For All Mappers Releasing Maps!

BigD

<div class="IPBDescription">Please tell us where to unzip yer stuff!</div> Something I ask is that you add a readme file to your zip. I like to know whether to extract to the half-life directory, the ns directory, whether I have to move stuff around manually or whatever. That's all I ask! It just makes life easier for those of us that are trying to check out your work! Thanks! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

Sirus

Go to maps, put the .bsp there, go to sprites then minimaps and put the sprite there, and any extra sounds in ambience... whats so hard about that?

realityisdead

Not all people are familiar with mapping, or could possibly be new to HL mods in general, and can not be expected to know these things, Sirus. It's also possible that even those familiar with the process could be confused by an undocumented custom sound file directory. Or something.

I would suggest all mappers follow the guidelines pointed out on <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=3155' target='_blank'>this</a> page for getting the files in the correct places, and that kind of fun stuff. If it were assumed every mapper would follow this particular layout for the arrangement of files, all zip files would only have to be unpackaged to the Half-Life root directory.

Sirus

Let me start off by saying I've only had a Windows computer for about a year and practically know nothing about computers, yet I always seem to pick up these things. And i expect other people too also. So, maybe my expectations are a little too high. =/

Asraniel

Im always releasing my maps so that you just need to unzip them in the NS directory

Driftwood

Personally, if I'm testing a beta of some map and the mapper hasn't bothered to make the zip file unpack itself automatically to the right directories, I don't bother with the map.

Point isn't that it's easy to put the files into correct places by yourself. Point is that making a nice zip-file is also easy and it serves the interests of the mapper himself.

MessyTreat

While playing DoD, I found that many players had the same issues as have been expressed here but they were compunded by the sheer number of files that mappers were including in their zip files.

Having a developer background and having the tools at my disposal, I decided to make it easier for windows users to install maps and essesntialy make it idiot proof. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

I package maps into a windows based EXE installer that will locate where your half-life or retail counterstrike is installed on both WIN 9x single login machines and WIN 2k and XP Multiple login machines. (there is a difference in the registry values)

The installers then ask if you want to backup any files that are replaced and gives you the option to specify where you want the files backed up to. Then It proceeds to install the files to the correct location within your NS directory.

I have packaged over 160 DoD maps for Mayberrygames.com and I have been packaging the NS maps as they come out. You can find them here <a href='http://www.mayberrygames.com/ns.html' target='_blank'>http://www.mayberrygames.com/ns.html</a>

It could not be any easier. If you are a mapper and you would like your map packaged, please drop me a line over at mayberrygames. If you know of a map that I have not packaged and you would like it to be packaged, again, drop me a line over at mayberrygames.com

MST <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif'><!--endemo-->

BigD

That's great MessyTreat, I for one will definately remember that!

The main reason I started this post is because I just started looking through my entire half-life directory. I have an ns directory within my ns directory, a half-life directory within my cs directory, a files everywhere. I've basically given up on cleaning the SIERRA directory out now (planning a good ol'reformat of the whole damn thing this summer or next fall! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->)
When I don't know where files are supposed to go, I have to create a special folder just for it to see what kind of directory structure it will have and then proceed from there sometimes, but that's more hassle than I like. I for one do not like individually moving files around. Yes Sirus, you assume to much! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->