71 replies to this topic

[AlmightyAeng]

t9nv3, on 05 May 2014 - 07:41 AM, said:

Umm, have we confirmed that there will be a patch on May 6th? I figured we'd be waiting till the 13th for usable SRM's and a 3/3/3/3 fix.

Yes.

[t9nv3]

Thank you!

Ghost Badger, on 05 May 2014 - 07:44 AM, said:

Yes.

[Nicholas Carlyle]

Nikolai Lubkiewicz, on 05 May 2014 - 06:45 AM, said:

I think we've gone pretty in depth into this subject both in a recent thread and even in some news. Like with all other aspects of a team process: An individual lone wolf can get much more done in a shorter period of time, but often at a sacrifice of multiple important processes and quality factors which distinguish our content from others. While there are many talented players out there who could prove themselves capable, they are far outnumbered by those who have greater dedication than skill: This can be seen readily enough on turn-based strategy games which happen to provide map generation tools: Let alone on our own where the SDK is a bit more robust. Aside from the level-design experience which helps provide balance to the map designs along with the artistic talent which makes it something worth beholding, there is a huge amount of internal testing involved from a team with many years of collective experience in video game QA, and a further network of services designed to support and promote the content. Being in a free environment means we have to keep the majority of content creation processes within our own pipeline and dedicated servers and a much tighter seal of quality on our released content than otherwise would exist in the retail boxed games. This means that any fan generated content would require a tremendous amount of oversight to ensure it's quality, perhaps even more so as we cannot necessarily be sure of the skills applied behind each individual submission. While fan-content in any form is not an impossibility, we still have a huge core pillar of the game still left to see through as well as improvements to the new player experience before we can remotely consider putting on entirely different hats and looking for unique and manageable ways for fans to entirely revolutionize the game once more.

So basically some how it takes 6 months for you to release a map?

Cool.

I don't know why you felt the need to go in depth about how you can't let players create content. That really wasn't the intent of my post.

The question was about your inability to use existing map resources to release new maps.

I'm not saying that a non-PGI created map in Crysis is better than your maps (though I would say some I've seen are probably close), what I am saying is, I've seen how quickly a single person can put something together.

So for you to tell me your whole TEAM of people can't release a map in 6 months tells me you are having some sort of resources issue.

Add to that the fact that the second most recent map is almost universally hated gives me major pause.

Bryan Ekman, on 29 April 2014 - 10:32 AM, said:

Maps are NOT cheap to develop, nor do they take a month or less. Each map takes between 2-4 months of development by a team of 3-7 individuals depending on the scope. This includes all the phases - Design, Prototype, Grey Block, Internal Testing, Art Pass, External Testing, Bug Fixing, and a Final QA pass.

This is a very frustrating thing to read by the way based on going and watching people make maps.

Edited by Nicholas Carlyle, 05 May 2014 - 07:58 AM.

[Nicholas Carlyle]

Nikolai Lubkiewicz, on 05 May 2014 - 08:02 AM, said:

Several other similar discussions have taken place: Ideally I'd like them to be able to refer back to here wherever possible. The "somehow" is the back and forth of designs, redesigns, approvals, versions, fixes, regressions, more fixes, more regressions, preparations for release and final greenlighting on the map that takes place. We are still a relatively modest team and some of our departments do have to jump between other tasks: such as designing, testing, prepping or approving other new features which are closer in the pipeline or will have a greater direct or lasting positive impact to the community.

I understand, and I appreciate you taking to time to chat with me about it.

But at the same time Niko, in the end...half a year with no maps is just really stretching the realm of normal.

I just don't understand how so much focus is being put on creating new mechs which honestly, are just husks due to the hardpoint system and lack of real quirks. Yet 6 months....and no new maps.

And I'm honestly still flabbergasted by the lack of new modes, but whatever, CW, blah, blah. But c'mon, 6 months of no maps?

[Harbinger Prime]

If the Patch does not fix the store it will be another failed patch IMO

[Amsro]

Nikolai Lubkiewicz, on 05 May 2014 - 08:23 AM, said:

In cases like this, I both understand the concern over length of time, because I am just as eager to be mucking about in the new swamp map as soon as I can too, yet I also hope to re-emphasize that perpetual map generation is not necessarily the gatekeeper of success for any first-person shooter or simulator. I'd love to make specific examples of other great and longlasting games which highlight this fact, but my eyes are a little dusty *cough* from this office air *cough cough* Just as exciting: Another map we are working on is in built especially in mind of the upcoming attack/defend game mode, so it will have to arrive in the timely manner with that game mode.

I think the quickest solution would be to release alternate maps that we already have. Crimson Night or Alpine Blizzard, I'm sure I could like multiple options that would be just be another version of existing maps, adding more weather/time of day variance.

Caustic Valley Night, maybe is a cold map.

Maybe these ideas can be whispered into pauls ears!

[Turist0AT]

Nikos interaction with the comunity is starting to get my panties wet. Keep it up!

Edited by Turist0AT, 05 May 2014 - 08:53 AM.

[Almond Brown]

What we should do is download the Crisis SDK and have Nicholas make us a few quick maps. Can't be that hard right?

[80sGlamRockSensation David Bowie]

cdlord, on 05 May 2014 - 06:03 AM, said:

Now... How about a map hint?

While I am not Niko, ask you shall receive.

No new map info. Jungle is still in the concept phase.


Desert looks promising.

Almond Brown, on 05 May 2014 - 08:58 AM, said:

What we should do is download the Crisis SDK and have Nicholas make us a few quick maps. Can't be that hard right?

If you really want to dig down into the rabbit hole, you can open up the Crisis SDK map editor and *cough* look through every model asset the game has. You might notice a few surprises if you do...

Edited by mwhighlander, 05 May 2014 - 09:12 AM.

[CDLord HHGD]

Amsro, on 05 May 2014 - 08:51 AM, said:

I think the quickest solution would be to release alternate maps that we already have. Crimson Night or Alpine Blizzard, I'm sure I could like multiple options that would be just be another version of existing maps, adding more weather/time of day variance.

Caustic Valley Night, maybe is a cold map.

Maybe these ideas can be whispered into pauls ears!

What I would give for a flooded Canyon Network......

[DONTOR]

Nicholas Carlyle, on 05 May 2014 - 08:15 AM, said:

I understand, and I appreciate you taking to time to chat with me about it.

But at the same time Niko, in the end...half a year with no maps is just really stretching the realm of normal.

I just don't understand how so much focus is being put on creating new mechs which honestly, are just husks due to the hardpoint system and lack of real quirks. Yet 6 months....and no new maps.

And I'm honestly still flabbergasted by the lack of new modes, but whatever, CW, blah, blah. But c'mon, 6 months of no maps?

Where are you getting this BS 6 month number from? Im relativly sure HPG is more recent than that, and the only place Ive ever seen any dislike of HPG Manifold has been on the forums and not in game. Go figure.

[Keeshu]

I'm slightly surprised this turned into a topic about maps. Though personally, I prefer they take their time and make it right to make you want to keep coming back to play on it, than to make a ton of maps that are all terrible that makes you want to stop playing the game. Quality over quantity.
Hence, why I don't mind if they aren't making maps super fast. Just as long as they don't go too far overboard with the quality, and never make anything.... I know what that's like.

[Deathlike]

DONTOR, on 05 May 2014 - 09:08 AM, said:

Where are you getting this BS 6 month number from? Im relativly sure HPG is more recent than that, and the only place Ive ever seen any dislike of HPG Manifold has been on the forums and not in game. Go figure.

He's not that far off. HPG IIRC was released in December. This is May.... so it's more or less 5 months since the last map

Itching for the next map isn't an uncommon thing when it's been that long.

Edit:
http://mwomercs.com/...57-17-dec-2013/

Needs 2 weeks to be 5 months. Hard to not notice this when the front page is still claiming it to be "new".

Edited by Deathlike, 05 May 2014 - 09:27 AM.

[Goose]

Nikolai Lubkiewicz, on 05 May 2014 - 06:53 AM, said:

Well look who we have here …

[Nicholas Carlyle]

DONTOR, on 05 May 2014 - 09:08 AM, said:

Where are you getting this BS 6 month number from? Im relativly sure HPG is more recent than that, and the only place Ive ever seen any dislike of HPG Manifold has been on the forums and not in game. Go figure.

HPG was December, and they have no maps slated for May. So ok, 5 and a half months? When was HPG released exactly? But assuming it would be the second patch in June, I think 6 months is fair.

Also, I never said HPG wasn't a good map, I actually enjoy HPG.

I said Mordor is the most universally hated map in the game.

Edit: also as a reference, in appreciation of the job Niko has done, and the fact that he is actively engaging the community...I am going to buy some MC during the sale.

I'd been on the fence all weekend, but he's earned some dap.

Even if I don't like everything he's saying, at least he's trying and that's more than I can say for a lot of people. Kudos to you on that Niko.

[Harbinger Prime]

Maps? Maps? with so may flaws in the game play and we are talking about maps? If maps we're a big issue they should do like War Thunder and release a map creator to the community and have them accessible in the testing grounds to be vetted after which the ones that pass can be added to the standard maps.

[Duke Hector]

its going to be more garbage we don't want while features we DO want are on the back burner or limbo somewhere

[Nicholas Carlyle]

Harbinger Prime, on 05 May 2014 - 10:04 AM, said:

Maps? Maps? with so may flaws in the game play and we are talking about maps? If maps we're a big issue they should do like War Thunder and release a map creator to the community and have them accessible in the testing grounds to be vetted after which the ones that pass can be added to the standard maps.

Well, unless the map guys are the same guys that are going through the code to fix HSR issues and such (I don't believe that to be the case), then you can ask about the other issues.

I'm picking my fights, I don't think weapon balance will ever be fixed properly (Paul's fault), I don't feel like CW will be released in any meaningful fashion (Bryan/Russ' fault), and I don't think most of the major engine issues are going to be fixed (Whoever picked Cryengine's fault).

But I do think more maps is something that could happen. So I choose that fight.

[Harbinger Prime]

With the speed at which they react to things I do not believe that they have someone that just does maps. Frankly I would be suppressed if they had more that 6 people working on the whole game.

[CDLord HHGD]

Harbinger Prime, on 05 May 2014 - 10:30 AM, said:

With the speed at which they react to things I do not believe that they have someone that just does maps. Frankly I would be suppressed if they had more that 6 people working on the whole game.

Now you are just being nasty... Go eat a Snickers!