The area shown in those 2 screenshots needs more color variation, too much grey. 

'those screenshots certainly have a UT(99) vibe now in terms of style!'

I am not sure if this a compliment or an insult, what is a UT(99) vibe?

Jago, yeah very true, but there is some more to do yet, this is just a first pass. 

...looks sexy as Hell !! Very nice ! 

neither, its just that it reminded me of a UT99 map stylistically in those shots than a q3 map. 

Is a compliment in my eyes. There's always been some really nice mapping and map vibes in the Unreals.

The open window made me do funny and inappropriate things in my trousers. 

http://members.home.nl/gimli/gimli30.htm

lol 

That skybox is weird as shit... I love it! 

http://www.simonoc.com/images/design/maps_q3/moteof1dx2l_1024.jpg
http://www.simonoc.com/images/design/maps_q3/moteof1dx3l_1024.jpg

@nitin,Shambler : I suppose I was a bit shocked to be told my stuff looks like something made 10 years ago, but I understand what you mean.

@MadFox, I like the ogre strolling by the canal, I dread to think how crazy the compile times are for that. 

It really does look UT99-esque! Too bad it doesn't look q1-esque ;-) 

i think i can see what people are getting at -- the thing that strikes me as most UT99 about these latest shots is the monotonous color tone of the textures -- they are all very desaturated and about the same value, all you need to make it even more UT99-esque is to add very high saturation light sources.

Quake 3 generally has more saturated textures, with lots of orange, brown, green, and pink, and stronger variation in value (dark trims on light walls over medium floors, etc.) 

I prefer Q3 over UT99 by a fair margin, largely because the world was a lot funner. It just drew me into it better and I felt it 'fit'. 

has spelt out what I was seeing. Its the texturing really, but the lighting is also like more recent UT99 custom levels (ie not as saturated as original UT99 maps). 

Yeah I can see what you mean now, I created a new stone trim texture and was loving it so much that I painted it all over the new architectural shapes and forgot I was creating something all the same colour.

Try this one:
http://www.simonoc.com/images/design/maps_q3/moteof1dx4l_1024.jpg

Ive tried adding colour back to the top of the image with the classic redish/white marble combo. I want the place to feel slightly old and worn out colour wise, obviously no floor details yet. The blue is suppose to be the focal point, very strong contrast to everything else around it and the lighting is soft yellow diffuse inside the room and bright sky outside.

I really like how the architectural shapes all fit together with the classic barrel ceiling support and wooden square windows contrasting at the top. The only nitpick for me is the columns are not tapered at the top like in the real world, so it sort of lacks the solid feel you get when looking at the inside of a church.

Ironically someone did mention to add more blue colour lights but the yellow and sky are so strong (the room is a glasshouse) that not much is going to counter the yellow, unless of course it is strong saturated lights! Oh I feel like I am slipping into a UT99 timewarp!

@inertia, OMG that is one cool word! :D I am not sure if you are talking about the UT style on a Q1 forum being out of place or that I am using a strange mix of gothic and classic architecture in my screenshots. Plus the strange woodpunk thing I got with technology items in my map. 

Whatever it is, sock, I like it. That room is great. Nice lighting, good solid construction - well done! 

lighting is ace in both shots btw. 

The map looks great, keep it up! 

I have to give it to you, that last shot (especially the "after") looks brilliant. Perhaps the only thing I'd change is adding yet a bit more color - to the 4 high pillars. 

I like them both. 

The higher contrast (2nd) version . 

I didn't notice a single change in between the two shots.... weird... 

What's wrong with you? :P Look at the colors used right above the 4 high pillars. First shot is grey, 2nd shot is reddish. 

I love the second shot too. Stands out pretty nicely. 

There's nothing wrong with me, I didn't notice this color "change", that's all.... 

don't hand me that colourblind test with that coloured points asking which number I see...
no difference. 

... there's a small color differnce that can be noticed... when you know where to look for ;)