Custom maps distribution system

(CH4NDL3R) #1

Hey there,

I’ve got some questions about how will be handled community maps.
As you know, many players don’t like to wait too long downloading a map before being able to play. The bundled maps would weight about 500Mb, which is ~15 minutes to wait (at a steady 500Kb/s). My questions are the following :

  1. Torrent-like distribution system seems a neat idea to preserve bandwidth server-side, but we’re still dealing with an unknown ETA when downloading a map (download speed usually varies depending on the amount of seeds), so what are the solutions regarding this issue ? A HTTP server ?

  2. I heard rumors about compatibility between the same map and different megatexture compression levels, but I haven’t seen it confirmed yet. It is possible having, for a particular map on a server, some players playing client-side the high def and the low def together ?

Thanks for your time :slight_smile:

(Fusen) #2

this was discussed somewhat in a recent Q&A at the US press event.

mega texture compression can be HEAVILY tweaked to get a map down to like 60MB although obviously you’ll lose quite a bit of detail but locki and cloud said “it’d be good enough to test out the beta phases” then once the map is near enough finalised you get the megatexture to the normal levels the production maps are being released at and you’ll end up with a 500-600MB map that you can distribute however the hell you want.

the built in auto update feature will most likely be official stuff only so you won’t be able to use that as a distribution method and it’s also unlikely they’ll incorporate a bittorrent client unless they do so within a patch and then it would still probably be limited to official downloads.

So it’ll end up being up the map maker to decide how to get the maps out.

Also in the interview I referenced above I’m 70% certain that different megatexture compressed maps can’t be played on the same server by different clients.

(Pytox) #3

You are also able to not choose for megatexture though it’s better to use it.

(CH4NDL3R) #4

Fusen : I understand. I’m ok for the beta size btw, it won’t be a problem. My concern is about maps marked as final, which would reach the 500Mb bar, and the waiting related before download completion.
In this topic, it was about a torrent system for maps & mods distribution on the works. That’s my source, but it may have changed since :frowning:

So, there is still 30% hope :slight_smile:

Pytox : What’s the point not using MT when it seems so sexeh on paper ? :wink:
Using large scale terrain maps is very attractive, and I hope we mappers won’t be stuck only distributing lightweight indoor maps or ugly 50Mb outdoor ones, for the sake of seeing them played.
I also understand that server operators won’t add a 500Mb custom map to their mapcycle because it would scare the players away : why wait for a map you don’t know any bit regarding of its quality when you just have to pick another server playing any game-bundled map ?

(SCi-Fi) #5

I would like to see what is the major part that takes all the mb’s for the
map, then find ways to make them less but with the same element as in
ie… candy eyed and strategically hardwork to play as there is no fun in
makin something that is easy!

I cant see ppl wanting to download 40maps at 500-700mbs at a time with
torrents or however to play on most servers that will have custom maps!!

(murka) #6

well, 85% of ppl will be playing original maps cuz of this

(carnage) #7

hopefully bigger maps might make the gaming and mapping community stronger as now people might have to search and find maps they are wanting to download by looking at popular websites before comiting to such a big download

hopefully this could also lead people being much more picky about that maps they download and play and imo this is a good thing cos there is a lot of crap out there and few maps rely make the quality mark

its stated you don’t have to use mega texture as well so if your not in favor of such a big file size and think your map would be more popular without it then your not forced to use it

perhaps we might seem something similar as the quake 4 community map pack contest or similar so people are given a set of the best community maps to download

(.Chris.) #8

Hopefully this will also stop people from releasing sub-par maps to the public also resulting in the majority out there justifying the long download wait that will occur.

(CH4NDL3R) #9

I just hope SD will do something about promoting valuable custom maps in our little internet world.

(carnage) #10

there are quite a lot of websites that do this already for ET and i expect that it will be the same for quake wars

but it will be interesting to see if they have something similar to a community map pack realse

(MuffinMan) #11

one of my map ideas is almost only indoors so I won’t need a megatexture and will keep the size down - hopefully I won’t be the only one with such a plan…

(ktr) #12

Hopefully mega texture is an option…

It would be awesome somebody recreates W:ET maps to ETQW…lol, strogg in goldrush :lol:

(MuffinMan) #13

I hope not - but probably somebody will do that

megatexture use is optional you can use the old way of terrain creating with tiles (although not at the same quality of course)

as for the distribution system - would be nice to have some option like "check my favorite servers automatically at startup, get new torrents if available and start downloading… wouldn’t even need a mod, a little tool might suffice given that anybody can read the current maplist or some torrentlist without joining the server…
hmm let’s wait for the release then I might write such a thing

(carnage) #14

I hope not - but probably somebody will do that

megatexture use is optional you can use the old way of terrain creating with tiles (although not at the same quality of course)

as for the distribution system - would be nice to have some option like "check my favorite servers automatically at startup, get new torrents if available and start downloading… wouldn’t even need a mod, a little tool might suffice given that anybody can read the current maplist or some torrentlist without joining the server…
hmm let’s wait for the release then I might write such a thing[/quote]

if a server is serious about hosting custom content then they can use a website to show the needed files or at least the larger maps that you will probably want to download seperatly

(MuffinMan) #15

yep what I was talking about though would be an automated system so you don’t have to check each page every day but only get a popup or something at startup where you can select every map / addon you want to synchronize (with your favorite servers only…) or completely automated downloads

I hate having to download maps at map change, especially with 500 mb maps - downloading automatically would be much more convenient, something like steam updates for qw maps… maybe just my own preference then…

(carnage) #16

i suppose if can get the server info externally as easily as you can with W:ET then a tool could be written to check for custom content. it still has the weakness that it requires the content to be on the server before you know what maps to download. also you need to have a large enough list of favorite servers to be able to find a populated one with no required downloads

(CH4NDL3R) #17

if a server is serious about hosting custom content then they can use a website to show the needed files or at least the larger maps that you will probably want to download seperatly

W:ET already have this with sv_wwwBaseURL, allowing to download a custom map on a third party server.

(MuffinMan) #18

I’m quite glad that root servers (and virtual roots) come with free traffic quite often now

(carnage) #19

no no u misunderstand. a external website that shows what maps will be running an a favorite server so you can download and prepare