Hey I haven't used this account in a while, but me and my friend KiwiPantz are doing your map. Saw the trailer and it was incredible! We've currently recorded three episodes and the storyline is hilarious. Here's both of our perspectives, hope you enjoy 'em:
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Location:
Ma On Shan
Join Date:
7/3/2014
Posts:
56
Member Details
I certainly love the resource pack style and the beautiful built map. But there's a very serious problem: I and my friends don't know what to do after finishing the training challenge.
First we went to the Sewers challenge, which we were already confused - clicking random buttons that will play magical sounds, and eventually we went up to the ground after climbing some ladders. It's very confusing, and even with the Objectives book, we don't know what to do next. We almost gave up the map, but I decided to try the Caves objective after accidentally finding it. Jumping through some blocks & lava, it shows objective is complete.
I must say I can't repudiate the 2-year effort you have put on this map, and I am very surprised with the Training Camp part. It's very amazing, and the beautiful view attracts me. But the objectives are so unclear, or another way to express, it gives player too much freedom, so player would be at a loss.
To make this map better, more instructions should be added and at least tell players where are the start-objective locations. The story, and diaries in books are great, but most of the players won't read these carefully to find clues like "the air vents on roof are still remained open". I understand this is not a normal parkour map, but speaking of parkour, I expect jumping from here to there and enjoy the nice view on trip, not spending most of my time to being frustrated and confused.
Overall, I still love the map, and above critics can't cover up the sparkling places of this map. I will rate this a 7/10.
I certainly love the resource pack style and the beautiful built map. But there's a very serious problem: I and my friends don't know what to do after finishing the training challenge.
First we went to the Sewers challenge, which we were already confused - clicking random buttons that will play magical sounds, and eventually we went up to the ground after climbing some ladders. It's very confusing, and even with the Objectives book, we don't know what to do next. We almost gave up the map, but I decided to try the Caves objective after accidentally finding it. Jumping through some blocks & lava, it shows objective is complete.
I must say I can't repudiate the 2-year effort you have put on this map, and I am very surprised with the Training Camp part. It's very amazing, and the beautiful view attracts me. But the objectives are so unclear, or another way to express, it gives player too much freedom, so player would be at a loss.
To make this map better, more instructions should be added and at least tell players where are the start-objective locations. The story, and diaries in books are great, but most of the players won't read these carefully to find clues like "the air vents on roof are still remained open". I understand this is not a normal parkour map, but speaking of parkour, I expect jumping from here to there and enjoy the nice view on trip, not spending most of my time to being frustrated and confused.
Overall, I still love the map, and above critics can't cover up the sparkling places of this map. I will rate this a 7/10.
Uhhh dude, the order that you're supposed to do things is in the book given to you at the start, they correspond to unlocking the next objectives. Hint: the sewers isn't the first objective
To make this map better, more instructions should be added and at least tell players where are the start-objective locations. The story, and diaries in books are great, but most of the players won't read these carefully to find clues like "the air vents on roof are still remained open".
I completely agree with you on the whole instructions thing, trust me. We've thought long and hard about what to tell the player. The problem with a map like this is we wanted it to be free roam with the option of Objectives, as opposed to Objectives with the option to free roam. When it comes to telling the player what to do and how to do it, there is such a fine line between, too much information (i.e. spoon-feeding the player), and not enough like you claim here. Obviously every player's experience is different and we try to accommodate for as many different players as we can. For instance,some players need more of a push for certain objectives while other's figure them out quickly, so to be on the safe side we add extra hints and details that lead the player in the right direction.
...but I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I'm not saying by any means that you're playing the map wrong. If the map at any point becomes frustrating and confusing for any reason other than the parkour itself, then that's something that needs to be addressed. However, I don't know that there will be a whole lot that we can do with this map.
Books are great for telling the player what to do, but like you said,
Quote from TixCurse»...but most of the players won't read these carefully...
Which is why, in our next map, we will be including voiced text and tutorials to help better address this problem, because the less reading a player has to do, the better.
Regardless, thanks for playing the map & for the feedback. It does help us make better maps in the future. We hope that you still managed to have fun!
- Bogiga
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Location:
Ma On Shan
Join Date:
7/3/2014
Posts:
56
Member Details
Thanks for your reply.
I am actually quite angry since I felt the map itself is well-made, but I can't enjoy it as I want to. So my comment is kinda arrogant, please forgive me for that. Well! Those suggestions are only my words, may not be containing much reference values for you and your team.
Anyway thank you again for your hard work on this map, and I am very looking forward to your future projects.
TY m9
MineReepers:
KiwiPantz:
First we went to the Sewers challenge, which we were already confused - clicking random buttons that will play magical sounds, and eventually we went up to the ground after climbing some ladders. It's very confusing, and even with the Objectives book, we don't know what to do next. We almost gave up the map, but I decided to try the Caves objective after accidentally finding it. Jumping through some blocks & lava, it shows objective is complete.
I must say I can't repudiate the 2-year effort you have put on this map, and I am very surprised with the Training Camp part. It's very amazing, and the beautiful view attracts me. But the objectives are so unclear, or another way to express, it gives player too much freedom, so player would be at a loss.
To make this map better, more instructions should be added and at least tell players where are the start-objective locations. The story, and diaries in books are great, but most of the players won't read these carefully to find clues like "the air vents on roof are still remained open". I understand this is not a normal parkour map, but speaking of parkour, I expect jumping from here to there and enjoy the nice view on trip, not spending most of my time to being frustrated and confused.
Overall, I still love the map, and above critics can't cover up the sparkling places of this map. I will rate this a 7/10.
Uhhh dude, the order that you're supposed to do things is in the book given to you at the start, they correspond to unlocking the next objectives. Hint: the sewers isn't the first objective
I completely agree with you on the whole instructions thing, trust me. We've thought long and hard about what to tell the player. The problem with a map like this is we wanted it to be free roam with the option of Objectives, as opposed to Objectives with the option to free roam. When it comes to telling the player what to do and how to do it, there is such a fine line between, too much information (i.e. spoon-feeding the player), and not enough like you claim here. Obviously every player's experience is different and we try to accommodate for as many different players as we can. For instance,some players need more of a push for certain objectives while other's figure them out quickly, so to be on the safe side we add extra hints and details that lead the player in the right direction.
...but I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I'm not saying by any means that you're playing the map wrong. If the map at any point becomes frustrating and confusing for any reason other than the parkour itself, then that's something that needs to be addressed. However, I don't know that there will be a whole lot that we can do with this map.
Books are great for telling the player what to do, but like you said,
Which is why, in our next map, we will be including voiced text and tutorials to help better address this problem, because the less reading a player has to do, the better.
Regardless, thanks for playing the map & for the feedback. It does help us make better maps in the future. We hope that you still managed to have fun!
- Bogiga
I am actually quite angry since I felt the map itself is well-made, but I can't enjoy it as I want to. So my comment is kinda arrogant, please forgive me for that. Well! Those suggestions are only my words, may not be containing much reference values for you and your team.
Anyway thank you again for your hard work on this map, and I am very looking forward to your future projects.