As requested by Demonslayer, I've worked on another map to add to the server, DM-Sarigono. This map had a reputation of being almost unplayable, and in fact had been on the old DC server before it was removed for performance issues. So I took some time to optimize it. It still is a 'hefty' map but most players should be able to play it without issue. If your FPS are low, try setting your world detail to low, lowering the fog distance to minimum, and turning off foliage. Lowering your resolution temporarily should also give you a boost. You can change the resolution without entering the menu by typing into the console like this:

setres 1024x768


Changes include:

Lowered fog distance. It helps improve FPS by rendering less of the level at a time. Very important in large maps, especially if they have a lot of detail like this one.
Meshes now have culling settings
Redesigned skybox to be more fps-friendly and to blend better into the fog.
Greatly simplified background terrain and foliage
removed some emitters, set culling for them, reduced number of particles on others. Also made the rain effect less heavy (fewer particles, and they don't extend as far into the distance.)
Improved low and medium detail settings so they look less weird (old version removed things that really should have stayed visible, like boarded up windows.)
Removed collision on meshes that didn't need it (such as the windows.)
Kill zones under terrain as needed, along with blocking volumes and some minor terrain reshaping to help prevent/discourage glitching
Turned one unused building into a small base area
Greatly reduced the number of pickups (too many will lead to lag as the server tries to keep track of all of them, along with every monster projectile.) There was just way too many pickups on this map, even for its large size. For example, there was more than 25 of every ammo type. The typical DM map usually only has 2-4 of each type of ammo, depending on its size.
Doubled the number of superweapons and DDs and spread them out (before both super weapons were by the albatross statue, not far from the DD.)
Some visual cues to aid navigation, such as new poster textures (all of them were originally blank) and unique textures on some buildings, making them more recognizable.
New music track, FiveMilleniaLater. It isn't in a DC music pack yet, so grab it here. Just discovered it's actually from the 5th Element soundtrack.
Music switches are in the building directly behind the billboard of a liandri robot feeding a girl, on the top floor.
A few changes to ambients sounds, reduced the number of bird calls, added some cricket, owl and plane sounds.


A before shot. Pretty and highly detailed, but unfortunately gave poor FPS. Also the visual design of the map is fairly repetitve, making it hard to tell where you are at a glance. For example, there are several destroyed tanks in piles of rubble just like this.


In the DC version, this train can be used as cover, but it also also acts as landmark, since it is the only train car on the ground.



The new base building, previously didn't have any sort of interior.

Beautiful. Remember, this map was made back in 2004/2005 and it was unplayable then. With the work that Jefe has put in along with more modern equipment, no one should experience the fps problems that was evident 9-10 years ago.

Again, thank you Jefe.

dc_demonslayer wrote:
Beautiful. Remember, this map was made back in 2004/2005 and it was unplayable then. With the work that Jefe has put in along with more modern equipment, no one should experience the fps problems that was evident 9-10 years ago.

Again, thank you Jefe.
If only I weren't using the same computer that I got even before UT04 came out! Lol but nonetheless, the map is much more playable after the improvement. Great job Jefe.

hollon wrote:
If only I weren't using the same computer that I got even before UT04 came out! Lol but nonetheless, the map is much more playable after the improvement. Great job Jefe.

Gee, I didn't think computers from that era are still being used!!!! (hehe)

I have a made-in-2003 Pentium 4 sitting next to my current pc. I even tested that Sarigono map on it yesterday to see how well both the original and the new version performed on old hardware. My son had been using it until I bought a new system about a month ago (I gave him my 2008-era pc), and I myself had been using it around 4-5 years ago. In fact, that Pentium 4 actually has the video card from the pc I built back in 2004 (it died.)

Oddly enough I hooked up that old pc again today, and the video card didn't work. Got it working with the integrated graphics, but the AGP card isn't showing up on the bios or the device manager in Windows. That's what I get for opening my big mouth.

jefejefejefe wrote:
Oddly enough I hooked up that old pc again today, and the video card didn't work. Got it working with the integrated graphics, but the AGP card isn't showing up on the bios or the device manager in Windows. That's what I get for opening my big mouth.

LOL

Jefe, can you post the music file for Sarigono again, or are you going to include it in another music pack?

jefejefejefe wrote:

New music track, FiveMilleniaLater. It isn't in a DC music pack yet, so grab it here. Just discovered it's actually from the 5th Element soundtrack.
Music switches are in the building directly behind the billboard of a liandri robot feeding a girl, on the top floor.
A few changes to ambients sounds, reduced the number of bird calls, added some cricket, owl and plane sounds.



I will add it to the next DC music pack too.