Map Makers?

[pradine]

Originally Posted by Kyo

A.Net could make a contest and the winner's custom map will be used in the PvP rotation =)

That would be a really good idea, both for GW1 and GW2.

The map editor idea sounds good too.
Maybe though, to start of with, you could only get the editer from the online store for a small fee and use it through your account. Just so ANet makes SOME money which they can spend on making proessional content and so it remains exclusive to the GW1/GW2 playerbase.

After ~1-2 years they could release it publically, with a free download through their site, to help attract more user-created designs and promotion for the game.

If there was a map editor available to buy, I would probably get it.

[Olvi]

Having custom made PvP maps would be pretty cool but while there are some very grand player-creations (I could name a plethora of incredibly awesome Morrowind/Oblivion mods) we also have to realize that the amount of incredibly crap creations is always bigger.

But a contest system for this would work surely.

[Dee Cazo]

I doubt this will be anything larger just like Forge in Halo 3 but consisting of things like mountains,hills,walls.

Unless of course they will have user created Dungeons.

[JR]

Moved this to Gamer's Lair, seeing as it appears to be referencing GW1.

[Arghore]

Noooo JR, what have you done ! ... its about GW1 & GW2, its about custom map making ... can you plz move it back to either general discussion, or primordus as a suggestion

[magicmarek]

There could be tournaments on the weekends specialized on fights on custom made maps

[Photonic]

I really do not think we are going to see a map editor. It would take them a lot of time to change their world editor to a basic map editor so that we do not have access to things we shouldn't. Even then, they would probably not allow custom assets...

Personally, if they do do it. I would like to see a system like this:

Release a map editor to the community. Then allow us to create a map however we want with whatever assets we want to use, or create. Then send them in and every once in awhile ArenaNet chooses the best 10 posts screenshots of them on a site. The community votes and one is chosen.

I do not want a bunch or really terrible maps on the rotations, and honestly, I highly doubt that most of the users will be able to create visually appealing, balanced, and unique maps.


Still, I don't think a huge part of the community is going to know how to use 3DS Max, Maya, Photoshop and use them all in a fashion that will create assets that will not screw with their engine. So, even if they release one, it will be kind of pointless...

What they could do, instead, to save time, money, and give a larger portion of the community a chance to design maps is just have a contest for the best map layouts/art/descriptions. Then have ArenaNet create the best one...

[Sabre Wolf]

Originally Posted by JR

Moved this to Gamer's Lair, seeing as it appears to be referencing GW1.

no.... it has to do with both games... right? kinda vague until Martin define which game he is talking about.

[pumpkin pie]

I don't read German, but I don't think Martin meant map making as in map making i am thinking of Exteel again when you organize a pvp game, you can choose what map you want the game to be in. I think that's what it is. choosing what map you want the match to be using. nothing more.

[JR]

Originally Posted by Sabre Wolf

no.... it has to do with both games... right? kinda vague until Martin define which game he is talking about.

If you want to post a suggestion for map creation tools in Guild Wars 2 then go ahead and start a new thread in Primordus. This thread is too side-tracked to move there.

[Neon]

Originally Posted by IDarko

Creating a noob friendly map editor will take a lot of extra time. And the question is, Is it worth it?

I know I will try it out. But if I can only play those maps with friends (to keep things fair ofcourse). I don't see the point of it.

I have another idea: What about an GUILD HALL CREATOR?! Just popped up in my mind. I think it would be awesome!!

Well they will need to balance between a professional map editor where only experienced mappers can really do anything, but can create extremely complex and high quality maps, or a "noob friendly" editor where anybody can jump in and make a piece of crap.

I think from the ending of the last paragraph you can tell which I would prefer. The main issue however is how these custom maps would be implimented into the game. Perhaps using the player organised tournament system this would work (as trusted organisers would only run fair maps). The issue with allowing hot-joining custom maps is that you may end up joining a game where you are trapped on a small island with the enemy firing 1,000 catapults at you.

Mind you, I actually really like the idea of custom guild halls.

[BillEasternview]

I spent a lot of time fooling with the map editor for the RPG game Fallout Tactics. I enjoyed it a lot, and judging by the number of levels that people posted in forums for that game, lots of other people did too. Some of the levels were of amazing complexity (more complex in fact than some of the actual game content). What the company released I believe was the actual editor they used in making the game, and it was not noob friendly. Anyway, who would want to play levels designed in a hour. By releasing a complex hard-to-master editor Anet would save themselves the trouble of reviewing lots of nonsense levels, consider it a filter to keep the kiddies out.

For GW purposes you would only want people developing maps, no critters or story-line content or anything that might conceal a baby rabbit defending a hoard of ectos. Do the map, submit it, let Anet filter the submissions, then create some simple content, then make it active for a set period. Then let people vote on which ones they liked and maybe make the winner a permanent part of the game landscape.

One way to do it would be to post an outline with a general description of the type of area desired (Jade Sea, for example), along with a sample package of Critters your map should be suitable for. Then see what the player community can come up with.