Now I don't want to be a killjoy but I feel it has to be said. Those pretentious mappers out their who use a decompiler to rip a map and make a few minor changes, to only re-release it and take all the credit are LAMERS!!
I don't mind that a decopiler is used to learn from maps but to STEAL someones origional work is just going too far.. I build my maps from scratch, using origionality. Occasionally I'll perhaps play a level and think 'I'm gonna do one like that...', that's fine coz I've built it from the ground up (so to speak).
I'm actually studing the levels in Commandos 2, so that I can produce maps/mod for MOH, but that doesn't make me a cheat!
On a final note to those 'Decompiler Mappers', Learn like the rest of us and be most of all origional... or if you are going to take someone elses idea, build it from scratch... don't make a few minor changes then get praised for it.. as it's not your work!!
Those people in the community that endores this want shooting...
Havng not used a decompiler, I couldn't comment... I've heard something along those lines but to be honest if the architecture remains then it's a matter of re-applying textures.. This still doesn't detract from the fact that the map has still been stolen (in some sense??)
I've spent hours on my new OBJ map, drawings, architecture, etc........... I don't mind (i'd even be flattered ) people decompiling my maps to see how it's done, but to decompile and scank the thing would really piss me off..... I am studying Commandos 2 as I'm working on re-creating some of those levels on MOH, I have spent hours working on the design drawings............ like I'm sure the origional mappers/designers did.
The fact remains be origional.. this sort of thing would be frowned upon on UT and HL, Q3 etc........
I wouldnt try and do one cos of the amount of work that needs to be done.
But if you can take a map and make it better like changing some of the SP maps to MP or even making an MP better by giving it a new angle or twist.
All it is ,is a Mod which is what anyone who opens Mohradiant is doing is using EAs premade models and textures and making them look different.
A small mod like adding an MG to a certian part of a level can increase that levels lifespan redeisging it using the original design may turn out crap or may not.
I would love to Decompile Snowy park and Burnt he |HD its on
Or make the Sp level Battle of the Bocage where you have to defend the house a MP lvel with Allies inside and Axis attacking from all angles ,thats a new spin on a level which i thinnk would be good and prolong the game.
hhehe Me and Surge have debated this b4 he doesnt like it ,i do if the end result is worth it and prolings the game or gives old maps new life.
Burn snowy Park (lol).. i actually like that map, but my m8s hate it..
Turning a SP map into MP that would be fine.. that's a new mode of play.... and I'm all for that... i think many SP maps would make good MP maps.. i personnaly prefer new maps not old maps which i'm familiar with.. something else to learn the layout of....
I must side with surgeon and tstrait on this one though, new maps NOT just revamped old maps..... PLEASE!!!
I agree, though of all of the original maps, Snowy Park is the one that would benefit the most by a remake. Anyway, aside from all of the objections others have raised, here's one nobody has raised that really bugs me. If you look at all the maps being played on the servers, 95% of them are still the damn original maps. It's pretty discouraging to spend countless hours creating a custom map that isn't going to be played on many servers, and won't last long. If you are a custom mapper, your biggest hope is that people will eventually get sick of playing the original maps. So, now we get people who think it's a great idea to freshen up the originals, so the damn things will never go away. Of all the mapping communities I've seen, this one does the most to discourage and drive away good mappers.
You will probably say I have no right to complain because I've had more success here than most anyone. Well, I'm not complaining for myself. I'm concerned for the future of the community. In most mapping communities there are pretty professional standards about what is and what isn't an acceptable practice and those standards don't exist here.
Now I will climb down from my soapbox and say goodbye to the fine folks at MOH Design. I hope I helped a few people while I was here and didn't step on too many toes.
I have to agree with everything Blar14 has said : This is the strangest community I've been involved in...Not only does it seem determined to drive away good mappers ( I seem to remember everyone moaning about the original maps that came with the game ), it seems perfectly willing to accept piracy....I'm at a loss to suggest what can be done other to say that the admins of the community websites need to take a lead in stamping this out - At the moment this is not happening. If it doesn't happen the MoHAA community will lose any talented mappers that it has left..
Now I will climb down from my soapbox and say goodbye to the fine folks at MOH Design. I hope I helped a few people while I was here and didn't step on too many toes.
Where are you going mate ?? Please tell me your not leaving the community.......I can't remember you ever stepping on anyone's toes and I believe you've helped your fair share of people.....I think that at the moment you are one of the bright lights of this community, along with several other mappers including Dr ABAP.
I'm just going "home" to TMT. You have plenty of technical expertise on this site already and you don't need me butting in (too many cooks, etc.). I'll be spending more time on Britain's Finest website (since I joined the mod team) and I don't normally frequent very many sites. But, you guys are great. I hope to see you again.
I think there is a hope for mappers... At least in getting your maps played/viewed... I think you will have to wait some, however.
Theres a few problems we face
1- this is a bigtime mass-consumer shooter, meaning the majority of the people playing it are very casual gamers who probably don't know that you can play custom maps to begin with. Thats not a bad thing, theres just not much awareness because of:
2- MODS. No SDK = lack of creativity in mods, period. Most of the talented gamers went to other q3 engine games or still hang in counterstrike - which means most of the mod talent is residing in those places as well. MOH has NOT penetrated the hardcore gamer market nearly as well. EA's tag over a game vs say a developer like Raven means that MOH will not get the play among the hardcore guys that it deserves, sadly.
3- EA is a shit organization that DOES NOT CARE about you, me, or anyone... Just a fat wallet. It's sad because this game is GREAT, probably the best shooter EVER made on both sp/mp. Because of this, the 'special attention' homebrew developers need is not going to happen -- they can get that from other developers who give a $hit about their fans. Granted Raven has gone from quality developing house to a mixed bag of feast or famine (their mapping team has gone to dogpoo and is stuck building q2 maps with a q3 engine to play with). If EA kept 2015 about, this game would have more support. Sadly, they didn't, so we all get f'd.
4- Quality. Frankly, including my maps, there isn't much out there that I would consider 'awesome'. Theres some solid mapping talent, HOWEVER, designing for this style of game is completely unlike we've ever seen. Terrain mapping unto itself is a seperate discipline that requires countless hours of studying landscape and practicing. Mappers just need more experience. I think the quality in maps has risin quite a bit... It's just 2015 did such a fabulous job creativing ambience with MOH, creating levels of that calibur as a homebrew designer makes it very difficult. Of course, with time/practice, you'll see better and more ambitious maps that have much more depth to them. I don't mean just great layouts, but take the map Thunder or Hitler's Farm for example... Fun maps, very homebrew, and great maps if there was no such thing as terrain. But there is terrain... So fun maps like those get killed in the perception department because they lack the QUALITY that the retail maps pack. I will say it is very hard to build a GREAT MOH map, we're following one of the best designed shooters EVER made - and IMO will be the benchmark for this genre of game for a long time. I may not be focusing on my point here, because there are so many factors, however, quality in designs IS a big deal, and MOH designers are much more challenged than sof SOF 2 or JK 2 designers.
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My suggestion is if you want your maps to get played/spun on servers, start buddying up with Mod teams, and start making some kickass mods. Mods are a double edged sword, but if the Mod is good, you will have kickass distribution. MOH really has a LOT of great stuff, and is very complete on its own... But when the SDK comes out - within 6 months time, the quality of our multiplayer gaming with MOH will increase exponentially. Perhaps if mappers got together and built map packs and worked together with each other polishing each other's maps and spending time testing, etc, and put out a solid/tested/unbuggy map pack, servers might spin the maps...
It's just a thought, but as a mapper, it's always a concern.
YeaH I hope cool mappers like yaaaaall stay with mohaa. On the subject at hand I have to use a decompiler cos I'm too idiot to st up my own objectives, eg hanger_se more like v2 rocket prt 2 lol
) people decompiling my maps to see how it's done, but to decompile and scank the thing would really piss me off..... I am studying Commandos 2 as I'm working on re-creating some of those levels on MOH, I have spent hours working on the design drawings............ like I'm sure the origional mappers/designers did.
