Add Maps to Steam Workshop

[Dr. Spud]

I'd like to have maps in the workshop.

But then again, I'd also like the workshop to be better organized, because it doesn't impress me in its current state. Seems to be a universal problem with every company that makes databases like this - the steam workshop, itunes store, XBLA, etc all included. If it's harder to filter, search, and find things than gamebanana.com, you're doing it wrong. I mean really, FFS.

edit: the point being, if maps were added in the workshop's current state, it would be useless. If they greatly improved the workshop and added maps to it, it would be great.

 

[YM]

Are there any sensible reasons why they shouldn't be?

All I can think of is filesize issues and legal issues (at current submitting an item to the workshop allows valve to use it however they want without paying you one iota)

 

[Baraleth]

I don't know if anyone has said this yet (I'm too lazy to go through all the pages) but I don't see the workshop quite working well with TF2 maps. TF2 is a multiplayer game so maps can be easily downloaded from servers with custom maps. It worked for Portal 2 because it has a single player aspect to it and you can't really go to a server in game and download a map. I'm not saying it wouldn't work for TF2, I'm saying there is practically an existing system to do that exact thing, except people can't rate maps in game. I guess a form of rating is how much the particular map has been played on that server.

 

[Leminnes]

I don't know if anyone has said this yet (I'm too lazy to go through all the pages) but I don't see the workshop quite working well with TF2 maps. TF2 is a multiplayer game so maps can be easily downloaded from servers with custom maps. It worked for Portal 2 because it has a single player aspect to it and you can't really go to a server in game and download a map. I'm not saying it wouldn't work for TF2, I'm saying there is practically an existing system to do that exact thing, except people can't rate maps in game. I guess a form of rating is how much the particular map has been played on that server.

Downloading a map from a server comes with a bunch of issues. It's usually VERY slow. Like very, very slow. If you have the incorrect version of a map (say, the you got some random version of b2 of some map, but when you go play you get an "incorrect version" error because the map on the server is a different version of b2. This is technically the mappers fault, but this would remove this issue.) It would/could also allow server owners to opt into a certain map. Like, say, a server wants to always have an updated version of corrode. They could opt into always getting an updated version each time I uploaded a new version to the Workshop. I feel like this functionality would be required for a map workshop to be useful. It'd be basically a centralized, built-in depository for mappers and server owners.

I also think it'd give mapping a bit of a boost, because it would show that Valve is more committed to including more custom maps into the game.

As for YM's issue with legal stuff, I don't see Valve adding maps without paying people. And if they did, I would stop mapping immediately. They've consistently paid people for items, and I don't see why they'd stop for maps.

I'm going to quote ravidge from the Workshop Discussion:

The most important factor for a Map workshop section is the integration with servers. Where server owners can subscribe to maps and have them automatically uploaded/patched as needed.
Client subscriptions are less important but I don't think it hurts to have it?

If there's a huge issue with bandwidth usage, then limit the workshop to be only for Server subscription, that alone would help so much.

The largest hurdle for a mapper is not actually making the map, it's to get it played. If you don't have a friendly server host with a community that appriciates custom maps, it's near impossible to get consistent tests and feedback. And then once you're happy with the result, getting it beyond that test-server to reach a wider audience is hard. And only a handful of maps ever get out of that situation.

Even if the map is perfect, and it's the best map ever created, if it's custom there's 2 things that will annoy the server owners who run the map:
1. They need a dedicated web server just so connecting clients can get the map.
2. Maps get updated on a regular basis and to keep up the admins need to manually update and upload for themselves. If 40 servers is running the map, getting all of them to update when the mapper releases a new version is impossible. It can take months before the admins realize/care about it.

Custom maps need to get back in the spotlight. Counter-strike (first one) had no official maps, they were all community made. TF and TFC maps were made by the community... I think the workshop could really help bring custom maps back, to be seen as something GREAT instead of just a nuisance.

 

[xzzy]

Bad maps in the workshop is a non-issue because you'll never see them unless servers start using them.

Mountains of crap is what the internet is. You can't not do something just because the signal to noise ratio will suck. Otherwise we wouldn't have youtube or forums or twitter or whatever other website you get excited about.

The good stuff will get found regardless, and I think mappers deserve equal chances for exposure to people making hats.

 

[Leminnes]

Alright, so, I put pl_crag_event_b on the workshop: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=82514141&searchtext=

I couldn't put an actual download of the map because Crag is 19 MB (and even an ultra compressed ZIP is still 18MB.) So the download is a zip of a readme with a link to download the map. There's also a link in the description. I'm not sure if Valve will allow this, but we'll soon find out. I'll just consider this an experiment.

 

[Fruity Snacks]

Alright, so, I put pl_crag_event_b on the workshop: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=82514141&searchtext=

I couldn't put an actual download of the map because Crag is 19 MB (and even an ultra compressed ZIP is still 18MB.) So the download is a zip of a readme with a link to download the map. There's also a link in the description. I'm not sure if Valve will allow this, but we'll soon find out. I'll just consider this an experiment.

You rebel.

 

[Leminnes]

You rebel.

Well, Boylee and I spoke and decided that it's better to just plop them on there instead of waiting forever for them to do something. Hopefully that works.

 

[Fruity Snacks]

Well, Boylee and I spoke and decided that it's better to just plop them on there instead of waiting forever for them to do something. Hopefully that works.

Perhaps I'll throw backlot up, just to test the waters.

 

[Vincent]

Someone throw koth_prestigepark on there.

 

[Wilson]

Someone throw koth_prestigepark on there.

I miss koth_prestigepark.

 

[EArkham]

I'm a little disappointed that it's getting smacked around some in the ratings. I guess a lot of the general TF2 populace don't want to see maps in the workshop. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into the current 26 votes, heh.

 

[Leminnes]

I'm a little disappointed that it's getting smacked around some in the ratings. I guess a lot of the general TF2 populace don't want to see maps in the workshop. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into the current 26 votes, heh.

Seems people don't think maps "belong" on the workshop. Besides the fact that there really isn't a category for maps. I put it in Misc. but that's supposed to be for Misc. slot items, not maps. That's just my guess, though. It is a bit frustrating, but there's not much else I can do.

 

[Fruity Snacks]

Well, it's the TF2 Populace.

Just sayin

 

[fubarFX]

make a map, scale it down and convert it to a model and you have a hatmap :O
can't wait to wear viaduct on my head

 

[Jeremy]

can't wait to wear viaduct on my head

I'd wear 2fort. It'll look like a pair of funny-looking scales balanced on my head.

 

[EArkham]

From SPUF:

Q: Will the workshop expand in the future to include things like maps or other additions?
C: We are actually very interested in integrating maps into the TF2 workshop! The only thing is that we don't know exactly the best way to go around it. The Portal 2 guys are currently working on that with the Perpetual Testing Initiative, but we need more data before we attempt TF2 maps. Of course we don't want to charge for maps, and we're striving for perfection before we release anything. But keep in mind that we're very interested and are figuring it out!

From this thread, the person answering in that quote is Dario Casali. I hadn't read those forums in a couple of weeks so apologies if this is old news. It is however second hand so take as you will.

 

[Fruity Snacks]

As I yelled in chat, I must've been asking the wrong people because I asked the exact same question to Robin, Corey and Erich and I got 0 responses. (But some random guy on spuf does...)

 

[YM]

You were emailing, he asked face to face. Big difference.

 

[Leminnes]

That is VERY exciting news. I hope they work it out soon. Will be an fantastic boon to the mapping community, I think.