I've been seeing a few posts about FPS and things to do with final compiles. When I compile a map to check it I use SDK to do it and then just 'play' it in Spearhead.
I guess my question is: Should I be checking my maps some other way?
Aside from checking your map's performance, you should give it to someone to playtest it (maybe a small LAN session?!) and to see problems, you don't see anymore after having built it for so long.
Let everybody write a list of what he found which you can then process.
Then, give it to us as a beta version and we might tell you what could be made different (or even better).
Always tell people that it is a Spearhead map because many won't be able or want to play it then and d/l ing a map for nothing is rather irritating.
Map performance! How do I check that? (Or did you mean, just see how it plays?)
I'll certainly get some people to test my map when I finish it. I'm finally making my first map, after fiddling with things in a testmap that I plonk just about any idea i have.
performance: check fps and how much is drawn of hidden brushes
with console commands r_showtris 2 and fps 1 and also you could look at the portals with r_showportals 1. you'll have to start your map with cheats enabled for these commands (fps is allowed)
It really depends on what the spec of the computer you are using are.
If you have the latest Monster PC and get 40 - 60 fps, then people with low spec machines will probably be lucky to get 20 fps
don't forget the video settings in MOHAA! A setting with maximal details, effects etc. with highest resolution possible has worse FPS and MTex as a minimal configuration, of course! And you won't have to make a map that can be played with settings high on a Pentium II! Ppl with high-end PCs have spent lots of money and they deserve to get s/th for it. So make a map they will love and the average will like
Nobody said PC-gaming is cheap or even for free! Sorry, but playing a game needs always an adequate machine!
web designers will aggree: who's still taking care of ppl with 14" monitors running in 640x480? No one! 800x600? Maybe, sometimes... But you can read it on almost every site: "Optimized for 1024x768" and this means a 17" monitor...
But then: How much FPS is good? How much makes playing enjoyable and fair?
Good points Wacko, I need to make a map that will be available to most PC users, but also be detailed enough to be interesting. I hear trees don't do a map any favours on speed nor do white objects.
I've heard it takes a lot more graphics card power to create the colour white! So a level with snow in it will run more slowly than if it had grass instead.