Operation Blitzkrieg re-release

[Dave_Billing]

The episode has finally been released!  Download it from here:

http://www.fileplanet.com/219818/210000/fileinfo/Duke-Nukem-3D:-Operation-Blitzkrieg

Also, I've forgotten to credit my beta testers in the text file, so I'd like to thank Scott xforgex and Daniel Gaskill for their time and feedback.

[Dan G]

Has it changed much since the beta test?

Micro review:
It's a fun episode in the classic style.  Design is clean and eye-pleasing, gameplay is nice and flows well, levels are short and sweet, with a few puzzles to break up the action, but nothing frustrating.  Just a good old-fashioned Duke episode.

[Forge]

I agree with Dan. Good texture selection with strong lighting & shading give it real nice classic "old school" feel.

[Puritan]

Looking good.
I've passed the third level and I'm agree with the gentlemen above me.
Very classic feel. Nice work!

[Gambini]

What about explaining how to put it to work?

[Dave_Billing]

What about explaining how to put it to work?

Simply create a folder called OPBLITZ or Operation Blitzkrieg and extract the .grp file to it.  Then select the folder upon EDuke32 startup (assuming that is the port being used).

[Dave_Billing]

Has it changed much since the beta test?

Micro review:
It's a fun episode in the classic style.  Design is clean and eye-pleasing, gameplay is nice and flows well, levels are short and sweet, with a few puzzles to break up the action, but nothing frustrating.  Just a good old-fashioned Duke episode.

Yes, I've left the elusive vent grate in map 3 lying on the ground as a hint,  certain mirrors will not break (if you use eduke32) and weapons progression and ammo distribution has been tweaked.  Bigger weapons like the freezer and devastator are now confined to later levels rather than getting them all in one go.  Plus, the big boss has been changed.

[Gambini]

I´m in level 4 already. Really enjoying this really cool episode! The lighting and old school feel are great. 

My only complaint till now:
Why the hell had you to time every single door in the map? Makes the progress so awkward and annoying at times. I´d be even willing to remove all those time SE´s in the episode and replay it again 

[Dave_Billing]

I´m in level 4 already. Really enjoying this really cool episode! The lighting and old school feel are great. 

My only complaint till now:
Why the hell had you to time every single door in the map? Makes the progress so awkward and annoying at times. I´d be even willing to remove all those time SE´s in the episode and replay it again 

I was actually thinking about removing them at some stage, and admittedly they can be somewhat annoying at times, but I found this was offset by the fact they kept the map 'clean' in a way.

[Dave_Billing]

Oh, and how do I submit the episode for review?  The email address under Contacts doesn't work.  Thanks.

[Dan G]

Oh, and how do I submit the episode for review?  The email address under Contacts doesn't work.  Thanks.

It would have been a good idea to start a new thread for the release in the Duke Nukem Games forum (where all the other release threads are).  However, I don't think any potential reviewers will have any trouble finding it here.  Mikko Sandt reviews almost all Duke 3D releases for his site, and I would expect a review forthcoming from him.  As for this site:  no one seems to be writing reviews here these days.  EDIT:  But I think Puritan will probably post news of the release on the front page.

If you are interested in attracting some additional players, I recommend starting a thread about your episode at Duke4.net:  http://forums.duke4.net/forum/29-user-map-and-level-editing-discussion/

[Mikko_Sandt]

Fun little episode, took me about 40 minutes. Review here: http://msdn.duke4.net

[Dan G]

Fun little episode, took me about 40 minutes. Review here: http://msdn.duke4.net

I've noticed that you usually review maps while playing on Let's Rock difficulty.  Do you consider that to be the standard difficulty level?  For an experienced player, I consider Come Get Some to be standard difficulty; if I play on an easier difficulty I feel like I'm missing out on gameplay.

[Mikko_Sandt]

Generally speaking, casual gamers don't go for above average skill settings so Let's Rock is probably the most commonly used skill setting. I don't like the fact that some reviewers (at unrealsp.org, for example) use the hardest skill settings when reviewing. (It's quite comical when they describe something super hard as easy, even though I consider myself a skilled single-player gamer.)

But this isn't the only reason I play on Let's Rock. Additional enemies simply make most maps drag without having a significant effect on challenge (kinda like how goalies in hockey feel they get better during a game the more shots they have to face).

[Forge]

I used to try to play something a couple of times before I would review. Once on lets rock and again on come get some, but unless otherwise stated on the text, I would review it at the default let's rock.
I map and casually play at the default lets rock. Just my habit I suppose. "Enter - Enter - Enter...lets play dammit"