So, our group plans on releasing three maps as part of an overarching campaign, ala Splashdamage.
However, people seem to be releasing maps by themselves… as single entities, and saying they will make the rest of the maps in the campaign later.
So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of releasing maps as standalone? Are there any reasons a mapper / mapping group would want to hold off and wait until the entire campaign is finished?
The advantage of bringing them out one at a time is that you can started getting immediate feedback.
Finish one map and started getting reports on errors and disadvantages while you are working on the next.
There also isn’t really any way to force people to use your maps in the exact rotation you have envisioned anyway.
I say that you beta the maps on passworded server with you good friends (so the map wont spread). Then once you get all 3 maps together release them all together. I might make some ppl mad cause they want it all right now. But, if you wait, the maps will just work better together.
I think releasing map by map is better. Then do the adjustments. Then link them together, in a final release, all in one pk3 (or whatever works best technically).
Why? Dont know. It’s just that I imagine that it must be easier to get one ready, and ship it (in beta form) rather than to wait untill all three maps are ready (or howmany it might be).
Loffy
It seems to me that campaigns are out of the mapper’s control. I’m not sure if SD intended this, but server admins are creating their own campaigns with whatever maps they like. So there is no real reason (if you are an individual) to wait until you have made three maps.
For themed campaigns (like Hummer is working on), it’s nice, since you can craft a story. But there is nothing stopping a server admin from taking one of your maps and putting it in his own campaign.
Also, if you’re honest with yourself, the only similarity between the SD map campaigns was geography. The story/objectives had nothing to do with each other.
To restate my point here, I think (for the most part) campaigns are something to be owned by the server admin.
The reason for waiting and releasing a campaign pack at once (beta tested and ready) would be the higher impact it would make on the community. If they are good and bundled the more reason to use it as a campaign. Though I do agree that testing them on pub servers for feedbacks one and one has it’s advantages too of course. And naturally it’s a question if you can hold on to them until you have the whole campaign ready for release. 
I plan on making a campaign… but for now its one map at a time, and I think it would be best to release them and get some community feedback on the levels.
I am not a mapper, but I do write sortware. The software I write is produced in modules that all fit togather and can be indepently added/updated/removed. I write this way so that it is easier to debug. Releasing one module and letting the users beat on it while I work on another seems, IMO an efficiant way of coding because it is easier to find where the bugs exist.
I do admin our clans server, and as someone else already stated, I mix and match maps according to what the other members want. Although I will always post the campaign as the mappers intended, I will also mix them.
Releasing the maps one at a time would allow us as users to focus on the current map and provide feedback.
Hummer, after seeing your screenies, I can’t wait to get your maps on our server, so my selfish side says, “RELEASE THEM ONE AT A TIME, PLEEEEEEESE”, I can’t wait for you to finish them all. :eek3:
Cool… the original plan was to release them all at once, save them etc. But, I think we’ll release them as they are finished…
One thing I hate about mapping (the only thing really) is having to do a “version 2” or whatever… maps aren’t like software where you can download a newer version and expect it to be backwards compatible… everyone has to re-download the new map, etc. It’s not that bad, just annoying… and confusing for some…
I remember when rummie released a version 2 of his map pack with Nib, and the utter conufusion that followed… that, and the whole, remove the new pk3 and get no fog in the level debaucle… right when the preseason started… people shooting you from across the map != fun.