I am a geneticist soon to have a degree in chemistry and I map because it is something fun to do when I dont have enough spare time to play a proper game. Also there is an element of 95% of maps out there are really sub standard and I probably could do alot better.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Contribute to the wiki (Wiki button at top of page) Considered easy altering of the unit textures?
I map because finding reliable help to make indie games up to my standards (artists, modellers) is nigh impossible without offering some kind of pay incentive. I feel like development is a lot easier with a coding background, but at the same time also requires a good sense of game design as well.
I map cause I've been doing it since MoH:AA came out. Always been focussing on Terrain mostly, but know some basics how to make a TD or some other basic maps. Also like the fact of being creative without spending money on it, and it's a hobby that takes as much time as you want to put into it with no restrictions beefing made
I currently don't have a job, although I'm studying at university in French Letters.
I love mapping because I love creating. I spend most of my day on Photoshop, After Effects or even 3ds Max. When I play video games, you'll most likely see me in the "creation" portion of the game. (Forge in Halo, World Editor / Galaxy Editor for WC3 and SC2). I'll play games to analyse how they built, designed and constructed the story, unlike many who'll simply play through while missing all the details.
It's more of a hobby than a profession career. I'm slowly reconcidering my career choice and go in the physics domain.
I forgot to answer the second question, I guess. Why do I map? Due to a multitude of reasons. A), I like mapping as a whole. Creating scenarios and all that. B), I like Starcraft, and I like the GE, so that ties in nicely. C), it's the only thing that I'm flat out good at. I don't mean that in a depressed 'I suck at everything' way, as I'm not exactly 'horrible' in plenty of other things, but it's the only thing I can with 100% conviction say "I am good at doing this" about. I can make stuff in the editor that other people simply can't. I've never really been able to do that in other fields such as sports or studying.
On the list of who's going to hell I'm second in line with lawyers, I'm a telemarketer. (if you hate telemarketers just tell them to 'remove you from ALL[phone, email, mail, SHARED!] list')
But I first started to like mapping back in SC1. I didn't have internet for a long time but I had downloaded the old Arsennel II Modder. Once I got bored of always playing 1v7c (due to offline) I started learning how to use ASii to make the game harder for me to play. Specifically making comp players stronger in a multitude of ways. Actually I remember making the first 8 player tower defense on sc1. Now I just like mapping 'cause playing online bores me from time to time and I've always been interested in games with map editors. Alot of people ask why i don't become a programmer or something when they hear about this hobby. But I tell them that if I make a career out of a hobby, I'll no longer have any hobby's left.
I just finished my first year of university, and I'll be majoring in Computer Science... but through the faculty of Arts, as oppose to Science.
Mainly I just enjoy mapping, it's a great way to try out all those creative ideas you get floating into your head. I've done some mapping for Age of Empires, and Starcraft 1 briefly, and then for Warcraft 3, and now Sc2. But also, I think in the future I would like to be employed doing some aspect of game development.
My background- my husband got me into games from wc3 about 2 years ago and at the time had my own business designing and selling fabric ( yes totally random) . Since then we have sold my business and during the downtime of kids and family I started teaching myself the editor on SC2 after I got hooked during the beta playing it. I love the draw or " create " things and I love learning new things so..... I have started with terrain and and hopefully working my way to do modeling , re skinning etc where I feel like my real talent lies. I love doing the terrain though - the bigger world maps the better. Its a feeling of creating your own little world to me usually complete with a storyline already in my head.
Its not really weird to be a stay @ home mom doing this if you took a look around. We are a gamer family in many ways - 4 computers and all the consoles pretty much .My husband has his regular career but is a computer geek & website mastermind. Even my 6 year old knows most counters on sc2 ladder already that he has learned from playing or watching us play.
I'm obviously not doing it for the money , like most of the other posts i read its because its an enjoyable hobby.
I'm obviously not doing it for the money , like most of the other posts i read its because its an enjoyable hobby.
To be fair, I don't think anyone is 'in it for the money'. Like Day9 pointed out in one of his dailies, I yet have to see a pro gamer go "Meh, Starcraft 2 sucks, but the pay's good so yeah I'm just in it for the money" =P. I think there are some folks in here who view it as a little bit more than a 'hobby' and want to try and make a living off this if possible, though.
My favorite thing about modding in general is how much workload it saves you, and how much one person can accomplish with it. You can create a fully-featured online game in under a year if you put your mind to it, and one with a dazzling commercial-quality presentation if you have the talent.
Blizzard games in particular benefit from massive and immediately accessible online communities, interfacing through a rock-solid 3D engine and bug-free internet multiplayer. Battle.net 2.0 is far from perfect but there's still nothing quite like it.
Im a account manager for Cell phone business accounts (bell)
reason for mapping: Ive been wanting to do it sins SC1 , so i can make fun games , and the whole making a map is fun :) i studied in architecture so i just love creating new things :)
and im also a Unreal tournament Mapper ( from 10 years ago ;) )
Yeah no kiddin right. I actally graduated from my degree at a very bad time. the 08 recession.. So I ended up taking masters since it seemed like a better alternative back then. Been somewhat of a "growth journey" for me if you get what I mean. I suppose the advantage of going for the dull market first is that theres a stable income and the such. Once theres enough to get around, its possible to start doing what you really like.
For choice of job, I'd really like to do something involving system infrastructure design or the sorts. Software development might work too. And if theres good enough incentive. I may consider going into game development next time. But like some people have said. Might be better to just keep it as a hobby. Definitely something that involves programming though as it's my forte. I've sort of got this dream to master the most commonly used programming languages or something long that line.
I've always been a fan of strategy games, but i was much better off at the ones that don't require lightning quick thinking to play (turn based). If you ever 1v1 with me, you'll notice I tend to "stun" not knowing how to react when my base is getting rolled. The mastery curve is pretty steep too, so I prefer to just stick to mapping and playing custom maps, since it frustrates me less. Its just not fun when you keep losing lol.
My choice of custom games so far, Mafia's the only one thats really hooked my attention. Most of the other genre's like TD, marine arena and the such, I got bored of because I overplayed them n WC3.
The pics from one of those blizz fan arts btw. Amazing fan art IMO. Theres quite a number of hotties at my university, so I'm not too sure about the idea that they don't make em like this for real :P
On the note of the topic:
I see there's a lot of diversity as to the backgrounds where many of us come from. Thats very interesting to know :)
The only problem is that I was born with what may seem like a blessing, but it's not. I was born athletic, but I don't really like sports. So I am obligated to devote a lot of my time to sports, which I don't want to do. And then of course there is school and my social life, which I have to keep up with as well.
If you don't like sports and you've given them a lot of time to grow on you, drop them. It's only going to get harder as time goes on and if you pigeonhole yourself into something you don't like you'll be miserable.
I'm one final(on friday) away from my computer science degree. Hoping to get a job shortly afterwards.
aaaa you guys have it gran, no girls are safe :) , .. in my hayday, i kn.ked pretty hard at their doors.. they are however .. shall we say more open (?) now...
i meant "not as"... there are loads for sure, just not as.. ;)
i love comic books (graphic novels more like) and that looks like an "apocalypse" dazzler (love ali) :)
The pics from one of those blizz fan arts btw. Amazing fan art IMO. Theres quite a number of hotties at my university, so I'm not too sure about the idea that they don't make em like this for real :P
On the note of the topic: I see there's a lot of diversity as to the backgrounds where many of us come from. Thats very interesting to know :)
love the thread.. it's nice to be nice with nice people all fuzzy and cuddly and useful. ;)
as for work vs hobby, well i agree:
i never want to specialize to hell, worried i'll never get ot again, passions are so time consuming..
i recently sliped into Photon cycles (awe some, ty jade for it) mod) and so i'm revived in the "playing" dept..
i use to revere snake .... still do on sc2 :)
Ladder and even most 'terrain' maps are too bland/"easy" to my taste... as for the units... wall let's not start calling "x" names about "y" on "z" poppage.. but still ..
back to cycling ;)
otherwise i think hobbies/passions are the only thing worth having (gotta feed the kid and wife tho :) ) soooo that's to be planned out for too..
i stopped mapmaking/rts/quake etc.. to reunite with them 15 years later.. nothing is set in stone (besides: taxes.. that will always catch up to anyone :)
My background- my husband got me into games from wc3 about 2 years ago and at the time had my own business designing and selling fabric ( yes totally random) . Since then we have sold my business and during the downtime of kids and family I started teaching myself the editor on SC2 after I got hooked during the beta playing it. I love the draw or " create " things and I love learning new things so..... I have started with terrain and and hopefully working my way to do modeling , re skinning etc where I feel like my real talent lies. I love doing the terrain though - the bigger world maps the better. Its a feeling of creating your own little world to me usually complete with a storyline already in my head. Its not really weird to be a stay @ home mom doing this if you took a look around. We are a gamer family in many ways - 4 computers and all the consoles pretty much .My husband has his regular career but is a computer geek website mastermind. Even my 6 year old knows most counters on sc2 ladder already that he has learned from playing or watching us play.
I'm obviously not doing it for the money , like most of the other posts i read its because its an enjoyable hobby.
love gaming families
props for posting
wish i could relate to my "freecell/ma jon" mom more on the "gaming front"
my brother use to game.. now he only plays worms or pther (nice) but like 3 times a year or something :(, still he remembers so it makes up a bit for it.
i bought star2 for my kid to play with (i've got 4/8 years to master it, to be able to teach him :) "star2 the editor to make all games" (lol blizz hype))
u will never a buy another game.. lol no lov (with a side order of hos)
I finished the highest possible form of 'Secondary Education' we have here in Holland, which translates to something between 'high school' and 'college' for the American folks here. I don't have a current 'profession', and by now it's bugging me - school so far wore me out so badly that it took a full year of recovering for me to really get back up to strength. Right now I'm in what you could call a sabbatical, where I'm trying to figure out what exactly I want to do. I'm looking into some educations, but the most likely path I'll see myself take is surfing the wave of e-sports renewal, mainly on the mapping front. Basically a second generation to what folks like Day9 are doing right now.
Stupid question =) Why you say "Holland"? I just checked european map =D So are you from Netherlands or from Belgium Mozared? =)
Inspired by this I just created european politic thread.
Technically I am a Corporate Image Consultant, I basically make people look good, from logo design to business management plans/corporate strategies, expansion etc. My background is Website Design (HTML/PHP), Graphic Design (Corporate), Photography (Professional Studio), Psycology & Business Management. I am actually thinking of going back to study and doing a double degree in Civil Engineering/Architecture if Tofu doesn't succeed.
Not only am I very artistic, I am very technically minded as well. Most people I have met are either one or the other, they are very artistic or very technically minded, but not both. I am lucky I have both, it would be about a 50/50 split, but I will never be as artistic as those who just have pure artistic skill, nor as technical as those who just focus on that. But I believe it shows itself in my ability to script as well as manage custom graphics in Tofu.
But the problem I have is people are either stupid or simply cannot afford me (I have heard every excuse in the book to get me to work for free, they can kindly go f- themselves.) I can turn businesses around through good image utilization, but people believe that their 12 year old nephew-in-law can do the Logo Design, or that their 15 year old Daughter can do Photography for free, even through they have no idea about colour balance, lighting or dare I say, even the most basic of crops. Everyone wants everything for free, good design is not free nor is it cheap. Yes by all means, they are better choices than me for getting a small business with near no capital off the ground, but when it comes time for franchising or expansion, then it is better to get me.
I took a year off with the release of Starcraft II to make Tofu, as I felt honestly that it would be in my best interests to have a working game in my portfolio. And I was actually right in my prediction so far, as what we have seen of late as evidence of gaming companies snapping up mod makers, from Icefrog to the offers members of our community have been given, Eckonovokol-Sotis (Blizz), Ryan-ScUniverse (Blizz/Riot), Mephs-Smashcraft (Misc).
There is only so much I can achieve in my City, I know very soon that if I want to achieve more I will have to leave, so it is a good time for me to decide upon what I want to do, and I have thought about it and actually it hit me one day (about a year ago), that my whole life I "wasted" time making maps, much to the disappointment of my family, but that it is who I truly am, I am a creator, I like other people playing my maps. I love that creative freedom, free from clients, to create something entirely molded in my image. Funnily enough, they support me with Tofu (for the first time ever), probably because of the amount of work I have put into a single map making project.
So far every time Blizzard has announced an open position in Design, from Lead Designer to Terrain Design and everything inbetween, I have every single requirement filled except for working on a "shipped" product. That really pisses me off but it is due to the fact that I live where I live, there are no opportunities for Game development in my country and let alone my city.
I know if I can get noticed, that I am going to be right up there, achieving amazing things.
I am a geneticist soon to have a degree in chemistry and I map because it is something fun to do when I dont have enough spare time to play a proper game. Also there is an element of 95% of maps out there are really sub standard and I probably could do alot better.
Contribute to the wiki (Wiki button at top of page) Considered easy altering of the unit textures?
https://www.sc2mapster.com/forums/resources/tutorials/179654-data-actor-events-message-texture-select-by-id
https://media.forgecdn.net/attachments/187/40/Screenshot2011-04-17_09_16_21.jpg
Software developer.
I map because finding reliable help to make indie games up to my standards (artists, modellers) is nigh impossible without offering some kind of pay incentive. I feel like development is a lot easier with a coding background, but at the same time also requires a good sense of game design as well.
IT based Electrician/Network guy
I map cause I've been doing it since MoH:AA came out. Always been focussing on Terrain mostly, but know some basics how to make a TD or some other basic maps. Also like the fact of being creative without spending money on it, and it's a hobby that takes as much time as you want to put into it with no restrictions beefing made
@Mephs: Go
I currently don't have a job, although I'm studying at university in French Letters.
I love mapping because I love creating. I spend most of my day on Photoshop, After Effects or even 3ds Max. When I play video games, you'll most likely see me in the "creation" portion of the game. (Forge in Halo, World Editor / Galaxy Editor for WC3 and SC2). I'll play games to analyse how they built, designed and constructed the story, unlike many who'll simply play through while missing all the details.
It's more of a hobby than a profession career. I'm slowly reconcidering my career choice and go in the physics domain.
I forgot to answer the second question, I guess. Why do I map? Due to a multitude of reasons. A), I like mapping as a whole. Creating scenarios and all that. B), I like Starcraft, and I like the GE, so that ties in nicely. C), it's the only thing that I'm flat out good at. I don't mean that in a depressed 'I suck at everything' way, as I'm not exactly 'horrible' in plenty of other things, but it's the only thing I can with 100% conviction say "I am good at doing this" about. I can make stuff in the editor that other people simply can't. I've never really been able to do that in other fields such as sports or studying.
On the list of who's going to hell I'm second in line with lawyers, I'm a telemarketer. (if you hate telemarketers just tell them to 'remove you from ALL[phone, email, mail, SHARED!] list')
But I first started to like mapping back in SC1. I didn't have internet for a long time but I had downloaded the old Arsennel II Modder. Once I got bored of always playing 1v7c (due to offline) I started learning how to use ASii to make the game harder for me to play. Specifically making comp players stronger in a multitude of ways. Actually I remember making the first 8 player tower defense on sc1. Now I just like mapping 'cause playing online bores me from time to time and I've always been interested in games with map editors. Alot of people ask why i don't become a programmer or something when they hear about this hobby. But I tell them that if I make a career out of a hobby, I'll no longer have any hobby's left.
I just finished my first year of university, and I'll be majoring in Computer Science... but through the faculty of Arts, as oppose to Science.
Mainly I just enjoy mapping, it's a great way to try out all those creative ideas you get floating into your head. I've done some mapping for Age of Empires, and Starcraft 1 briefly, and then for Warcraft 3, and now Sc2. But also, I think in the future I would like to be employed doing some aspect of game development.
My background- my husband got me into games from wc3 about 2 years ago and at the time had my own business designing and selling fabric ( yes totally random) . Since then we have sold my business and during the downtime of kids and family I started teaching myself the editor on SC2 after I got hooked during the beta playing it. I love the draw or " create " things and I love learning new things so..... I have started with terrain and and hopefully working my way to do modeling , re skinning etc where I feel like my real talent lies. I love doing the terrain though - the bigger world maps the better. Its a feeling of creating your own little world to me usually complete with a storyline already in my head.
Its not really weird to be a stay @ home mom doing this if you took a look around. We are a gamer family in many ways - 4 computers and all the consoles pretty much .My husband has his regular career but is a computer geek & website mastermind. Even my 6 year old knows most counters on sc2 ladder already that he has learned from playing or watching us play.
I'm obviously not doing it for the money , like most of the other posts i read its because its an enjoyable hobby.
To be fair, I don't think anyone is 'in it for the money'. Like Day9 pointed out in one of his dailies, I yet have to see a pro gamer go "Meh, Starcraft 2 sucks, but the pay's good so yeah I'm just in it for the money" =P. I think there are some folks in here who view it as a little bit more than a 'hobby' and want to try and make a living off this if possible, though.
software developer and I'm mapping, because i can. programming things and teach computers to walk is awesome
I'm a mapmaker.
My favorite thing about modding in general is how much workload it saves you, and how much one person can accomplish with it. You can create a fully-featured online game in under a year if you put your mind to it, and one with a dazzling commercial-quality presentation if you have the talent.
Blizzard games in particular benefit from massive and immediately accessible online communities, interfacing through a rock-solid 3D engine and bug-free internet multiplayer. Battle.net 2.0 is far from perfect but there's still nothing quite like it.
Im a account manager for Cell phone business accounts (bell)
reason for mapping: Ive been wanting to do it sins SC1 , so i can make fun games , and the whole making a map is fun :) i studied in architecture so i just love creating new things :)
and im also a Unreal tournament Mapper ( from 10 years ago ;) )
@houndofbaskerville: Go
Yeah no kiddin right. I actally graduated from my degree at a very bad time. the 08 recession.. So I ended up taking masters since it seemed like a better alternative back then. Been somewhat of a "growth journey" for me if you get what I mean. I suppose the advantage of going for the dull market first is that theres a stable income and the such. Once theres enough to get around, its possible to start doing what you really like.
For choice of job, I'd really like to do something involving system infrastructure design or the sorts. Software development might work too. And if theres good enough incentive. I may consider going into game development next time. But like some people have said. Might be better to just keep it as a hobby. Definitely something that involves programming though as it's my forte. I've sort of got this dream to master the most commonly used programming languages or something long that line.
I've always been a fan of strategy games, but i was much better off at the ones that don't require lightning quick thinking to play (turn based). If you ever 1v1 with me, you'll notice I tend to "stun" not knowing how to react when my base is getting rolled. The mastery curve is pretty steep too, so I prefer to just stick to mapping and playing custom maps, since it frustrates me less. Its just not fun when you keep losing lol.
My choice of custom games so far, Mafia's the only one thats really hooked my attention. Most of the other genre's like TD, marine arena and the such, I got bored of because I overplayed them n WC3.
The pics from one of those blizz fan arts btw. Amazing fan art IMO. Theres quite a number of hotties at my university, so I'm not too sure about the idea that they don't make em like this for real :P
On the note of the topic: I see there's a lot of diversity as to the backgrounds where many of us come from. Thats very interesting to know :)
If you don't like sports and you've given them a lot of time to grow on you, drop them. It's only going to get harder as time goes on and if you pigeonhole yourself into something you don't like you'll be miserable.
I'm one final(on friday) away from my computer science degree. Hoping to get a job shortly afterwards.
@Catalisk: Go
All the best on your finals then. And a congrats in advance on the acquisition of your degree :)
aaaa you guys have it gran, no girls are safe :) , .. in my hayday, i kn.ked pretty hard at their doors.. they are however .. shall we say more open (?) now...
i meant "not as"... there are loads for sure, just not as.. ;)
i love comic books (graphic novels more like) and that looks like an "apocalypse" dazzler (love ali) :)
love the thread.. it's nice to be nice with nice people all fuzzy and cuddly and useful. ;)
as for work vs hobby, well i agree:
i never want to specialize to hell, worried i'll never get ot again, passions are so time consuming..
i recently sliped into Photon cycles (awe some, ty jade for it) mod) and so i'm revived in the "playing" dept..
i use to revere snake .... still do on sc2 :)
Ladder and even most 'terrain' maps are too bland/"easy" to my taste... as for the units... wall let's not start calling "x" names about "y" on "z" poppage.. but still ..
back to cycling ;)
otherwise i think hobbies/passions are the only thing worth having (gotta feed the kid and wife tho :) ) soooo that's to be planned out for too..
i stopped mapmaking/rts/quake etc.. to reunite with them 15 years later.. nothing is set in stone (besides: taxes.. that will always catch up to anyone :)
thanks again for this thread/conversation
love gaming families
props for posting
wish i could relate to my "freecell/ma jon" mom more on the "gaming front"
my brother use to game.. now he only plays worms or pther (nice) but like 3 times a year or something :(, still he remembers so it makes up a bit for it.
i bought star2 for my kid to play with (i've got 4/8 years to master it, to be able to teach him :) "star2 the editor to make all games" (lol blizz hype))
u will never a buy another game.. lol no lov (with a side order of hos)
Stupid question =) Why you say "Holland"? I just checked european map =D So are you from Netherlands or from Belgium Mozared? =)
Inspired by this I just created european politic thread.
I'm a part-time hooker and entrepreneur of the more "passionate" facets in life. . . if you catch my drift ;P
I map because. . . well. . . how else will I find new clients?
Just like you lure small children into a v. . . er. . . very safe and legally sound environment.
<.<
>.>
I am actually a full time map maker. +1 me.
Technically I am a Corporate Image Consultant, I basically make people look good, from logo design to business management plans/corporate strategies, expansion etc. My background is Website Design (HTML/PHP), Graphic Design (Corporate), Photography (Professional Studio), Psycology & Business Management. I am actually thinking of going back to study and doing a double degree in Civil Engineering/Architecture if Tofu doesn't succeed.
Not only am I very artistic, I am very technically minded as well. Most people I have met are either one or the other, they are very artistic or very technically minded, but not both. I am lucky I have both, it would be about a 50/50 split, but I will never be as artistic as those who just have pure artistic skill, nor as technical as those who just focus on that. But I believe it shows itself in my ability to script as well as manage custom graphics in Tofu.
But the problem I have is people are either stupid or simply cannot afford me (I have heard every excuse in the book to get me to work for free, they can kindly go f- themselves.) I can turn businesses around through good image utilization, but people believe that their 12 year old nephew-in-law can do the Logo Design, or that their 15 year old Daughter can do Photography for free, even through they have no idea about colour balance, lighting or dare I say, even the most basic of crops. Everyone wants everything for free, good design is not free nor is it cheap. Yes by all means, they are better choices than me for getting a small business with near no capital off the ground, but when it comes time for franchising or expansion, then it is better to get me.
I took a year off with the release of Starcraft II to make Tofu, as I felt honestly that it would be in my best interests to have a working game in my portfolio. And I was actually right in my prediction so far, as what we have seen of late as evidence of gaming companies snapping up mod makers, from Icefrog to the offers members of our community have been given, Eckonovokol-Sotis (Blizz), Ryan-ScUniverse (Blizz/Riot), Mephs-Smashcraft (Misc).
There is only so much I can achieve in my City, I know very soon that if I want to achieve more I will have to leave, so it is a good time for me to decide upon what I want to do, and I have thought about it and actually it hit me one day (about a year ago), that my whole life I "wasted" time making maps, much to the disappointment of my family, but that it is who I truly am, I am a creator, I like other people playing my maps. I love that creative freedom, free from clients, to create something entirely molded in my image. Funnily enough, they support me with Tofu (for the first time ever), probably because of the amount of work I have put into a single map making project.
So far every time Blizzard has announced an open position in Design, from Lead Designer to Terrain Design and everything inbetween, I have every single requirement filled except for working on a "shipped" product. That really pisses me off but it is due to the fact that I live where I live, there are no opportunities for Game development in my country and let alone my city.
I know if I can get noticed, that I am going to be right up there, achieving amazing things.
You could probably make more if you worked the streets with me. . . granted if you dare touch my corner I'll cut you!