Custom Maps & Complaints

nopeace4u · February 2004

<div class="IPBDescription">rant</div> ++EDIT++

Seems like I will head in making the map-packs but I will need the community to help decide what maps to include & then the distribution of them. Listed below is the maps mentioned sofar. I'm looking for 4 more completed maps to make a vote on.

ns_phobia
ns_hydrosity
ns_widow
co_phobia
co_dawn
co_ether

----------------------

All I ever hear is, there isn't enough maps all the time, but you mappers are making great custom maps & we put em on our server & then people complain they don't want to d/l new maps!! There has to be a better way to have custom maps be apart of ns, and with the Motd day not being able to Handel i nice paragraph of where to tell people to go for the custom maps, they just leave or hang on & d/l till they realize its going to take forever & then leave.

I love playing custom maps, but rarely ever get to cause it kills the server traffic.

We need better Motd or A better way to distribute custom maps (faster way?)

Agree, Flame, Whatever (I feel better for ranting)

Xyth · February 2004

Im with ya on that, it's fun to play custom maps but downloading them from the server can take ages.

*brilliance*

Sombody should put together an official unofficial map pack <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' />
Just have a .zip that has all the good custom maps that are currently out but aren't official yet. You just update it regularly when new maps come out or if one gets a new version. And maybe have somone talk flayra into putting a link in the download section to an area to download it, so it is more likely to get downloaded by people who don't want to have to spend the time to go looking for somwhere to download all the good custom maps.
Eh?

Vahn_Paktu · February 2004

You can set the server to limit the amount to d/l. Don't know the cmd tho. I always go to google if I want to d/l a custom map.

BobTheJanitor · February 2004

Most people will never go to that much effort though. Sadly, people, even if given the maps in an easy zip file, will still not know where and how to unzip them. I'm not sure if there is an answer to this problem. A seperate semi-official map pack might be a nice addition. But then, you run into problems. How official is semi-official? Do they need to meet all the mapping guidelines? Are they going to be kept and updated regularly for balance like all the official maps? And if so, why not just call them official maps and put them in the main download?

KungFuDiscoMonkey · February 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BobTheJanitor @ Feb 11 2004, 04:49 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Most people will never go to that much effort though. Sadly, people, even if given the maps in an easy zip file, will still not know where and how to unzip them. I'm not sure if there is an answer to this problem. A seperate semi-official map pack might be a nice addition. But then, you run into problems. How official is semi-official? Do they need to meet all the mapping guidelines? Are they going to be kept and updated regularly for balance like all the official maps? And if so, why not just call them official maps and put them in the main download?  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
Some good points. Maybe the community could make a pack though. "The NS Mapping Forum Semi-Official Map Pack". Can pick the best maps and set them up in a install program for download. If it was a community project, the community members could be incharge of updates etc and keep them up to date and the devs wouldn't have to worry about any of it.

Reese · February 2004

I wonder if it would be easy to make a zipped exe of the mapping back that can use your registry the way ns install files do to figure out where to put content. That would solve all the install problems. It'd be just download, click, it installs itself and KNOWS where to put things since the registry has that info.

Either way i'd like to see a mapping forum official map pack.

BigD · February 2004

Mappacks are the way to go. The trouble though, is then maps don't tend to have updates propagated properly. But, other than that, they make life so much easier. (And then more great maps get played!)

Nurot · February 2004

A map pack would be awesome and I think very benificial for the community. I know I have the same problems as listed above especially with slow network speeds and the likes.

nopeace4u · February 2004

there is a way to have them as a installer but no idea how to do it

Reebdoog · February 2004

Surely people can't go wrong installing maps? You either unzip into your /ns dir, or the /map dir. Read the read me, or the TEXT above the link? I dunno, some people... But yeh, doesn't someone have a list of all the custom maps, surely putting them into 1 big file can't be too hard for this community

nopeace4u · February 2004

If a couple of mappers want to get with me, I'm picking up on making a installer that will make it much easier, just need finished custom maps for the installer.

I would guess maby 10 maps per pack re-lease? 5 more user friendly?

Zazi · February 2004

Someone should compile a list of released maps. From that, we should vote in x amount of maps... x being some number... like 10% or something. Then we make an installer, find hosting (I can host it), and release it.

Xyth · February 2004

Im up for it.
The maps should be reviewed first and have to meet some requirments, maybe have the requirments a little more slack then they would be for submitting your map to be official.
Perhaps test them also before finally agreeing on adding them to the pack?

Zazi · February 2004

Yeah, we can compile the list of downloadable maps and people vote their x favorite maps. We'll then PT the finalists and make decisions.

nopeace4u · February 2004

all sounds like good ideas, I can make installers now so it will be as simple as installing a program now.

Confused · February 2004

first fo all i think there should be 2 pack one for combat one for ns just for organization's sake.
second there are two all ns map[ threads in existance, thouhg i dont know if any of the links still work .
<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=59755&hl=all+ns+maps' target='_blank'>Ameckern's ns map roundup</a>
and
<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=29160&hl=all+ns+maps' target='_blank'>Elite Guard's thread</a>

enjoy

edit : number seven has nearly 300 ns maps on it <a href='http://www.number-7.com/' target='_blank'>#7</a>

Delarosa · February 2004

if somone takes lead of this group, and acompishes to make a pack of decnt maps, i will host it on my website...

maybe have the first pack be 4-5 maps? i know it would be small... but still...

since i do NOT check back in here very often, cam the leader of this group PM me when we get to the point of hosting?

also, can we make sure this/these packs include maps that have been 100% completed, and will not require changes up until the next release of NS.

KungFuDiscoMonkey · February 2004

Sounds like this is getting orginized quite well. Too bad I don't have anything to contribute to this project except suggestions of maps to test for the pack.

ns_widow - by Zazi
co_dawn - by esuna
ns_hydrosity - by Mouse

I was just taking a break from Calc studying and those were a few custom maps that I remembered. I'm sure you can search for them.

nopeace4u · February 2004

Well there really isn't going to be any lead to it, I'm going to make a installation, just really need the help of the community for what should be in & I will follow up with more as more maps get re-leased, maby a map-pack every other week or month depending on the re-lease of completed maps?

Distribution is open the sites & servers of the community, I really hope to see more custom maps on rotations.

Olmy · February 2004

Is this going to be in a self extracting zip file? Also, i think the final pack should be in a new topic, and stickied. I suggest ns_hydrosity, and ns_widow. I can't think of any others right now <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' />.

Jemme · February 2004

Old problem. Well DoD has the same troubles of distributing custom maps. It never got solved due to lack of interest by the development team. NS-Devs are more active however because they care for their Mod, so they might wanna go the extra mile for support here. Or get somebody on the team who takes care of this side of NS for us all.

Having said that, a mappack is a fine idea. It works in most cases. The problem however is not only in distribution of maps but also knowing WHERE they are being played. Server 1 might have 5 maps (map1,2,3,4,5) , Server 2 has 7 maps (map2,3,5,7,8,9,11), Server 3 has etc...

Lots of custom servers with lots of different maps. I long ago tried to tackle this one for DoD but never could muster enough people to actually help out and get it to work. The concept however is not that hard:

<span style='color:white'><i>1 Central Website</i></span>
The Central Website hosts Mappacks + Server I.P's that have that Mappack in rotation

<span style='color:white'><i>3 Mappacks each month, differing in size</i></span>
The purpose of having more than one mappack is because they differ in size.
You have a small mappack (5 maps), a medium mappack (8 maps) and a large mappack (10 maps).
The idea is that people with 56k modems can DL the small mappack and still play custom maps.
Handing out mappacks once per month also assures people don't have to constantly download maps , but actually have time to play a map.

<span style='color:white'><i>Playtesting and Voting maps</i></span>
A small group of people should have weekly playtests of new maps and work out a system whereby they can compare each and every map on its qualities and shortcomings. A clear system also helps out for people who want to playtest the new map at home on a LAN game.
Both the input from the Playtest team and the individual tests contribute to the final score of the map.
Furthermore the Website should have a seperate page where people can vote on the various maps that are being considered for the mappack next month. Imo this will also stimulate involvement by the general public.

<span style='color:white'><i>New Mappack</i></span>
The new Mappack will feature some new maps and some maps from the Mappack of the month before so to again the people don't have to download the whole time but can start to play again. The small mappack could feature only new maps, the other two can have some new and some odler maps in it.

Like I said it depends on the community if you make this thing work or not. I don't have any time left at this moment to actuually start this up myself, but I know from the past that regular playtesting of new maps is very populair. I have done it myself 1,5 years ago with custom²dod sessions and everybody liked it.

I hope somebody can get this thing on the road. If you need more input I can allwas oblige. A lot of thinking on this allready went into it when trying to get the same thing working for DoD.

Mendasp · February 2004

I suggest ns_phobia and co_phobia !

cough.

Oh, amckern's post is just copy & paste from eliteguard, but just with working links. It still has phobia RC3, when RC4 (semi-final) has been released for a while now. Of course, I'm sure more maps are outdated versions on that list.

Charge · February 2004

what if there was a additional section in the NS installer which asked if you want to download additional maps?

you click yes -> it opens a web page for you / the installer downloads and installs em <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' />

DarkATi · February 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Charge @ Feb 12 2004, 07:55 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> what if there was a additional section in the NS installer which asked if you want to download additional maps?

you click yes -> it opens a web page for you / the installer downloads and installs em <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' />  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
A decent idea. The main problem in my opinion is that STEAM downloads maps too slow. If it didn't take so long then new custom maps would get played more and more.

~ DarkATi

Xyth · February 2004

Perhaps gets a link to the pack on the downloads page? So people that are going there to download it might as well get the extra maps anyway?

nopeace4u · February 2004

All good possibilities, As for it being a zip file, no it will be a install file like you use to install NS or any other progrma, I already have it working that it will select the corret directory.

As for a centralized site, I doubt thats needed, More than enough community sites can mirror & hopefully we can get a sticky here of each re-lease & maby a spot in the d/l section. Sticky would be up to xp-cagy & d/l link I guess that would have to be flayras decission.

+++So far these maps have been mentioned+++

ns_phobia
ns_hydrosity
ns_widow
co_phobia
co_dawn
co_ether

I want to get like 5 more map suggestions & then Ill make a seperate thread with a vote in it to see what the top 5 votes are for the maps. First Map pack will be 5 maps cause dont want to make the d/l too big.

nopeace4u · February 2004

seems this topic lost steam, still need 5 more maps fora vote.

Jemme · February 2004

A lot of thought went into something similar for DoD [njk]nopeace4u, but you doubt it's necesary. You might wanna re-read the concept before venting your doubts as you obviously didn't read it all or didn't quite understood it.

BobTheJanitor · February 2004

Hrm... ns_delta is good (why was this removed from the official release anyway?) and I'd like to add support to ns_widow (ZAZI! MY LOVE!) and ns_hydrosity. Had some interesting games on hydrosity. Co_dawn looks great, haven't had a chance to play it multi yet so I can't say how it plays. What else? Surely with all these mappers you guys can come up with more than 5 or 6 maps!

Edit: Further thoughts: Having too many maps or too many map packs released too quickly would be a bad idea. That's the main reason that almost no custom maps get played right now. In most other mods, playing a custom map means nothing more than the same gameplay with a different look. In NS, the advantages of knowing your way around a map are MASSIVE. Learning new maps and where all the RTs, vents, choke points, reloc spots, ambush points, seige spots, etc. etc. are can take a while. The though of doing that for lots of maps turns people off to the idea of custom maps. Instead just pick the best maps, like the 5 that are being considered, and release those with the 'full support of the mapping community' behind them. Get people to download and run those, and don't release any new map packs for at minimum a month or two, if even then.

nopeace4u · February 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jemme @ Feb 13 2004, 04:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> A lot of thought went into something similar for DoD [njk]nopeace4u, but you doubt it's necesary. You might wanna re-read the concept before venting your doubts as you obviously didn't read it all or didn't quite understood it.  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
what? u lost me there.

Lt_Gravity · February 2004

maybe some sort of "advanced mappack" would help it. the ns mod itself doesnt need this much maps bt it would be nice if the ns team would simply create an additiv mappack, that you can downlad if YOU WANT IT. that would make life easier for most admins that want custommaps on their server. but at least we all have different taste so we have to create our own mappacks but the filesizes... 5 complete maps "devour" roughly 20 mb. now the admin just need a good webspace and some time to upload the 20mb via upload restriction...

Custom Maps & Complaints

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