L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

ZapWizard · Posted: Thu Feb 04 @ 11:15 pm Post subject: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

So I am itching to make a new L4D2 map, and possibly a full campaign.

I think I found another Austin landmark that would make an excellent setting for zombies: The Seaholm Power Plant.

In fact the Drafthouse had their Micheal Jackson Thriller dance festival at the power plant last October.
I hope to get permission from the building owners to go in and take photos similar to what I did with the Alamo Drafthouse Lakecreek location.
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Sheldog23 · Posted: Fri Feb 05 @ 8:27 am Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

Friggen Sweet!
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ZapWizard · Last edited by ZapWizard on Fri Feb 19 @ 1:40 pm; edited 1 time in total

Ok, now starts the official project log:
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Ok, well I can't seem to shake the itch to make a L4D2 campaign.

Since I like to base my maps on real-world locations I have been casually watching for that perfect location, I finally have found my killer location: The Seaholm Power Plant located in my home town of Austin, TX.

The power plant was built in the 1950's in a light art-deco style, and ran off burning gas to generate steam. It was decommissioned in 1989, and is now being converted for other uses. However in my map it will be a fully functional power plant with generators, steam and of course fire.

The power plant was even the location of Thillerfest 2009, where hundreds of people dressed up as zombies and danced to Micheal Jackson's Thriller Festival. Hosted by the Alamo Drafhouse! See a video here: http://goo.gl/qp83

Here are two real-world photos of the power plant.

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Original image credit: www.flickr.com/photos/timpatterson/2056189776/

Original image credit: www.flickr.com/photos/flickravatar/3131446136/

Here is the location on Google Maps:
http://goo.gl/KMtm

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I am again using SketchUp extensively in making the model geometry, and planning the map. If your interested in using SketchUp to make L4D2 maps see my article here:
http://goo.gl/nqWv

It only took an hour in SketchUp to make a rough mock-up of the power plant and bring into Hammer. This was done only to get a sense of scale and confirm that the relatively small power plant could work well as a L4D2 map.

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Using a satellite photo I made a rought plan for a full 5 map campaign for this area.

I can then use SketchUp to build game-ready geometry directly over the satellite image.
The maps is 1:1 scale compared to real-life, or as close as you can get in Hammer.

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All but the last screenshot below is from SketchUp. Little has been exported to the game until so far.

I have most the outside of the power plant modeled. It was done using a series of birds eye photos, photos I found online, and my own ideas of what it should look like.

Main entrance to the power plant:

Water pumping station:

Interior of water pumping station:

This time I am not only using SketchUp to make building geometry, but even to prototype the layout of the terrain by using rough blocks. This allows me to get a better approximation of the real-world terrain inside the Hammer editor.

Wooden walking bridge:

Wooden walking bridge in-game prototype:

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ZapWizard · Posted: Wed Feb 17 @ 9:42 pm Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

Last night I built a portion of the rail bridge which passes next to the power plant.
The players will eventually be running along this bridge.

The bridge in SketchUp:

Initial game export, no textures fixed. 100% brush work, but it will be a model for the final export since there will be up to a dozen of these sections.

On the bridge:

There is just enough room when a train is on the bridge. The charger can still charge and the tank move around.

Photo of the actual bridge:

Photo credit: http://goo.gl/wSS2

Street view of the bridge:
http://goo.gl/6XR7
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Sheldog23 · Posted: Thu Feb 18 @ 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

I'm loving this Zap. These Austin landmark maps are pretty cool. Plus that's just a great area of town to do it in.
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ZapWizard · Posted: Sat Mar 13 @ 11:11 pm Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

Update:

I have been working the actual power plant building both the exterior and interior.
All the brushwork is made in SketchUp and imported and re-textured. There is only the sun light in these images, and a few placeholder models to get an idea of scale.

The power plant is about five stories above ground, and four stories below ground.
It is large enough that it will be a map all on its own.

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pylorns · Posted: Sun Mar 14 @ 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

very cool, looking good.

zittware · Posted: Sun Mar 14 @ 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

Did you get a walkthrough or are you winging the internals?
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ZapWizard · Posted: Mon Mar 15 @ 12:12 am Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

Just what I find on Flickr or Google images. I found quite a lot really.
I tried to get a walkthough, but I can't seem to get in touch with the right people.
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ZapWizard · Last edited by ZapWizard on Sat May 15 @ 11:36 pm; edited 1 time in total

I finally had some more time to work on the map.
I have added a lot of detail and props to the interior of the power plant.
This part of the game will be a multi-part scavenge event requiring players to navigate the entire power plant.
The lower areas can be a maze if you get lost, and the water compounds the difficulty for anyone who gets caught in it.

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Edit: Removed screenshots from this post, newer versions below.
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Tech-Daddy · Posted: Sun May 02 @ 10:52 pm Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

This looks SO good Zap.... very impressive indeed.
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Lancer · Posted: Mon May 03 @ 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

IT is looking pretty epic. The building is great, can't wait to see more of it.
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ZapWizard · Posted: Sat May 15 @ 11:35 pm Post subject: Huge update tons of images

Ok, the map is nearly done as far as a scavenge event, just some exterior skybox details to do, navigation, etc...

Lots of eye candy below:

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Mickey21 · Posted: Sun May 16 @ 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

Looks very well done, very creepy feel to it. Its too bad that I wont get to try it out, but great work indeed!
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ZapWizard · Posted: Tue Jul 06 @ 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: L4D2 map: Seaholm Power Plant

I have been looking for an event to help get me (legally) get inside the Seaholm power plant to take reference photos for research into my Left4Dead2 game map. So here is a shout out to The Electric Company for hosting their 4th of July event at the Seaholm Power Plant and being a cool host.

I was able to roam around the plant for over an hour. I took over three hundred reference photos and a few videos. While the reference photos are not yet online, I have published a set of artistic style photos of different areas of the plant. Some are enhanced for effect while others are right out of the camera.

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