After listening to feedback and some of your questions. We decided to delve a little deeper into some of the changes we made to this Map Jam. As always, we are always listening and looking to improve, so continue throwing your feedback to us.
The Narrative Category
There has been slight confusion as to what we are looking for with Narrative or how it might play a factor within decisions and judging.
Idea behind the category: The idea with Narrative is to tell a story either about the map or with the map itself. Put yourself in your judge's shoes, what do you want them to think and feel when exploring and experiencing your map? Do you want them to become immersed within the world you have created, do you want them to experience the thrill of a chase? That can be done with game play and level design but what about the smaller and finer details? This is where Narrative allows you to aim for the back story, to flesh out your map.
How?: This can be done in various ways, either In-game: by atmosphere, settings, surrounding environment but also by the use of the forums. You can add a little back story or lore when submitting your map entry. We're not looking for a novel mind you but there's nothing stopping you from creating one. We would say 50-150 words would be ideal but if you fancied going above that, then you could always add the rest in a [spoiler] tag, that way people can choose whether to read the rest/have your map spoiled or continue to read on and enjoy how much you have fleshed out the narrative.
- Map Name: MJ2 - Name of Map
- Objective of Map:
- Blurb/Summary:
- Additional Info:
Example: Now we don't want to give too much help away, after all it is your creation but we also know how sometimes it can be difficult to get the ball rolling
- Map Name: MJ2 - The Fall Guy
- Objective of Map: Escape prison....without being detected or killing anyone.
- Blurb/Summary:
Day 65...it feels only like yesterday that they threw me in this rat infested, soul draining place. I've got to get out here but I'm running out of options, the odds are stacked against me and yet I am the only innocent person in this joint. They've got the wrong guy and no one cares, I didn't kill him, I have never killed anyone...or anything, well maybe a honey badger and the occasional annoying eagle but that's beside the point. Wait...I hear someone with keys coming, this is it...this is my chance!
Spoiler: Show- Additional Info: Nope no tips, you're on your own muahahaha!
Player Choice Category
This one has been a real thinker in terms of how to combat the previous issues we were having but for now, we are going to use the in-game rating system. So yes rejoice, no more Strawpoll or other external polls
In regards to separating the consoles, we are still looking into that but we have heard some pretty good points that you folks have brought to our attention. For now it is still under debate but thankfully this kind of decision can be made at any time during the Map Jam, so for now...focus on those maps <3
Thanks, that helps to clear things up, for me anyway. The theme is "freedom" but basically what you are saying there is no theme . We have the "freedom" to do what ever we like, right? Also we can only submit one entry but I have already seen 4 versions from the same person. Can I assume only the 1st map counts?
Seeing map makers can't delete/update their published maps, and a map needs to be published before it can be tested in coop, I'd assume a player's most recent map counts.Originally Posted by AKAFootloose Go to original post
But otherwise, mappers should publish test versions of their map without a MJ2 prefix in the name?
Ok, we need an official call on this one.
"Rules
Only ONE map creation can be submitted per person. This includes all platforms (So choose wisely)"
So if someone publishes multiple maps, which one counts? The 1st one or the last one?
"But otherwise, mappers should publish test versions of their map without a MJ2 prefix in the name?"
Hmmm good point, so:Originally Posted by AKAFootloose Go to original post
Theme
I wouldn't say "no theme" but at the same time in a way, yes.
Without influencing anything, it's pretty much how you interpret it. Best way to explain it is with the question of "What is the first thing you think of or relate to the word freedom?" for some this is being imprisoned and escaping. For others it might be something patriotic and for someone else it could be letting go of something. At the same time it's also the same as you mentioned "You have the freedom to do whatever you like"...within the confines of the rules of course.
Map Entries/Submissions
Personally I would say the last submitted version of a map that is published before the end date (11th October) but I will clarify this with the rest of the Community Team on this one. The "one" map per person rule is mainly to do with not submitting different maps by one person. Due to the constraints of the FC4 Map Edtior, we know we will have to be lenient in some cases.
This time around we're trying to get people to focus on one map rather than dividing their time and effort over multiple maps (Though that is still entirely up to the map maker), as long as only ONE is submitted, as in...it would be advisable for a map maker to contact us and state that MJ2 - Map1byPersonA is their official submission while MJ2 - Map2byPersonA isn't.
Steve's idea of not using the prefix for test versions would be ideal but there isn't any way of us policing this and would be trusting entrants.
Again like with the previous Map Jams, any feedback you have for us to improve is always appreciated.
Ok, we need to nail this down. What if someone published 10 versions of the same map. If you leave it up to the creator which one is official, obviously he will pick the one with the highest rating. If you don't stop this now we will have the browser flooded with multiple entries of the same map. To me one map means ONE. After you publish one... you are done!
That's why it wouldn't be up to the creator but up to us, which is why I will be talking with Mathias and co in regards to this.Originally Posted by AKAFootloose Go to original post
So for example - this is what I am thinking.
- Map Maker creates map September 22nd, publishes it, this is version 1
- They create 4 more versions between now and Oct 10th
- Their final submission is version 6 but they feel version 3 is best because that is the one that got the highest rating.
- Version 6 for us is the final and only submission to count
- This would be the same for player choice - Although version 3 got more votes, only the latest version should count
As I say, we will have an internal discussion about it and see what we can come up with.
I guess I misunderstood this comment.Originally Posted by Ubi-Salvenius Go to original post
It would be to everyone's advantage to only publish a single entry. Revisions hardly ever do better than the original and the more times a map is published the harder it is to get people to play them. Personally I see no reason to publish a test version. It plays the same if you test play an unpublished map "in-game"... Do Not Test from within the editor... only "in-game. But if they still need a test to play co-op, just don't name it MJ2 until you have the final version.