I got this idea thanks to Watchtower :p

Basically he mentioned that we might need another subforum in here for releases and I was giving it some thought and it has great merit.

Mainly I was thinking that sometimes its annoying to try and find an .rmf or tut map, .wad, mapmodel released here or even a certain map in the general section of the mapping forum.

So why don't we have a dedicated subsection in this forum for releasing maps, rmfs/.maps, .wads, and map models this way it will be easier to find something you're after and it will be easier for people to show off their [WIP] or generally have a map discussion without having alot or [MREL] threads in there also.

Anyway comments? does it have merit like i think or is it just a load of hopeful wishes?

Bad Idea, not many people use the Tutorial forum because they cant see it. Would just mean maps get lost in releases.

The MSA forums have a successful Release forum, which gives me no doubt that the mapping area would too.

But you both have a point, im sure quite a few would release in the normal mapping forum.

If moderators DO add a subforum, and keep tack and move releases to the release sub-forum that arent where they are suppossed to be, people would eventually catch on and use it most of the time like the MSA forum.

ive got mixed feelings on this issue, because look at what the main forum is used for - people using it for what the tutorial section is used for, there really isnt a lot of other discussion. It would be handy loading up a forum and having the whole thing releases just so long as the man forum can be used for everything else......

dunno pro's and cons for both.

i too have mixed feelings.

it would mean the forums are more organised, but its annoying having to go through 4 different forums just to see all the mapping forums.

and as s1 has said. some ppl dont even know about the tut forum

Its an interesting idea, but not necessary when the forums are so slow. Its not like the map forum is burning up w/ new posts/threads. :)

Maybe when DoD:S is out or near out we can discuss it again.

Here's my take on it:

Mappers have so much to deal with:
1) Making the map geometry
2) Making textures or working with a texture artist
- else finding the right textures, be they in the steam cache or in a wad somewhere on the Internet
3) Making models or working with a 3d modeler (then skinning!)
- else finding the right models, be they in the steam cache or somewhere on the Internet
4) Making sounds or wokring with a sound person
- else finding the right sounds, be they in the steam cache or somewhere on the Internet
5) etc
6) etc

The real problem (which is obvious) is that at any given time during the mapping process, the mapper must consider texture/2d art design, 3d model usage and sound design. These all impact the basic layout and design concept. Without being able to see what you want during the process it makes mapping more difficult. If you know you can find any wad, model or sound you need with just an easy search, it sure makes the process faster and easier.

Therefore, one idea is to have a *webpage* that is an inventory of the steam cache that explains what is what, and more importantly has a big section of custom content created by people in our community. The problem is that it takes a lot of time to do that, plus hosting bandwidth, plus the time and dedication to keep it up to date. If someone were getting paid to do that, than believe me it would happen. But it is potentially such a daunting task who would take it on?

Finally, there is something to be said for having to "do the work" yourself in finding custom content and not having it completely spoonfed. Still, I hope we or someone can create something that makes it easier to find content out there. I agree with Shane that it's something to consider for DoD:S.

For now I say hold off onto this idea for current DoD and think about it again for DoD:S.

It would be a real good thing for the community and official mappers to help each other out by making a prefabs and new objects, bldgs, etc for dod:S and posting them here in the dod mapping forums for everyone to use and help boost the amount of mapping content out there.

I agree it would be much more prudent to wait until the HL2 SDK is out and then make a release area for frequent prefab and texture releases, so as not to jam up discussion areas, as undoubtably there will be question after question after question regarding HL2 mapping here.

Originally posted by Watchtower
It would be a real good thing for the community and official mappers to help each other out by making a prefabs and new objects, bldgs, etc for dod:S and posting them here in the dod mapping forums for everyone to use and help boost the amount of mapping content out there.

I agree it would be much more prudent to wait until the HL2 SDK is out and then make a release area for frequent prefab and texture releases, so as not to jam up discussion areas, as undoubtably there will be question after question after question regarding HL2 mapping here.


totally agree, I think the mappers that use these boards make for a reasonably "tight knit" community and when you look at it there isnt one significant place for people to go to find everything they could want - we do need a definitive resource for mapping, perhaps we could embark on a community project and create one website that just packs everything you could ever want to do with mapping using these forums as our own as we have done for so long. As shane said the forums are so slow these days there isnt need for multiple forums.

Id be willing to put up all the resources i have for a website that has everything to do with mapping on it and of course keep up with all the releases in the board and not only that but cater for mappers in respect to files,tutorials ect ect..

it needs to be done, something like counter-map except more content ;P

I think if we were to make a forum like this we could loose the tutorial forum, it hardly gets used and most of the people seeking help disreguard it and post in the main forum anyway

So would this be a separate forum just for dod then, Random?
If so there is lots of dodmapping webs and forums around that
hardly see any traffic, well some of them do but not like this place anyway.
Maybe some of those would enjoy a
hard core dod mapping scene :D ...
Lets me see, just of the top of my head there is:
http://dodec.hlgaming.com/main.html
http://www.dodmappers.com/
http://www.dodmaps.com/
And maybe the best of them:
http://www.mardymouse.co.uk/

But maybe best to make our own though...
Good idea!

but none of those websites have everything, Randoms idea is great.

1 site that contains ALL dod maps, ALL dod tuts, and ALL dod tutorials etc.

every time a texture, map, model, tutorial.... is released on the forums, it it put into this major mapping site.

that would mean alot of bandwidth tho.

its a good idea, i hope it happens, and i'd be glad to help out in any way.

well lets do it then TheNomad, ill put up the resources and i allready have a small file database happening which we can expand.

In all seriousness im keen and am willing to put in a lot of work so heres what i think we need

-web designer/webmaster
-file managers
-people to add tutorials

we can easily plot along as we are using these great forums, and just have 1 website that is a major resource for mappers. Nothing like this has been done and perhaps if we take it on as a community project it will mutually benefit everyone.

This is a great idea, it will be so much easyer to find stuff!
GO GO GO! :D

Well, I know html. so i can make a site. but as u can see from THIS (http://nomad.dssghq.net) they dont look all that nice. I can also write tutorials if need be.

I guess the first step is getting the site up before anything else.

if u want me to make it then say, or can make a temp one.

we will need these pages.

Main (news and stuff)
Maps (download all maps for dod, alphebetical order would be good)
textures (lots of wads and sprites and stuff, and sky textures)
sounds (sounds for dod maps)
models (lots of map models)
tutorials

and a "getting started" page, with Hammer, ZHLT, wally, Model viewer etc, and tutorials for New mappers.

I'd be willing to help find files and organise them for the site, I can't make a website or anything but I'm good at finding stuff usually when i've got the time ;)

okay well all people interested in helping out i think we need to get together and have a discussion - page can be done in HTML and everything converted to php by yours thruely when the time comes, we wont need forums as i beleive we all love these forums so much :D! and yes i have a lot of bandwidth to spare and id love to use it on something constructive like this

see small files database that i have allready started ;)

http://files.expesports.com/pafiledb.php

i might look into getting a premade site like to many people do :P phpnuke,e107 ect ect ect still would be nice to have our own original site so if anyone is good @ php that would help - so okay anyone who is interested we all gotta get together all in the same place @ the same time :P

refer to best ways to contact me
#EXPNS or #dod on irc.gamesurge.net IRC
msn - TravisChrisite@hotmail.com
email - Travis*at*expesports.com

i really hope we can get something going and get some good ppls behind us to help.

;)