New Maps From SplashDamage Later Maybe?

(MindLink) #21

That situation won’t become any better in the future. I can imagine that games like FarCry (where the editor is practically drag and drop, so even the most stupid person can use it) will be swarmed with thousands of really bad custom maps because everybody thinks he has to share his beautiful new stuff with everyone else.

(G0-Gerbil) #22

Yay, we need more first maps :smiley:
I usually say to people who ask me about mapping:
‘Never release your first map’
and I’d probably add these days:
‘and have a serious thought about your second’

I know it seems like to fun have people playing on your maps, but they simply won’t, and even assuming you don’t then get a name for yourself as a crap mapper, you’ve still added another shite map to the pool, putting another straw (bad map) on the donkey’s (ET) back (custom maps being played).

How’s that for a laboured analogy? :slight_smile:

(MuffinMan) #23

I definitely agree that the players don’t easily accept a new map, you’re right - a server taking a new map into rotation is empty the next moment, anyway there’s a good way around it now with the campaigns, our public clan server (kingludwigsarmy.com) runs 2 campaigns, one 6 map official and one 3 map custom.
I (because I am the admin) created these to keep the people for at least the 6 maps as I hate being disconnected within a running campaign because of missing files as well - anyway people do play the customs as well now, it took quite a long time and I guess most admins don’t wait that long but now the server is still full in the customs…

oh and another point - the customs are not as good as the officials in gameplay (most of them) because they can’t test that thoroughly, you need a clan to test and not just once, which requires a friendly clan+server, not an easy find…

(G0-Gerbil) #24

I dunno - I’d say most mappers don’t bother with testing - certainly not beyond obvious bugs, but even that’s not true.
EG Was on 1944_forest final today - now the gameplay is bad, indicating that no real testing was done, but worse - there were simple mistakes like no bloody objective text, so no-one had a clue what to do.
It’s stuff like this that gives customs a bad name, and when someone says ‘I don’t play customs, they are crap’, I don’t really have much of a convincing counter-arguement.

Wasn’t someone on here though running a map rating site? Can’t remember who - if you read this and it’s you, pipe up and remind me, I was going to rate maps :wink:

(NOP) #25

this is the only site I’m aware of that has some reviews, but by the looks of it it hasn’t been updated in a while. It would be nice to have a site with all the maps, where everyone can go and vote (kinda like the poll votes on the forums) on their favorite maps but i doubt anyone will want to go through the trouble of making and maintaining that.
I think the next best alternative would be to have some kind of sticky thread here in the forum with all the FINISHED maps, some screenshots, a small description and a link to a discussion thread for every map. In the discussion thread then we can just post our oppinion about the particular map…kinda like a rating.

(G0-Gerbil) #26

The problem with public votes is that it usually boils down to fanboys, not people voting properly.
I prefer the way the site you posted (which was indeed the one I was thinking of) works, but of course it’s only as good as the people reviewing maps - IE do you trust their opinion?
Now I am thinking of writing reviews and I’m notoriously harsh, so am I a good choice?
Certainly I’d start by reviewing the maps I don’t like since it’s more fun to slate than compliment :wink:

(MadJack) #27

I’ve never had anything against harsh judgements except if you don’t do constructive commenting.

Anyone just saying “This map ain’t worth shizz.” is not a good reviewer.

If you do make reviews, I really hope you’ll be making constructive criticisism. (sp?) This is nothing worse like a bad reviewer.

(G0-Gerbil) #28

I agree, but you’ll soon find that people find it very hard to take any form of criticism against their creations, be it constructive or otherwise.
But since I don’t really care what people think of me, I’m quite prepared to say what I think. But yes, I do try to frame it with at least pointers to how to improve it, even if my thoughts are particularly offensive :smiley:

(MadJack) #29

If a mapper doesn’t want or can’t stand criticism… why the hell would he submit it to get reviewed!?! lol

Quick answer: To get their ego flattered I guess. Maybe a lot of mappers think they’re the best… shrugs

(G0-Gerbil) #30

No, most maps aren’t submitted to be reviewed, they are made public to become the next all-time favourite map.
Which as we all know, isn’t going to happen.
Map reviews like the site above are an entirely independant effort to let people know what maps are crap, which to avoid and why etc.
Also, which maps are great and worth getting.

Call it harsh, but custom maps need to be drastically culled if they are ever to be taken seriously.

(MadJack) #31

I agree with that.

Now let’s see some reviews Gerbil :wink:

(=DaRk=CrAzY-NuTTeR) #32

yeah

:bash: critics :bash:

(Davros) #33

you dont have to write a whole page for a review, if ppl just wanna grab a bunch of good maps they wont want to read pages of reviews to find them. just a view paragraphs and screenshots would be cool. id happily provide webspace for this

(MadJack) #34

I agree with that Torchy. I think there’s a quick and easy way to do that. First making a Pros/Cons without going into details. Just the basics and a more detailed review (for the mapper’s and the mapping community benefit).

Something similar to PC Gamers or a magazine like that. There’s an indepth review and a quick check…