Willing to finish/polish your map for an update release?

[gareth]

I (and others) think it would be an excellent idea for a 1.15 release to be created, with new maps, a backported client to get new menus etc, and auto download turned on.

Why? because few people play new maps, and that rather sucks, same old maps again and again is boring. its crap for the players because its boring and its crap for the mappers because with a few exceptions, getting your custom map on a server means 90% of the people leave because they cant download it or dont want to wait for hours at 5kb/s. A 1.15 release with a whole bunch of new maps would provide some refreshing new content, and because a http autodownload is turned on by default, new maps can download easily in future too.

In order for this to happen, there needs to be a release date that is stuck to, and preferably fairly soon too, tentatively thinking sept. 24.

if you have a map in progress, can you finish it within a month or so? Or if your map is finished possibly polish it up for a release?

Not thinking of including every map that has been produced, only good ones, eg of around the quality of the stock maps.

PS. currently this is unofficial, no word from the devs. (EDIT: will be ok to put on official downloads page, given high quality)

comments/suggestions/i will finish my map!'s ?

EDIT:

Release Date: Sept. 24


List of maps (not finalised) in no particular order, please make suggestions:

-Thermal:? currently final. good map imo, a little rough around the edges tho.

-Ancient Remains: to include, i think DASPRiD said he had a new version with brighter indoors, get that if possible. edit: he said he would make a new release, for 1.2 i guess. since thats a long way off, this release will include Ancient Remain 1.0.

-Sokolov:? looks nice but rather laggy and unconventional so it hasnt been tested much, to my knowledge

-ATCS3: to include, solid map - well tested.

-Cerberus: to include pending a final version? seems well tested.

-Cleanser: final, include probably only tested on dretchstorm but seemed well received.

-Flap: im unsure, i think i only ever played one game on it. Anyone else?

-Gamma Core b6: will need a final version, it also has the problem with the vent atm, but it has been played alot, at least on funzone.

-Gloomb2: nice map, but chances of a final version are slim, it would seem.

-Meep b2: also good map, well tested, but chances of a final seem equally unlikely.

-Metro b 1.2: really nice map, plays v. well. will have to see if kosad can make a final.

-Procyon: big, but solid and well tested map. to include i think.

-Hamunaptra: its nothing awesome but its not as bad as some people say it is, its fairly well tested too. include?

-Pulse: v. nice, but issues with human spawn point at start, a beta to change this doesnt look likely.

-Research Station Omega: i am unsure. anyone else?

-Sectorb17: final, its an ok map i think, but im kinda biased

-Sedna b3: im not sure, would need a final anyway.

-Sirius b2: to include pending final, i think, anyone?

-Stamina b2: well tested, its got a horrible camp spot that would need to be fixed in a final.

-UTCS b2: to include pending final, well tested.

-GroundSource b1: I like the looks of it, but have barely played it, also would need a final. anyone?

Nano b1: nice small map -  to include pending final version.

Eden: final in time?

Derelict b4: imo good map, chances of a final are low tho.

Any maps not on the list arent there because either i didnt think they are good enough quality/suitable for whatever reason, or i just forgot them, feel free to make suggestions.

License: CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 2.5
LICENSE

You will have to ensure your map and all assets used by it have a license that is compatible with this license:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/

there may be some exceptions, though, I believe, please correct me if i am wrong.

[ShadowNinjaDudeMan]

My maps arent new release grade, others will agree.

I would love to, but would others.

[Samurai.mac]

If this goes through, I'll put the Frankenline up when it'd completed.

[Ingar]

Why? because few people play new maps, and that rather sucks, same old maps again and again is boring. its crap for the players because its boring and its crap for the mappers because with a few exceptions, getting your custom map on a server means 90% of the people leave because they cant download it or dont want to wait for hours at 5kb/s. A 1.15 release with a whole bunch of new maps would provide some refreshing new content, and because a http autodownload is turned on by default, new maps can download easily in future too.

It all comes down to a download link on the official website. On first glance there is nothing that mentions the backport or new maps. A link to the
list of all maps and tjw's backport could solve a lot of hastle.

Of course, I fully support a community mappack. I could release sirius and nano-final soon.

[Kaleo]

SIRIUS!!!!

Go Ingar, Go Ingar, Go Ingar, Goooooooooo INGAR!!!!

[AKAnotu]

i'm fine with finishing gulag, if you deliver on your end
o and gareth, finally finish all your 7 maps that look extremely sweet and super awesome

[TRaK]

I might have an updated version of Cerberus and Eden by then. Also, D*S Arena is final, although no servers ever play it aside from D*S because of its name  :-?

I might also have a beta version of my newest map, 1984, by then.

1.2 better add better custom map support. A few suggestions that might work to improve the situation :

- Turn AutoDL/http DL on by default.
- Make an official map pack and make the client notify users of updates to it.
- Short of doing that, add an official map pack on the tremulous.net downloads page, or even a link to the MG map repo.

Right now, the situation is incredibly frustrating for mappers because their work goes to waste because not enough people bother to DL their map.

[gareth]

Well, DASPRiD has said that it will probably be able to be put on the official download page (he will have to consult timbo), given that only quality finished maps are included.

Next step is to deceide which maps to include, I will use the first post to maintain a list. ^

[Survivor]

Please don't have a vote on it by the community. Set requirements which must be met.

Things like

• No known bugs
  
• No non-included textures
  
• No beta/alpha test etc parts in the name if they refer to the the status. Gamma core obviously could work as a name.
  
• No fullbright areas
  

You get the gist of what I mean by this.

[kevlarman]

i believe jex said he would finish gloom2t for 1.2, catalyc lost the .map of both meep versions, so the chances of it being finished are basically 0.

[Thorn]

Unless he decompiles it and retextures the lot >.>

[Taiyo.uk]

What were the requirements for the 1.1 maps?

[Thorn]

Ever opened the tremor.map? I dont think there were any.

[Taiyo.uk]

Ever opened the tremor.map?

I just have. My eyes have turned in on themselves and now my face is stuck in a perpetual expression of "WTF?!"

[TRaK]

Tremor is really, really, sloppily made. To be honest, I have no idea how the mapper could stand working with something so sloppy.

Makes me think that maybe he made it so dark to cover up all the little defects that are pretty much everywhere. If you crank up the gamma on that map, you can see that there are dozens of glitches all over the place.

It does play fairly well, though.

[Taiyo.uk]

I guess this suggests that gameplay is considered to be somewhat more important over technical quality.

[gareth]

i added derelict to the list, and licensing info to the first post.^

Regarding quality, im not sure either gameplay or aesthetics are more valued, its the map as a whole that counts.

[Samurai.mac]

Is the .map file for transit available anywhere? I want to open up that outdoor area (near human default base) but decompiles leave textures improperly placed and seems to completely remove lighting.

[gareth]

finalised release date, as it seems reasonable.

[ShadowNinjaDudeMan]

yeah thats pretty good I'd imagine.
My maps are crap however, so none of mine will even be considered to be released, donno worrry.

[n00b pl0x]

WHY WULD ANIEONE WUNT TO POLISH A MAP ALL THEY AM DO IS DECONE AND GREEF FSS.

[Taiyo.uk]

The final release of groundsource will be out before 24/09.

[==Troy==]

5 kbps? Maybe default HTTP downloads?... Will solve a looot of problems.

[gareth]

The final release of groundsource will be out before 24/09.

excellent.

@==Troy==:

yes, thats kindoff the idea.

[Kaleo]

-ATCS3: to include, solid map - well tested.

LOL!!!

You are funny, gareth...  

[Plague Bringer]

-ATCS3: to include, solid map - well tested.

LOL!!!

You are funny, gareth...  

I don't think he was kidding.

[gareth]

-ATCS3: to include, solid map - well tested.

LOL!!!

You are funny, gareth...  

what are you contesting? explain yourself and provide some proof of what you say please.

[gareth]

ive been thinking about distribution, pretty important imo, got to allow people to get it easily. heres some ideas.

possibly 3 different distributions channels:

1. for people new to tremulous -> an installer like 1.1 but with the backport-with http autodl on and new maps.

2. for people who have the 1.1 installer already, but are not familiar the backport, dont know how to get maps etc -> an installer like 1. but that doesnt include the original maps, and installs over the existing installation, ie. a patch.

3. for people who know about backports and autodownload and such, this includes server owners -> a list of downloads of the new maps, so they can easily be downloaded.

- this might be too complicated, people easily get confused, it could be better to remove 2. and instead just use 1. for the same purpose.

- gotta research how to make some installers

- please make suggestions

[Survivor]

Just use 1. Any half decent server op knows about bricosoft's map repository at the best and most decent maps at the least. controls is a matter of copying or leaving the original user configs.
Largest part of the files are the same anyway. So make it a single installer with 2 options. New install (pretty clear) & Update existing install (Have all controlconfig files remain the same and update pk3s and the exes if applicable, change autodownload and other settings if possible?)

[Vector_Matt]

PS. currently this is unofficial, no word from the devs.

EDIT:

Release Date: Sept. 24

So, since you have a release date, does that mean that it's official now? Or are you hoping to prod the devs into making a release?