Theories to Create Popular Map Packs

[Rikaninja]

Map Packs

Many users of N and NUMA make map packs. A series of maps usually in the same family. Making a popular map pack can be very difficult. And hopefully this text will give you some insight on how to do it.

You may have browsed NUMA and found a few map packs. I myself have developed two map packs. Many authors may see this as a way to get other users playing their levels to want to play the rest of the maps in the pack. Many of the map packs you will see are created by popular authors who have probably made many friends. That maybe another technique.

A simple way of doing this is starting of with the tileset. Make something with a simple tileset stlye that you should try and maintain in the pack.
Always playtest your levels and make sure they are enjoyable. Keep every map in the pack the same type of style though having a different objective which can be reached in a different way. There must be something that binds all the levels together, maybe a particular type. Or a common mod. Don't be afraid to be adventurous with the maps in the pack but they should all hae something in common.

You may have realised specific types of maps are more popular than usual or than others when in maps packs. I am sure the following maybe of some help to you when you choose what type of map pack you want to create:

Tilesets (Maybe accompanied by a playable version)
NReality Levels
Minimaps
Races (See Riobe's Races)

A few packs you may want to see:

Chao Star's Minimaps
http://nmaps.net/138146
Riobe's Races
http://nmaps.net/138238
BE_nSPIRED Tilesets
http://nmaps.net/140268

Make sure you have open spaces in your maps for the player to breathe and always make sure the first map of a map pack is the best you can give. First impressions are very important

If you have tried starting a map pack tand have not seen much success then speak up on this topic. I'm sure I, or someone else browsing this forum can help you.





If you want me to check out your new (or old) map packs and want me too give you some advice then just say so. I'll probably check out your pack directly on NUMA on my second account (Brendan123). So don't be shy and add a link to your map packs!!

Good Luck!
RAN - rikaninja - Brendan123
Thanks Hope to Hear From You

[SkyPanda]

Make something with a simple tileset stlye that you should try and maintain in the pack.

Keep every map in the pack the same type of style but if possible add something new into every level.

I disagree with both of the above. :/ This strategy is only useful if you are setting out to make a really boring pack.
Perhaps in a small pack it would be okay for the style to be somewhat continuous, but the larger the pack is, the better it would be to have maps that vary in complexity and style.

Nice idea for a thread though. :)

[fingersonthefrets]

i nearly completely disagree with everything you said. heh.

but nice idea for a thread. a major key pointer i think is that easy maps need atmosphere, so if you're doing an episodic pack, yeah, make sure the easy maps have one.

[Rikaninja]

Okay.

I see your point/s, I'll edit that. I now realise that I may have to do a bit more editing than that.

[George]

The only thing that will make a map pack good is if the levels are good. There are no given conditions or styles of mapping which would fulfill the criterion of a 'good' map pack. Anything can work.

[Rikaninja]

I know what you mean George. But if the levels are completely different and have really nothing to do with each other I don't see why they should be called a map series or pack. So I can't agree with that. :|

[SkyPanda]

There must be something that binds all the levels together, maybe a particular type. Or a common mod. Don't be afraid to be adventurous with the maps in the pack but they should all hae something in common.

I know what you mean George. But if the levels are completely different and have really nothing to do with each other I don't see why they should be called a map series or pack. So I can't agree with that. :|

No no no no no. A map pack is a collection of maps. Simple as that.
For example, a "Best of Superauthor2000" is a map pack, even though the only connection between the maps is that they were made by the same author.

Also, I think you should talk abit about action maps. I've heard they used to be quite popular :/

[Riobe]

A lot of this is subjective. Map pack levels don't have to have anything in common, nor do they have to be completely different to each other. How good the map pack is depends usually on one thing, how good the maps are. Sometimes there are map packs that go together using a story, so the levels have to go with the story, or, what I think you mean by linking together, map packs that are meant to be episodic so that the maps roughly range from easiest to hardest per column(Even that is my opinion on it, others may think otherwise). This is a pretty good idea though, even if it could have been less subjective on a few parts.

For the examples, maybe you could have linked to the packs instead of to individual levels from the pack?

[a happy song]

I disagree with almost every point you've made.

Especially:

The first map doesn't need to be the best you can give, every single map in the pack does. A map pack should be play-tested to death so that every single level is absolutely the best thing you can produce, otherwise what's the point?

Also, a theme that runs throughout a mappack would be very difficult to produce without the entire thing becoming stale. the maps should certainly NOT all share a common idea. What you're looking for instead is a dynamic between the maps and then the episodes themselves. Make sure that dynamic forms into a suitable and enjoyable difficulty curve. This is something that absolutely cannot be taught and it's what separates the better packs from the average.

The packs you've listed as examples aren't the best, call that subjective if you really want, but there are authors out there who've produced much better overall packs - imo - that would benefit new authors a lot more.

[George]

I know what you mean George. But if the levels are completely different and have really nothing to do with each other I don't see why they should be called a map series or pack. So I can't agree with that. :|

*Copies and pastes atob's post again*

I couldn't have said it much better. There are different types of map packs. Some of them are sporadic, others may be episodic. If you were referring to make episodic packs (like what Mare and Raigan have done), you would want to have plenty of variety, as well as similarities throughout. If the Metanet levels are to be taken as a standard, you'll see that the difficulty curve is gradually stepped up, and map with similar themes appear quite sparsely.

What's most important is that each level flows into the next. There isn't much you can do to define a 'popular' or 'good' map pack, and you could easily get into the whole subjective argument again.

[fingersonthefrets]

I know what you mean George. But if the levels are completely different and have really nothing to do with each other I don't see why they should be called a map series or pack. So I can't agree with that. :|

yeah, series ≠ mappack

don't get them confused.

[Evil_Sire]

I disagree with quite alot of that. Though it is true that many are themed to a certain style, many of the best (like corncobs) are completely un-related, not even the authors who did them are. A popular map pack is usually determined by the author, and the levels' quality. They don't even have to be your best work. They just have to be fun.

[handofgod]

I SMELL BULLSHIT.

whenever I make a mappack I usually think up a cool theme or a cool word and then blow it up with virtual dynamite. All my mappacks have been episodic but they haven't followed each other (like the new epic) with similar tilesets and stuff.

Also, I tired of these guide threads. Some of them are helpful for noobs and all that. But this is pretty much a list of do's and dont's, entirely written in your own convoluted opinion, about what YOUR perfect mappack would be like. If thats what you want, make it yourself.

Maps should be a symbol of self expression, as should mappacks. If we all followed the same guidelines then we might as well be in school writing essay by a rubric.

thumbs down.

[unoriginal name]

Maps should be a symbol of self expression, as should mappacks.

This is very true. Every author should read it. Don't let anyone say that there's only one way to make a good map, because there's a trillion and a half.

[Rikaninja]

Unfortunately for myself I have toagree with that. Though gloomp, some ways are significantly easier than others.

[Radium]

I think rather amateur members such as rikaninja should stop posting these threads unless they actually have some experience.

[Yoshimo]

I honestly think a 'map pack' should follow same ground. A 'level set' can just be some good levels thrown together. My opinions, not provable. Criticize as you want, but uh, whatever.

[a happy song]

I honestly think a 'map pack' should follow same ground. A 'level set' can just be some good levels thrown together. My opinions, not provable. Criticize as you want, but uh, whatever.

A map pack should follow a 'theme' or perhaps a 'concept', but 'same ground' can't be much more than repetitive.

If this is a case of semantics, then ignore me.

[SkyPanda]

A map pack should follow a 'theme' or perhaps a 'concept'

I reckon even that's going too far. I love variety! :)

[PALEMOON]

It seems to me you can sum up basically all map packs with the words "a collection of maps the author chose to put together, for whatever reason."

it's like asking why a musician arranges his tracks in a certain order. He just...does it.


edit: is my title custom or what? if so, who did it?

[SkyPanda]

It seems to me you can sum up basically all map packs with the words "a collection of maps the author chose to put together, for whatever reason."

YES, qfe :P