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wacko
Guest
Hey all it looks like there is a new version of DM_Rebar out check it out at www.thevon.net good stuff
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wacko
Guest
it is the final version... There are no plans on changing it unless some major issue comes up. The reason we have a B6 in there is because we want to have the "Final" Version be the one that goes into the contest...
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von*ferret
Guest
you could, however everyone would connect to your server and have to download it all over again because you changed the name on your map
![Pro[pH]et](https://valvetime-data.community.forum/avatars/m/22/22091.jpg?1330940209){kind=avatar}
Pro[pH]et
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von*ferret said:
Well, he needs to release a final version with his final name, really.
It just seems goofy to me to have b6 at the end of your map name if it is no longer a beta.
The higher the standards, the better off the community is, IMO.
K
keved
Guest
Pro[pH]et said:
Not everyone is in a rush to release a final version of their level. Once a level is released with a final name, what happens if bugs are found? Two versions with the same name, causing problems when trying to connect to a server running the other version? How about dm_rebar and dm_rebar_final - how do people know which is final? Taking weeks before releasing a final version in fine imo. It's only a name - you can still play the level.
Some are waiting until after the contest, too.
p.s. great level von ferret.
Pro[pH]et
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There are now 6 versions of rebar out there. There will be a 7th once the 'final' version is released.
What they are going to find is a lot of people out there running different versions of their map.
In the future I would encourage them to beta test maps in a locked server with just some friends.
It's not the end of the world, and I'm not trying to be an ass. I just want to lend some advice. Maybe it is bad advice, the hell if I know. lol
What they are going to find is a lot of people out there running different versions of their map.
In the future I would encourage them to beta test maps in a locked server with just some friends.
It's not the end of the world, and I'm not trying to be an ass. I just want to lend some advice. Maybe it is bad advice, the hell if I know. lol
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von*ferret
Guest
There are two betas released. Beta 1-5 were closed beta's between friends. Beta 7 is the last beta before final.
The way it works is this. I enter the competition with what ever fixes you guys find with beta 7. If I win, great, youwill all have the final version from Valve's official map pack. If not than I'll go back and do tweaks with custom props and materials and release the final version AFTER the contest has concluded.
I dont see how this is a difficult thing to understand. Once I take away the beta tags than to release a new version would be suicide as people would get too frustrated with never having the right version per server.
The way it works is this. I enter the competition with what ever fixes you guys find with beta 7. If I win, great, youwill all have the final version from Valve's official map pack. If not than I'll go back and do tweaks with custom props and materials and release the final version AFTER the contest has concluded.
I dont see how this is a difficult thing to understand. Once I take away the beta tags than to release a new version would be suicide as people would get too frustrated with never having the right version per server.
it's not difficult to understand...it's just stupid
prophet may not be an ass but i will..
don't release unfinished maps. beta test with friends in a server..
i have played hldm/ag for 6 years and never have i seen so many dm_shit_b1-12039812348 ...
don't release the map to the public until its done!
it's a lot more impressive if a map just comes from nowhere and the author is like here ya go..enjoy
now we'll just see a bunch of diff versions of rebar...kinda like crossfire_b1/b2/b3/source/b6/q8/f16....etc
prophet may not be an ass but i will..
don't release unfinished maps. beta test with friends in a server..
i have played hldm/ag for 6 years and never have i seen so many dm_shit_b1-12039812348 ...
don't release the map to the public until its done!
it's a lot more impressive if a map just comes from nowhere and the author is like here ya go..enjoy
now we'll just see a bunch of diff versions of rebar...kinda like crossfire_b1/b2/b3/source/b6/q8/f16....etc
RA7
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Added mirror 2 www.lanmaniax.com
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von*ferret
Guest
Well I whole heartedly disagree. Public testing and comments is the best way you can get quality feed back. I'll take my opinion and part though. I'll check back if you guys ever post some constructive criticism.
K
keved
Guest
bi0_gauss said:
All I saw in this thread were people ranting about how map authors shouldn't release public betas. Was there anything specific about rebar in particular?
vonferret, there only issues I could find...
- There's a hollow circular pipe partially sunken into the ground near the broken truck, with a pickup (health pack?) inside it. Getting back out of there is a real chore.
- Some of the displacements are overly angular and could do with softening up.
- The interiors are a bit spartan with not much in the way of cover. I know you've got to keep performance up as the interiors are visible from the outside, but the odd pile of bricks (brushwork as func_detail) or whatever would help.
- Seemed like some brushes which should be func_details are current not. I ran around with mat_wireframe activated and in places there is more splitting than is needed.
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wacko
Guest
WOW... A lot of smoke going on over here... Dm_Rebar should not have been released as a public map ??? Why not ? The fact is many and I do mean many maps get released as "Public" maps and to be honest are really shitty. I can name many times where I have heard people complain about how this map was not good enough should have been more testing the gameplay sucked etc.... With Dm_Rebar we are allowing you the chance to give your feedback and we take it very seriously. We read these threads daily to see what people are saying, and hopefully improve the map for the better which is what B6 was all about.
We took the words of hundreds of player who have seen the map or played the map and put in what we though was the best out of what they are saying and released B6. I think that you will find that all the good maps and I can tell you from having been in the mapping community for a long ass time that playtesting playtesting playtesting can make a good map. Some of the worst maps out there are bad not because the mapper sucks but because they saw a vision and they made that vision without the player in mind and with Rebar we wanted the player to be at the frontlines with us. So I think all this talk about we should not release betas and we should not release a public map is a bunch of malarkey... I mean you people will complain either way so take it somewhere else we want to make a good map; which is why we release these betas.
We took the words of hundreds of player who have seen the map or played the map and put in what we though was the best out of what they are saying and released B6. I think that you will find that all the good maps and I can tell you from having been in the mapping community for a long ass time that playtesting playtesting playtesting can make a good map. Some of the worst maps out there are bad not because the mapper sucks but because they saw a vision and they made that vision without the player in mind and with Rebar we wanted the player to be at the frontlines with us. So I think all this talk about we should not release betas and we should not release a public map is a bunch of malarkey... I mean you people will complain either way so take it somewhere else we want to make a good map; which is why we release these betas.
Pro[pH]et
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I would be willing to bet you that the top 5-10 maps in this competition will not have been played at all by the public.
Letting the public test your map is ok but don't expect that to guarantee you anything.
Most everybody giving advice on your map couldn't do a map of their own washroom.
Letting the public test your map is ok but don't expect that to guarantee you anything.
Most everybody giving advice on your map couldn't do a map of their own washroom.
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Yak_Fighter
Guest
quit slagging on poor Ferret, if you actually looked at the map you'd know that it is quite good and probably one of the frontrunners for the competition if Valve isn't looking for the winners to fit the exact HL2 theme. Also bitching about releasing betas is rather dumb, because player input is definitely necessary to create successful maps. If they haven't been playtested then it's almost dumb luck if the mapper creates a good playing map.
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I think a lot of people will be suprised when the winners are picked.
I haven't insulted anyone's map that I can remember. I have no talent at all when it comes to maps.
I have seen two maps that really caught my attention.
The one Dux is making and the one 3D Mike is making.
You can just tell by the screenshots that Dux is a man among boys.
You don't see him begging all us morons (tongue in cheek) to beta test his map.
I fully expect there will be many other maps like his that none of us have seen or beta tested for anyone.
I applaud anyone who is taking the time to make a map and submit it for competition. I don't have the time or desire to do so myself.
I don't want to insult anyone but if what has been posted here and in the steam forums is all we have to look forward to out of the map competition then boy are we in for it.
(I'm going to regret this post, I can feel it)
I haven't insulted anyone's map that I can remember. I have no talent at all when it comes to maps.
I have seen two maps that really caught my attention.
The one Dux is making and the one 3D Mike is making.
You can just tell by the screenshots that Dux is a man among boys.
You don't see him begging all us morons (tongue in cheek) to beta test his map.
I fully expect there will be many other maps like his that none of us have seen or beta tested for anyone.
I applaud anyone who is taking the time to make a map and submit it for competition. I don't have the time or desire to do so myself.
I don't want to insult anyone but if what has been posted here and in the steam forums is all we have to look forward to out of the map competition then boy are we in for it.
(I'm going to regret this post, I can feel it)
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Yak_Fighter
Guest
You do realize that it's highly doubtful Valve is going to pick maps that don't in some way reflect HL2 settings and themes don't you? A floating castle in the sky and a generic industrial themed map don't fit that description. Plus pictures mean nothing, unless you've actually played the maps you have no idea how they will fare.
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von*ferret
Guest
I only used Valve materials in the level.
Screenshots can tell you if its aestheticaly pleasing. It can somewhat tell you if the flow is nice. It can really tell you if the creator is a noob.
Aestheticaly pleasing screenshots are just that. Aesthetics. Shows that thought went into how nice it is represented. Look at depot for example. Now set aside the photoshopped sharpened and constrated pics and look at the real pics of it and its still a nice looking level. Doesn't mean it plays well.
Pics can show you if the flow is nice. If you look down a hall and its a giant dead end, obviously the flow sucks. If there are a lot of enatrances/exits it shows there is some flow.
Screenshots can tell you if the map maker is a noob. If the map maker takes a screenshot of a wall, a set of stairs (unless there are really fabulous stairs), or simply a prop he was able to place into a map, it shows the author has no idea what should be shown in a picture.
Obviously pics aren't everything because look at depot, the map's gameplay blows even though it looks nice.
Oh and on a side note, my thoughts are like this. Rebar has been playtested for the past month. We have found numerous flaws and things we could add to the level to make it better. Now everyone else who chose to keep their maps secret because they wanted to go out in a "bang" will just fizzle. They haven't tested player spawns. They havn't tested weapon spawns. They havn't tested timing. Sure they can still test with friends, but friends are biased and limited meaning they'll get weighted responses and only limited # of ideas. After releasing beta 5 I got a lot of ideas on how to improve my level and acted upon it. Same will go for beta 6. I, and other serious level designers, will always look for the community to test their betas. Because when I put the final say on the map, its going to be damn near perfect if not perfect. iF that means the average uptight joe as yourself has to play 3 different versions, than you can choose to a.) not play the betas and wait or b.) play the betas and weight and stop whining. Remember that I do this for fun, I'm not being paid.
Screenshots can tell you if its aestheticaly pleasing. It can somewhat tell you if the flow is nice. It can really tell you if the creator is a noob.
Aestheticaly pleasing screenshots are just that. Aesthetics. Shows that thought went into how nice it is represented. Look at depot for example. Now set aside the photoshopped sharpened and constrated pics and look at the real pics of it and its still a nice looking level. Doesn't mean it plays well.
Pics can show you if the flow is nice. If you look down a hall and its a giant dead end, obviously the flow sucks. If there are a lot of enatrances/exits it shows there is some flow.
Screenshots can tell you if the map maker is a noob. If the map maker takes a screenshot of a wall, a set of stairs (unless there are really fabulous stairs), or simply a prop he was able to place into a map, it shows the author has no idea what should be shown in a picture.
Obviously pics aren't everything because look at depot, the map's gameplay blows even though it looks nice.
Oh and on a side note, my thoughts are like this. Rebar has been playtested for the past month. We have found numerous flaws and things we could add to the level to make it better. Now everyone else who chose to keep their maps secret because they wanted to go out in a "bang" will just fizzle. They haven't tested player spawns. They havn't tested weapon spawns. They havn't tested timing. Sure they can still test with friends, but friends are biased and limited meaning they'll get weighted responses and only limited # of ideas. After releasing beta 5 I got a lot of ideas on how to improve my level and acted upon it. Same will go for beta 6. I, and other serious level designers, will always look for the community to test their betas. Because when I put the final say on the map, its going to be damn near perfect if not perfect. iF that means the average uptight joe as yourself has to play 3 different versions, than you can choose to a.) not play the betas and wait or b.) play the betas and weight and stop whining. Remember that I do this for fun, I'm not being paid.
