they are wrappers for the new methods, and it's recommended not to use older ones.

[jkas789]

Played this and OMG this is GOOD. Great job mate!

[slacker1]

Still trying to track down all the theater keys... Can't seem to find the red one. Been through that section a few times and nothings sticking out...

Edit: Found it.

Being there though I noticed:

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Is the text at the alter a quote from the movie Jacob's Latter? I love that movie! At first I was trying to figure out why it was so familiar then it clicked.