Any Mappers: Do you still Regularly play? *TF2*

[DJive]

I must say, Before i started into SDK and tf2 Mapping, i used to play a good 2-4 hours a night.

Now i map all the time and when i want to take a break.. i play CoD 4 =)

So quest to you all. Since you started to map have you noticed that your TF2 play time has dropped FAR below anything else?

I'll get 27+ hours a week in SDK
Maybe 2 hours in TF2..

Where as before it was over 30hours in tf2

 

[Sean of the Dead]

same here, i rarely PLAY TF2 anymore, i just map for it

 

[Ganon11]

I haven't been playing much TF2, but I haven't been mapping a lot, either. I've been getting frustrated when I play TF2, so I'm trying to cut back until it's fun again.

 

[Scotland Tom]

I still play TF2, but I do have to admit that it takes a back seat to mapping at this point. I figure that playing TF2 actually keeps me in the loop so to speak. I get a chance to take a look at what Valve and other mappers have done and see what works as far as gameplay goes.

 

[YM]

Well I'm testing maps constantly so I jump on the server play the map thats on, then play my test map with everyone (full server usually ) then play the next game and sometime I get carried away and play for hours after testing, my play time hasn't dropped hugely but more of the time i would spend doing other things is eaten up by mapping.

 

[Shmitz]

I play a lot on the I AM server. That Guy is pretty good to us mappers, and the server is usually good about getting new maps to try out (and nixing the ones that aren't fun).


Though I have to admit, I've also been playing a lot due to mapper's block. If I can't figure out what I want to do next with my map, I take a "break" and go play TF2. =P

 

[ZargonX]

Heh, yeah, I've noticed my actual playtime has dropped. Of course, part of that is that I'm tired of the regular maps, and that's why I'm mapping instead!

 

[Kirko]

I get tired of killing everyone myself with no challenge and I get mad at always getting stuck on the team that is horrid! Then when that happens I will work on my map. Then once I cant think of what I should do next I will play some more TF2 to get my mind off my map then go back to it and I will be able to think a little easier. Some days I will just map and the next day I won't even open SDK. It just depends on the mood im in.

 

[drp]

i play an unhealthy amount of TF2

 

[ryodoan]

Hmm... I dont really map, but I have been working off / on with my own hobby project of the Chatlogger. For me I use FPS games as a way to work off stress. So if I am starting to get frustrated with my project, or am just coming home from work, I will hop on and play something that requires a small amount of brainpower.

It also helps if you find a good server to favorite, I think its kinda funny but my favorite server so far is actually a server run by a christian clan (who woulda thunk it?) The run a rotation that is a mix of Custom \ standard TF2 maps and they do a very good job moderating the server to keep griefers / annoying people out.

If that server is full I will check out Hex's clans server to see if they have people on their server.

DJive just helped me figure out how to have fun on CoD4 so I will probably be playing that for a bit tonight.

 

[l3eeron]

Id say my game time has been reduced...

I live this stuff though. Im either gaming, on hammer, or at the forums of my gaming community. Sometimes I work and eat and sleep... I hate it when that happens lol

 

[Gonzales]

I still play TF2 quite a bit. Probably a lot more than is healthy. 31 hours in the last 2 weeks. <_<

 

[Snipergen]

36.8 ^^

 

[YM]

SDK : 52.5h
TF2 34.3h
Portal: 5h



Over the <Insert Holiday Name Here> I was clocking about 150h on the SDK and 30h on TF2.

 

[shpladoink]

I still play frequently to get a feel for what works and what doesn't with new maps that are coming out. Bottleneck points, etc.

 

[ZargonX]

SDK: 53.8
TF2: 11.8

Though I think I did leave the SDK on all day Sunday when I wasn't actually using it...

 

[Shmitz]

Yeah, I can never rely on the times steam gives me for SDK usage, because I pretty much just leave hammer open and running every night so I can pick it up the next day.

 

[MacNetron]

As I have trouble getting used to hammer I don't map as much as I would, only when I have the complete right mindset.
Nowadays I like to play on servers with custom maps. To see what other people make.
Sometimes it inspires me to fire up hammer after playing.
Most of the time TF2 is number one with around 15-20 hours playtime.

 

[Apex_]

I balanced mapping and playing neatly for a couple weeks right after the game was released. Over the past couple months I've been doing less mapping and more playing, largely because I own a public TF2 server and actively monitor and admin the thing whenever I can. Between that and the fairly large group of friends and server regulars pestering me to play constantly, I end up spending much more time in TF2 than I do in Hammer these days.

I really do need to finish my current CTF map though :/

 

[timberghost_paintball]

I play less but I still play some.
i tend to binge and purge... no tf2 for a week and lots of mapping and then I play for a couple hours a day for a few days and then back to mapping.

I'm also using my mapping as the fulfillment for an interactive web/mass technological media class so I get to make maps for homework and that tends to restrict play time too. Then I do modeling and textures etc. for my modeling and game design classes.