What is C.E.R.N.?
CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the world’s largest particle physics centre.
Here physicists come to explore what matter is made of and what forces hold it together.
CERN exists primarily to provide them with the necessary tools. These are accelerators, which accelerate particles to almost the speed of light and detectors to make the particles visible. Founded in 1954, the laboratory was one of Europe’s first joint ventures and now includes 20 Member States.
About
CERN has a couple of attractions for me as a gamer; one is the physical layout and design and the other is the work they do there. Regarding the layout there always seems to be building going on and the extensive tunnels and large cavens could make some cool levels. Also they do some pretty exciting physics research, a little like those guys at Black Mesa!, but the machinery could provide some great models as well as providing some great puzzles. See here for a piece about wanting more interesting puzzles.
Resources:
The Gallery
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The most interesting article I’ve read at your site. I concur with your ideas on game environments and both themes would seem to offer plenty of design possibilities. Of course melding a good story to a good design is equally difficult – one of the current posts about a new HL2 SP map had me in stitches because the story was such crap.
The link to Grand Illusions was also quite interesting. I can see the principles described being applied to such devices as a “Gaussian Rocket Sled” or a “Diamagnetic Levitation Conveyor Belt” but I digress…
I think you have hit the nail on the head about “Melding a good story” because for me I need a reason to be in those places and often it’s the combination of location and story that gives the perfect balance.
I also agree about the current crop of stories, they are often laughable. Have you read my piece about Game and Story Writing?
Lastly your “Gaussian Rocket Sled” and “Diamagnetic Levitation Conveyor Belt” are exactly the type of things I was thinking about when I made the post. Putting boxes on beams isn’t exactly exciting or mind stretching. One possible use of the more advanced physics engines is to teach youngsters physics! Put them in a game world and let them play around and work out some puzzles and then discussion the results in class. Imagine their faces when the teacher says, “Today’s homework is to create a map using the physics principles you’ve learnt this last month”. But now I digress..
There was a competition in FPSBanana a while ago, and this was my submission:
http://www.youtube.com/user/thexblah#p/a/f/1/0fDROfLqSRY
There are also a lot of great submissions on this content in their community.
Nice map. I am going to find my back up DVDs and look for the missing images later today.
I’ve added a working gallery.
Amazing what can be built isn’t it.. I’ve seen some things here today that would make incredible material for mods and maps..