| Is your map worth to be driven? | 21 May, 2013 |
| .zapph' | (20 comments, 1885 views) |
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Heya MX people!
I've thought about this theme for a longer time now. And I came to the opinion to let you guys know what I think! This thread is about some requirements a map has to have for myself that I will drive/test/award/whatever... it! As an old TM freak who was active in the best times of TMX I think I have the right to have requirements... It was when I was between 15 and 16 (over 2 years ago) when I was very active on TMX. At that time there were so many awesome people and a great community. They held a damn lot of Screenshot Competitions. Many people offered their skills as Screenshot makers and intro/outro editors. Many tracks had a ScreenCompo in the back. And there were so many awesome talented guys to make screenshots. Every track ahd an individual representing Screenshot for it, and those screenshots made one hungry for more.. hungry for the map. If it looked great you became the urge to drive that track. ... Nowadays I look in the forums... and I see there's not many people active, and even less ScreenCompos. I don't know why that is.. probably because most of the old TMX-community quitted TM a long time ago, but it could be totally something else! I think this is pretty sad if I compare it with these old days of TMNF. As you can probably tell from this longer text, for myself it is important to see a Screenshot of the map, a nicely edited one, that makes me want to drive a map. But I look around the new maps, most awarded, botw and everything, and there's mostly shitty Screenshots or none! I think, that if you put some effort into your maps to present them to the people, you really want people to drive them. Very often the maps in the botw menu are from the same guys. And these guys tend to just make a screenshot from the editor, scale it to the fitting size and that's it! But this is not enough for me! I only want to drive maps which needed some effort. Like a nicely edited screenshot. It doesn't have to meet Zhuckar's standards  mine hardly can reach his level.. But it should be something more than just a textoverlay with the mapname.
Furthermore what a good track is to me, is a cool, short intro.. Intros bring the map closer to the player.. he gets a look at the map and if the intro is done nice, he wants t drive it just with more power.. do you understand what I'm trying to say? I always make intros and screenshots for my maps, and although they aren't the best, I can tell that I am proud of my creations. I put some effort into it and my work makes me proud! And that is what I need to drive another one's map! >>A screenshot >>An intro They don't have to be your creation, but please.. have at least a nice Screenshot!!! That's it from my side. If you want to tell me your opinion, go ahead. I am open for other minds and discussing! Peace, Zapphire 
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| v6sarally writes ... | 24, May, 2013 |
Alcator says: Good point but still the track is the main thing - everything else is just extra showoff  that somebody cares about and somebody not so much, like me 
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| Alcator writes ... | 23, May, 2013 |
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If I may...
Your recommendations boil down to "Use other people to make PR for your own track": - Get someone else to make a screenshot for your track - Get someone else to make a fancy intro/outro - Use someone else's mod or blocks So, the question is: Why not go all the way? Why not "Get someone else to build your own track" ? |
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| SPIDER writes ... | 22, May, 2013 |
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And if i don´t have any user to go to, i do as i allways do, just strawling around
in the dark and pick one by random that looks fun -Ahh the
screen is important but not a edited master screen shot , it should show the track how it looks like - this will increase your download I prefere the right as in direction  not right or wrong, ohh actually
that suits just fine also becouse the right is right and than the other one must be wrong (left)
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| arzgaa writes ... | 22, May, 2013 |
v6sarally says:Enai Siaion says: Exactly. It's trackmania fellas!
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| v6sarally writes ... | 22, May, 2013 |
Enai Siaion says: C'mon people, what's wrong with you? 
Also we have good old stadium too right? |
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| zarexz writes ... | 22, May, 2013 |
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As it goes for intros and outros;
I used to put a lot of effort in my intros and outros. The problem is I discovered that an estimated 90% of the players skips each and every intro. I love TV-style outros with static cameras but that usualy gives the complaint "I can't see what I'm doing in the replay"... |
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| arzgaa writes ... | 22, May, 2013 |
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Zapphire, I don't think the issue here is that the tracks don't meet the requirements of your own blog. The thing is, the site's blogging rules forbid self-promotion
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| .zapph' writes ... | 22, May, 2013 |
doben says: well.. I don't think presenting your maps in your blog are shameless selfpromotion.. it's another way to become popular imo.. On the other side, those maps actually meet the standards of this blog^^ >They both have intros which didn't come from minutes.. I spent at least 5 hours for each of them >They both have good screenshots
Sure I am proud of my work, that's because I do it.. to be proud of it 
I don't think that it is a waste of time.. I try to publish a map every week, and so far it went well.. I even do trailers for my maps and upload them to youtube.. And I get it done to build maps, edit intros and trailers, screenshots and get my life together.. It's not a waste of time.. it just depends on weither you care about what others think about your work or not! |
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| doben writes ... | 21, May, 2013 |
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Since you're asking the reader directly: Yes, my maps are worth being driven. Go and take a look for yourself!
I think what you are looking for in a track is pretty much a given from the ambitious builder's point of view. As a builder my goal is to build something well designed from the very first impression until all the way to the end. So what you get is usually the whole package. A long Author's comment, a reasonably well made screenshot, videos for lazy people, podium sequences, outros and custom signs. hell, i even built in achievements into my tracks so you actually can win some planets by exploring the map itself and find hidden easter-egg-like secrets. I also realise that this might be too much to expect from everyone. Now this might all just sound very arrogant to you, but for me it's just that way because I won't be satisfied putting in hours and days and even weeks of work into a track, without 'completing the experience' - so ya, I'll have to put a couple of more hours in to create a proper Intro or a nice GPS or a fitting screenshot. And once you've done all this work you'll be proud of what you've done, what you've created. Obviously, putting that much time into just one track has four major downsides: you are wasting too much time that could be used to do actual work and that push you forward in life; you won't be able to release a new track every couple of days or even weeks, which will result in less popularity and therefore less people actually checking out your hard work; you won't be able to put so much effort into more and more of such tracks over the span of a couple of years, even tho you love doing it; and it doesn't help your popularity, if you're always trying to create something new and immersive and as a result many people won't be able to comprehend the architecture or the intention of the track, but the problem is that you'll always want to push building a step or two further ahead, if you're already spending so much time and sweat and heart creating it (in contrast to just build an ordinary track that you'll know everybody and your mum will like). So the more clever route is to create a (at least) decent track, don't waste too much time on stuff that for most people don't really matter, make a screenshot or let it be made so people will have a good first impression of the track. My take on intros: if you have no clue what you are doing either make sure it's kind of funny or get your hands off the MT. So ya, you shouldn't have a problem finding a track with a decent screenshot. With a decent intro? well that's a different story altogether. Is a track worth being played when it doesnt present itself with a proper screenshot or intro? I think that depends on who you ask: the builder or the online player, cause both of these stereotypes have completely different expectations. Edit: I forgot to give you some names: REHVEN adsun also: what Enai said
Edit²: shameless selfpromotion in the blog is a no-no, but you know that already. you should put up maps there that you think fit the standard you are asking for in this blog. |
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| Enai Siaion writes ... | 21, May, 2013 |
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The reason why the community is dead is because Canyon is garbage.
As for screenshots, tracks are easy to make and any more effort than what's needed to make a good flowing and good looking track falls into "get a life" territory. This means screenshots, an intro and an outro. You can make a decent screenshot in 30 seconds that shows what your track is about: Wait... let me guess... it's a vertical track with boosters on platform pieces. That's more information than a stylised car on a white background is going to give you. If you spend more time, you should consider other places where more than 20 people care about your work. |
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| arzgaa writes ... | 21, May, 2013 |
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Don't know whether you meant me with that "missed my point", but my point was that I don't need a screenshot (at all) to click a track. Sure, even a crappy one shows the author's but some effort into it, but having a screenshot is just something I note when opening the track page, not something that turns me away. I've driven a lot of great tracks with no screen at all and that's what gets me excited, finding stuff
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| SPIDER writes ... | 21, May, 2013 |
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I try this and add a nice screen for my new fullspeeder
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| v6sarally writes ... | 21, May, 2013 |
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Most tracks with a sick screenshot are mainstream tracks; hoppety hop transition based crap for high skilled intermediates and pros. The fresh ideas are mostly found in tracks without flashy photoshop productions with 400 filters.
+1
I aso agree with Hans Holo - PRO intros are sometimes cool but spending more time in learning and doing MT than actual map making is not for everyone i guess
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| BLiNNeMaNS writes ... | 21, May, 2013 |
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About the screenshot:
MX policy states a track screenshot should at least show part of the track. if you spot a track with a screenshot like that example just report it. MX wants to keep the site as clear as possible for everyone. (sorry for acting like a mod, old habit ^^) About screenshots vs you: Most tracks with a sick screenshot are mainstream tracks; hoppety hop transition based crap for high skilled intermediates and pros. The fresh ideas are mostly found in tracks without flashy photoshop productions with 400 filters. So i personally don't care about proper screenies, 9 out of 10 times i just do a screengrab of a part of the intro, resize it and then cut to fit mx size. btw: who said anything about planets vs awards? I only proposed to buy a spot on a buddylist as most "active" players already have a full 50 buddylist so they have to pay 150 planets to nadeo for a new spot. If the person adding you isn't known by you, getting the 150 planets to add him will only make the decision easier. |
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| .zapph' writes ... | 21, May, 2013 |
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Thanks for you opinions guys!
But I think you missed my point... For me it is important for a map to have a screenshot to even click on it and then decide to dl and drive it
And I don't think that there should be a problem with making a screenshot... If you can't edit one yourself, then open a SC.. Planets aren't a need for a reward, but a Showcase can be nice as well! |
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