Need a map makers take on this

(EvilJohn) #1

Is it an acceptable practice to take someones map, and insert your own clan’s pictures, and or signs?

Is it an acceptable practice to take someone else’s map, and change the wave file, or music?

Without permission. Even though this may run on your server only, and is not for release.

I say seek permission. I wonder how map makers feel about this?

Some gaming friends, and I was wondering about this.

Does it make it OK if you create a change in the client, or mod for the client… So only the client is changed and not the map to create these changes?

Thank you for your input. What changes have you seen done to your map that you were not to happy about?

EDIT: Of course when this happens its open season?
http://www.splashdamage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17629/

(system) #2

no
no
no
yes - dunno
ok
dunno what ya mean

creepy questions :stuck_out_tongue:

(unf4z3d) #3

forthe dunno part i think he maens u make a seperate pk3 file that will hold the clans images, that the map will load instead of the ones in the map…

(system) #4

aw, i thought he was talking about editing maps without permissions :S
My bad (again)…:slight_smile:

(Avoc) #5

Sometimes its necessary for a clan to upload an add-on .pk3 file in order to replace some textures that otherwise would be illegal to host. Our server has added a .pk3 file to replace some of the nazi pictures in marrakech. Generally I think that addon .pk3 are ok, since you are not really changing the map itself (as in, ripping it and then adding your own textures, copying brushes etc.)

(dwe_flame) #6

well, i wont like it for sure if someone would make the changes within the pk3 (editing textures/wav files/ etc)

but if you have a mod running on your server, like i have on my own, what will have a edited texture within it, this is changed not within the map, but only your server.

keep mappers pk3 files intact.

normally the readme file which is included in 99 of 100 times will tell you not to edit any contents of the pk3 file.

don’t forget most maps take weeks, sometime months to make. :rolleyes:

but if the readme tells you, you can edit (which will probably will be, erm… never :smiley: ) you can.

i hope you have been informed enough :slight_smile:

(IndyJones) #7

isn’t it still illegal at your server then? original pk3 still has the nazi pics.

(system) #8

Since i understood the topic quite wrong (until now) i gotta say :

i edit the maps and replace swastikas and nazi stuff since it is not allowed here in Germany.
(and i don’t feel bad about it since i just replace swastikas in something that is legit here in Germany…)

i also gotta say that some smart mappers throw in campaigns in their maps so players are forced to download maps wich aren’t in the server campaign…pretty smart
This forces me to edit the map and repack it without campaign…

(huPoo) #9

I think it’s ok to edit in any way every map that have the original map source published, such as loffy’s maps, adlernest, and stock maps (and probably many more maps that i’m not aware of). In the rest you should ask some permission. If there’s some illegal content in the pk3’s (like nazi flags) then you shouldn’t have to ask any permission to replace the files. Also I think it would be fair for serveradmins to have right to delete everything from pk3 that might effect gameplay in bad way, such as loud music.

If I were serveradmin I would simply do whatever I want with the maps. If someone would accuse me of editing the maps I would simply say I downloaded it from some random website or invent better lie. Let’s face it, there has never been and never will be any lawsuit concerning non-profit maps.

(dwe_flame) #10

[QUOTE=huPoo;191536]I think it’s ok to edit in any way every map that have the original map source published, such as loffy’s maps, adlernest, and stock maps (and probably many more maps that i’m not aware of). In the rest you should ask some permission. If there’s some illegal content in the pk3’s (like nazi flags) then you shouldn’t have to ask any permission to replace the files. Also I think it would be fair for serveradmins to have right to delete everything from pk3 that might effect gameplay in bad way, such as loud music.

If I were serveradmin I would simply do whatever I want with the maps. If someone would accuse me of editing the maps I would simply say I downloaded it from some random website or invent better lie. Let’s face it, there has never been and never will be any lawsuit concerning non-profit maps.[/QUOTE]

remove nazi flags and stuff i think is ok, after all, a mapper himself should already know in some country’s thats not allowed.

but really start changing other stuff is also a bit of respect to the mapper i believe.
dont forget most maps take weeks or months to make for a mapper, they do this all for free, and doing this so YOU still have new maps to play these days.

(EvilJohn) #11

I must confess. I have never altered a map unless I used cvars to change map time. That was even rare, because testing is done my most map makers to determine best times for optimal game play But I have altered mods with a readme stating not to do so. I have removed wave files from a Halloween mod that gave me a headache, and I found annoying. I have removed X rated porn songs from a Christmas mod. Probably should have not used them at all. But i did find them fun after the changes :0

(Pande) #12

what IS legal is to use a pk3 that has like zZ19Zz_thepk3name.pk3 and in it you use the same directories and names for anything you want to replace. it will work like an override. this can be done to anything, including shaders.

(-SSF-Sage) #13

I’d say months or even years.

(FireFly) #14

Sorry for this noobish question, but I always wondered about this:
What If a server admin would replace posters or signs in an excisting map and save those into a pk3 :
A player / client visiting this server would automaticaly download this pk3.
Does this mean that if the player would join another server playing the same map the textures would still be replaced?

(IndyJones) #15

that pk3 would have to be in MOD (noquarter, jaymod etc) directory to download. he will see replaced textures only on the server that has that file too, unless he join a unpure server (i didn’t see any).

(Pande) #16

theres like 0 unpure servers because of people that apply brightness shaders to player characters and whatnot. the only way I know how to cheat in a pure server is to make all textures flat shade, lol :slight_smile:

anyway, ya only that server UNLESS you install the mod in etmain, in which case it will override anything. Course, if its a good quality replacement its likely you won’t care. :slight_smile:

(kamikazee) #17

[QUOTE=IndyJones;191575]that pk3 would have to be in MOD (noquarter, jaymod etc) directory to download. he will see replaced textures only on the server that has that file too, unless he join a unpure server (i didn’t see any).[/QUOTE]Or if the second server offers the same texture pack, of course.

(Diego) #18

This topic will give you a good indication of what I think about someone who altered my map in a very negative way:

http://www.splashdamage.com/forums/showpost.php?p=161669&postcount=38

Basically screwing with the contents of a pk3 file is offlimits. If you modify a pk3 file, then it becomes an entirely new map that has to be downloaded to the client and they end up with mulitple copies of the same map all overriding each other.

Regarding Posters:
I did come to learn later that I had a few SS posters in my map and server admins replaced them with a modfile. That’s fine with me. There use was unintentional and it fixed the problem without releasing a new version. Posters are in the maps to add to the WW2 atmosphere. The atmosphere that I am not trying to create is one that bombards the players with clan advertisements or Porn for the kids. I don’t want to see this crap in my maps. Personally, I would prefer that nobody plays my map than play it with this type of graffiti in it.

Regarding Sounds:
Basically, the same answer. However, I can fully agree with you regarding sound files that x-rated, extremely loud, or just so annoying you can’t f**king stand it anymore. In all of these cases, you are dealing with either an inexperienced mapper, or an immature one. So if the map is still so much fun that you want to play it, make a .wav file that only has silence, name it the same as the offending sound and put it in a separate mod pk3 file.

In general, if you have a valid problem with a map. Try to contact the mapper first. They may be willing to help you with a fix. Just recently, I made a patch file for Praetoria so that the bunker clan could increase the frame rate for slower machines by making the fog more dense, and giving them some new sky textures. The original .map file is still intact. You only get the fix if you play on their servers.

And I agree with SAGE. I spent 3 years on Praetoria. I don’t want someone trashing it in 3 minutes.

(EvilJohn) #19

Have to agree with Diego.

(TomTom7777) #20

My two cents;
Creating an overlay pk3 that adds to or modifies the map is generally OK PROVIDING it does not obscure the authorship of the original map (e.g. don’t replace any signatures…), and give credit in your readme even if only to say inspired by… (And unless you have contacted the author try to limit the distribution of your file say to a mod.)

But there is a further exception. An overlay file that hides Nazi symbols or other illegal content is not acceptable. Why? because the file with the original illegal content has to be downloaded and stored in the computer where it is illegal to have such content. And making somebody download illegal content without their knowledge (because its hidden) is seriously bad. In these cases the original file needs must be edited solely to replace the illegal content and given a slightly different pk3 name. But ask the original mapper first if you can.