Wondering if its just me or not. I tend to get a great idea for a map, quickly build a lot of the map, then get excited about something else and leave the previous project unfinished. Because of this I've made a ton of varied and maps and I'm really good at the editor now but I never get anything finished.... I'm even starting to loose interest in zergling burgers when I feel like I should finish it.
I think this is an age issue. I've been mapping since sc1, so around 12 years on and off. During sc1 and wc3, I had the same issues as you. I'd start a map, get about 25-30% of the map completed in record time, then just lose interest. Either through seeing someone else's idea that I envied, or the map itself not being fully what I expected.
In sc2, I've had 2 projects pretty much. Both are pretty well developed though a lack of free time on my part has stopped that development reaching a solid release for either. I will get there though, as I'm much more committed to their development than I was with my sc1/wc3 maps.
With that said, does it matter if you never finish a map? Mapping is a recreational activity. I've had a few maps on page 1 and I can tell you now, keeping them there is not enjoyable. No map lasts forever. It's stressful to think that you might come home and your map might be gone. This happens, frequently.
I understand mapping is a recreational activity but It feels like if I were quit zergling burgers I'd be letting people down (even tho nobody on the team actually uses the forums lol :D). Dunno....
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The new system makes it much easier to finish parts of the map before you lose interest. I released my TD with only 7 towers (out of 30-40), and only a few levels.
Seeing people play it made it easier to make more towers and levels. I released new content every few hours over the next week. I made the game difficult enough so that I could finish content before the existing content was beaten.
I've currently released a half-finished version of a new race under the guise that it's a beta version you can unlock by beating it on hard mode.
Yeah but an incomplete TD is still fully playable. You just have less towers to choose from. A map like zergling burgers really has to be finished in order to work. Yes, you can add more in later, but all major systems need to be working..... :*(
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This is a huge problem that I have... What happens is, I come up with 10 different map concepts, work on the first and then stop to work on the second... Then stop to work on the third... and so on... So I end up with 10 projects and absolutely nothing done.
Until now I only really managed to stay with a project when I had morale support by a community. I made a somewhat popular map for Wc3 and a community formed around that. The feedback, new ideas and all the talking really helps to keep up morale.
But how about just making a smaller map that doesn't wear your enthusiasm out so fast :3
Same problem here. I do find that the lack of moral support from the community kinda kills your motivation to finish something off. Its not pretty knowing you're spending so much time on something thats never going to be played. Especially since theres no search bar for popularity (which i swear to god there was when the game was first launched, maybe i'm mistaken.)
At other times, you just run into a brick wall because one of the systems in your map just didn't pass the feasibility test. In my case, I'm best at taking idea and implementing it. So when i run out of ideas or time (due to sudden bursts of real life work), my project usually ends up stalling... and believe me real life work can be really draining on energy levels as it can take a lot of brain power to complete.. especially writing..
Sigh.. Hope I can finish my thesis within a month so I have more time to do mapping..
I only ever completed one mildly successful bnet map (ie when I hosted the map years later some people already knew how to play it) and several cinematics. The only reason was because working on them was fun as hell! Everything else (10+ projects) I would get bored of too easily. Often the map just turns out not to be fun and when the small adjustments can't fix it you just gotta let it go.
I guess so. And map making is fun, regardless of the results. But having an amazing popular DOTA map or a revolutionary new idea would be great :D For zergling burgers, maybe I'll keep the file so I can come back to it later but.... I dunno . kinda feel bad lol.
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Guess I have a different perspective on this. The mapping itself isn't that interesting. The fun comes from the end result. Seeing an ability in action or a cool mechanic play out. Of course, the real fun is when it all comes together and you have a game. If for no other reason, so that you can play it yourself. But, the reactions of others is just as entertaining. It gets even better once a community forms around your creation.
Same with me too. Dedication come from people with good talent. If you're more on the artist type person, you would be more motivated to finish and polish a work. (Just what I think about my artistic un-talent)
I would write down ideas I had for Warcraft 3 and even start making the maps abut never finish them. Part of the reason is the lack of motivation and the other being that I end up disliking my ideas down the line. In the end I just worked on individual systems or stand alone custom abilities rather than a complete map.
I feel some of this has carried through from Warcraft 3 to Starcraft 2 for me, but these days its issues with lack of time and lack of knowledge.
However, it's not just mapping either. I eventually give up with drawing as well, but mostly because I give it a few attempts and it doesn't turn out as I want so I get frustrated and abandon it.
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Wondering if its just me or not. I tend to get a great idea for a map, quickly build a lot of the map, then get excited about something else and leave the previous project unfinished. Because of this I've made a ton of varied and maps and I'm really good at the editor now but I never get anything finished.... I'm even starting to loose interest in zergling burgers when I feel like I should finish it.
@zeldarules28: Go
My mom would ground me if I stopped working on mine.
lol wut?
@zeldarules28: Go
Would you like for me to ask her to ground you, too?
umm........no thanks
@Vexal: Go
your mom is strict,mine would just take away my internet.
But yes, ive given up on many projects right when i finish planning it out in my head. Finish zergling burgers!
I think this is an age issue. I've been mapping since sc1, so around 12 years on and off. During sc1 and wc3, I had the same issues as you. I'd start a map, get about 25-30% of the map completed in record time, then just lose interest. Either through seeing someone else's idea that I envied, or the map itself not being fully what I expected.
In sc2, I've had 2 projects pretty much. Both are pretty well developed though a lack of free time on my part has stopped that development reaching a solid release for either. I will get there though, as I'm much more committed to their development than I was with my sc1/wc3 maps.
With that said, does it matter if you never finish a map? Mapping is a recreational activity. I've had a few maps on page 1 and I can tell you now, keeping them there is not enjoyable. No map lasts forever. It's stressful to think that you might come home and your map might be gone. This happens, frequently.
I think I'm rambling now.
P.s. I'm not old!
I understand mapping is a recreational activity but It feels like if I were quit zergling burgers I'd be letting people down (even tho nobody on the team actually uses the forums lol :D). Dunno....
The new system makes it much easier to finish parts of the map before you lose interest. I released my TD with only 7 towers (out of 30-40), and only a few levels.
Seeing people play it made it easier to make more towers and levels. I released new content every few hours over the next week. I made the game difficult enough so that I could finish content before the existing content was beaten.
I've currently released a half-finished version of a new race under the guise that it's a beta version you can unlock by beating it on hard mode.
People eat that stuff up.
Yeah but an incomplete TD is still fully playable. You just have less towers to choose from. A map like zergling burgers really has to be finished in order to work. Yes, you can add more in later, but all major systems need to be working..... :*(
This is a huge problem that I have... What happens is, I come up with 10 different map concepts, work on the first and then stop to work on the second... Then stop to work on the third... and so on... So I end up with 10 projects and absolutely nothing done.
Until now I only really managed to stay with a project when I had morale support by a community. I made a somewhat popular map for Wc3 and a community formed around that. The feedback, new ideas and all the talking really helps to keep up morale.
But how about just making a smaller map that doesn't wear your enthusiasm out so fast :3
Same problem here. I do find that the lack of moral support from the community kinda kills your motivation to finish something off. Its not pretty knowing you're spending so much time on something thats never going to be played. Especially since theres no search bar for popularity (which i swear to god there was when the game was first launched, maybe i'm mistaken.)
At other times, you just run into a brick wall because one of the systems in your map just didn't pass the feasibility test. In my case, I'm best at taking idea and implementing it. So when i run out of ideas or time (due to sudden bursts of real life work), my project usually ends up stalling... and believe me real life work can be really draining on energy levels as it can take a lot of brain power to complete.. especially writing..
Sigh.. Hope I can finish my thesis within a month so I have more time to do mapping..
Not a problem when you only have one project. :)
I only ever completed one mildly successful bnet map (ie when I hosted the map years later some people already knew how to play it) and several cinematics. The only reason was because working on them was fun as hell! Everything else (10+ projects) I would get bored of too easily. Often the map just turns out not to be fun and when the small adjustments can't fix it you just gotta let it go.
I guess so. And map making is fun, regardless of the results. But having an amazing popular DOTA map or a revolutionary new idea would be great :D For zergling burgers, maybe I'll keep the file so I can come back to it later but.... I dunno . kinda feel bad lol.
yep. Bummer -.-
Guess I have a different perspective on this. The mapping itself isn't that interesting. The fun comes from the end result. Seeing an ability in action or a cool mechanic play out. Of course, the real fun is when it all comes together and you have a game. If for no other reason, so that you can play it yourself. But, the reactions of others is just as entertaining. It gets even better once a community forms around your creation.
Same with me too. Dedication come from people with good talent. If you're more on the artist type person, you would be more motivated to finish and polish a work. (Just what I think about my artistic un-talent)
I would write down ideas I had for Warcraft 3 and even start making the maps abut never finish them. Part of the reason is the lack of motivation and the other being that I end up disliking my ideas down the line. In the end I just worked on individual systems or stand alone custom abilities rather than a complete map.
I feel some of this has carried through from Warcraft 3 to Starcraft 2 for me, but these days its issues with lack of time and lack of knowledge.
However, it's not just mapping either. I eventually give up with drawing as well, but mostly because I give it a few attempts and it doesn't turn out as I want so I get frustrated and abandon it.