05/04 - 05/05 calculatedChaos playTest

Status
Not open for further replies.

captainAngry

L420: High Member
Feb 1, 2009
434
247
This is the first time I made one of these so I guess a little back story is probably necessary.

At calculatedChaos we add new maps to our server weekly. This goes for all maps (alphas, beta, finals, etc.) and every map that is posted on my forum gets added to the server. This could include a map people have played that wasn't on the server or a new alpha version of a map someone is working on.

On Mondays and Tuesdays of every week we run what I like to call a playTest where we test all the 'new maps' and continue to test maps added in previous weeks. During the play tests, I set the maprate plugin on my server to ask people to rate the map after 5 minutes. All of our normal server rules apply and RTV is in tact. The only difference is that the map list/map cycle only includes maps we are 'testing'.

All the ratings get added to my map ratings page (http://gaming.calculatedchaos.com/ratings/). Maps that have an average rating over 3 with over 20 ratings end up in my regular rotation. Maps that get an average rating of 2.5 or less with 20 ratings is removed from the queue. Maps in between or maps that have less than 20 ratings are put back into the testing queue until they meet further requirements.

On a given week, we could have anywhere from 15 maps to 50 maps to test. There is no schedule, no specific time when the event takes place or anything like that, we just test maps all day Monday and Tuesday.

Our stats to date:
* 278 Maps Rated
* 1970 Unique Contributors
* 9629 Map Ratings

Most of the maps that get added by my members are maps they have played and liked. There are a number of people from here and other mapping communities that post their maps directly on my forum. Personally, I love to see up and coming maps and am more than willing to provide feedback for alphas and betas. That's why when I add maps, I come to this website and grab the first page or two of maps in the 'Maps' area and test those out.

You may have seen a banner like this on the site:


Those come from my map ratings and update whenever stats for that map are updated. You can generate them for your map directly from the page and use them wherever you want.

I am very willing to add new maps to the server if someone directly asks me to do so. I am even more willing to play any map while the author is available to watch the game. I am also willing to make SourceTV demos for anyone who wants that (although my experience with this is kind of limited).

So what is the benefit of using my server over someone else's? The people that play on my server are primarily TF2 players, not mappers. What I hear the most is "Testing here is way different from testing during game day". I believe this is because we spend all our time (most of us a couple hours every single day) playing TF2 on custom maps while you guys are all mapping. Map makers may give you feedback about map flow and entities. Our players are a bit more skilled then the average TF2 server (generally IMO) and we try to have the best game possible.

More than a few people on this forum have benefited from testing on our servers and I am finding that more and more of you guys stick around the community once you have tested with us a few times (which is awesome BTW). I'm not going to list them all out so I don't risk missing someone but you guys (you know who you are) are welcome to post a message if you want.

Server IP: 216.52.143.91:27015






WoT, DNR Message:
playTest every Monday and Tuesday
Post a message on my forum (http://gaming.calculatedchaos.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=16) (or here I guess) if you want us to test your map.
Message me on steam if you want me to record your map or come play it with us at any time, even outside of playTest days.
 
Last edited:

captainAngry

L420: High Member
Feb 1, 2009
434
247
No problem. It probably would help if I put the server IP into the thread so I'll add it now.

Since my server runs the same playTest every week I think I am just going to update this post every week then resubmit it all the time if that is okay. I'll bump it with my map list when I have the final list each week.
 
Last edited:

captainAngry

L420: High Member
Feb 1, 2009
434
247
New or untested maps for this week:
ctf_sandstorm_a1
cp_daylight_b3
tc_strata_a3
cp_follower
arena_duke_beta1
ctf_turf_beta_4
zc_tech_b1
cp_sandbox_beta4
cp_basic_b1
cp_dustribute_a9
cp_matterhorn_a11
cp_waste_final
cp_confinement_a2b
cp_erosion_rc2
pl_locomotive_b4
ctf_1fort_a3
pl_odessa_a1
cp_yukon_rc2a
pl_rivercrossing_a3
rctf_temple_a3
cp_caldera_alpha7
pl_racer_city_a5
cp_smokyhill_a2
cp_s2a_shipment
arena_redwood_b3
arena_2fort_b2
blackhole_b5
cp_paperclip_b3
cp_redfort_b1
arena_lighthouse_rc1
cp_resonance_rc2_d
cp_worselands_rc1a
ctf_slate_a2
arena_storm_b1c
arena_waste_final
cp_greenvalley_b4a

Older Maps that are still in testing:
King_of_the_Train_final
arena_castlewars_b2
arena_clifftop_a3
arena_narmer_a5
arena_powerhouse_b1
arena_storm_a2c
cp_ascension_a3
cp_beach_invasion
cp_canyonfeud
cp_junction_final
cp_lazytown
cp_plaza_v1
cp_warfare_a1
cp_white_arctic_a1
cp_zigzag_b2
ctf_avantiville_b25
ctf_geothermal_b2
ctf_waterhole_b4
dpl_depot_b3
pl_bounce_beta_6
 

Armadillo of Doom

Group Founder, Lover of Pie
aa
Oct 25, 2007
949
1,228
Mad props to you m8 :D Now if only I had that kind of time to dedicate to the TF2M servers...:unsure:
 

captainAngry

L420: High Member
Feb 1, 2009
434
247
Sure thing, I'll get this added tonight.

Mad props to you m8 :D Now if only I had that kind of time to dedicate to the TF2M servers...:unsure:
The only real pain in the ass part is going through the now 275+ maps from time to time and checking every single one for new versions. I try to stay up to date with as many of the maps on TF2 M but every few weeks I pray for a slow day at work to post updates.

What sucks is that I usually only find a handful of updated ones. I do appreciate map makers that come on my forum and tell me when their maps are update. I also appreciate PMs, steam messages etc that have the same effect.

Your server is for testing maps, mine is for finding good customs to run a regular rotation. I just benifit from testing maps when they are in alpha/beta because 1.) I find new maps that my members like and 2.) It benifits everyone when we help map makers improve their maps.

Now I just need to figure out how I can populate my server 24/7 and i'll be in business.
 
Last edited:

Shmitz

Old Hat
aa
Nov 12, 2007
1,128
746
From my experience, nobody in your community except possibly you is interested in helping map makers improve their maps. They are only interested in assigning labels of "Good" or "Bad" to a map. If a map ever gets a "Bad" label, they shit bricks if they ever have to play on any future version of that map, regardless of what's changed. They whine the entire time until the "test" is over, never once offering helpful suggestions as to how to improve the map, only describing in overly exaggerated terms how terrible it is.

In fact, I recall when Calculated Chaos was running through the PL Contest maps for the judges, you had to hold everybody's hand the entire time. The minute you got disconnected or stepped away, another person with admin powers would change the map. I have never encountered a less helpful community.

This was a few months ago, however, so it's possible it's changed. What have you done to ensure that Calculated Chaos would currently be useful for mappers?
 
Apr 19, 2009
4,460
1,722
From my experience, nobody in your community except possibly you is interested in helping map makers improve their maps. They are only interested in assigning labels of "Good" or "Bad" to a map. If a map ever gets a "Bad" label, they shit bricks if they ever have to play on any future version of that map, regardless of what's changed. They whine the entire time until the "test" is over, never once offering helpful suggestions as to how to improve the map, only describing in overly exaggerated terms how terrible it is.

In fact, I recall when Calculated Chaos was running through the PL Contest maps for the judges, you had to hold everybody's hand the entire time. The minute you got disconnected or stepped away, another person with admin powers would change the map. I have never encountered a less helpful community.

This was a few months ago, however, so it's possible it's changed. What have you done to ensure that Calculated Chaos would currently be useful for mappers?
If this is true than my map will make them go in a coma!
 

Sgt Frag

L14: Epic Member
May 20, 2008
1,443
710
Well, I think all servers are gonna have issues, especially with playtesting. It's not everyone's cup of tea.

And I wasn't around cC during the time of the PL contest.

I have gotten little written feedback on my maps at cC. Possibly because both so far have been arena maps (few entity/balance problems). But that goes for TF2maps.net also. I've gotten maybe 12 written comments here per map. But during playtests on both servers I have gotten verbal comments DURING gameplay.
So as always I think you always get better feedback in game no matter what server.

Gameday at tf2maps.net is invaluable for the reason Captain Angry stated. You are playing with mappers, people that notice things that players only don't notice.

Map testing at cC is great because you are playing with good players who know maps from a gameplay perspective. While they might not help with entity set-up they can offer good advice on gameplay issues and general bugs.
And Captian is around alot so he'll change to your map if you ask, sometimes a few players will grumble, but for the most part everyone excepts it and tries the maps. (people grumble on the test server too so...)

I don't see how anyone wouldn't benefit from also running thier map at cC. First off Captian says he will run them and he backs it up (I have found other servers and forums that say they will but they don't). So you are garanteed to get some playtesting even if you have to pay attention and jot notes while it's running.
 

captainAngry

L420: High Member
Feb 1, 2009
434
247
From my experience, nobody in your community except possibly you is interested in helping map makers improve their maps. They are only interested in assigning labels of "Good" or "Bad" to a map. If a map ever gets a "Bad" label, they shit bricks if they ever have to play on any future version of that map, regardless of what's changed. They whine the entire time until the "test" is over, never once offering helpful suggestions as to how to improve the map, only describing in overly exaggerated terms how terrible it is.

In fact, I recall when Calculated Chaos was running through the PL Contest maps for the judges, you had to hold everybody's hand the entire time. The minute you got disconnected or stepped away, another person with admin powers would change the map. I have never encountered a less helpful community.

This was a few months ago, however, so it's possible it's changed. What have you done to ensure that Calculated Chaos would currently be useful for mappers?
You are just upset that you spent a large amount of time on your map and everyone on my server hated it. From what I hear from other people, you aren't open to any suggestions anyway. I was actually going to add specific feedback for the map you are talking about but when I read through your WIP thread on this site it was filled with you arguing with every single person that gave you feedback.

If for some reason you don't think it would be a good place to test, it isn't any problem for me. I will probably test your map anyway since do all the map gathering myself and I would probably even give you specific feedback, but you can sit in your box and be angry all you want.

There are at least a dozen people I can think of that appreciate what I do and would tell you that my community is a great place to test. You are the only person who has told me otherwise and frankly, just like you don't care about what anyone else thinks, I don't care about what you think.

And for the record, you being on my server one time with 10 people doesn't make you an expert on my community.
 

ChronoTriggerFan

L420: High Member
Feb 3, 2008
434
73
Actually, I can vouch with Shmitz on a bit of his argument. During a recent Cumulus playtest you guys ran there, the feedback given by the community was largely unhelpful, mostly commenting on how the second round was not fun. Perhaps if the community knew the difference between helpful feedback, that gives suggestions on specific things that were incorrect, and how to correct them, instead of noticing the map is not fun and giving a simple "this map sucks, lets move on", mappers would benefit more.
 

MrAlBobo

L13: Stunning Member
Feb 20, 2008
1,059
219
popped into one of the cc servers a few times, most of the time it was a pretty normal experience, joined a botg game at one point, and then some noob shows up and starts criticizing anything and everything...loudly, on his mic. Went on for a long time...
such useless things as "why is a sniper using the teleporter", and so forth...

mic spam irritates me, mic spam plus retard causes ragequit <_<
haven't gone back since, though ill admit ive yet to really see a map ive wanted to play badly show up on the rotation *shrug*
 

l3eeron

L8: Fancy Shmancy Member
Jan 4, 2008
593
88
Well, I'm not familiar with your server Cptn.Angry, but any exposure my map gets is good as far as I can see.


PS - Could you update my map from ctf_avantiville_b25 to _b27? Thanks!

downloads n crap
http://forums.tf2maps.net/showthread.php?t=6255
 
Last edited:

kwagner

L2: Junior Member
Feb 28, 2009
92
6
Captain,

If your players need practice forming constructive critiscism, feel free to load up my batter_up map.

http://forums.tf2maps.net/showthread.php?ltr=B&t=6103

I just updated it last night, making some changes in hopes that Red will gain at least a remote chance of defending. But I've NO illusions about it now being perfect. :)

Encourage them to rip it a new one, but to be SPECIFIC about what's wrong. (I need the education so that my next map will avoid the same flaws.)
 

Shmitz

Old Hat
aa
Nov 12, 2007
1,128
746
From what I hear from other people, you aren't open to any suggestions anyway.

I would love to know who these people are, and why they think so.

I was actually going to add specific feedback for the map you are talking about but when I read through your WIP thread on this site it was filled with you arguing with every single person that gave you feedback.

If you mean the tiny thread on the current Maps forum, no, you haven't read even a sliver of the WIP thread, most of which is in the archives. If you actually have well reasoned feedback, post it. Prove your claim that your community is capable of producing something useful.

I would probably even give you specific feedback, but you can sit in your box and be angry all you want.

I'm sorry you think I'm angry. That's not the case at all.

And for the record, you being on my server one time with 10 people doesn't make you an expert on my community.

This is misinformation. You either don't actually know what you're talking about, or you're exaggerating to try to invalidate my concerns. Please don't do that.

This is not about my map, this is about my experiences with your community, which do extend beyond just my own work. I feel others should be aware that if a map doesn't click with your members, it's not likely to generate anything constructive from them. It doesn't hurt to throw a map at cC, but it's good to have realistic expectations of what might come back.
 

GrimGriz

L10: Glamorous Member
Jan 2, 2009
774
133
You know, in a fantasy world, we'd have a server full of gamers at our beck and call that would give high quality and detailed feedback.

In the actual world though, most mappers are lucky to get 6-8 people to test out their latest version...which is why the cC server is valuable for me. You get to see a good number of actual players playing on your map....and they play customs and DL all the time and are fine with DLing something new.

While I wish more of the better players would write some feedback in a forum thread for me, generally they'd rather be playing TF2 than forum trolling. There's a lot to be learned from playing alongside and watching people play your map though - and that's what the cC server is good for....and I think I've convinced Cap to get the SourceTV thing going. Those demos will also be a valuable resource for mappers.

And before you go slamming a community for not giving feedback on maps they test...I'd like to point out that my map ran on gameday and I've had 1(one) tidbit of feedback posted, despite giving feedback on every map I played that day. (and yes, I'm pretty bitter about it :D )
 
Status
Not open for further replies.