Next Knockouts
Date: Saturday 10th August 2013

Canyon KO3 Rounds - Start Time: 9:30 GMT
Valley KO2 TimeAttack - Start time: 19:30 GMT

Please cause Mikey more work by uploading your KO2 Stadium and valley maps in the next days
Full details on how to submit maps are in Mikey's thread on the forum (first post)

PlayPal Online
The Stadium version is now working, Canyon to follow soon...
Access the PPO MX pages PPO Valley and PPO Stadium

If nobody else is playing, feel free to play for a while anyway, you will gain karma for your map, register your times on the PlayPal records listings, and gradually the number of players will grow.

Unreleased Tracks
o Its possible to upload tracks in unreleased state
o You can then share links to the map
o Unreleased maps can also be added to PPO and other online servers for test play.
o Convert the map to released status when you are ready.

Mixed Environment Tracks
o We now accept maps re-saved in alternative base stations
o This means that replays for the map must also be from that station
o Any combo can work, CanyonCar on Valley, StadiumCar on Canyon... and so on.

For example, to get the ValleyCar on your Stadium map, validate & save your stadium map in the Valley editor. Upload the map. Offline replays will then only be accepted if they are made with ValleyCar. There is no effect to your map when it is used online.

Search for these maps using advanced search option. Set the title filter to TMStadium, TMValley or TMCanyon, then uncheck the environment box which would be normal for that title

Live Online Chat
IRC (internet relay chat) is now available under the 'About MX' menu drop down. Its a chat window in which you can chat to other users. It is moderated and there is often moderators there, so please understand to respect other people, just as you would anywhere else on MX.

Fixes
o Duo accounts work again
o Track listings icons align nicer
o More room in listings for track names

We've had a really good month of getting new stuff put in and getting old stuff fixed, thank you for sticking with us when things were not quite so good.



Please continue making knockout maps (see below)

Next KO: Saturday 20th July 2013

Canyon KO2 TimeAttck - Start Time: 9:30 GMT
Valley KO1 Rounds - Start time: 19:30 GMT

We will plan to mix up the schedule quite a lot now there is 3 environments, so please do check to see where the next KO events are due.

Please Note
We still need maps, please check the news item a little further down.

Finally its working, or at least we think so. We are running a sustained stability test on a new version of the PlayPal Online Control System for Valley. Once we are happy with it we should add PPO servers for Stadium and Canyon.

You can access the Valley PPO MX page here! or by the drop down from the PlayPal Online button at the top of the page.

What is PlayPal Online?
Its a server that plays tracks made by the people who have been playing on the server. Each time you finish a track your karma score gets +1. When you have the most karma, your map is next to play. You may pick which of your maps will be played via the PlayPalOnline page here on Mania Exchange.

Please help us test it out by joining in the fun
Use the server link on the MX PPO page, or find our server in the Valley Servers list.



Thanks to TGYoshi in particular for doing the work involved to get us this far

We would like to request your maps!

Now that we have 3 live environments, we need to build up the map pools for the online Knockout competitions. As always, please consider that the maps should be possible to complete without prior training or practice, have a clear route, and all respawns working.

Submitted maps must remain secret (not available for general download)

KO1 Stadium
Track length 40 to 50 seconds

KO2 Stadium
Track length author time less than 25 seconds

KO1 Valley
Track length 40 to 50 seconds

KO2 Valley
Track length author time less than 25 seconds

KO3 Canyon
Track length 40 to 50 seconds

KO4 Canyon
Track length 35-39 seconds (Gold) , author time less than 38 seconds

As usual, please upload only to the MX-KO account.
Full details on how to submit maps are in Mikey's thread on the forum (first post)

Valley & Stadium maps are the most needed, but also Canyon KO3 & KO4 is open.

The much anticipated 2nd fully new environment for TM2 is now available to buy and download...

http://www.maniaplanet.com/trackmania/valley

Not much else to say on the matter, go get it!

Please pay attention to the rule that you should only upload maps which you yourself are the author of. It is not okay to upgrade or convert other peoples maps from the old Stadium and upload them here, for any reason, unless you have the permission of the original author.

If you have been uploading other peoples maps, please delete them from your account.

Thank you for understanding this rule,
The ManiaExchange Crew

Its time to vote on which new site headers should be adopted by Mania Exchange....

Click on this blue text to go to the voting page

And not only that, but its to be released this coming Thursday July 4th, and will be available on TrackMania.com and Steam.

Vist the Offical Maniaplanet Blog for the full announcement

Please pay attention to the rule that you should only upload maps which you yourself are the author of. It is not okay to upgrade or convert other peoples maps from the old Stadium and upload them here, for any reason, unless you have the permission of the original author.

If you have been uploading other peoples maps, please delete them from your account.

Thank you for understanding this rule,
The ManiaExchange Crew