Release question:

f3rret

<div class="IPBDescription">Waiting for maps, or no?</div>Hey, I just thought of something...

Are you guys planning on holding back the release until you have X number of maps playtested and perfected, or are you going to release one or two maps, and let up run rampant with those until the rest are tested and balanced.

coil

Current plan (according to MonsE) is to release with probably between 3 and 8 maps.  They have that many already, so I don't think they're not going to delay release to wait for more.  The map deadline (tomorrow) is for any other maps to be tested for inclusion.



<!--EDIT|coil|June 27 2002,11:01-->

Slycaster

Yeah, i doubt they will even THINK of releasing NS with only 2 or so maps, that is a definate thing, there will most likely be near 5 or more for the first release, in my best interest.

f3rret

Why would it be in YOUR best interest in particular, Cyanide?

That makes good sense. You don't want to release it to a critical public with only a few maps. 5 to 8 sounds like it would be a good idea. (:

Hehe... I'm copying your smilies now, Coil. I was always wondering why you did them like that... but then I figured it out.

CyonPro

Heh, yeah Cyanide, why is having more than 2 maps exclusively in your best interest? ...:D

Just from playing the maps that are in the newest playtest build, I am very confident that there are at least 4 maps in that set which will make it into the public release.

Asraniel

You make me fear.. the have already enough maps? And for wath is the deadline? My map.. will the ever look at it?...

Kidzelda

<!--QuoteBegin--Asraniel+June 27 2002,11:35--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Asraniel @ June 27 2002,11:35)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->...And for wath is the deadline?...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The deadline is to see if any more maps will make it, and if four are there, then the rest are still being tweaked for gameplay.

Slycaster

errr, ok i worded that a bit wrong, i should of said something along the lines of, the best the of my knowledge, you know, i do playtest, i know a tad more then you guys, just as every other playtester does. <!--emo&:p--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'><!--endemo-->

MonsieurEvil

<b><span style='color:red'>We still need your maps!</span></b>

Don't just give up on us folks, submit those levels, by 12 noon (1200)EST-US tomorrow. That's 5PM (1700)GMT, or 2AM (0200, Saturday)Sydney, AU time.

See the guidelines <a href="http://www.natural-selection.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=4;t=3155" target="_blank">here</a> for more info.

f3rret

grrrr.... well, you may be a playtester, but I'm eating PIZZA NOW! YEAH!! HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?!?

Asraniel

OK... thats good, i think now i make the final compile, then i make the minimap and zip everthing and then... never sleep bevore i have a answer....... how long will a answer take? because i think i gio crazy by waiting............  <!--emo&:0--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'><!--endemo-->

coil

By all means, send in more maps!!  I just meant that the team has at least 3 maps that are good enough for release (Bast, Hera, and IMO SSNothing, but I don't know if Flay's signed off on it yet), so they won't postpone on account of not having enough maps.  But send in your maps, the more the merrier.  (:

As for my smileys... I do them this way because I'm left-handed.  And I like being different.   <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->

CyonPro

<!--QuoteBegin--coil+June 27 2002,12:39--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (coil @ June 27 2002,12:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->I just meant that the team has at least 3 maps that are good enough for release (Bast, Hera, and IMO SSNothing, but I don't know if Flay's signed off on it yet)...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nothing seems kind of "unpolished" in a few areas, but I like the gameplay so much, and the hive rooms are spectacular. Bast and Hera are pretty much the poster-children for NS mapping so they would have to be in there. I'm surprised no-one mentioned ns_penumbra though... Apart from the lack of infested textures near the hives, it is a great map, and very large, to boot.

coil

Honestly, Nothing, Bast, and Hera are the only maps I've seen!  I really want to see the rest of them.  I'm sure they're all fabulous.  Oh wait, I played on Tanith... I liked it lots.  (:

Flayra

We're definitely not going to hold up the release for lack of maps.  Even if we only ship with 2 maps, I'd rather get the release out to you guys and get some more momentum built up.  It's pretty hard to expect people to map for NS when they haven't played it. :)

realityisdead

<!--QuoteBegin--CyonPro+June 27 2002--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (CyonPro @ June 27 2002)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->Nothing seems kind of "unpolished" in a few areas<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And indeed it is. I'm by no means finished with the thing. There's absolutely no way I'd leave it as-is right now. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

Which is why I'm posting here. Keep in mind that when submitting your level for testing, it should definitely have enough complete content so that the team is able to get a real grasp on how it is going to play and look... but it doesn't need to be 100% polished and in total final form. You can have some alien vents missing, unpolished lighting, rough nozzle placement, whatever. It doesn't need to be "perfect" yet... Just complete enough so that it will be obvious where you are going with the level and how it is going to play.



<!--EDIT|ken20banks|June 27 2002,14:36-->

Sgt_X

Just enough to tell Flayra and PTs that could work or that u completly screwed up. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

realityisdead

Heh, yeah something like that. <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->

But on that topic: Also keep in mind that the level also has to be 100% playable though. That means a functional readyroom, a Marine Start, and three alien hive rooms. Also, while you don't need to have the placement perfected, you should have an ample amount of resource nozzles in the level.

In other words, a map consisting of a couple pretty rooms and hallways strewn together is not going to be accepted for testing, no matter how nice they look. It does need to be a fully playable level, not just a representation of how the level is going to look. That said, not all gameplay affecting components need be in at this time (such as *all* of your alien vents, perfectly balanced nozzle placement, etc)... but you should try to aim for enough so that testers are able to say "There needs to be vent at X location", rather than "Where are all the vents?!"

Just an example...

f3rret

<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->Even if we only ship with 2 maps, I'd rather get the release out to you guys and get some more momentum built up.  <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Flayra, that is EXACTLY what I wanted to hear. (:

CyonPro

I'd rather see the mod released sooner, rather than having it wait on account of 'not enough maps'. The reason I've been delaying mapping for NS is partly because I want to wait until Beta 1 is out so I know everything I'm planning for my map is based on the FINAL build.

Flayra

Of course, the first release of NS won't be "final" either.  We will continue making changes and adding things in the future, so don't get your hopes up... :)

CyonPro

Still, better to base my map on the first build of NS that everyone will be playing, rather than one where not even all of the original features are included.

Actually, I now contradict myself; I've already begun work on ns_forge. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->