Sigh....I think your opinion on this is just as silly as your cartoon character. How is altering an entity file stealing? If someone alters a text entity file, they are not stealing anything, nor using it for their own profitable gain. They are not decompiling the actual map, nor are they taking parts of it to use in another of their own maps. This is pure and simple an issue of the mapper not likeing the idea that server admins fixed their mistakes, or improved upon their creations so they run properly.
All a server admin has to do if they entity edit a map is place the original on a web server, and use the downloadurl CVAR, while running the new entity altered map on their game server...that way if anyone downloads the map, it is the original bsp from the downloadurl webserver. In addition, I add a statement that flashes periodically for a few seconds in the upper left hand corner that this is an altered map version.
There are some very good reasons that maps NEED (yes, I said NEED) to have their entities altered. If you run most maps on a 16 person server, it will need much more weapons, ammo, health, batteries to work. It also dramatically improves gameplay and lag in a number of HL2-DM maps if you remove a lot of the physics objects that everyone goes flying up in the air when they walk over them. The noobs typically use the objects to block off doorways or barricade themselves in rooms. Are you aware of the fact that HL2-DM has a bug (among many) where if you pile up a certain number of physics objects, they all fuse together, and can never be removed the rest of the map's cycle time? This makes areas of the map inaccessible.
Are you also aware of another bug in HL2-DM, where if you drown in water, you lose your ability to sprint unless you leave and rejoin the server? This bug can be fixed with an entity change of the water entity.
Another issue is that the HLDS dedicated server install does not include a large number of the sound files that are in Hammer. So if a mapper uses an alarm or other sound triggered in the map that is not on the HLDS installed sound wav files, the player won't hear the sound. This too can be fixed with entity editing.
I can list 10 HL2-DM maps off the top of my head where these types of issues were missed by the mappers, and not fixed even when pointed out to them. I could go on and on with more examples....but there is a NEED for entity editing.
It is extremely rare in my experience that even the best mappers understand the importance of adequate weapons, ammo, and items placement for a fast paced DM experience. IMHO, if a mapper does not want his map to be entity altered, then release it for more beta testing on busy servers, and listen to the feedback, or don't release it at all. Mappers usually test their maps within their small circle of friends who are not objective, and usually not good DM players.
Again, in my opinion, entity editing has been done since the start of HL-1, and a mapper should not release their map to the public if they don't want it entity altered. Nothing is being stolen.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Elmer Fudd" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 3:43 PM Subject: Re: [hlds] .bsp maps
i know many mapping COMMUNITIES that find this stealing.
For Example: http://www.hl2world.com/bbs/maps-mapping-vf10.html
_______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds
