The time has finally come. After 5 long years, the original map for Hostile Intent has found its way toward this release. Sarge, the original level designer of Basque, dropped by the other day asking about this map. When one of our Admins posted screenshots of them, I had to share with everyone.

IkusaGwai: so Bic, what can you tell me of you work on Basque? You gained the map after some downtime by the original creator Sarge. Was it hard to resurrect?

Bic-B@ll: I started work on the map after many of the testers and dev team hinted that they desired to play the map, but hated it because it was very out dated. Its one of the original, if not the oldest map in HI. I figured that I could take the map and just fool around with it, update the terrain, add new textures and objectives and be done. It’s turned into a huge project, partially because I'm slow, but also because I had to remake the entire map. The map didn't exist in .map form on anyone's computer by Serge’s and he was away in the military. So i had to go through the extremely tedious process of recreating the map from a decompiled version, it took a very long time to do that, and then for a long time after that I constantly remade the terrain to my liking. The map had a beach for a while, it had a garage, a pool, many things, I opted to delete them and have come up with what I thought was a good premise.

IkusaGwai: I noticed there where some great changes from the original version, as to what you prepared for 1.4. What influences did you have to make this updated version?

Bic-B@ll: To start, personal preferences, there were some things in the house that I personally didn't like and I changed them. One of the biggest things that influenced the map was the performance of it, because it originally had some huge hills, you could stand on top of one and it would bring your computer to its knees. Things like this made me change the outside of the map entirely and forced me to make some changes inside the house to tweak gameplay.

kusaGwai: Can you explain a little about the objectives for Basque?

Bic-B@ll: Basque, being a region in Spain known for rebel activity, is an interesting place for the map. Since it is a house based map I had to be a bit creative in the objectives, I didn't create the original theme so I just pulled out of my head. Basically, the rebels have a plot to destroy a building in Madrid, knowing of this from valid sources, it is acted upon. To make game play interesting, there are three objectives, but only two are necessary. The three include a map indicating the location of the building and bombs; the bombs themselves; and an arsenal of weapons. All three are hidden away in the house and you’ll have to find them.

IkusaGwai: Any hints to where they may be?

Bic-B@ll: Maybe inside a pool table or unsuspected couch or even a corner closet.


Bic-B@ll has also been assisting Squad finishing the map hi_efreeti. He has added some great objectives and some great effects into this map as well. I’ll have some more images coming including some weapon renders coming in the next few updates.

Stay Tuned!!!