Custom Maps wanted

[BUGS]FHMod[]

I am currently adding custom maps to the new homepage. If you know a map that MUST not be missing there...

Add a reply to the topic including:

- name
- scenario
- year it plays
- armies fighting each other
- created by
- creator's email
- short description
- minimap image 512x512 (jpg) and 300x300 (jpg)
- loadingscreen 800x600 (jpg) and 300x225 (jpg)
- screenshots ("hud 0") 800x600 (jpg) and 180x135 (gif)
- downloadlinks

If the map contains BF:V, RtR or SWoWWII stuff - plz write a special note.

For sure you might send me an email to bugs@darkobi.com. If you do so: Reply here with the name of the map so my mailbox won't be spammed

[Kingrudolf]

Just a general question that might apply to more people.

I'm not really sure what this is about. I thought the fan mappack was supposed to cover this. You guys are always so vague at requests! What is this new "homepage"? And I notice download links need to be included. Are you aiming for maps from different mods as well? Or do they just need to be uploaded to a FTP or something (instead of public)?

[BUGS]FHMod[]

Ok - as you might have noticed our current homepage is not that up to date on some parts. Custommaps were only supported with Fanmappack #1 so far.

We would like to change that. The support we can give all the custommappers out there is to give them the chance to present their FH fanmap on our page.

Maybe that way more people will try to download custom maps or better they will know where to get them and the more ppl have them the more they might be played.

And what Fanmappacks shall cover: Well - the most nicely considered maps will be included there - the chance to get those maps played is bigger for sure because ppl love packs more than single maps. Anyway...

Thatfore I need the information I requested above: A new section on the homepage featuring FH custommaps.

[Kingrudolf]

Initially a good idea, but the downside is, the maps are going to be presented seperately. So suddenly I get disconnected from a server because it says "map not found". I try another server, and would get the same message. This is just an example of what would happen; if servers would bother to download custom maps (obviously not all servers download the same), it would get real messy, from the way I see it it wouldn't work.

Basically, this way I would be forced to download all the custom maps, "in case" a server might have one of these installed. Now I totally appreciate the fan mapping support, because both partys benefit from this, but, after two years of BF we all know seperate maps are ever hardly played. It needs to be official. Else no one will want to, or bother to download the map. I remember many fine maps posted oin BF42.com, but they were quickly forgotten because it was a single download.

Honestly, I'd much rather like to see all the maps made by fans, reviewed, and prepared for adoption into the FH mod. People don't like the sound of "Fan mappack", because it has a bad history, giving it a bad name. And if maps are really good by themselves, they would probably be adopted into the mod itself anyway. ...right? I would even volunteer to "review" the maps, without my vote being the final answer.

I hope you understand what I'm saying, but especially hope you can find a point in what I'm saying.

[BUGS]FHMod[]

I know the problem.

And I know ppl don't really bother about single maps when they have to search for ages. And serveradmins do not want them in when their server is empty suddenly.

Well - I played many, many online games. CS custommaps were played much, Quake III is a good example too.

There was quake3maps.com - if you did not have a map you went there, downloaded it of one of the 10 mirrors and that's it... was an really easy one and you were in game again 3 mins later feeling happy everyone else did same and you could be able to check out a new map. No problems - I had more then 5 GB of maps (and quakemaps are not really big in filesize).

I think it's simply not possible to include even more and more maps to the FH release. As you might have noticed we removed several maps for 0.65 because otherwise the installer will have 20 GB in half a year *exaggerating*
And as you might know really good custommaps find their way into the release (Outskirts - a lil laggy but always fun wasn't it ). And what to do with all the other maps that play ok but don't get in because we don't want to have a 5GB installer? Well - Fanmappack is one possibility - call it additional mappack if you like
And another is a good single map support if you don't want to release one mappack a month. Or you just say: Sorry man - you wasted your time...

And for the servers - FtN has several servers - I think there will always be servers that keep the "official only" way - while other servers could be used for custom maps as well (as FtN does with some single maps sometimes and it works good because they really promote the download for that maps).

So - this kind of support is best I can do besides additional mappacks or even the integration into the mod for some maps only.

[Kingrudolf]

I suppose we'll have to see how it works out. You might have to keep checking up on that new page though, where would I download that map if the links are broken? I think the best reliable download links would be BF1942files.com, since it doesn't require a registration, doesn't have ridiculous download times, and the site doesn't seem to be down often.

Still, I'd prefer having the maps in one package; maybe you could even make a monthly map update, like every four weeks a new package is up for grabs (or two months), it would also keep the mod going and please the public continuously. As for large file downloads; didn't FH have seperate map download packages anyway? Worked perfectly if you ask me. I'm still convinced that full downloads attract more attention, give less complications, and being able to look forward to something would be more appealing.

This way you can also assort the maps, making sure good maps are played, instead of servers having to "experiment" to see if a map is popular or not. And I know that many admins can't really tell wether a map is good (gameplay-looks-wise) or not.

I'm throwing around some suggestions here; I'd like the best for the mod as well.

[Braun]

Maybe you could just make maps packs every month or something...whenever youve gathered enough Maps to make a quality map pack...that way every body gets new maps regurlarly and the servers if they have it wont have to worry abou being empty because everybody has the Map pack...

[BUGS]FHMod[]

And so do I.

I guess fanmappacks will be around more often from now on. Not with a contest each time I think and for sure I can't tell anything about the frequency because it depends on how many maps are sent in and which quality they have.

Well - we will see. But we made the first step and hope to get it working

So - if you like you might start with suggesting some maps...

[Anlushac11]

Its too bad you guys couldnt develop a auto map loading program like Tribes 2 maps.com had.

It was one site that had all the maps for tribes 2 and if you didnt have the map but had the auto installer installed if server rotated to a map you didnt have it would autoconnect to tribes 2 maps and d/l and install the map and with broadband you were in game and playing in minutes.

[Nechre]

Except tribes maps are not nearly as small as FH maps. FH maps are anywhere from 6mb-100mb a piece, which is crazy... I HATE RFAS!