A place to playtest your maps

[WarMecha]

Hi guys,

Now I don't know how many people will think this is useful but I thought I'd throw it out and see what ya think. 3 months ago or there abouts I began rental of a 20 slot TF server, and like with any new server, I'm finding it hard to get it populated with players.

So, I thought I might as well put it to use in a way that will hopefully both get more people playing on it and also make it a useful resource. Getting server space, I'm sure as people have experienced, to test out your new creations can be hard and the uptake on custom maps can be a little slow for the regular player. At the same time, a map needs to be properly playtested before you go to release, otherwise you can potentially have multiple 'final' releases because you werent able to properly test beforehand.

So, not hard to guess , I would like to offer my server space, (no charge of course) as a test bed (I'd change the MOTD to reflect the fact its a test server) for your current projects. I'm happy to put up any map you might want to test, beta, rc, even alpha if you thinks its to such a point it could be useful for you. Just bear in mind, you should really only test a map you are currently happy to release as a 'version' as you will affectively have released that map version having given it to external people. I have sv_downloadurl setup so map downloads should be fast.

The only thing I would ask in return is if you do get a map tested on the server, you could also come on to test other peoples maps when you are available. I for one would like to have a proper playtest on my current release candidate version.

Let me know if you think this could be useful to you, Im happy to start testing maps, whenever anyone has one they want to test really, so now If anyone wants to make use of this I guess the sensible way to do it would be to post up test maps and times and stuff here, a specific time would mean we could hopefully get a good number on at once although I'd be happy to leave it generally on rotation for a time.

You can add me on steam friends as warmecha@hotmail.com, but if you could also show your interest here so others can gauge if its going to be a useful resource.

The server IP is 85.234.148.2:27145 (UK based)

Thanks!

WarMecha

 

[Ze Inspector]

Hey, that's super generous of you. As someone recently getting involved with mapping I'm finding it fairly difficult to get much play time in on new maps. I'll definitely get you on my favorite servers list, and when the next beta to Secret Lab is done, I'd love to get it in rotation!

 

[WarMecha]

Cool, keep me posted

 

[TotalMark]

Always nice to have another server to test our maps on. :001_wub:

I'd love to have you playtest the next beta of my map.

 

[Armadillo of Doom]

Dude... w00t Be sure to add your info here; http://forums.tf2maps.net/showthread.php?t=1313

 

[MrAlBobo]

now...at this point I can't help but wonder something...
about a week or 2 ago I made a similar offer, but putting it into practice was not possible due to the actual owner of the server having a life and me not having ftp access
but...with a number of servers doing the same thing already, is there actually any point for me to continue to try and make mine available?
just throwing this out to see the opinion, currently I am leaning towards giving up

 

[WarMecha]

MrAlBobo, could you consider granting certain people that you trust access to your server so you dont have to be there every time? I'm planning to do that if its used regularly enough to require it. EDIT: Ah actually I see what you mean, the server wasnt actually yours but the owner gave you rcon powers?

Glad it looks like people will use it Immortal - I've added it to the thread.

 

[Apex_]

Welcome to the club, always nice to see more server ops lending a hand. Fresh maps do tend to draw players, though be prepared for them to whine about them being unfinished

 

[WarMecha]

I don't mind if they're unfinished, just want to do something useful! Learned a lot from the guys here so its the least I can do

 

[fyre]

I alpha-released my first map recently, but so far I don't believe it's on any servers.

I play TF2 most evenings, so I'd be willing to help test maps sometimes.

 

[WarMecha]

Cool ok, so ya wanna be the first to get a map on there for testing? I dont mind when, but if you want to do it this weekend, might be an idea for it to be tomorrow so you can post the date and time for a few people to read it first.

 

[MrAlBobo]

i can get more people to have admin abilities... the owner is basically willing to go with anything if it helps populate the server

now...think its worthwhile?

 

[WarMecha]

Well, only you can make that call tbh. Basically, if you can make it available with the map on when its needed, dont see why not?

 

[The Asylum]

Could you host my map for playtesting?

http://forums.tf2maps.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=280

I admit it's kind of lacking in aesthetics right now, but I want to iron out the gameplay before I go gung-ho on details

 

[phatal]

Could you host my map for playtesting?

http://forums.tf2maps.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=280

I admit it's kind of lacking in aesthetics right now, but I want to iron out the gameplay before I go gung-ho on details

There should be some level of completion before a level is uploaded to a server for testing. This level looks like it would be an ok candidate but I wouldn't want to play test something that doesn't have cubemaps and/or all textures included with the bsp. Is this level just basically 2 rooms in a square with a small field in the middle? There again, this would not be something that would be included on a server for regular rotation.

There needs to be a line drawn somewhere. I joined in the last beta testing on Colt's but there were maps being tested that OVER half the level was purple and black. That is obviously not even near completion. If you can't have all textures and cubemaps built it should be a definite no go for testing.

We have server #4 (in sig located in NY, US) that gets very little traffic and I wouldn't mind helping you guys out as well testing some levels but I would be in fear of levels with purple and black textures throughout which is really a waste of time and bandwidth. I know some of you guys are truly trying to create something masterful and have put much time in to the creation process and could make good use of it, but something that took you maybe a day or 2 to put together is abusing someones generousity.

If some of you guys, and you know who you are , do need a test on an American server, feel free to pm me. I have ftp, a fast redirect, and rcon access. I'm on most nights via steam, phatal808, and wouldn't mind helping you out IF the server is empty. If I really like it I could probably get some beta testers from our community to help test.

 

[WarMecha]

Taotd, add me on steam friends or post back here and we can sort something out.

warmecha@hotmail.com

Phatal, I agree with that you have said, but currently I'm not going to be rejecting any maps for testing. If the requester believes that his/her map is at a stage of sufficient completion to be released as a version, and thus demonstrates the kind of work that mapper is capable of producing, then I am happy to upload it to playtest. At the end of the day, if the map details are posted up with an accurate test date and time with screenies and so on, and no-one turns up, well, let the mapper draw what conclusions they may. I would say however that with my map ctf_spiral, comments made at beta stage were hugely useful and resulted in me making massive and essential changes to the map, so I think whatever the judgement of the public, it can be a helpful exercise.

Those who do get their maps tested however, do have to make a judgement about whether or not they are happy to release that version, even a beta should be a 'complete' map to such a stage that to move it on requires throwing it out to the public in order to find the bugs that can't easily be found solo, or test out those multiplayer dynamics, get feedback on what people would like to see added removed etc etc.

That said, I will be thinking twice about what maps I leave on for rotation.

 

[Nosher]

Could you host our map for playtesting please? :-

http://calltoarms.net/regiment/multi/CTF_Call2Arms_Alpha.zip

It is on a jolt server, but the server has crashed whilst running the map.

We have worked very hard to get it optimized and have sought advice far and wide.....

It may be a server issue, or a map issue, so it would be nice to see if indeed it is a one or the other...

Thanks in advance
Nosher & Stinkpackage

 

[WarMecha]

Sure thing. I looked at your post actually and couldnt see any issues with the log, so having it playtested on another server would allow you to rule out that as an issue. When would you like to test it out?

 

[Nosher]

Warmecha - you are a top man.....

...can we test it yesterday please???

As soon as possible - I can get a few members on my friends list to test it to destruction!! LOL

As an aside - it seems that it may not be the map at fault - when we had the last crash, everyone got dumped from the server, yet some players managed to rejoin immediately......it could be a connection problem with the server, rather than a map construction issue....

Anyways, thanks indeedy for all your help and generous offer - it is truly appreciated.

Nosh

 

[dookiebot]

This is a great offer. I will definatly test some maps on here and look forward to testing on an alpha of mine in a few months and then it's beta month or so after that.