To Hype, Or Not To Hype...

Little_Hunter · May 2003

<div class="IPBDescription">a moral question</div> I, like all mappers, want people to play the map(s) I make. I want to beable to convince myself that long, long, <i>long</i> hours spent slaving on the map are worth while. Yet I also don't want to spam these forums with threads about a map I havn't finished, a general idea, or screenshots of something that in all odds will suck, not work, or not ever be finished. I am posting this because I want to get the input of the readers of these threads on how they feel about hyping a map. Do they think that this forum is already crowded enough with progress reports, general ideas and single screenshot threads? Or do they believe that spaming / hyping is the only way anyone will ever know about your map?

Vyvn · May 2003

If you made something that you are proud of or want feedback on, by all means, post it. Even if you've only made a room or two, it can be helpful to post them as a "style test" so you can figure out what basic style adjustments you should make in the rest of your map. A simple "Looking good" can motivate you to finish your map, which can be difficult to get the willpower to do. That's what these forums are for, after all, and it's always fun to comment on screenshots. How else can you ever know if what you make is any good? Since you don't get any pay for your hard work, the only reward and the only reason for making a map is to get comments on it, be they good or bad.

And it can be especially useful if the preliminary shots of your map really suck, so you know not to waste any more time <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'> .

Kuroneko · May 2003

Bingo.

Little_Hunter · May 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Vyvn @ May 12 2003, 09:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> A simple "Looking good" can motivate you to finish your map, which can be difficult to get the willpower to do.  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
True, mapping is all about momentum. If you stop its hard to start up again. Yet I have mapped for awhile and I don't really need the motivation. And waiting for a cool looking map can be really painful (like waiting for 1.1) <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'>. It's always nice when all of a sudden a good new map pops up. However, if no one says "don't hype" then I guess I could give you guys some screenshots...

moultano · May 2003

screenshots are half of the reason I read this forum <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

amckern · May 2003

i used to only show my done work, unill i started working on maps for Sven Coop, and thet had a work in progress topic

i now show maps that i want to make public, once they are at about 75% so i can fix an problems that are picked out of the screen shots - or advise ppl that the are is not finsihed

amckern

Hypergrip · May 2003

I post infos and shots about the map(s) i'm working on as soon as i got them.

When planning a map, I think about the setting, a small background story and a basic layout including marine start, hives and res nodes.
Once this is done, I post it and hope to get feedback on the following things:

- How is the idea behind the map taken by the community?
- Ayn critics on the layout?
- Any comments on balancing?
- Suggestions?

I think it is very important not only to post screenshots and be like "Hey, this is my "elite" Layout of the upcomming best super-mega-ns-map ever! worship me!", but to post comments about why you chose to made things like they are on the screenshots.
Also be self-critic and when posting new screens tell the people if there are things you'd like to tweak/change... so other mappers can see what your thoughts are and might tell you if your ideas are good or not.

Posting screenshots whenever some new part of the map is done, and the feedback from other mappers can greatly help you to find errors as eraly as possible as well and get some tips and suggestions about how to improve the map.
Especially when it comes to lighting it's important to get feedback.

However one thing that i do NOT like is the "hyping" of maps!
I use ONE thread to keep people updated on how work on my map is prceeding... some people almost use a new thread for every screenshot they post just to get more attention...
Personally I see mapping as fun... I enjoy mapping.
Of course I enjoy getting positive feedback, too, but the main motivation is "to get this **** thing done some day" <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'>

Let me put it to one final note:
If you hype your map, you should go back and work on it - If other people hype your map, you have done a good job.

-my2cent-

Hyper

Rufas_the_Red · May 2003

I feel that viewing screen shots can be useful as a jusdge of your own work, also constuctive comments can be helpful (when I just started I was making maps too bright so I was told this and now my maps are darker)

To Hype, Or Not To Hype...

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