70 replies to this topic

[rumblesom]

Work has begun on a map patch update..!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Hi Everyone

Earlier this year zzattack and I released a collection of maps which were enabled for play in quickmatches (read all about it here). Since then the patch has been downloaded over 2000 times and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!

Six months later we're ready to give the patch its first update, but just as was done with the current version, we're asking for community feedback on proposed new maps before we implement them.

We're going to propose 5-10 new maps, but here's the catch- we want YOU to create them! Well... some of them at least

To that end we're holding a contest: Pending we receive at least 5 submissions, we will test all new maps for QM suitability (See below for guidelines) and those which are successful will be put to a community vote.

The most popular map will earn its maker a prize worth $25 USD! (perhaps it will in fact be $25!) And the map will be inserted in the QM as part of the official update. Details to be announced.

So what’s stopping you? Exams? Hardly- that’s when Ra2 is the most fun! And it’s just what the holidays are for anyway! Make one, make two- all serious submissions will be tested and proposed accordingly... happy holidays XWIS! And as my good friend f000 might say "good luck, cartographers!"


This topic will showcase all maps being proposed for the update (map submissions and corresponding images will be posted as they pass testing). Recommendations for potential current patch map-pool removals are also appreciated (please include reasoning).

To facilitate testing of the proposed new maps, those who have the current QM patch installed will also have access to all proposed new maps for use in custom-match games. The proposed maps, (found here) will NOT appear in the current QM and the current QM-patch map-pool will NOT be affected.

Guidelines for QM suitability:

1) Map sizes are restricted to a maximum of 8100 square pixels (i.e. 90x90 is allowed; 81x100 is allowed; 82x100 is not; 91x91 also not allowed etc.)

2) Map sizes are restricted to a minimum of 2500 square pixels with no dimension less than 35 pixels (i.e. 50x50 is allowed; 35x71 is allowed; 30x71 not allowed; 49x49 not allowed etc.)

3) A maximum of 8 oil techs (preferably 4 or less)

4) A maximum of 2 paradrop stations

5) At least one land passage to the opponent's base (preferably more); 5pixel minimum dimension

6) Avoid using too many garrisonable buildings (this will be judged case by case, but concentrations of fully-healthy buildings are not advised.)

7) Avoid including too much ore/gem resource money. (available ore/gem patches should approximate the size of those found on standard XWIS QM maps.)

Proposed Maps:

"Twin Peaks" Modded by iNs0MNiaC



More info here!


"Arden River" by Aro



More info here!


"Eye to Eye" by Informant



More info here!


"Landmarks" by JJ




More info here!


"Poltergeist" by Prophet



More info here!


"Ring of Ore" by Ixith



More info here!


"Tournament Map X" by iNs0MNiaC



More info here!


"Infinity" by Gyroscopic



More info here!


"Deep Trouble" by DistantQ



More info here!


"Savage Winter" by JJ



More info here!


"Yin Yang" by Piscinex

Edited by rumblesom, 08 February 2010 - 03:17 PM.

[Mikoz]

amazing guys you rock !!

[xJoelx]

=)

[FReQuEnZy]

LOOOLz!!!!!111!!!1!!

LOOOLz!!!!!111!!!1!!

[rumblesom]

21/12/2009: To facilitate testing of the proposed new maps, those who have the current QM patch installed will also have access to all proposed new maps for use in custom-match games. The proposed maps, (found here) will NOT appear in the current QM and the current QM-patch map-pool will NOT be affected.

Please play a few ffgs on the proposed new maps and provide feedback here; all input we receive will be considered when finalizing the patch update map-pool, and all ongoing discussion will be upkept as we try gauge the community's interest and concerns.

We also continue to accept fan-map submissions for the patch update contest!.

Edited by rumblesom, 22 December 2009 - 12:02 AM.

[Chrisev]

really nice job

[NoVaCaiNe]

tbh i feel like playing that 1st map

[Ben]

I'd resubmit my snow map, with better tiling, but I reformatted. It's pretty sov overpowered anyway from memory. But what isn't!

Edited by Ben, 24 December 2009 - 01:30 AM.

[FReQuEnZy]

Imo people should take more consideration to balance and the way the game is played on the top level when designing maps.

[ExpaNd]

go to Ra2 lions den

they have EVERy map you can think of for Ra2 or Yr.

theres literally over 1,000 maps =]

have fun searching thorugh them

[Turtl3d]

Wooo, i am so going to make some maps now

[Ben]

go to Ra2 lions den

they have EVERy map you can think of for Ra2 or Yr.

theres literally over 1,000 maps =]

have fun searching thorugh them

Contacting some of the authors might be difficult, it's been a long time.

[DylHole]

i added him on msn but hes always busy or away D:

[Olaf]

Contacting some of the authors might be difficult, it's been a long time.

Why would you need to contact the original author?

[rumblesom]

Why would you need to contact the original author?

obviously to abide various copyrights and ensure all royalties were paid ;P

ty for the suggestion iAmaLeGeNd; but the idea here is to get ppl to try their hand at making maps- its fun and allows a player to approach RA2 from a different angle.

I did go to that Ra2 lions den site, but not many maps had previews and none had true full-map images like EVERY map listed at zzattack's site

Edited by rumblesom, 28 December 2009 - 11:36 PM.

[FReQuEnZy]

obviously to abide various copyrights and ensure all royalties were paid ;P

ty for the suggestion iAmaLeGeNd; but the idea here is to get ppl to try their hand at making maps- its fun and allows a player to approach RA2 from a different angle.

I did go to that Ra2 lions den site, but not many maps had previews and none had true full-map images like EVERY map listed at zzattack's site

Cuz that site is ancient and they didnt have frank to make em a rendering program

What copyrights? They would be more or less happy that their creations are becoming official maps.

Olaf is a Pirate!!!

I submit this map for play testing.

 Official_Tournament_Map_X.jpg   3.04MB   75 downloads

DOWNLOAD NOW!!!

Edited by iNs0MNiaC, 30 December 2009 - 10:38 PM.

[Prophet]

I won't be able to play for a long time so I'm thinking about creating a map. How do you create those fantastic map images?

[Chrisev]

the links is always uncorrect

[rumblesom]

Update: Many new maps added to the proposal! Please see the first post for preview images and further info!

Note: all these maps are available for custom ffgs to all those who use the Ra2 QM Map Patch

These new maps WILL NOT appear in the QM unless otherwise stated in this topic. (Not yet )

Edited by rumblesom, 20 January 2010 - 10:33 PM.

[Aro]

My approvals for the QM:

- Tournament Map X
- Arden River
- Deep Trouble (Though I'm not fond of the blocky and straight slopes the map is definitely an interesting one)

And my approvals for FFG matches:

- Yin Yang (Too much Ore and resource imbalances for a 1v1 map)
- Infinite Gateway (The lighting on the map edges needs fixing and toning down though)
- Ring of Ore (Too much Ore and resource imbalances for a 1v1 map)

Edited by Aro, 20 January 2010 - 11:10 PM.

[Gyroscopic]

lol, my map is still wip ;(((

- Infinite Gateway (The lighting on the map edges needs fixing and toning down though)

as i've already explained, preview lighting looks a lot different to the real thing.

ss of the mr corner using the same map that the preview was taken from...

Attached Files

•  s.JPG   276.38KB   16 downloads

Edited by Gyroscopic, 20 January 2010 - 11:36 PM.

[rumblesom]

these maps are testing in progress good way to get feedback

To facilitate testing of the proposed new maps, those who have the current QM patch installed will also have access to all proposed new maps for use in custom-match games. The proposed maps, (found here) will NOT appear in the current QM and the current QM-patch map-pool will NOT be affected.

Please play a few ffgs on the proposed new maps and provide feedback here; all input we receive will be considered when finalizing the patch update map-pool, and all ongoing discussion will be upkept as we try gauge the community's interest and concerns.

We also continue to accept fan-map submissions for the patch update contest!.

Edited by rumblesom, 21 January 2010 - 12:13 AM.

[Aro]

lol, my map is still wip ;(((


as i've already explained, preview lighting looks a lot different to the real thing.

ss of the mr corner using the same map that the preview was taken from...

Ahh, so you were right. The map renderer needs fixing then. This map looks a lot like the Russian Roulette 8 player map now that I'm looking at it... is it just a simple copy and pasted map job?

[DylHole]

i think the second one is the best by far

http://xwis.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=161319

http://xwis.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=161320

add these too ?

[zzattack]

Ahh, so you were right. The map renderer needs fixing then. This map looks a lot like the Russian Roulette 8 player map now that I'm looking at it... is it just a simple copy and pasted map job?

yeah, lighting definitely needs some fixing, i've already spent tens of hours on it but i cant seem to get it right