A kilometer of straight road with have problems with vising unless it was low enough detail, you had fog, or a fast machine.

Yes, we know. This has been discussed. What is more important than stating the obvious is new and interesting solutions.

I like the modified manhack idea, that would be a great reward for being able to react quickly to audio cues and aim properly so that you claim your reward for your good reflexes.

it’s too bad source doesn’t like big outdoor areas (well, we don’t like waiting for them to load). As long as the level is built up on both sides by buildings (which you can enter to get around obstacles blocking the street)you could do a long road straight or bent without it being too huge.

Straight is a good idea, but why not duplicate the map: one straight, one twisted (in every sense) everything else the same. Then play both and give ‘em a rating.

That’s definitely an interesting idea. I wonder if you could just bend the whole level and see what players think of each one.

I think your idea might work out quite well, the only problem might be the framerate (if not optimized properly) since Source doesn’t really like large and open enviroments.

Yes, I thought that might be the case. I was thinking in the same way as Count_de_Monet and perhaps just curve it enough to avoid framerate issues. I was also thinking of that when I mentioned the dawn. I didn’t know whether a lower level of light made a difference.

but I would love to see some heights worked in, if only to enter a building, have to climb to the top

Yes, agreed. I didn’t really explain that properly. I still want height involved (My third dimension reference) but was always thinking of staying outside the buildings. That’s just a personal preference in this case. Across ledges (NOT JUMPING PUZZLES!), perhaps over/through a building that has collapsed across the main street (Could deal with the frame rate issue mentioned above).

I think a designer could take this in a number of directions to make it “linear” and yet “crooked” — catering to most players’ tastes.

Yes, that’s possible and most levels are linear in that there is only one way to go but I would really like to see something even more restrictive.

The idea would be to try and remove the normal construction of levels. Distilling it down from puzzles/explore/visual/action to just ever increasing action.

I’m not suggesting this for all levels or mods, just one focused level. I like the idea of starting the level with a reverse flyby (Similar to what happens in Trackmania) and basically saying This is what you will face. No fancy routes, no clever puzzles, just plenty of enemies and brute force.

I think your idea might work out quite well, the only problem might be the framerate (if not optimized properly) since Source doesn’t really like large and open enviroments.

Please insert a beach trip and lots of crossbow sniping. i love maps with a beach and cliff part and I really enjoy the nailing effect when you hit a combine properly. Some ballistic grenade throwing would be nice too, especially in the straight line version. Sort of a previsional clean-up.