Custom Maps - Qualification Board & Forced Download

[Mike_Nomad]

Surely the same people that are judging the map contests currently are well up to the job of judging more community maps that could get added into the game as stock maps?

By the way, I am sorry I wasn't able to allow you to use our ReDirect..

Judging? Best ASK some of the mappers about that.

This scheme, directly and indirectly opens the door to relinquishing control over the content in BOUGHT and PAID for Dedicated Servers/ReDirects.

Sorry, not for me.

 

[Cpt Blackadder]

By the way, I am sorry I wasn't able to allow you to use our ReDirect..

Judging? Best ASK some of the mappers about that.

This scheme, directly and indirectly opens the door to relinquishing control over the content in BOUGHT and PAID for Dedicated Servers/ReDirects.

Sorry, not for me.

So you're saying you would rather make more use of your redirect than allow the majority of servers to run more maps?

 

[Mike_Nomad]

So you're saying you would rather make more use of your redirect than allow the majority of servers to run more maps?

Where did I say that? Don't try to put words in my mouth!

Please, try addressing what I said instead of imagining what I said.

 

[Cpt Blackadder]

Where did I say that? Don't try to put words in my mouth!

Please, try addressing what I said instead of imagining what I said.

Lets see;

This proposal would mean more maps being downloaded with the game instead of with the server redirects, something that may not go down well with the servers running the most custom maps.

You have, at your disposal, an excellent testing platform of approximately a dozen or so of truly reliable, well managed Servers with superior Redirect services.

FACT ... those that wish to play the custom maps do so freely and get them quickly from the Servers that are setup and maintained properly with strong ReDirects. Seemingly, this proposal takes it for granted that the redirects for all servers are trash. They most certainly are NOT.

Testing a custom map as has been done by competent, responsible, independent Server Admins/Owners for years as an accommodation for the Custom Mappers. This practice has a proven positive track record that's virtually impeccable.

This proposal does not affect servers testing custom maps, you can freely run them. You can freely use redirects for custom maps.

RGN and a number of other Independent Server Owners/Admins will continue to offer what we do best; provide quality custom maps and fast, reliable redirect services.

And you can still do that but with this proposal more servers will be able to offer a wider variety of maps - something some server owners wouldn't like I assume? Well the needs of many outweigh the needs of the few.

 

[Ducky]

A fast redirect still does not guarantee that the player will get the custom map fast. What if he's from Europe or Asia and playing on a North-American server? The download time will be longer compared to NA players and that is the point where the EU and Asian players disconnect and look for an other server. And what if server A is running the newest version while server B is running an older version. We've seen in the past that this gives problems. That problem would not be there (or at least less frequent) if the custom map came with the game itself.

 

[Warishell]

Judging? Best ASK some of the mappers about that.

Right now, you're the one fighting mappers and people who dedicate the time to try and get new content in the game.

As pointed by many before me, this will not effect in any way the way you run you're server. You can do everything as before so what exacly are you complaining about.

In the worst case scenerio, let's say for some reason it dosn't work out, no maps ever get the "greenlight": We are in the same situation as now.

In the best case scenerio: We are in the same situation as now but default setting servers will have regular updated mod content.

It's all very well for admins to sit around and say we support mappers and f**ck all the other players who don't understand the value of custom content but the situation now is mappers arn't seeing the're maps being played, what do we do when our best mappers slowly fade away out of lassitude.

Besides all this, some of these maps with a few tweaks here and there are premium quality the're is no reason why they shouldn't be in the game right now.

Cough... Cough...Coldst...

 

[=GG= Mr Moe]

Right now, you're the one fighting mappers and people who dedicate the time to try and get new content in the game.

Wow, no matter what else you think, this state is so full of wrong information.

 

[Cpt Blackadder]

Wow, no matter what else you think, this state is so full of wrong information.

How is he wrong? People against this proposal don't seem to realise that the QB would get more people to play custom maps that mappers have worked so hard on. I see nothing wrong with that, but some server owners seem to disagree.

 

[=GG= Mr Moe]

How is he wrong? People against this proposal don't seem to realise that the QB would get more people to play custom maps that mappers have worked so hard on. I see nothing wrong with that, but some server owners seem to disagree.

Saying Mike (and RGN in general) fighting the mappers (ie: making it more difficult) is a wrong and false statement.

As for the idea proposed by THOR, 'on paper' it sounds like a good idea but I fear in practice it would lend to tremendous delays as we know TWI is busy even releasing their own content (vehicles anyone???).

Now, I am not knocking TWI, but if you think they have the time and manpower to do this you are probably mistaken.

I will add, that in my opinion, one of the biggest things hampering map production and playing them has to do with the fact that when a major update comes out from TWI, it breaks the custom maps. Maps need to be fixed, recooked, redownloaded.

 

[Cpt Blackadder]

As for the idea proposed by THOR, 'on paper' it sounds like a good idea but I fear in practice it would lend to tremendous delays as we know TWI is busy even releasing their own content (vehicles anyone???).

Now, I am not knocking TWI, but if you think they have the time and manpower to do this you are probably mistaken.
.

People can still play custom maps and mappers will be able to test/ publish any version of their map for all to download (as it has been since RO2 was released). The only possible delay is it getting accepted into the game, but before that it is still a playable custom map, playable on any server that runs it. It wouldn't delay maps being released, the only potential delay is them getting accepted.

 

[Warishell]

Saying Mike (and RGN in general) fighting the mappers (ie: making it more difficult) is a wrong and false statement

So as to clarify I said "right now", by which i mean going against this proposal is hurting mappers.

I'm not questioning his support for mappers in general, i'm questioning what he has to say about the proposition.

 

[Warishell]

I will add, that in my opinion, one of the biggest things hampering map production and playing them has to do with the fact that when a major update comes out from TWI, it breaks the custom maps. Maps need to be fixed, recooked, redownloaded.

You just made a good argument in favor of the proposition.

 

[=GG= Mr Moe]

You just made a good argument in favor of the proposition.

Fixing the actual issue would help more and there would be less (inevitable and long) delays.

 

[Ducky]

IOW, SWS is virtually eliminated? I doubt that'll EVER happen.


@ All;

The SWS 200mb file size limit is a killer.

The only viable solution at this time would be to do it the same way as the map packs (winning Maps) are done.

Which reminds me, where/when do we see the next installment of the contest winners?

Cough... cough...

 

[ButchCassidy]

Lol..

 

[Cpt Blackadder]

His subconscious was right all along .

 

[Floyd]

Most of the points I would bring up have already been discussed. At first I was against the idea because my first impression was that it would actually hinder the dissemination of custom maps. But seeing as nothing would change other than certain maps becoming "required" downloads I see it as a means to introduce custom maps to an audience that may not otherwise take interest in them. Perhaps once they see the benefits, quality and fun of custom maps, they would actually stay and download one from a re-direct.

Afaik, the version mis-match problem is now moot with re-direct downloads. The files are placed in the cache and if the server files don't match the player files the files get over-written. Not so with SWS.

I don't think custom map quality (in RO2) has ever really been an issue or reason to not play them. In areas that have download caps, I see where custom RO2 maps could hamstring one's internet budget'. However, (afaik) in the US, bandwidth limitations (other than speed) are virtually non-existent and not a valid argument against RO2 custom maps. Here in the US, its more a matter of ignorance, impatience, or the erroneous assumption that all custom maps are crap.

Admittedly, there were/are a few newer mappers that cranked out beta after beta after beta instead of taking their time and releasing betas with broad and sweeping fixes. Speaking as a server admin, when a mapper starts cranking out betas every couple of days , I hold off till its a bit more stable. Another unsolicited tip I'll pass along to budding mappers.... don't make your map 45 minutes long unless/until its really necessary or its very close to a release candidate. Other than those two issues, I've found the vast majority of custom RO2 maps to above par quality. Kudos to the mappers.

Question. With this system, once the QB puts their stamp of approval on a map, whose responsibility does it become to re-cook it when necessary? If left up to the mapper and should he no longer be interested in RO2, what affect will an out of date map have on the player if/when he joins a server with an newer version? Likewise, should a patch "break" a map, who recodes it?


Lots of things to ponder. Its not a simple plug 'n play fix.

 

[Mike_Nomad]

The sarcastic remarks, insinuations and degradation begins..........

It is said that when people exhaust all reasonable facts in a debate, the personal attacks and character assassinations begin.

I said I was done with this.... now, it is a certainty.

As for the proposal, forget it.

 

[Cpt Blackadder]

Question. With this system, once the QB puts their stamp of approval on a map, whose responsibility does it become to re-cook it when necessary? If left up to the mapper and should he no longer be interested in RO2, what affect will an out of date map have on the player if/when he joins a server with an newer version?

Lots of things to ponder. Its not a simple plug 'n play fix.

I assume it will be the same as with the contest winners.

The sarcastic remarks, insinuations and degradation begins..........

It is said that when people exhaust all reasonable facts in a debate, the personal attacks and character assassinations begin.

I said I was done with this.... now, it is a certainty.

As for the proposal, forget it.

Well you are the one who contradicted your own opinion.

 

[Mike_Nomad]

I assume it will be the same as with the contest winners.

Which is what? WHAT are you assuming?