Feature Idea: In-game Link to Quadropolis

by tman elite on 02/18/2011 19:07, 27 messages, last message: 02/22/2011 23:22, 11701 views, last view: 05/18/2024 06:52, closed on 02/22/2011 23:22

I'm not sure how much work this would take to implement, but I think it would be a really useful feature.

In the in-game menu there could be a section called "DLC" or something like that. When you open it, it would automatically download a list of available maps from quadropolis and display them in whatever order seems best (probably in order of highest rated or most downloaded). When you select a map it would download and install it, perhaps to a packages/base/dlc folder. A new tab on the map list could be created specifically for downloaded maps. This would give you the ability to try out all the best community user submitted maps that aren't included with the game, without having to exit, download, unzip, and restart sauer. Besides, I'd venture to say that the majority of sauer players don't know what quadropolis is.

I feel like this would promote the use of quadropolis and also promote more quality user-created content, since people could see their work in the in-game menu for everyone to download (assuming it's good).

I'm not sure how many changed would have to be made, both to sauer and to quadropolis, so I have no idea if this is reasonable. But I think it's definitely worth looking into, or at least discussing.

-tman elite

   Board Index   

#1: ..

by RPG on 02/18/2011 19:32

I think it is possble, but map list must be generated dynamically (it is simple, see my presets patch or sandbox engine).

Also quadropolis must show all sauer maps in specific format, that sauer engine could understand, maybe this will be cubescript?

Many useful stuff may be loaded by this way: mods, maps, mapmodels.

My vision:
1. Quadrapolis server generates dynamically cubescript, that consists all maps on server.
2. Sauer engine loads this script and execute it.
3. By clicking on the map name, engine load zip file, upnpack it and move into packages folder, dynamically rebuild map list.

reply to this message

#2: Re: ..

by |ice|sub-zero|L on 02/18/2011 19:34, refers to #1

two things: i remember a discussion about something like this, but it was dismissed for reasons.

two: i honestly don't see a problem with alt-tabbing out of sauerbraten, and then going to quadropolis.us

just saying. but hey, if you want, go ahead and make an in-game web-browser thats main link sends you to quadropolis

reply to this message

#3: ..

by RPG on 02/18/2011 19:47

alt-tabbing out of sauerbraten in Linux is impossible:(

in-game browser is very huge amount of work, but simple cubescript that makes menu is not.

I think he saying about cubescript, not about in-game browser.

reply to this message

#4: Re: ..

by tman elite on 02/18/2011 20:16, refers to #3

Yeah i was talking about a cubescript menu, not a browser.

Would it be possible for quadropolis to generate a simple text list of maps that could be loaded into the sauer gui?

Another thing, the goal of this feature isn't just making alt-tabbing out more convenient. It's also to promote more high quality user created content. If everyone can see and download your map in-game it's more of an incentive to create something of high quality. Also I feel like this will greatly increase the circulation of user created content.

Another possibility with this feature:
Servers can run their own custom maps. When people join the server, if they don't have the map it could be automatically downloaded. This would probably be useful for clan servers and coopedit projects and such.

reply to this message

#5: Re: ..

by |ice|sub-zero|L on 02/18/2011 20:16, refers to #3

thats easy in cubescrip, however i still wonder why you would really want that, when it comes down to it, being on a server already puts a certain amount of ping on you, then to download a map would put extra ping on you, might as well close the game down and download.... -_-

reply to this message

#6: Re: ..

by tman elite on 02/18/2011 20:21, refers to #5

This would mostly be used in offline mode to explore new content. You could load up a new map, run (or fly) around, see if you like it, then load up another one. If you're playing online, you'd want to download the map BEFORE you're actually put into the game.

reply to this message

#7: Re: ..

by mI@school on 02/21/2011 01:28, refers to #4

As cool as it would be to look at and download maps straight from quadropolis, I completely disagree about servers auto-downloading maps. One of the most irritating things to me in FPS's is joining a server and having to wait five minutes for it to download crap that I don't want (custom skins/sounds/etc). And for slow connections it really sucks.

Then you also have to worry about the server list getting overwhelmed with crappy maps that require downloading. Right now sauer is great at booting up and almost immediately getting in-game.

One exception I can think of is if the devs decided to include new maps between releases. Then auto-download would be great so everyone stays up to date.

On a semi related note: I think the tabs in the server browser could be used to separate things more efficiently. How about an "edit" tab for servers in coop edit mode? That way gameplay servers stay separate from edit servers. Just a thought.

reply to this message

#8: Re: ..

by tman elite on 02/21/2011 02:46, refers to #7

Or there could be different sort options for the server list. For example, sort by game mode, map name, server name, etc.

reply to this message

#9: Re: ..

by mI@school on 02/21/2011 09:42, refers to #8

That would be nice. :)

reply to this message

#10: Re: ..

by |ice|sub-zero|L on 02/21/2011 18:22, refers to #9

if you want to keep your maps updated for what the devs have, get svn. as for the rest of this, sure go ahead and make it. the number one rule here is if you want something done, expect to have to start it, expect to have to either make it all, or make most of it yourself.

reply to this message

#11: Re: ..

by tman elite on 02/21/2011 18:47, refers to #10

I'm pretty sure this requires at least some form of modification or addition to quadropolis, which I don't have permission to do. So I can't do this.

reply to this message

#12: Re: ..

by suicizer01 on 02/21/2011 23:33, refers to #11

Then start your own "quadropolis"...

reply to this message

#13: Re: ..

by tman elite on 02/22/2011 00:12, refers to #12

Why reinvent the wheel?

reply to this message

#14: Re: ..

by |ice|sub-zero|L on 02/22/2011 08:17, refers to #13

because, if we didn't, we may be driving on stone wheels instead of rubber. sometimes re-inventing things just makes them better.

reply to this message

#15: Re: ..

by tman elite on 02/22/2011 08:30, refers to #14

Well I have neither the time or know-how required to create a site like quadropolis, nor do I want to look like I'm trying to compete with the established sauer community. Besides there would be the huge hassle of transferring everything on quadropolis to a new site, and trying to get people to use it instead of quadropolis once it's up. I'm sorry but creating a new site simply isn't practical. Not to mention that even if I did, there would be no guarantee that this feature (which isn't even that important to me in the first place) would make it into the release at all.

And I don't want you to pull the "how not to start a mod" bulls**t because this isn't a mod. And I'm not begging for this to be implemented either.

I'm just trying to have a simple discussion: is this possible using cubescript, would people want this in their game, is it worth pursuing at all?

reply to this message

#16: Re: ..

by |ice|sub-zero|L on 02/22/2011 08:37, refers to #15

making a website is easy, hell, i would do it for you. depending on if you wanted to pay $15 a year or wanted a free website, however to transfer everything is a dumb idea, since all you have to do is link it to sauerbraten (IRC and XSBS are good examples on how to do that) and as for the map uploads/downloads. the only problem i find is i get nothing out of it, nor do i have the time, since i get money for making websites for people.

reply to this message

#17: Message censored by administrator

by tman elite on 02/22/2011 08:55, refers to #16

#18: Message censored by administrator

by |ice|sub-zero|L on 02/22/2011 09:02, refers to #17

#19: Message censored by administrator

by tman elite on 02/22/2011 09:17, refers to #18

#20: Message censored by administrator

by suicizer01 on 02/22/2011 10:21, refers to #19

   Board Index