Maps usually get finish?

[TMB]

I dont know... i see that we always play maps (usually alphas), but really that maps get finished?
I was searching on tf2maps and probably the mayority of the maps get abandoned or never get finished...
In fact the popular maps are basically the maps finished, i dont mean that all the maps finished are popular, because probably there be maps that are finished but aren't popular...

I know mapping is hard and its not soemthing that i can start today and finish tomorrow... but still with that i think there is many maps abandoned...

I dont know... what do you think about this?

 

[Rikka]

Most maps are never finished. I think that's true of most creative exploits, and of life in general. Think of how many businesses fail in the first year, how many amateurs never make the pros. But especially with an art form, you have all types. Those who can't be satisfied with a work, those who are too easily enticed by a new idea (or just lack the attention span to finish the one they're on). It takes work and dedication to finish something like a custom map for a game, especially since its inevitably going to just be a side project compared to a person's full time responsibilities (work, school, family, etc.).

 

[iiboharz]

a lot of people will start on a map, iterate on it a lot, and then find that it isn't working out. you aren't obliged to finish all your projects, but anything you make will always help you get better at making maps.

I haven't got a map to release candidate yet, but look where I am, I'm very skilled, and I just want to make the best map I can.

 

[Diva Dan]

I have at least 70 vmfs saved on my computer consisting of detailing scene testing, game mode testing, maybe 20 different Koth middles, etc. I've yet to get a map into beta that isn't an April fools map (which was still bad). Tat isn't including the 30+ unfinished sfm posters I have.

It's okay to have lots of unfinished projects! If you ever lose passion for something in general, the result will never be as good as something new that you actually care about. I'd actually encourage having more alphas you enjoyed making than an rc you didn't put your heart into.

 

[iiboharz]

additionally: don't be afraid to start a map with no intention to finish it. not every map needs to be finished. it's the journey, not the destination.

 

[TMB]

additionally: don't be afraid to start a map with no intention to finish it. not every map needs to be finished. it's the journey, not the destination.

Its true that nobody is obligate to finish his maps but its a little sad that there is a lot of maps and almost all never will be finished... btw, i really want to finish my maps and i think ill do it!

 

[DrLambda]

One of the first things i've learned when i became part of tf2maps and its open testing process was that it's 100% okay to scrap a map if it isn't working out. Apart from using your time for something more useful, this knowledge offers a lot of freedom. You can test out something far away from the established norms without having to put a lot of time into it.
Per example my map koth_degeneration, which was a spectacular failure. But i knew from the start that i was free to scrap it - and that was the only reason why i even tried it.

 

[Simulacron]

Before I joined tf2maps.net I finished most if the maps I made (but all of them had a horrible layouz). However, when I joined and tried out my first map it didn't work and was a failure. At this moment I learned how important the layout is and started to work on a new map. Since then none of my maps got finished. But do I regret this? No, because I learn with every new map and since then my maps are getting better and better. None of them are perfect, but if I will ever finish a map again, all others that got scraped are somehow a part of this map and helped to get to this point. So don't ve afraid to make a new project you will always learn from the old ones and make a new better map!

 

[Freyja]

I start all my maps with the intention of seeing them through to a finished state, and I usually do.

 

[GooGuGajoob]

I'm glad this doesn't make me feel alone. I've never 'finished' a map in my life...

 

[Yrr]

I only ever scrapped my first and second maps

thats completely ignoring all the maps that never made it to a1 tho

 

[Muddy]

I go into most of my maps with the intention on finishing them. The main thing to bear in mind, though, is just how long it takes to get a map from its first playable version to a finished state. To use my maps as an example: the first version of Shelter was released on November 4th, 2015, and RC2 (what I consider to be the final version) was released on August 9th 2016. Kemptown's first version was released on November 29th, 2015, and the current version was released on August 5th 2016 - and it's still not finished!

And yes, it's true that some maps (like Eros and Overgrown) flew pretty quickly through their early development stages, but they're very much the exception rather than the rule (plus they were made by people who have many, many, many years of experience under their belt).

 

[Sergis]

discussions in map showcase - 51
discussions in map factory - 5212
so roughly 1 out of every 100 maps ever gets done

which is strange because last time i compared those numbers i got 1 out of 50

me personally im done and over with with 5 maps, 4 are in WIP state/development hell, 22 are orphaned and i likely aint touching them no more and there were 2 more before i even began public testing and releasing

 

[Yrr]

the showcase isnt a list of all finished maps, just the featured ones

 

[Sergis]

hence "roughly", its just an estimate

if youre aware of a more precise statistic please share

 

[Yrr]

I'd assume the showcase is a pretty small fraction of finished RC maps honestly

 

[Muddy]

The showcase is getting updated incredibly slowly. There's plenty of maps worth showcasing that haven't as a result

 

[Sergis]

fine, one outta fifty then, thats an estimate from the times the showcase was popular

not any big improvement anyway

 

[Fruity Snacks]

And most maps that claim to be RC, aren't showcase worthy.

 

[Idolon]

I'm more or less in charge of the showcase right now. If there's any maps that you think we've missed, send them my way via PM.