Why the hell did you decide to pick up this 'unreal editor' and start screwing around with it?

I had the UT uber demo for months and when I finally noticed GOTY in the bargain bin I bought it. Played online a bit and noticed I was getting maps that weren't part of the retail release. Someone told me there was an editor and I actually knew as soon as I spawned into my first cube I was owned... King Mango

I've been building REAL things for 21 years...so it was only natural that i had a craving to build UNREAL things too. TexasGtar

Always been interested in editing games, was too young to figure out any sort of doom or duke3d editor. Had a bash at Quake and all sorts of real time strategy games which my bro and i would play. Good times. Loaded up Unrealed for UT99 after seeing an article by cliff in the UK PCgamer. Spiff

I used to like Bryce, Lightwave, etc, and stopped using them. Then i saw UnrealED, which was like screwing around on Bryce, except that you could PLAY the maps you made. Superchaz216

I had screwed around with Doom, Duke3d, Quake II and Interstate '76 editors in the past. (Heck, I used to play around with Load Runner editors back in the apple ][e days.) Game design was always a fun thing for me, from D&D (and T&T) campaigns and original board games to BASIC computer games of the Zork-variety to more traditional graphic video games. I've even gone as far as developing my own 3D engine in BASIC... yea, it's very slow, it was more of an exercise to develop the methodology. So one day, I was in Fry's looking at buying a new video game for kicks. I saw UT2003 and had heard plenty about UT. Once I saw that it came with the editor, I was sold. Later, I realized it came with essentially all the source code. Wow. After a brief stint at NaliCity and an off-and-on relationship with UnrealWiki, I landed here. SuperApe

I got the UT99 demo, loved it, played it to death, brought the game, tried the ed like Blito, fumed at not being able to use it, month later got all the tutorials i could and printed them into a book and read them on nightshifts. Lord Simeon

Bought UT because it did have an editor... tried it the first time, arggg. didn't touch it for a month because of the frustration. Blito3

Because having got my first, brand new PC, I went out shopping with the little pocket money I scraped together. Unreal was on budget and had a very pretty box. Later I was in tears; the first time I had ever seen true 3D with amazing graphics, smoothness, storyline, and atmospherics. Already had a general interest in making my own levels after renting Micro Machines: Turbo Tournament for the Sega MegaDrive (Genesis) and spending a good 7 hour session making tracks. I got very emo one weekend and opened the editor... Outpt.co.uk

I started with UT because the editor was available and there were good online tutorials. Previously, I had mapped for Doom 2, and I guess technically Lode Runner for the Apple II. Blitz

I've been mapping since Unreal, so what's that, about 6-7 years? I tried Duke3d and Quake, but was so corn-fused it was just no fun. When Unreal came out, the editor seemed more natural and was easier to learn. My first level DM-Unsure was posted on a web site, I think it was Nali City, so I was hooked from then on. Even after all that time, I still know less about level design and the editor than some people who've used it less than a year - I can be lazy about learning. There's definitely a science to this. Luv Studd

I've always been a mapping whore, ever since I first found out warcraft2 had an editor. Then I picked UP UT2003 and found it had an editor. Mapping for unreal was surprisingly fun! MeanyMortal

I had an idea for a VCTF map and that's why I started to map... Lecter

What drives you to map?! Most of us know, mapping is a hard, time taking, long, and difficult process, so why do you do it?

My brain never sleeps, it has to do something... Blito3

It's creative, harmless fun and an outlet for ideas. But it's also a great feeling to post a map that people actually enjoy, and to communicate with people from across the world is cool. Luv Studd

Being so bored. I used to play EverQuest 24/7, then quit. So now i have to do something, or ill go nuts. Superchaz216

Its just kinda cool to know someone random on the other side of the world is playing something you made yourself. Eira

Mapping is fun, once you're done you often feel proud about your work as if you've accomplished something. Also, in unreal it is possible to create a virtual reality, a whole new world based on your own imagination. MeanyMortal

The satisfaction you get when someone actually likes something you spent a good amount of time on. Slainchild

I take it as a personal challenge. King Mango

It starts of fun at first. Then you get to the point of no return(tm); the point in which you've put so much into it you cannot let it go to waste. Outpt.co.uk

I map to bring new interesting layouts. I also want to know how my ideas work in the game. Lecter

To make something that hasn't been done before or hasn't been done as well as I think it can be done. Usually, this comes out of a discussion with one mapper or another. For example, the BaseIck maps came from a desire to make a map layout that could work for all (UT2003) game types. That was something NaliCity folks flat out said could not be done. That was a challenge. So was including dynamic lighting, making a new actor (TriggerJumpPad) and tweaking the botplay to be the best it could be, no matter what game type was used. Each new map included new stuff I hadn't tackled yet. SuperApe

Getting ideas out of my head. SKYFURNACE

Creation. I've always loved games, and what's even better is playing something you've created. Lord Simeon

the "buzz" of making something you can then go into and walk around in... that is just friggen the kewlest thing ... making something fun to play or cool looking is also very satisfying ... Fragnbrag

I map because I enjoy the creative process. I also code and write poetry for the same reason. Blitz

Who influences you the most?! We all have our idols, no matter how established you are in the mapping community!

Lord Simeon. Ever since i first started downloading maps, id always see that making some crazy stuff. Always thought, "I wish i could do that." Superchaz216

One single person? That's tough to nail down there are so many mappers who are just freaking amazing. Sometimes you go into a map and it's really easy to suspend the disbelief and immerse yourself. Those are the maps that inspire me. King Mango

Soma, Hourences, among others. Slainchild

I have no specific idols, I play a map, if I enjoy it I try to remember why. MeanyMortal

My idols? Hourences, AngelMapper & Soma, between others. Lecter

Other mappers in the UP community. Honest. This particular community of mappers is extremely innovative, creative and experienced. I wanted to push the boundaries of the engine and this was the obvious choice of mappers to exchange ideas with. Blitz, AngelMapper, Lord Simeon, King Mango, SabbathCat and many others have a similar passion to go beyond the basic construction of maps and make something that lives up to the name Unreal. SuperApe

Real life, other games, Movies. Kantham

The guy at Architectonic and AngelMapper for Basics (tutorials) DavidM and Hourences for more advanced stuff. CyberSirius

Sorry, No one has influenced me. I like others maps ..true..but you will not see me try to make something another mapper has done before. I might do that by accident but it will be unbeknownst to me. TexasGtar

Anyone who pushes the limits. AngelMapper, Blitz, KingMango, Spiff, Blito, SabbathCat, SuperApe, BIG MICK, HortonsWho...there's so many styles here that i love, each mapper almost has their own signature in maps, and you coul almost play maps without knowing who made them, and know who made it.
Above all, the person i have the most respect for is Toonces. Lord Simeon

i have no "idols" per se, but do have a great respect for the many skilled and accomplished individuals, mapping is art after all, and some have more skill and talent than others, that shows in the work. Fragnbrag

I can honestly say that I do my own thing when it comes to mapping. But I do rely heavily on beta testing a lot of the time, so I guess you could say that I'm most influenced by the great people here who test my maps. Blitz

Anyone who puts out a map that's got something interesting in it, something unique or that plays like a dream. Early on it was probably Rich "Akuma" Eastwood or DavidM, but maps by CliffyB & Epic's Warren Marshall I found similarly influential. Lately soma's maps are the bomb - he's got a good system and knows the key to good mapmaking is feedback. Luv Studd

How long do you spend on the editor each week? Do you piece together maps here and there, or do you HAVE to sit down and get some hardcore work in for hours on end? Also, why?

Mapping from start to finish depending on the mood as fast as a few hours to more then a week (groan). blito3

Maybe 5 hours a night. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Slainchild

Random big, fat, (but thankfully infrequent) 8 hour sessions. Outpt.co.uk

At least 1 hour a day, minimum. On days off, i spend roughly 3 through 6 hours on the editor. Or more. Days with class, prolly 2 through 3. Even though sometimes i have to stop mapping after only a few minutes, i always try to get a huge chunk of mapping in. Superchaz216

it varys , when ever I'm feeling creative, ill open up the ed and vomit my inspiration into a small highly decorated hallway and sometimes a small map. Eira

As long as I can. I know ..it's just not right. Sometimes i wish I had my life back but sometimes i am glad i started it all so many years ago. TexasGtar

Sometimes every chance i get, sometimes none. I haven't mapped the last two days, but today i'm going to get back into it. Being a father of two, i often map in spurts. I'll do 10 minutes then go play with the kids or get them drinks, or pick them up from school, then i might map for another 20 minutes, then have dinner and bath the kids. At night i get a few hours to just do my thing, but i also like to watch a bit of TV with my wife so she knows i still exist... Lord Simeon

probably 2 hours a day average, more on weekends. I have to take breaks and work on maps here and there, because I have other responsibilities (family, job) and it's better to clear your mind and think about other things besides UED and the PC in general. Luv Studd

Doesn't matter to me... whatever fits the map. blito3

ONS. I love big terrain. I suck at archy. King Mango

I only mapped for CTF & VCTF. The best of that is you only need to make half of the level... Lecter

Always new game types. I like the challenge and learning new stuff. Although, I do enjoy revisiting a game type to really refine layouts that will work best for the game type or coming up with extras that will add to the game type and make it different (if not better) than the average map of that game type. SuperApe

I prefer objective driven game types as opposed to mindless frag-fests. But my next map DM-WarmBody breaks that, really. outpt.co.uk

DM, mainly. No restrictions. Just have fun mapping. Superchaz216

I should do each type before I answer but of the types I have done and released I would say that so far the most fun (and the most difficult)was the assault map. TexasGtar

ONS and AS. When it comes to pathing and objectives it's a real challenge, and i love a good challenge. Lord Simeon

I have no favorite game type, but my maps always tend to become VCTF ones due to some reason... MeanyMortal

I like to vary the game type, but DM-1on1 has become a favorite. I really like assault, but haven't had the ambition to create one for UT2004 yet. Blitz

I make DM maps because that's the game type I play. I prefer TDM as well. I like DM because it seems more frantic and less structured than the other types - I can't get into games where someone is barking orders at me. Luv Studd

Realistic environments and places that could actually exist on earth today or in history. krazy darcy

I don't really have a main theme, but if anything, its prolly ancient stuff. Why? Dunno, just easier to make temple-ish looking maps over anything else. Superchaz216

Old style maps, for example Dm-Albatross is a nice one, and DM-Nirvana]I[ is a great one, they look great and have a strong feel about them, a fresh style of ancient architecture that just works. Eira

All over the place. Unreal should take advantage of the engine and offer as wide a selection of environments and themes as possible. My favorite thing is to find a niche that hasn't been exploited yet and take it. If I can't do that, I just try something I haven't done or try to improve on a done-to-death theme. All over the place. SuperApe

I like interesting large simple architecture, like Halo'esque, UnrealII, XMP, Tribes. SkyFurnace

Gothic surroundings, because i feel at home there. Volcano

I like to make sci-fi stuff that might actually not be sci-fi. Did that make sense? I like a little of everything and that is why I have a hard time keeping a coherent theme. Kinda real and kinda unreal. Depends on how open minded you are i guess. TexasGtar

Bizarre themes. I think anything that isn't normally seen in a map. It could be anywhere. A mouse hole, on the ocean, on an asteroid, inside a womb (heh heh). Lord Simeon

i like most themes, but lean towards convincing future tech / urban / industrial / sci-fi -- space and alien environments also appeal (blade runner-ish / alien planets, etc) Fragnbrag

I like ancient maps so easy to be sloppy without looking sloppy. Blito3

My favorite theme is natural settings. I suppose because I suck at technical architecture, but I also love the outdoors and have a better "feel" for those locales. Blitz

I've been all over the place. I think industrial & castle-type maps are easier and most used because the meshes & textures that came with the game (and custom ones available online) are just more straightforward and easier to identify with in real life. The techie type maps are more difficult because it's harder to make it seem believable, like this map could exist in real life. Luv Studd