New mapping approach

By Ovidiu Dumitru·
Hello community,

It has been brought to our attention that the map system has several flaws. Many right and wrong things have been said about it, but the fact is that it doesn't work the way it suppose to work.

I would like to emphasize on the idea of this newspost, that it is a good opportunity to show both mappers and admins what kz mapping is actually about.

The first thing that comes to my mind is what many of you call "high standards". Being the kreedz official community, we only wanted for everyone who is part of this website to enjoy our official maps as the best kz maps around. The idea was when someone joins XJ he would knew what awaits for him and that is top class maps. However, a major part of this community, and especially a big part of the kz mappers still around, would like this to be changed. This is why, we officially announce that we will lower the kz map standards. What does this mean? It means that we will no longer have an important focus on the design of every map. It means that as long as your map respects our rules, is playable, has a pleasant design with no visible big errors and is fun to play, it will be accepted.
This doesn't mean under any circumstances that our incoming flow of maps will be as high as on other communities which host non official maps. The phrase "lowering the standards" doesn't mean that any map will be accepted. We simply want to be more open minded about the maps we receive.

Xtreme-Jumps' new priority will concern the gameplay of its maps, but in the same time a fair work on design/appearance must be done. We will try to stop focusing on every detail of the map and start seeing the bigger picture.
We would also like to clearly state that mappers send in BETA versions of their work and that XJ WILL HELP to finish them.
XJ needs to provide faster and live feedback directly to mappers, making sure that there are clear demands, but provide in the same time as much help as possible as well.
XJ wants a revised mapping team, embracing the new approach towards help and support along the process of creating a map directly with the mapper.
XJ wants a revised public perception on what's happening during the checking procedures and how XJ is handling the mapping area overall.

A lot of mappers give up because they don't understand what XJ actually demands from them or think they are treated unfairly with no hand offer or that they wait too much for feedback. Such mappers should really have more attention from XJ's side.

With this new approach we would like to think that the "fear of submission" will go away and more and more mappers will start submitting their work, so we all can enjoy as much as possible the wonderful world of Kreedz Climbing.

Stanimir will follow soon with further details on how we plan to handle this new approach.

Thank you for your trust and for giving us time.

Comments

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30/03/2014 03:46:00

Fantasm was here

30/03/2014 04:02:00

this sounds amazing! New maps is just what XJ needs and in these times I really appreciate that you are willing to make a compromise regarding quality and gameplay of maps. Kudos.

30/03/2014 11:52:00

Yeah indeed, and now Daza will start mapping again too !! ? =P

30/03/2014 22:03:00

I won't state anything related to this, atleast officially, but if I managed to help with making this possible(you know yourself), I'm really GLAD. I'm not going to say anything bad or good, I have my doubts, but you people should all just wait and see what actually changed. Let's embrace everything that XJ has to offer these days !

30/03/2014 04:09:00

Looking forward to it.

30/03/2014 04:32:00

It's a good start XJ crew :) Time will tell how this will play out. I've always agreed on that XJ should only release top notch maps, being an ex-mapchecker in the past. I also think that this new approach is necessary for the future of XJ and KZ as a whole. There are really many maps out there that i consider good enough to get accepted with this new approach.

30/03/2014 06:18:00

As it was in the beginning So shall it be in the end

30/03/2014 09:52:00

I doubt that this will magically revive kz, or increase the map releases.

30/03/2014 11:42:00

If you really want to help the new mappers out, you could incorporate one of my humble suggestion: For every map submitted, whether it's rejected or accepted, once the final decision is made by the map-checking team, a separate thread in the public domain should be created. For every map, every map checking team member would give his review, whether good or bad, so that mappers know where he's going right or wrong. Cheers!

30/03/2014 12:04:00

This took you really long time to undestand, because XJ have not only high standart maps but also low one's. But you made it more easier to mappers only now.

30/03/2014 14:50:00

Sounds great. I only hope everything that is written here will be transformed into reality.

30/03/2014 15:23:00

This is one of the best decisions ever made I think.

30/03/2014 15:49:00

It's very nice to see the administration reaction to the demand. gj, keep up the godo work

30/03/2014 17:27:00

Im sorry to tell this but this News post is pretty useless :/ Why you make a post to tell just that u will lower these "standards"? "Stanimir will follow soon with further details on how we plan to handle this new approach." ->So you couldnt include his thoughts here too because of...what? Just by saying you lower these "standards" and we need to wait till next post about how you'll handle the things ..all you do is to be lazy again and delay with 1 more week or 2 the actual news :/ I really think that you will make something different but im curious how exactly will you [admins] work for that new "approach" .Dont think will be too much effort in the next way to handle the maps.... "With this new approach we would like to think that the "fear of submission" will go away and more and more mappers will start submitting their work, so we all can enjoy as much as possible the wonderful world of Kreedz Climbing." Just by telling that you lower the standards and will handle the maps in a different way[i] you dont make mappers work again for XJ..you need to actually do something to show that there is no reason to not submit maps to XJ.Make a schedule with when you release maps[ 2 maps/ 1 month , 3 maps/ 1 month or 1 map / 1 week-2 weeks --->in this way we know the maps will be released soon enough and we have maps to play every month] or make some mapping contest to show us that you want mappers to work for XJ but the contest to be regular and not 1 / 6months or 1 year...Do things,not just say about them :/ .Im sure you can have people to do them, just organize people and there will be activity from users too once there is something they can do to help.

30/03/2014 17:30:00

There where is [i] the site looks like saw it as a command...it was something like this: "The different way i dont know because you didnt post it here where is about mapping situation"

30/03/2014 18:59:00

To emphasize seriousness of intentions I guess.. although looks like a window dressing. I don't impeach your dedication in no case but this newspost was not necessary if all the in-depth info will come along with another post. Instead, you could have posted a weekly team recruitment (although I almost lost my faith in weekly team idea). Good to finally hear that, hopefully we'll have more maps and more frequent map releases. Also, I agree with spider, post releases according to schedule (say once a month no matter how many you have in stock) not whenever you have enough maps iyo.

30/03/2014 18:11:00

Wow, finally! Good job Admins! I'm really getting my hopes up now :D I hope some good cosy maps get's transferred here now :D

30/03/2014 19:01:00

I'm having a similar feeling with spider, when I read an underscored and bolded "lower map standards" I don't feel the change. I would rather read "remove all standards and replace them with active cooperation", which is partly mentioned later in the newspost, it's just that mentioning the word "standards" is enough to bring disbelief.

31/03/2014 10:50:00

This might be the very first good decision you've made since you became headmin. "lowering the map standards" this phrase has two meanings though. design-wise jumps-wise design of a map is "important" when it comes to movie-making, teasers etc. but speaking as a jumper, I dont focus on map design while jumpíng, I dont care if there is a bird on a tree or a graffiti on a wall but what makes me quit a map are wrongly situated blocks. Take a look at for example kzro_cryscosrun ( no offense to Spider1 ) but the map failed at both, design and jumps. Thats why noone has a desire to improve "weak wr" Cuz its simply not fun. And the list goes on. Maybe its only my feeling but the maps, that got accepted in the last year or two are mostly boring ( not all of them tho )and also long. There is no mystery ppl why stopped recording on a regular basis. Mappers could Inspire themselves from the very first maps. Why not, right ? Add < 1 min maps. That would absolutely raise activity ! XJ should ( atleast partly ) abandon this "wannabe pro" attitude and focus on what people want. KZ should be fun, something you wanna play for itself and not someones financial source or similar crap that has nothing to do with KZ ffs. Do you care if there are a few grammar mistakes in the newspost ? I dont. Does it bother you there's nothing to read on the front page for so long except the 3 same news over and over again ? It does bother me, now. But it wont take long and It wont, cuz I wont be visiting this site anymore. And I believe its not just me. PU9 out.

31/03/2014 12:12:00

Thanks for your contribution. Farewell.

01/04/2014 00:31:00

nce