Hey guys, we just installed a bunch of customs on our server and I would like to create a map pack for easier download... the search feature is not working for me on the forum... so if you guys could post a quick and easy program to use in making a map pack I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks in advance for your help, DOD is the best online community out there.

One big Zip file.

do you have sv_downloadurl enabled? If you do, that'll be more effective than any map packs you can create. :)

But, if you really want to make map packs, I personally prefer making .zips than .exes.

I'm with Shane, I much prefer a .zip so I know what I'm installing. I don't want all of my stuff to be overwritten because sometimes people make mistakes with both what they include and where they include parts of the map.

Sounds good guys, I'll make up a zip or two, thanks again for the help!

Originally posted by Gorbachev
I'm with Shane, I much prefer a .zip so I know what I'm installing. I don't want all of my stuff to be overwritten because sometimes people make mistakes with both what they include and where they include parts of the map.

You can do the same with an .exe file. I always install .exe DoD maps to a temp file for the same reasons you mention.

I don't what people installing/overwriting my decal.wad or materials.txt now do I


JDRogansHeroes it's probably an idea to ask the people on your server what they would prefer.

I find that to be an unnecessary step, but alas, some people are too lame to put files from a .zip in their own folders. C'mon people, it's not that hard!

Originally posted by Gorbachev
I find that to be an unnecessary step, but alas, some people are too lame to put files from a .zip in their own folders. C'mon people, it's not that hard!

Well, when I make .zips of the maps on the server, I make it so they always resolve to the same dir, always.

Honestly though, JDRogan, if you have sv_downloadurl functioning, you'll find that's 100 times more effective in getting people to play custom maps.

Thanks again guys... Shane I do have sv_downloadurl on but for limited maps due to bandwidth issues. But we may add a couple more in the future... we are just getting too popular and guys are sucking down the pipeline!

Cheers guys... and if you ever have a chance, stop by for our Friday Night Fights, we are a strict no fastswitch server though.

Thanks again!

So if people eat your BW due to mappacks or sv_downloadurl, what's the difference? :)

Your server is West Coast, right? I think I've popped my head in there once or twice.

Yeah, I would have thought that sv_downloadurl would really be less bandwidth because it doesn't add your site pages as overhead including the files too. It's probably because it's more accessable and people who normally wouldn't have bothered now stick it through to get the map.

Originally posted by Gorbachev
I find that to be an unnecessary step, but alas, some people are too lame to put files from a .zip in their own folders. C'mon people, it's not that hard!

Sorry ... but that doesn't get people playing Custom maps on your server.

Honestly though, JDRogan, if you have sv_downloadurl functioning, you'll find that's 100 times more effective in getting people to play custom maps.

I feel this is the best thing to try and use but traffic (Not bandwidth) is the real problem with this. I've heard some people mention 8Gig a night on a busy server.

I do hope that is not true as most people running servers can't afford that. I only have small maps that can download quickly (1 min or less) from the server.

anyone with any idea what traffic a busy DoD server uses in a night ... KK peeps?

Hi, the trafic depends on the number of NEW/CHANGED maps. If you are running on stable map pack (not updated etc.) is our normal traffic around 1-2 GB a day!

If we update the maps – which we just did due to the coming CDODL season with 3 custom maps - does the trafic goes up to app. 7-8 GB the first day (in actual figures) on our 100 M/Bit content server connection, who is supporting our 20 player FFA DoD Server.

So 8 GB traffic sounds like at real figure – especially if the players on the server are able to “break” the mapcycle in votes!

And BTW some times does sv_downloadurl need a feature that could update maps! Say if a mapper release a new version of a custom map. With sv_downloadurl is the only way to correct this in a mappack, that need to be downloaded and installed seperately.

/null_bit

i've found you have really no choice but to exe, in the past i made a funny little map for after battles in BFE which I called alliedwin which was basically an axis torture map that just kept evolving over every battle, but what i found was most players are stupid and don't understand how to properly unzip the files and exe's are really their only way to be able to play it

Originally posted by Astro
but what i found was most players are stupid and don't understand how to properly unzip the files and exe's are really their only way to be able to play it

Players are not stupid, probably a bit lazy ... yes. They want things to be quick-n-easy ... so do I.

Self install Steam exe files are great for making things quick and easy.

NSIS all the way for me.

NOTE: After all we are trying to get as many players playing custom maps as possible not just the l33t kiddies that can unpack a zip file properly ... right?

I've also realized that sv_downloadurl saves time/BW vs. having people d/l zips because w/ sv_downloadurl you'll never have to download something that you already have. So, if the map requires some models or sounds that you already have from another map, the server won't waste bw or time sending them to you. Unlike a zip where you constantly get redundant files.

This is also true w/ a map pack. Say you have 10 maps in it but players X has 3 of those maps already. Re d/ling 3 maps is a waste of resources on both sides.