We are going to allow map release announcements in the General forum under the following conditions:

*It is truly a RELEASE thread. Not a "work-in-progress" or "will be releasing soon" or anything other than the release of a working, finished map.
*If you're releasing it w/ an aim to get feedback and make changes and re-release it again shortly, DO NOT post it to general.
*The post must include at least one download link and at least one picture.

I'm hoping this are a couple extremely simple guidelines to follow. If not, the rule change could be revoked and put you on my "shortbus" list. ;)

However, its my hope that this will help push those few custom maps that are being released to a wider audience.

makes sense shane. Only I find it a bit worrying that there seem to be less and less custom maps in the works lately. Like the custom map community died out basically. Kinda sad.

Very few active mappers, which is kinda sad :/

I'm trying to revive my old Volonne map for 1.1b, but it just won't run. Not sure if it is the legacy entity structure that I have to update. Hopefully I'll get it running soon and then retexture for a re-release.

Assuming it does, I'll release as a custom map. Waldo, any thoughts on this? I'm wondering if the switch to Steam has thrown people off a bit in the custom mapping area, not to mention the hopeful release of HL2 and the mod tools.

i died...

Yeah, its very strange, since we aren't allowed to show our work in progress anymore....

you are still allowed to post Work-in-progress threads, we just don't want you to post Work-in-progress in a thread that is clearly entitled as "RELEASE" thread.

Originally posted by Plato
i died...

Ditto lol

I would map but everyone getting too angsty at me to finish my C-47 model :D

Originally posted by Angry Beaver
I would map but everyone getting too angsty at me to finish my C-47 model :D

dont make me get out my whip beaver... get on with the model and stop lolling on the forums!!!!!.....:D

I gotta say I think part of the problem is people in here are pretty rude to a lot of the new would be mappers and well, rude in general. Naturally it depends on the thread, but what a way to scare people off. Anyhow, cool idea Shane, hopefully it'll help revive things.

Monk

Originally posted by Kehldon
Yeah, its very strange, since we aren't allowed to show our work in progress anymore.... Shane was talking about releasing maps in General forum. Good idea it will attract more people to use custom maps.

Considering this rules I think that release rules should require pics of every objective /flag area + overview. This would show quite good part of map + give some idea about size/gameplay flow.

Originally posted by Craftos
Shane was talking about releasing maps in General forum. Good idea it will attract more people to use custom maps.

Considering this rules I think that release rules should require pics of every objective /flag area + overview. This would show quite good part of map + give some idea about size/gameplay flow.

Well, I didn't want to make the rules too demanding, but, yeah, I'd hope people would include MORE than I'm requiring, its only in their best interest, right?

And, yeah, I'm just talking about RELEASE maps, not 'WIP' or requests for feedback, etc...

Also, if the release truly is a beta where you just want some feedback to fix things, please don't post that to general.

*BLUSHES*

My appogizes, never respond to threads when you have a fewer and apparently didn't understand the text. Thought the general forum meant the general mapping forum. Once again Im sorry. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Monk
I gotta say I think part of the problem is people in here are pretty rude to a lot of the new would be mappers and well, rude in general. Naturally it depends on the thread, but what a way to scare people off. Anyhow, cool idea Shane, hopefully it'll help revive things.

Monk

if u were referring to my comment, Im sorry, but i was joking.

Originally posted by kleinluka
makes sense shane. Only I find it a bit worrying that there seem to be less and less custom maps in the works lately. Like the custom map community died out basically. Kinda sad.

the community didn't die, half-life 1 is dieing.

plus i'm tired of not being appreciated for not making a city map. i've got bigger hl2 style prospects in mind, if we can find the time to pull it off.

TheNomad: Nah, I was just saying it's a trend I've noticed since the forums were redone. Used to be lots of newbie mappers here but a lot of people were pretty darn rude to them even though they were pretty pathetic in their attempts to look stuff up. Even me, a guy who has searched the net time and time again for tutorials and stuff, I get reamed every once in a while when I'm just looking to the community for some simple answers.

Anyhow, just in case someone cares, here's a reminder to chill out a bit and try to understand everyone asks dumb questions now and again. If you think they should have found it in one of the stickies and or the faq or google, then that's cool. Just be polite, let then know some good places to search, and tell them you'll be happy to help them if they can't find what they're looking for. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now.

Monk

iv read and i agree with what most of you say. im a very new mapper (early summer this year (2003)). when i came here looking for answers and feed back on the (s***) maps i did, i got a lot more then just rudeness. im still making maps (im making one now) though it is hard to get it looking right.

I think the reason why we see less mappers is the fact that when you make a map, you hope it'll get played somewhere on a server. With WON this was pretty easy(wich is still now). Only now most people don't know how to install it and a lot more servers will stay empty->they scratch custom maps and go play with the standard maps->no custom maps played->mapper thinks it's a waste of time->quit. I think the most hope of the mapper goes to a map that would make it official.

Heh, i know im just bringing up old news...

but,

Community did not die for mappers, we just lost a few mappers.

we are gaining new people, whom have newer ideas.

Best way to help us all out? Be helpfull and nice to all whom submit ideas and maps.

Well that's all a little daunting to someone new to the whole mapping arena, I'm 14 in, set up Hammer (hl1) am in the middle of designing a map, just having a little trouble getting it to compile, I did post a thread.

After reading this I'll post a few pics of it and hopefully get some feedback... in the right forum.

God forbid I have the scale wrong.

Just a general statement...

What I've noticed and from talking to a few people who have mapped/modelled for DoD/HL1 in the past, the following seems to be true:

1) Not owning HL2 and not having access to the SDK and tools

2) Fear/Belief that mapping/modelling for source is too hard or beyond their skills.

3) In the case of some mappers, dependance on models in maps and not knowing how to make them putting them off.

4) Lack of DoD:S specific SDK content.

5) In the case of modellers, the fact custom player models will not work removes their interest in modelling.

6) Lack of documentation.

Thats some of the reasons I've been told. Draw from it what conclusions you will.

Originally posted by dErOp sHeEp
Well that's all a little daunting to someone new to the whole mapping arena, I'm 14 in, set up Hammer (hl1) am in the middle of designing a map, just having a little trouble getting it to compile, I did post a thread.

After reading this I'll post a few pics of it and hopefully get some feedback... in the right forum.

God forbid I have the scale wrong. I'd just like to mention, that you've brought up a very old thread (look at the dates). However, it is true that there are less mappers now than there were before. But also, there are more new mappers - like yourself - who want to start mapping, as well as many of us older mappers who are still around.

However, I *just* noticed that you're mapping for DOD1.3 but that's okay because there's TONS of threads that have already been started that could help you out on your compiling problems. As well as many mappers who still lurk the forum with the wise knowledge that you seek.

So don't hinder your efforts, young apprentice.

God. I sound like some 20th century Jedi. :p

As for scaling, don't worry about it. If you have Hammer set up to see models, then all you have to do is to put one of the spawn entities on the "ground", and scale everything according to that.

yes it was an old thead... I get told off for that all the time, I accessed it through a link on a stickied one.

thanks,

Just like to say that from a server ops point of view, we like custom maps(makes the game more interesting), and I personally give you mappers 3 cheers for your efforts and time.

I thought about mapping myself, but the lingo and the complexity to learn makes me gasp and pull back. So much to learn, and the info is spread out everywhere, instead of centralized into one database.

Complaints I hear from the general public about maps, you might consider while making your maps, are things like spawn camping, one sidedness to the map, and the abillity to move freely through the map on a full server, like door and hall bottlenecks, that are to small or not wide enough.

Most popular maps from public feedback usually have a centrallized battle zone, where the action gets heavy, or a few battle zones. This seems to make the map never boring and becomes a favorite to the general public. So flow to the map is important to consider.

Just some tips, most of you old timers already know, but in my years of playing, and admining, these seem to be a few things that keep maps on servers for a long time.

Good luck with your projects, wish we could get our hands on more maps soon, it's getting boring with the four standard ones already, the servers are dying slowly, argggg!!!.