Is it normal to publish a map even when it is nowhere, and I mean nowhere, near completion, just to test it? I feel like people might see a new game, try it, and then never play it again because they tried it in a severely early testing phase... Just curious as to anyone else's thoughts.
Good idea! I'm actually making X Hero Siege from Wc3 for anyone who remembers that! It was always one of my favorites and the current versions on Sc2 are unfinished or poorly built in my opinion... And the only way to test the balancing is for me and friends to test it together but It has to be published to do that!
When I saw the thread title I felt like replying "casual publishing is for wimps who don't have the balls to put effort into a proper relationship yet" as a joke, but after reading the OP I figured I could reply that and have it be a brilliant on-topic metaphor as well. So there you go.
Well you know I'd post the map on Sc2mapster but I'm not familiar with any of the licenses so when I hit that part I backed out lol I have always been afraid of someone taking a map I've created and using it as theirs... So I've always been against early publishing, but that's why I figured I'd ask if it was common..
Well you know I'd post the map on Sc2mapster but I'm not familiar with any of the licenses so when I hit that part I backed out lol I have always been afraid of someone taking a map I've created and using it as theirs...
Use 'all rights reserved'. That should take care of everything.
Regardless though - don't take it in a too rough way; if you cba finishing your map at this point, no one's going to shout at you if you just upload it for people to play what you already have.
Do not advertise your published map until it is polished and feature-complete. If you want to test it before it's ready, test it privately and only among a small group of beta testers. You really want to have a strong launch for the map if you hope to get it popular.
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Get a group of dedicated people. I have been taking a break from my map for probably too long now, but I still get a swarm of 10 or so messages INSTANTLY when I log on "when will I be able to test your map again?"
In fact what I am doing, is writing down who consistently asks me if they can test. This means they are truly interested. When your map is nearing completion, and is playable, go into the custom map channel and ask if anyone wants to "beta test" it. This will be testing the "funness" of the map. But throughout development, keep a group of testers that will be able to test your game, and who will stick with you through the end. They will know what bugs there used to be, what to look for, and how to play.
As for releasing to the public, if you have a group of dedicated testers, than there is no point. Just create a private game and invite all of them to it. And as for the license, as far as I can tell it doesn't really matter. I would just go with "all rights reserved".
Is it normal to publish a map even when it is nowhere, and I mean nowhere, near completion, just to test it? I feel like people might see a new game, try it, and then never play it again because they tried it in a severely early testing phase... Just curious as to anyone else's thoughts.
@nickthegreat2468: Go
I would Suggest Setting your map to Private, that way no one can use it without your permission, and at release you publish as public :D
Dragon RPG, Had this problem And now that its released it never bounced back.
@Taintedwisp: Go
Good idea! I'm actually making X Hero Siege from Wc3 for anyone who remembers that! It was always one of my favorites and the current versions on Sc2 are unfinished or poorly built in my opinion... And the only way to test the balancing is for me and friends to test it together but It has to be published to do that!
@nickthegreat2468: Go
Well there ya go, :D, Also make sure you dont delete your file or you will loose the name.
When I saw the thread title I felt like replying "casual publishing is for wimps who don't have the balls to put effort into a proper relationship yet" as a joke, but after reading the OP I figured I could reply that and have it be a brilliant on-topic metaphor as well. So there you go.
@Mozared: Go
I can't say I ever likened game design to dating before... but point taken :P
@Mozared: Go
Well you know I'd post the map on Sc2mapster but I'm not familiar with any of the licenses so when I hit that part I backed out lol I have always been afraid of someone taking a map I've created and using it as theirs... So I've always been against early publishing, but that's why I figured I'd ask if it was common..
Use 'all rights reserved'. That should take care of everything.
Regardless though - don't take it in a too rough way; if you cba finishing your map at this point, no one's going to shout at you if you just upload it for people to play what you already have.
Do not advertise your published map until it is polished and feature-complete. If you want to test it before it's ready, test it privately and only among a small group of beta testers. You really want to have a strong launch for the map if you hope to get it popular.
Get a group of dedicated people. I have been taking a break from my map for probably too long now, but I still get a swarm of 10 or so messages INSTANTLY when I log on "when will I be able to test your map again?"
In fact what I am doing, is writing down who consistently asks me if they can test. This means they are truly interested. When your map is nearing completion, and is playable, go into the custom map channel and ask if anyone wants to "beta test" it. This will be testing the "funness" of the map. But throughout development, keep a group of testers that will be able to test your game, and who will stick with you through the end. They will know what bugs there used to be, what to look for, and how to play.
As for releasing to the public, if you have a group of dedicated testers, than there is no point. Just create a private game and invite all of them to it. And as for the license, as far as I can tell it doesn't really matter. I would just go with "all rights reserved".
Great to be back and part of the community again!
@TacoManStan: Go
That sounds great but to test it with multiple people playing at once, don't I have to publish it? Or is there something really simple I'm missing...
@nickthegreat2468: Go
Publish it with "Private" selected. That way only YOU can host it. It won't show up under the bnet search.
@nickthegreat2468: Go
Publish it as private. Then only you can host it, but you can invite people to that game.