UPDATE: Currently working on smaller badges. Suggestion as to how they should look? Leave a comment below.
Good day, Map makers!
This topic is aimed at getting your maps into their rightful place, whether it be the top of the forums or non-existant. I introduce to you:
Contrary's Review Badges
You know how they have those quotes on the back of videogame cases and award badges? This is the same, except for Minecraft Custom Maps.
This is how it works:
1. PM me your map. It is recommended that the map not be posted to the forums yet. You want to make the biggest impression possible on your customers.
2. I will play your map, and take notes along the way. When I am done, I will reply to your PM with the results of your map. Just because you sent me map, does not mean you will receive a badge. More on this later.
3. The results will include notes on how to improve, critiques on aspects such as the story, gameplay and difficulty. You can either take away from my notes and improve your map, or decide to publish.
4. If you decide to publish, reply to my results asking for the badge. Not that it's guaranteed you will receive one.
Ideally you would then publish your map to the forums. If it's good enough, you will have a glittering badge along side your map, assuring people that it's worth playing.
Anyways, along to the good stuff: the badges.
The lowest badge you can receive will cover scores from 60% to 69% Not bad, but perhaps not publish worthy.
The next badge up covers scores from 70% to 79% Publish-worthy, but by no means perfect.
Now, getting to the better badges. This badge covers scores from 80% to 89% Not perfect, but who cares? These maps are a blast to play.
And now moving on to perfection. This badge covers 90% to 99% These maps deserve the top of the forum. They are solid in every area.
Don't expect to see many of these. They cover 100% scores. If you haven't played this map, do so. Now. These maps deserve to thrive with downloads for months. This will give you a huge reputation as a map maker.
More Info
If this idea blows up (good thing), I will probably need some help reviewing. When I do, I'll put it here, so check back here later. 'Til then, I'll be hard at work reviewing maps.
Unless you have questions, concerns or comments, you don't need to comment. Don't post your maps here, as that would defeat the purpose. PM me your maps.
The idea is that this entire thing is private, so I promise that none of your map will be leaked or hinted (without your permission) before you decide to publish.
I also promise not to be bias, at all. Just because Vech's made it, does not automatically qualify the map a 100%, which leads me to my next point.
I will not be reviewing [CTM] maps, they take too long and don't allow other people's maps to be reviewed.
Reviews
These are some of the maps that have received badges and have been published to the forums.
Firstly, the story is great. There are a few story flaws, but they are excusable. This is the kind of creativity that should come with every map. Bravo! However, one thing that really annoyed me was that we never figured out about the actual player. Why was he in Jail? Was he brainwashed? Etc. Another thing about the story is that we never really learn about Enclave. What are they? Are they the people in the Upper City? The dialogue was well done, a refreshing change from the horrible spelling and grammar in other maps. I also really liked the sign around the city that exclaimed that the cube was god and all that jazz. Well done. I would have liked to have seen more though.
Secondly, the puzzles in order to open a door are not very logical. I can't remember an example, since I don't have one written down, but what I mean is; why would you need to go through all that to open a door? Why is there a switch back there that opens a door here? That kind of stuff.
Another thing is that it was quite a simple map in terms of difficulty. Not that that is a bad thing but it isn't a challenge if you're looking for one. The parkour was simple to begin with, the puzzle were pretty easy and when looking around for things you were rewarded quickly with the answer. I liked this because it kept the gameplay fast and easy going, and nice, calming map to play.
But, there are some downsides. The multiple stages of ever-increasingly difficult parkour just got annoyingly hard. The rest of the game was easy, while the parkour wasn't. And there wasn't much of a learning curve either. Some of the parkour was fun and refreshing, like the parkour to open the diamond gate, but other than that the parkour became redundant very quickly.
The redstone was pretty well done, and for that, I salute you. patience with redstone is hard when you are building a huge map like that one. The cannon was a good idea, but the only thing is, is that it is not always reliable. It did not work for me, so I had to plough my way through the stone. Also, it is easy for a player to steal a TNT from the back of the cannon and use that as the ammunition instead, I didn't do it, it was just an observation.
Dumm dee dum dum. What else do I have here? I liked the leap of faith in the factory type place where you had to jump over the lava. That was a nice touch.
Have you ever seen 2012, the movie? Your map was like that. I've finally made it! Wait, no. There's another obstacle, we have to go another way. Etc. The ending was worth it though. You really handled the ending well and it left me wanting more.
The map's knife edge was it's personal style, the messages feel like they are talking to you, and not to just anyone, the multiple endings. Although I really think you could have expanded more on those personal messages, I thought it was very unique and made the map much more compelling to play.
Story:
Spoiler
The story wasn't amazing, but it was enough to keep the player wanting to find all the villagers, find out who the old man really is. Even though the gameplay did not draw back in the final parts of the map, the story definitely did. I was expecting a bigger and more unexpected ending, but the fact that a demon was released once the man stopped the sacrifices was a little depressing. Plus we never find out who the main character is, what he's like. He needed more of a backstory, then just "out surviving."
Nevertheless, the gameplay was stellar. Better than I have seen in a long time. It was fun, it wasn't redundant and the map kept introducing new and unique gameplay aspects that utilized Minecraft's engine to the fullest. Exploring the village was fun and rewarding and kept me wanting to search some more. I didn't mind because I would come across something promising so often. That was something that really gave the map it's final push. The dialog was very well done, it was very funny and the grammar and spelling made the extra difference.
There were a few bugs, I got stuck a few times, but it didn't matter too much. What I would like to see next time (I'm pretty sure there will be a next time) is getting closer to the other characters. I want to feel compassion and sadness for the people who made sacrifices to save the villagers and yourself. I would also like to see the personal style put into effect more. And it should go without saying, a better story. Though, I am absolutely certain you are capable of all of these aspects, as I have seen in the map.
The map wasn't the hardest map out there. Not that it's a bad thing, I mean, it is an adventure map. I don't think it should have been harder. The difficulty really suited the map and it's style.
I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the second part, and I truly hope that you will use my service again to review it as I thoroughly enjoyed playing to the fullest extent
The last thing is a favour of you.
1. Bookmark this page so you can remember once you have finished your map.
2. Don't send me multiple PM's with the same map, I will come to yours in time.
3. When you are publishing your map with my badge, please remember me. It is not mandatory, but it would help me out if you could write a thanks at the end of your thread and a link to this thread. Thanks :)
Regards,
Contrary
P.S. Thanks to Relberg for the Mob Icons, they can be found here
I am a story-whore, so that is one item. But mostly a fast-paced, fun experience.
One more thing. I can and will download mods and texture packs if necessary.
do you judge based on mod requirement or anything like that? and what would you say to telling me how my zelda map is? It's not actually zelda, it just has dungeons.
I know you recommend the map not being published, but is it mandatory? Since I barely get any feedback, it practically isn't published yet. I will be waiting for a reply on this, and if it isn't mandatory, expect a PM!
Youtube Account name is GeminateGaming. If you want, see my work.
do you judge based on mod requirement or anything like that? and what would you say to telling me how my zelda map is? It's not actually zelda, it just has dungeons.
No, I do not judge based on mod requirement. Sure, PM me.
AMVFanatic1081, on 15 August 2011 - 07:06 PM, said:
I know you recommend the map not being published, but is it mandatory? Since I barely get any feedback, it practically isn't published yet. I will be waiting for a reply on this, and if it isn't mandatory, expect a PM!
Its not mandatory, but recommended. I would be happy to play it.
I really like this idea of review badges. I only just released my map a week ago and am working on an update for today to fix the last trickle of bugs coming in. I'd love to have one to paste on my page.
With regards to the grading images however, wouldn't a creeper be worse than other mobs? I kind of consider creepers to be mobs I try to avoid, and I fear people may get the wrong impression from a creeper rated adventure map and think of it the same, a map you want to avoid else it will blow up your pc... xD What about iron for 80, gold for 90 and then the mobs for 40-50-60-70?
Just a thought anyway and I suppose if nothing else a free bump for you! I'll pm you the link to my map once I have released the 1.5 update. Or maybe I'll post it here too. god knows this forum moves fast enough a free bump again wouldn't go astray.
I really like this idea of review badges. I only just released my map a week ago and am working on an update for today to fix the last trickle of bugs coming in. I'd love to have one to paste on my page.
With regards to the grading images however, wouldn't a creeper be worse than other mobs? I kind of consider creepers to be mobs I try to avoid, and I fear people may get the wrong impression from a creeper rated adventure map and think of it the same, a map you want to avoid else it will blow up your pc... xD What about iron for 80, gold for 90 and then the mobs for 40-50-60-70?
Just a thought anyway and I suppose if nothing else a free bump for you! I'll pm you the link to my map once I have released the 1.5 update. Or maybe I'll post it here too. god knows this forum moves fast enough a free bump again wouldn't go astray.
Haha, thanks.
I'd be honoured to review your map. PM me anytime.
I like your idea with the ores and such. I might implement them if I have time.
I'd be honoured to review your map. PM me anytime.
I like your idea with the ores and such. I might implement them if I have time.
Ok, 1.5 is up and is hopefully the final release! I'll prob rename it Final after a week if I don't get any bug reports.
Also you mentioned before you wanted advise on the sizing. I would say something similar to a banner would be nice. The problems with the bigger square is that it kinds sits in the middle and takes up a lot of vertical space. Which more or less leaves the sides empty. Anyway I look forward to mine
This is a great idea! Only my map has already been released so I feel kinda silly asking for a review if it's meant for non-released games. However; if you would like, please take a look at my map, The Clock. It doesn't allow for much of a story but otherwise it sounds like you should enjoy it.
Curse
MMO-Champion
WowStead
Arena Junkies
Minecraft Forums
DarthHater
Diablo Fans
Terraria Online
0
