Loading Custom Maps

**Bommando** · 12-27-2007, 07:11 PM

I just wanted to continue discussion on this subject from this post:

Quote:

Originally Posted by icky

Many of the complaints about maps have been of the more general nature, where too many new maps are killing the server population. I think we need to slow down the introduction of new maps on the server. We should spend more time doing MANUAL loading of new maps so that when the server is unattended it sticks to what is familiar. (just wanted to make sure this point got noted :lol: )

Personally, I don't think they hurt the population by their mere presence. The download is extremely fast for the most part and if the map is widely disliked, we just remove it from the rotation. I've just come from a long stretch where we saw little to no pop drop even after a long string of custom maps. The only way we get new maps onto people's computers is by including them in the rotation. If we add them piecemeal, we don't cover enough players. I only notice a drop very late at night, where I believe we'd lose population anyway.

So, we can:

Limit our use of custom maps.[/*:m:3e9ee]
Remove them from the rotation past a certain time (2AM Eastern for example).[/*:m:3e9ee]
Just let people get used to it as they play more.[/*:m:3e9ee]

Opinions?

**icky** · 12-27-2007, 08:27 PM

I think we can get them into the rotation fairly quickly, I just think we should babysit them at the start. I never feel like playing a series of maps where nobody knows what is going on, and I'm pretty sure the sentiment is the same with most people. By using a manual approach at the start, we ensure that the maps are played when the server is very healthy and that when it is a few regulars with a pile of newbies, the regular maps are playing. When there is nobody around to put the map on manually, that is a good sign that we don't have lots of regulars around.

The two times when it is great to load brand new maps are when there are too few people for a serious game and when there are lots of regulars. When a brand new map hits late when the population is already dwindling a little, it doesn't work so great. Likewise when you have 6v6 going and you are seeding.

And btw, I'm not just saying that people were unhappy. I had two different regulars say to me things along the lines of "you guys shouldn't load so many custom maps, it's killing the server".

**Beatnik** · 12-27-2007, 10:26 PM

Any frustration is short term though so while it may a bit bumpy at the start, people can get up to speed and learn new maps pretty quickly.

Also, it seems like the length of the maplist is just about right - I think it's around 10 maps now? From now on, we can do something like one-in/one-out with the map list; drop weaker or less enjoyable maps when new (better) ones come up.

The variety is great though and being able to quickly d/l maps straight away should extend the life of the game significantly.

**Santa** · 12-28-2007, 05:28 AM

I dont think it has to be manual, but i think adding new maps should be a very gradual thing. Let people learn the new maps, and then add more. I think generally we should add 2 maps to the rotation, then find out if we should keep it in or not. Once we feel people know the maps enough, add 2 more. Add too many at one time and ya kinda overwhelm people, and it sucks playing map after map that you dont know yet.

**BHack** · 12-28-2007, 12:13 PM

I say put new ones in the rotation but not 6 at once.

If we get a bunch of new ones, add one to the rotation and the others can be loaded manually 'once in awhile' style.

**Bommando** · 12-30-2007, 07:43 AM

After only a few days, I'm already seeing pretty much no drop in numbers when loading new maps. Most people have them downloaded by now and seem to be enjoying the ones which have made the cut. A couple have already been removed and we've already got a couple of good new maps out of the trials.