| WHO? |
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My name is Duncan Blair, and I use the alias "ReNo" for mapping and online gaming. I am an 18 year old student, studying BSc Computer Games Technology at the University of Abertay, Dundee. My interests include level design, computer games, skateboarding, rollerblading, ice skating and snowboarding, and listening to lots of ska, punk and emo music. |
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WHAT?
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The premise of this site is essentially to showcase my levels. For now it is only Half-Life which I design levels for, however I plan to branch into other engines in the future. I am also intent on learning other aspects of game design, which my uni course should help with. 3D modelling and programming are 2 areas which I am now beginning to learn (albeit slowly). I am also improving my web design knowledge and photoshop skills in my spare time. |
| WHEN? |
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I've been designing Half-Life levels on an off since the game's release really. I began with extreme difficulty, not least because I was relatively inexperienced with computers when the game first came out. I have grown up with computer games on consoles, however I only got my first PC around a month before Half-Life was released. I persevered though, and with the help of many many tutorials and articles I began to get competent with Worldcraft. After about a year of serious mapping, I finally created something I deemed worthy of release, and so "Obsolete" was unleashed in early 2001. Since then I have released numerous maps, all of which I am proud of for differing reasons. I am fully intent on getting into the industry as a professional level designer, so I'm not going to disappear from the scene for the forseeable future ;) |
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WHY?
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Basically, because level design is great fun and extremely rewarding. When I was younger, I - like many other kids - thought being a games tester would be the best job in the world. When people suggested that I became a games designer instead, I discounted it as an impossible dream - obviously I didn't have the greatest confidence in myself! When I grew a bit older I planned on becoming an architect as I found the prospect of designing buildings extremely exciting, but once Half-Life came along, and I cracked open Worldcraft, I realised that designing buildings and landscapes for games allows for far more creativity, and you are not limited by material, gravity, or any other real life design constraints. |