TAW starts testing custom maps
Mephilles
Germany Join Date: 2013-08-07 Member: 186634Members, NS2 Map Tester, NS2 Community Developer
Yes you read correctly, TAW will playtest custom maps now in a 6v6 environment
When? We want to start at Thursday which is the 2nd October, at 20:00 CEST
Anyway we won't do it on a weekly schedule but we aim of doing it once every 2 weeks.
The mappers are invited to that aswell, since we want to give them feedback directly
Why we do this?
1.) more maps = more fun
2.) what @MauvaisVitrier tried to start again was a wonderful idea but I had the feeling this project is dead already (correct me if I'm wrong)
We will start where MV stopped, which are the maps ns2_mineral and ns2_docking2 (this is a coincidence, I swear )
For all other mappers out there who want to have their maps tested contact me (on this thread preferably). We don't want to test maps that are not developed anymore.
P.S. I will be sad if @Loki does not want to have derelict tested because I want to test that map (that also implies that we have no problems with testing greybox maps)
Next Maptests:
17th December: ns2_hydra
7th January: ns2_Outer_Rim_Ark
21th January: ns2_fusion
When? We want to start at Thursday which is the 2nd October, at 20:00 CEST
Anyway we won't do it on a weekly schedule but we aim of doing it once every 2 weeks.
The mappers are invited to that aswell, since we want to give them feedback directly
Why we do this?
1.) more maps = more fun
2.) what @MauvaisVitrier tried to start again was a wonderful idea but I had the feeling this project is dead already (correct me if I'm wrong)
We will start where MV stopped, which are the maps ns2_mineral and ns2_docking2 (this is a coincidence, I swear )
For all other mappers out there who want to have their maps tested contact me (on this thread preferably). We don't want to test maps that are not developed anymore.
P.S. I will be sad if @Loki does not want to have derelict tested because I want to test that map (that also implies that we have no problems with testing greybox maps)
Next Maptests:
17th December: ns2_hydra
7th January: ns2_Outer_Rim_Ark
21th January: ns2_fusion
Comments
However, as much as I like the idea of getting direct feedback "voice to voice" it can be very hard to keep track of what is being said and who said it. So I would recommend to post feedback in the respective threads of the maps being tested, regardless of the mapper being present or not. That will make it a lot easier for the person working on a project to organize the feedback and making informed decisions of how to continue working with them.
I'm sad though that I myself won't be able to play custom maps because nobody gives a shit about custom maps.
But the same happens to me mappers, If I don't get feedback I can't make things better. I have people saying that they want to play on saturdays but don't show up, I have others that want to play on thurdays but I can't right now.
The project will probably be back up by the end of October though.
Good luck with custom map testing though, let us know your feedback on the forums. And just tell me if you need a merc one day
@MasterG yeah ofcourse we can do that. guess one of us can note down the suggestions in a textfile and copy that later on the forums (not sure if I should do that on the ENSL forums or UWE forums)
For me attending however is another matter entirely as I am very busy, so I cant commit to turning up.
Private maptestings seem to have done good to Minera though. Seems like people can make a difference after all, at least the ones that are actually motivated and willing to give feedback to the mappers (not random stuff said orally at the end of a game and immediately forgotten).
Let's be honest, this group will remain dead until some maps are in proper 'greybox' stages. Issue is that mappers are stopping mapping 'cause of this lack of recognition and feedbacks from players. Too bad.
Well i must share my experience. A recent event made me think differently. I was just seeding on my server. Just for the fun of it. And people started to join one after another.
The people were from "rookie" to not very experienced (but decent). One or two were a litlle above OK but that doesn't matter.
The things i noticed are simple:
-Some of them didn't really know about what map was custom (Unless it was really obvious). And it didn't matter at all.
-Nobody did complain about customs. Thing like "crappy map" and such. not even a single comment on that.
-They just played and had fun.
That made me think that custom maps are not the issue. Only people are. You take ppl with the same level (more or less) and it works fins. I was please to play like that. They even showed coordinated attacks... rookies??? whow!!
Then the server crashed due to a "file not found" (steam workshop issue). But before that, nobody left. Amazing.
Bottom line is : i don't care if it is rookies. Bring ppl to NS2 and play lots of map for the fun of it... why not?
@MauvaisVitrier : Maybe it's a little set back. Keep pouring some good energy on it.
@TAW. Is server is needed... Got all the maps listed here. Comp-mod can be enabled if needed.
@CDT: If only the steam workshop issue could be fixed. Is there any way to make it look like official (faking official map status) ?
And yes i like to see Outer_rim_Ark tested. (It has changed a lot since first version).
If a server is needed i can provide. My server is runing custom maps by default. Well... as long as steam workshop isn t messing things up.
Anyway, so if people still want to do the occasional maptesting, get in touch with any of TAW's guys. We'll try to do it every two weeks on thursdays as Meph mentioned, and we're not sure if we'll always have enough TAW guys around to form up the teams. Of course if people just want to spec, or record or whatever, they're welcome too.
yes... of course...
Anyway, good luck and don't be surprised if you see me spectating these sessions.
'not broke' is not 'rich'.
But yes, we thankfully have servers atm to do all this.
* Docking2 & mineral are now on. Please note I am only using the workshop ones.
* I will assume there is one version of a map on workshop, if not do tell me.
* Non workshop maps need not apply.
* Please tell me of 'new' maps to be put on the server BEFORE its Thursday. The earlier the better. Its a maptest server so of course any map which can safely run can apply.
* Feel free to talk to me on forum PM, this topic, or steam if you have any questions.
* If anything else is needed let me know so I can discuss it with my fellow taw admin.
* The maptest server is a new virtual server, so any performance issues do let us know.
* Yes we have ns2+, nsl mod and comp mod.
Other then that.. test away.
The only 'new' maps on atm are docking2 and mineral.
Please let me or another TAW server admin know before the next maptest is scheduled.
I won't be able to be there at 20h CEST on that day.
I can show up at 21. Is it Ok ?