Map reviews???

To the site gurus and the public, would you guys be interested in kicking up map reviews again?

I have done some, as well as others here, and Orph constantly writes 500 page commentaries on maps.  And often, people posted in the Maps forums asking for people to review or comment on their maps.  Kick in your opinions.

I dont mind doing some now and again, probably be more interested in hl2 though :/

Wild Card said:
Orph constantly writes 500 page commentaries on maps. 

altho a slight exaggeration, i am privately discussing with lep about the actual importance, or legitimacy of detailed critiques now.. if anyone has an opinion please feel free to voice it..

would you guys consider a good critique of the same value as a pre-release review?

in other words would a critique be as valuable or even in the same league as a review?

to answer that in short, YES

the way I see it, a "critique" is a un-official review.

I, for one, would welcome it, coming from a relative "newbie" perspective. I'm on the lookout to improve my maps and I've found that SP was the best for getting a quick reply for good (and fair) feedback.

-Ryandor

Send me maps and I will write reviews.

You know you want Cassius reviews.

/me looks at Lep with watch in hand

You are getting sleepy, very sleepy...

[quote]in other words would a critique be as valuable or even in the same league as a review?quote]

Yes.

Orph should do a "hot picks" column from his intense and thorough previews of maps :smile: like a "one to look out for" kinda thing (with no timescales attached)

Gwil said:
Orph should do a "hot picks" column from his intense and thorough previews of maps :smile: like a "one to look out for" kinda thing (with no timescales attached)

i would consider it, but i am really uncomfortable about doing anyone's map who has not specifically requested me to..

i would really not want more fiasco's to follow me unto this new snarkpit.. if you could solve "how" to do them without getting my ass chewed out, i would be honored..

you gotta admit, i don't play favorites, i do the same thorough job on a critique, no matter the maps origin, or its quality..

i really like doing critiques, but there is a bit of work involved, i hate to get burned by someone who doesn't see it as a positive thing :sad:

orph before putting reviews on a public site, your meant to e-mail the map author to get permission to do so. Thats all youd have to do. Id like to see you doing some reviews, You know your stuff tbh.

KoRnFlakes said:
orph before putting reviews on a public site, your meant to e-mail the map author to get permission to do so. Thats all youd have to do. Id like to see you doing some reviews, You know your stuff tbh.

considering that all this is dependant upon lep.. at this point its all moot..

i would consider the position tho otherwise.. but lets see how he reacts, after he finishes the other more important items...

thanx for the vote of confidence tho ..

I for one find the critiques to be one of the most usefull things about SP. I'd hate to see them stop!

Critiques are useful for those who ask for them and are willing to accept what is said, however as far as a review goes I think the focus is different. In a critique, you're looking specifically for things which can be made better, and how so. In a review, you should be looking at what actually there is, and how good is it. So a critique might say, move the RPG from this spot on the floor to this hard to reach location. A review would say the RPG is too accessible. Furthermore, the critiques often focus more on technical things, texture alignment and choice and things like that. Reviews should have just a bit more focus on flow and gameplay (note: not in a ga way!). Are all the areas equally traveled? Are all the weapons available to the right degree and placed well? Ammo - too much, too little, too easy to get, too out of the way? How bout that z-axis fighting? And so on and so forth.

I love the critiques, and would hate to see them go, but I don't think they should be published as reviews of the map, because they really aren't.

-

Bleh. It appears if you click submit, but decide not to so still holding the button down, move the mouse off submit and let go, it still submits. Furthermore, if you don't realize this and try to keep typing, everytime you hit the 's' key it submits again. I dunno what you can do about the first but as for the second, removing s as a hotkey for submit may be beneficial.

In all seriousness, I would become a full-time reviewer for the Snarkpit, so long as someone points me in the direction of some maps to be reviewed.

Cassius said:
In all seriousness, I would become a full-time reviewer for the Snarkpit, so long as someone points me in the direction of some maps to be reviewed.

/me points wouldbe mappers to the future.. ihateimacs@yahoo.com

So are we going to have a review section to the site?

Cassius said:
In all seriousness, I would become a full-time reviewer for the Snarkpit, so long as someone points me in the direction of some maps to be reviewed.

Here ya go, Cass:
http://docrocksmaps.homestead.com/files/Elite.zip

Here ya go, Doc:

http://www.snarkpit.com/pits/cassius/elite.html

My first review. I'm so proud :biggrin:

Cassius said:
My first review. I'm so proud :biggrin:

without looking at the map, (for obvious reasons) i can say that the review sounds fair.. not to harsh, not to mushy.. excellent first try cass :smile:

course pictures woulda made it complete..

i hope lep gets the template up and running soon.. i would like to get some practice in on my reviewing skills before HL2 comes out..

since 99% of my experience is in pre-released maps, it might pose a challenge for me to switch my thinking to "its already done, there is no fixing it now" ..

hint,hint

any time frame on the review template activation lep??

Nice review Cassius. Well-written, concise, and gets your thoughts out effectively. I can almost imagine the level without screenshots... Almost. :smile:

Thanks Cassius.  Great review, thanks.  Just thought I'd add that you can re-set the low gravity by stepping on either one of the differently textured top center pieces in the middle section of the map.  You may want to add that into the review somewhere.

Other than that, very nicely written.  Thanks.   :smile: