this is so as not to distract people from the Turtlemap Scampie is running. Instead, i'll run sm63 the weekend after the Turtlemap ends

The Time
Not this week

The Place
Nowhere 

where is nowhere? 

 

Did you get my map??? 

yes I did, sorry. Didn't look at my email since last Sunday. It'll be included for sure man, I'm gonna get the TM proper annouced tomorrow so everyone knows and get the Speedmap Site together. But first I gots to get back to necros and Madfox who sent me beta maps I really need to look at proper tonight. 

quite the ramble there, sorry :D 

When do you want the SM SE maps submitted? Shall I go ahead and release them on rpg.spawnpoint.org and e-mail you the download address? Or do you want some sort of exclusivity? Gimme the details, duder! 

Email 'em to me and when the Speedmap site goes live on the 3rd, they'll be there. I'm planning to just make a section where we can collect any and all speedmaps that are 'expanded/finished/used as a base' with 2 screenshots and a bit of author info and the original speedmap.

If you want to release it on your site also, go ahead, right now I'm seeing the maps as a nice way to get the speedmap site off the ground, so as long as you at least link to the site, it'll all be good. 

If the maps are mailed to you on the afternoon/evening of January 2, is that enough time for you? 

I'm not 100% the site will be going up on the 3rd, but it will be this weekend. 

Scampie. 

yes... can't let my web design schooling and certifications go to waste. 

Are there actually 60 odd speedmaps? and will they all be up on the site? 

60 speedmap packs, actually 62-1=61 [no sm40] to be precise.

mix of DM and SP although recently most seem to be SP. must be at least 300 speedmap all together [rough estimate 60*5=300]. 

Yes, read what UWF said :D

currently, you can view the open /files dir for the site and download any of the old packs.
http://speedq1.spawnpoint.org/files/ 

Alright, here's the official notice, Turtlemap 3 starts this Saturday!

What is a Turtlemap? A turtlemap is a map made in 1 week. That's pretty much it.

What is the timelimit exactly? The Turtlemap is set to start this Saturday, Jan. 3rd. You may map as soon as it's Jan. 3rd in your hometown, and you should stop at the very end of Friday, Jan. 9th, but go ahead and use Saturday, Jan. 10th to finish up and ensure no errors or such. This technically gives you a week and a day, so no excuses! I'll be collecting the maps on Sunday the 11th and releasing that afternoon.

Is there a theme? No. The event is unthemed, anything goes. Maps can be Singleplayer/Coop, Deathmatch/Teamplay, DMSP, CTF, or any other established mods you wish to map for. Please do not include custom .qc with your map, it'll just make the pack more confusing. Same goes for high res .tga textures or any of that. Only exception are .lit files for colored lighting, it is alright to include one with your map.

Any other rules and regulations? Nah, just have fun with it. It'd be cool if we could see screenshots of your progress through the week here. I can host your screenshots if needed, email me and we'll get something worked out. If there are a few deathmatch/coop maps, I'll host a few small games once the pack is released.

How do we get maps to you? Simple. Email is preferred, scampie@spawnpoint.org, but I'll also be on irc.gamesnet.net in #speedq1 all week, so you may dcc me your map when I'm around. You could also email/msg me a link to download your map.

That's it for now, any questions/comments? 

should I look at this as a really long speedmap, or a really shortened high quality map (something I'd want reviewed at say, Team Shambler?) 

a really shortened high quality map.

Something you'd want reviewed at say, Underworldfans SP map reviews. ;) 

Barring anything unforseen, you should have a sp idbase map from me. I'm supposed to be working on a metal map, but i'm having trouble getting anywhere with it, so idbase it is for this week. 

I'm slightly stalled on mine at the 'mo too Leviathan, so a little burst of doom2 skinned sp could be good for the soul. Race ya! 

You're so on! 

Look at it as something you'd like reviewed.

I'll be mapping a small SP map, most likely with Speedy's texture set. 

Well then I plan on participating, using Kell's Contract Revoked Knave textures. It seems we have to anounce we're participating, so here's mine :D 

Seeming as I've mapping in 5 turtlemap events for q1 and q3, and only finished 2, let me give you some tips on acually finishing on time.

1. spend your first day planning out the map and building the major gameplay. You should come up with a plan that is completely doable in your week. Be realistic here, thinking you'll create czg07 or something of that scale will only lead to failure. Best thing to do is to manage your time wisely, thinking 'today I'll make the full layout, tomorrow the gameplay, the next day the details...' etc etc. If you can build a good base to your map the first day or so, you'll be golden as the rest of the week is tweak time and making it look and play great.

2. 'Perfection' won't help you make a great map here, just draw away your time to less important things. People are going to see the whole of your map, not each and every little bit. If just 1 area looks cool and the rest sucks, then the map as a whole sucks. If each area of the map is decent, at least you're ahead of the game and your gameplay will be the determining factor.

3. Have fun with the map! Don't think of it as your next big release or something that will define you as a mapper, but just try and make something nice looking, or that's a lot of fun, or has nice features, or whatever. Trying new things is something that will make your map stand out, plus make it more fun for you to make. Don't start worrying if people will like it, it's just a quick map, have fun with it yourself.

4. Beta testing is a luxery, so, going back to tip 1 here, planning is important if you want the map to play good. You'll most likely not have time to get others to play it and tell you if something is off. SP mappers should concentrate on making their maps be slightly challenging, but defeatable, in normal skill... You may not have time to balence in other skill settings.

That's about all for now, Saturday is only hours away for most of us, so here we go!!! :D 

In the meantime, I'm playing Carnage, Arcane, and Netherworld maps for their inspirational value. I'm planning on doing a runic map if you haven't guessed ;)