Final Forge

[The Neon Peon]

Have you noticed how fewer people are posting in it than before we got rid of the other forums?

I'm wondering if anyone remembers such a slump occurring last year during this holiday period. I can't recall either way. I would have assumed that the people that normally comment in the main foundry or drafting room would have moved their attention to here.

[natty dread]

Well, personally I'm just so jealous that none of my maps are in the FF that I stay out out of spite... I'm a bitter, bitter man.


(lol no, not really )

[gimil]

Have you noticed how fewer people are posting in it than before we got rid of the other forums?

I'm wondering if anyone remembers such a slump occurring last year during this holiday period. I can't recall either way. I would have assumed that the people that normally comment in the main foundry or drafting room would have moved their attention to here.

The foundry always does slow down around the winter holidays. Has done the last few year, probably the best time to do the current foundry REVAMP!

[AndyDufresne]

With the forums coming back, should bring the activity level back some.


--Andy

[MrBenn]

I've had a number of messages from people asking where the foundry has gone, and where they can post their map ideas - I've seen a number of people commenting similar to, "I'm no expert, but it looks good".

Things will pick up again once people need an excuse to get away from school/work/family/whatever...

[captainwalrus]

Have you noticed how fewer people are posting in it than before we got rid of the other forums?

I'm wondering if anyone remembers such a slump occurring last year during this holiday period. I can't recall either way. I would have assumed that the people that normally comment in the main foundry or drafting room would have moved their attention to here.

The foundry was really slow last year around the holidays, it was hard to get people to post anywhere.

[captainwalrus]

Actually though, I think there have been more people posting in the foundry discussion lately, because rest of the foundry is closed.

[ustus]

personally, i rarely add anything to a map after it gets out of drafts, mainly because I just don't know enough to see what needs changed. I've expanded into gameplay and graphics a bit after a little more experience, and I commented when The Hive made it to final forge, but I didn't add anything to the map. Perhaps the reason there aren't any extra comments is that people who are comfortable posting in the main foundry process feel that they've contributed what they can and/or don't see any glaring details to comment on?

[MrBenn]

Slightly off topic, but in connection with the FF, I have just added the following text to the guidelines for the Forge:

While the map is nearing the end of the Beta phase, the mapmaker(s) will be asked to populate the Map Portal Database.

[yeti_c]

I wonder if CC has Map overload?

C.

[natty dread]

I wonder if CC has Map overload?

C.

Is that even possible?

I don't see why we shouldn't have as many maps as people want to make them, as long as the maps are good and playable.

[yeti_c]

I wonder if CC has Map overload?

C.

Is that even possible?

I don't see why we shouldn't have as many maps as people want to make them, as long as the maps are good and playable.

Yes...

If you have too many maps - then you don't have people playing games on them...

Your extreme example is 20,000 maps <> 20,000 users... some people start games - but they never get filled...

At the moment on last count I think it was 144...

So 20,000 users over 144 maps = 140 users per map...

It's not exactly 1to1 - but is it getting too close?

C.

[natty dread]

Ah, but you forget, that people can play several games at once... some play hundreds of games... also, maps can go in and out of fashion... There's nothing wrong with having lots of maps.

Anyway... what are you suggesting then, that we stop making any more maps? Or that we limit the making of new maps? Who decides which maps get made and which won't?

As for me, mapmaking & related activites (ie. the foundry) have come to be at least 50% of the enjoyment I get from CC. If mapmaking is stopped or limited somehow, I will probably quit CC, and go make maps for landgrab or something...

[yeti_c]

I don't know what the suggestion is - but it is worth considering...

One thing that needs to change though - is the woeful effort of displaying our maps for choosing.

C.

[ender516]

I wonder if CC has Map overload?

C.

Is that even possible?

I don't see why we shouldn't have as many maps as people want to make them, as long as the maps are good and playable.

Yes...

If you have too many maps - then you don't have people playing games on them...

Your extreme example is 20,000 maps <> 20,000 users... some people start games - but they never get filled...

At the moment on last count I think it was 144...

So 20,000 users over 144 maps = 140 users per map...

It's not exactly 1to1 - but is it getting too close?

C.

This is only a problem if users always start games on their favourite map and never look first for a game to join. I usually use the Game Finder first to see if an acceptable game is nearly full, thereby reducing my wait time to the first turn. I have my favourite set of options (standard automatic sequential escalating sunny casual, thank you Saved Searches Greasemonkey script). With this I can find different sized games on any map. This way, I occasionally join a game on a map that is completely new to me, but admittedly, I go for familiar maps most of the time. Only when I have been waiting quite a while do I start a game of my own.

One thing that needs to change though - is the woeful effort of displaying our maps for choosing.

If you are referring to the "browse maps" page, I quite agree. Now that an entry in the Map Portal Database is required, eventually this sort of information could be used to guide the user's choice of map. Popping up the map image without details of starting positions and neutral counts just doesn't cut it any more, if it ever did. Luckily, the ambitious can use the Map XML Wizard to explore existing maps as thoroughly as those under development.