This needs to be fixed up quickly, both the publishing and search/filter issues.
Ever since beta started, the top of the list has been the same games. For about 4-5 months there has hardly been any variation to the popular list (TD, Nexus wars etc...). What makes it worse is that these are just rehashed games from SC1/WC3, no different games at all.
Btw what happened to that mario kart game? Is it currently published?
Okay here is an idea - what if we could get this message to Blizzard directly by "using" the very system that is broken??
Because I can't host the maps I download, I am forced to republish them every time. But when I republish I have the option to change the title, and from now on I will be republishing with something special in the title...
That link goes to this thread. Given how messed up the system is, sooner or later one of the maps I republish will make it into the popular list. A single map with a single link would be good and jolly, but if we ALL started republishing maps, and all played each other's republished maps, well then we could get A WHOLE BUNCH of maps with the link on the popular list. If successful, Blizzard will definitely notice this!
I realize this would essentially be turning the map name into an advertisement, which is one of the problems I mentioned in the original post. Realistically though, people are stealing map names for advertising every day. It does not make it right just because other people are doing it and it is totally legal to do and Blizzard does not seem to care at all, however it would be for a good cause. Sacrificing a few map names for the potential future of thousands is worth it.
There was one map that made it to popularity on day 1 of release it was called "how to host a custom game". If a map like that gets to the top, I think as a collective group we could get MANY maps in the top 50 if we all act!
So please, when you find yourself republishing maps, or are just pissed off at this whole system, consider adding http://bit.ly/SaveSC2mapping to the map title when you republish. If you happen to see a map on the popular list with the URL, just take a few minutes to join the game and leave after it starts so that it can become popular. Maybe someone can take this one step further and coordinates times where we can get all online and join a couple of these republished maps with the link.
The more maps we can get with the URL on the popular list, the more likely Blizzard is to see the issues outlined here. In case Blizzard does find this, here is a summary of the main pain points:
people need an easy way to host maps they download, without entering the map editor
people need the ability find and join custom maps other than just the top 50
luxx Hello I am CEMEH_CEMEHbl4 the author of Battle Ships (2005-2010 versions) and BattleCraft maps. I specially registered on TL, to quote your post.
Well if you do so u will be banned! Links in titles is not allowed. You will get 48h ban and lost your 1 publish slot. If you re publish - u will be banned for lifetime.
So DO NOT do this or you will be banned - and will start to HATE BLIZZARD like me! XD
The Story: When i was in beta test i uploaded popular map, where on loading screen i was talking to people, that UMS system is a shit and a joke etc. They blocked my map (in beta test). So i re uploaded map without background picture because i was thinking it was the case. They banned me for lifetime.
So THEY banned beta key - JUST FOR TEXT on loading screen.
Advice:
I recommend to put link on map preview pic, not in title. It should be ok.
The Good News: However i have good news. Of course Blizzard will fix this shit crappy custom games system. But... we need to wait 2 years. (first add on)
Activision multiplayer technology is based on cloud calculations. Which is a shit and fail of humanity. But its very popular in Silicon Valley.Their dreams is to make a new INTERNET based on cloud calculations. So no wonder they use this shit in games IWNET - BNET2.0 - etc.
However its will be pretty big patch and a lot of code to convert custom games into old one.We can expect it only with next add on. Be realist.
The Bad News: Add on will be released after 2 years. Its a default Blizzard time for an add on. Plus new add on will include a lot of cinematics. If you dont believe me go in wikipedia and calculate. Only WOW addons does not fit 2 years.
So we will have working UMS system after D3 release. Which have no sense.
Map making: I was making maps for wc3 like 6 years... NEW custom games is awful, map publishing work only in your region! What? No motivation for me to make a good map because, Europe its only 1/6 maybe of all players on globe... SO B.NET 2.0 just LIMITED ME BY 6 times!!! RETARDED.
No motivation for me to make a map because i cant play my own map... simply no players... ITS a fucking joke! Soon top will be invaded with 4 player TD maps. And maps which can be played alone.
I seriously wanted to make a good balanced Battle Tanks style map. And I have canceled all work. Its a waste of time. Fuck it. Fuck Blizzard.
Conclusion: BLizzard have failed to deliver the game! First time. Its because of Activison but i hate Blizzard much more because they have betrayed me, not Activison.
Blizzard == Traitors.
[ So leave Activision alone! Its a good old douchebags!! ]
Youtube: I recommend whole TL community to spam their youtube channel with mass critics. Like I do. Just copy paste your posts. http://www.youtube.com/user/blizzard
PEACE and good luck! This world is corrupted we should fight!!
I'm sorry to hear about your experience :/ Used to play your maps quite a lot in WC3 and sadly this is something that most likely will happen to more map makers. I mean whats the point of a new super neat map editor if no one will be able to play your maps...
See this is exactly what blizzard wants though, since this quashes any possibility of using unofficial maps for laddering and in general for anything, you will have to buy their map packs rather than playing with the maps that awesome non-blizzard map makers have made.
On August 04 2010 10:38 Tdelamay wrote: Why do you publish the map when you want to play it? Can't you just find it in the list of available maps and pick it?
Only if it's popular. That's the problem. If a map is new / not popular and you want to play it with your friends you have to publish it, join the game to get it in your favorites, and then leave and remake with your friends.
On August 04 2010 09:19 GMarshal wrote: See this is exactly what blizzard wants though, since this quashes any possibility of using unofficial maps for laddering and in general for anything, you will have to buy their map packs rather than playing with the maps that awesome non-blizzard map makers have made.
I'm not sure you understand what the problem is.
In the current system, let's say you buy a map pack, you still have to open them up in the editor and republish them in order to host them!
Likewise, if they didn't want you to play custom maps, why did they release the map editor?
On August 04 2010 09:19 GMarshal wrote: See this is exactly what blizzard wants though, since this quashes any possibility of using unofficial maps for laddering and in general for anything, you will have to buy their map packs rather than playing with the maps that awesome non-blizzard map makers have made.
I'm not sure you understand what the problem is.
In the current system, let's say you buy a map pack, you still have to open them up in the editor and republish them in order to host them!
Likewise, if they didn't want you to play custom maps, why did they release the map editor?
not rly. iccup will find ways to publish on all 3 servers, and promote their maps with tournaments on them. Maybe that will be enough.
While I have to agree that the custom map interface is complete shit, have faith that it will get fixed for one simple reason. Money.
Blizzard is aware that the buckets of money they've made off of their strategy games are directly related to the success of the custom map community. There's a reason that the WC3 battle chest would occasionally be in the top ten games sold a month many years after release and it not wasn't due to melee play.
On August 04 2010 09:19 GMarshal wrote: See this is exactly what blizzard wants though, since this quashes any possibility of using unofficial maps for laddering and in general for anything, you will have to buy their map packs rather than playing with the maps that awesome non-blizzard map makers have made.
I'm not sure you understand what the problem is.
In the current system, let's say you buy a map pack, you still have to open them up in the editor and republish them in order to host them!
Likewise, if they didn't want you to play custom maps, why did they release the map editor?
not rly. iccup will find ways to publish on all 3 servers, and promote their maps with tournaments on them. Maybe that will be enough.
As long as they are in the list of popular maps, people will be able to play them without republishing.
Having grown up on sc1 and wc3 custom maps I am appalled by the current state of custom maps in sc2. Just a few questions for anyone who might have more information than me:
Is there any hope on the horizon?
I've been messing around on the editor quite a bit lately and the latent power it has is ridiculous. After playing nexus wars I am astounded as to how many easy fixes could make it a better game. How in the world is that at the top of the popularity list?
Is it entirely foolish right now to try and create a map? I'm reasonably confident that with time I can put together a better map than most of those in the top 50 but if there is no way to introduce new maps would the effort be entirely in vain? Is there hope that in the coming weeks they might make the few simple changes they need to greatly improve the system?
StarCraft 1's system is outright better. The most popular maps are seen more because they are the most popular maps. It's really, really, simple. If a game is popular then it gets made constantly and you will see other users make it far more often. You don't need an artificial system to display popular maps: the very definition of "popular" ensures that it will be seen! But in SC1 if you wanted to play something unpopular, you just made it and everyone saw it. In SC2? No one will ever see it.
Blizzard surely sees how utterly broken their current custom map system is... right?
On July 30 2010 08:33 0neder wrote: Why don't they have a filter like Wii Shop Channel so you can browse maps by newest, name, tileset, size, type, creator, etc?