Why do all maps look like carpet up close?

[FoeOfTheBee]

Is this just a random unintended effect?

[Das Bruce]

Detail tex.

[Dragon45]

NMF looks hawt up close... someone get a pic of a map in it...

[Das Bruce]

Hawt secks bump mapping.

[SwiftSpear]

Is this just a random unintended effect?

The detailed texture is a tillable texture with transparently that renders over the whole map. Maps look like carpet because the default detail texture is hideous for most things and has a carpet look. Without the detailed texture however maps look like really shitty bad resolution textures up close. The new map format basically does away with the problems caused by texture/detail textures with it's texture splatting system.

[Sheekel]

Hawt secks bump mapping.

Holy shit! That's b0ner-inducing!

[FizWizz]

That carpet effect that you'll see on most maps is because people typically use the default detail texture, like has been said above. Interestingly, The Gundam mod has it's own (better) detail texture that overrides the custom 'carpet'-like one.