When will get some new content?
Magneto
Join Date: 2010-12-22 Member: 75856Members
Join Date: 2010-12-22 Member: 75856Members
<div class="IPBDescription">With only two maps the beta is getting a bit stale...</div>I know they've got at least one or two maps coming along nicely but it's been months now since hearing about them so is there any chance we'll see them and other content soon?
If not would it at least be possible for us to get the option to download maps when connecting to a server?
It doesn't need to include any modded files at this point, just allowing maps would be a huge improvement and help keep the game fresh without messing with the development in any way and it shouldn't be much work to code?
If not would it at least be possible for us to get the option to download maps when connecting to a server?
It doesn't need to include any modded files at this point, just allowing maps would be a huge improvement and help keep the game fresh without messing with the development in any way and it shouldn't be much work to code?
Comments
<b>I need to be nicer.</b>
I have seen a few servers with different maps. Haven't tried them though.
I do agree that the maps should be automaticly downloaded, but for now its possible to download the maps trough other means. The main problem is to get servers to use those maps, and thats up to the server owners.
I hope they release the new maps soon tho, what i have seen of them looks amazing ;)
I feel you man, but no one here cares. They are going to say make it your damn self.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Im not really complaining just wondering, i think it's a fair question at this point, as we could really do with a few new maps and/or the ability to download the community maps in game, because lets be honest 90% of people can't be bothered to go searching and i don't blame them as there's no one in the server usually.
Exactly. If they don't want (or aren't ready) to release the new maps yet, at least let the community share theirs a little easier. It is near trivial what this will do in terms of getting people's interest again while at the same time the rest of the official content can be finished up. The game seems stable enough now that I would actually be comfortable trying to test my (or other) maps online. Can this please be considered for 173?
Here's all you need to know: They work on both. They have different people for both. They're already working as hard as their doctors permit.
I believe the best option is to allow the community to download custom maps in game, it would improve things a lot and it shouldn't be much trouble to add, its by far the best way to go if they want to keep peoples interest while they work on more important stuff like performance etc.
<!--quoteo(post=1838750:date=Mar 25 2011, 06:48 AM:name=Squeal_Like_A_Pig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Squeal_Like_A_Pig @ Mar 25 2011, 06:48 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1838750"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Mineshaft is pretty much ready for release, we are just waiting on overall game performance improvements and a few other technical items.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Depending on how things go on the programming side, we are aiming for getting the map out to the public in a few weeks.
--Cory
Depending on how things go on the programming side, we are aiming for getting the map out to the public in a few weeks.
--Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's good to hear, do you think we might be able to get a map download system in place at some point soon as well?
I really think it would be better to get this sooner rather than later, so please pass the idea along.
Ladders are never meant to be used in a way where they are required for gameplay, they should always be there just as an additional option for players to take a secondary route, or get into an elevated position for covering an area. So, the fact that they aren't currently working should have little impact on the overall gameplay of any of the official maps, and therefore is not factored into the map release schedule.
--Cory
--Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Then the marine trap hole in repair room in tram needs to be fixed. Its the part in the middle of the room that connects to the vents under the room. The only way to get out is via the (nonworking) ladder.
<!--quoteo(post=1841589:date=Apr 19 2011, 09:43 PM:name=McGlaspie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (McGlaspie @ Apr 19 2011, 09:43 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1841589"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->^ Not too mention the Marines effectively loose the "high ground" at their starting location in Tram (the catwalk).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I didn't say ladders aren't needed, they just shouldn't be crucial to gameplay. As in, the gorge can never get to X room because the only way there is with a ladder. Its pretty easy to avoid falling into that pit in Tram for now, until ladders are fixed, so stuff like that does not make fixing ladders that high of a priority, and will not hold up the release of new maps.
<!--quoteo(post=1841597:date=Apr 19 2011, 10:32 PM:name=Lazer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lazer @ Apr 19 2011, 10:32 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1841597"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'll overlook ladders for custom map downloads. When is this going to be in? Is there a reason it isn't yet? I bet you this feature would generate more buzz than most that could make it in on time for the next patch.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, allowing custom maps to be downloaded when connecting to a server is a bit complicated and not a quick or easy task. Since there aren't even that many custom maps that are ready to be released yet, I don't think this warrants urgent attention.
--Cory
If I remember correctly Marines were able to fly by using ladders.
I think it was less flying and more your could climb all the way to the ceiling regardless of the height of the ladder. Also, I noticed that getting on/off ladders was pretty buggy when the server got laggy.
I usually agree with you but I'm having difficulty here. I write code like this for my job all day, and understand although not a boolean value that can just be switched on, I don't see it taking more than a day or so to have working. Agreed not many custom maps are ready to be released, but that is only by default because no one can really test much other than aesthetics currently. Mappers need a way to test with actual games in order to decide if major layout changes are to be made before committing too much into detail. I'm in that boat right now as are quite a few other mappers. On the other side of things many people are tired of the same 2 maps. As stated by others, this feature would be better sooner than later, but if Max is the only one working on the engine and all of his efforts are going strictly to performance then I could see where it would be impractical to sidetrack for anything other than that.
There are many tasks which may seem straight forward, but there are often many more considerations that end up turning something simple into something more complicated. While the basics of adding the ability to download custom maps may not be a huge task there are always the issues that come up, such as dealing with bandwidth being spread between people downloading the map and people trying to connect to the server, not to mention the additional testing time and bug fixing that invariably accompany a large feature like this. With the giant list of bugs and performance optimizations and gameplay tasks, we definitely have to pick and choose what gets elevated in priority.
That said, this is a feature we would like to see get in, and we're exploring possible options of getting a simpler version of this, that is kept off the game server, that we can get up and running faster.
--Cory
I think the real reason why it's being held back is because it has to be idiot-proof, so to say. In case the internet-connection isn't working right, or not enough disk-space, or an invalid download-link (just throwing some reasons out there) all have to be taken into account and properly handled.
--Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1841708:date=Apr 20 2011, 11:45 AM:name=Squeal_Like_A_Pig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Squeal_Like_A_Pig @ Apr 20 2011, 11:45 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1841708"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That said, this is a feature we would like to see get in, and we're exploring possible options of getting a simpler version of this, that is kept off the game server, that we can get up and running faster.
--Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think this is a bit of a chicken or the egg problem, UWE doesn't want to spend time implementing this now because there are not many releasable custom maps, but custom maps developers can't adequately test their maps enough to make them release quality without something like this. I understand that this isn't a high priority now, but I think this is a critical feature that either needs to be in the v1.0 release or shortly after. I don't see NS2 having much of a custom mapping community without this.
That said, this is a feature we would like to see get in, and we're exploring possible options of getting a simpler version of this, that is kept off the game server, that we can get up and running faster.
--Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Even if your not implementing this right now I have a suggestion, what about uploading all the custom maps on one or more powerfull servers, different from the game's server, and with all the download addresses in a txt file on the game server? that would solve bandwidth issues? Just an Idea though...
Who pays for the powerful server? How do custom maps get there? How do mappers update custom maps? That would all have to be solved.
Personally I like the idea post in here where the server does a quick check for the map, then directs the player to a particular page/location/website. The mapper could pick that particular page from the webhost of their choosing (or collaborate and form a server they all have access to, as per Deagle's idea), and put the address in a text file that comes packaged with the map.
When the server admin decides to install a map for use on his server, the game prompts him for said location, so it can redirect any new players to the location of the map the server is running.
For this point in the game, it would be sufficient to only have to link to the current version of the map that the server is running. When the mapper updates the map, they upload it to a new location, and package the address with *that* version of the map. Then whenever that version gets installed, the new address is put in, and players are sent to the proper version for what the server is running, even if one server is running an older version.
edit:
To help with the idiot-proofing, the text files included with maps could have installation instructions, or just let the map come as an executable installer.