Official thw Map Review Tool

[-Kobas-]

I want to inform you map reviewers first that I'm now finishing and
polishing our official thw map review tool. This small application
(for windows users) will be able to generate review with images, BB Code and all
other data needed. It will come with 3 themes for now and it has many I hope,
cool features for you to play with. Writing map review should become fun and
enjoyable just like playing map itself. There are tutorials on it, links and many
other useful things to care about.

Now I have on mind to release this for map reviewer users only, that means I will
into tool add your profile url, private message url and so on.

Doing so we will restore this social group, get more attention and hopefully bring
map section back to life, being part of this social group should become privilege.

Please share your opinions below.

 

[-Kobas-]

Images: http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/pastebin.php?id=fdug0w

Note: This is mostly new-users related, legends such as apo0, cweener,
bounty hunter2, ap0calypse and septimus should just sit back and relax

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

Definitely a great idea. I like how easy it looks in the images.

 

[Daffa]

Nice to hear this Kobas, I really look forward to it.
Also, since some Map Reviewers (ex. Myself) has a private VM or PM, I recommend to only add the free to access contact link (ex. I can only be contacted via PM for all users). This is to ensure no "not sufficient access" message from popping for users who don't have the access to our private data.

Doing so we will restore this social group, get more attention and hopefully bring
map section back to life, being part of this social group should become privilege.

I recommend that Map Reviewers have a privilege to decide a map's fate, but that's my opinion.

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

One more thing, how customizable is it? I really prefer my own categories. People may disagree and critic my style, and of course my reviews are in BBcode also.

My Common Review Layout

Gameplay
>Team Balance
>Fun Factor
>Overall Quality of game style

Terrain
>Tiles and height
>Layout & balance

Environment:
>Doodads
>Map feel/look

Presentation:
>Description
>Loading screen, map icon, 'quests'

Mistakes
>Small suggestions
>Creeps/trigger leaks/anything that doesn't fall into other catagories

Last notes: usually reminders and rep

Will my layout style work in your tool? Btw, what are you going to call the tool?

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

Does BBcode work here? I am sure I made hidden correct.

 

[Daffa]

It's [hidden=stuff]some stuff[/hidden]
Result :

stuff

some stuff

 

[-Kobas-]

It will look exactly the same for each user, that's the point.
We will remove useless reviews from map section and
people will come ask you to judge their map.

 

[Binsu]

It looks very useful and it indeed does make it fun! Nice job with this, Im quite excited to use this as one of the Map Reviews members.

 

[Daffa]

We will remove useless reviews from map section

Let's not purge the BUGS REPORT! posts for the least.

people will come ask you to judge their map.

So, for Map Reviewing, only our reviews will be considered as "Official Reviews"? If so, that will be great.

 

[Binsu]

I suggest let users stay with their own ways of reviewing if somehow they are not satisfied of using this instead of removing them and just allowing the official review that is this, just saying because not all will be in favor of this. Just a suggestion though.

 

[-Kobas-]

Idea is to make bond between map reviewers and map moderators, so we don't need to check every single map out there. Just looking at this official review we will be able to moderate map. For start we will still check 1 or 2 reviews if there are any before blindly approving map.

I have finished coding few min ago, just some polishing left.

 

[-Kobas-]

Tool is still in development, some features don't work.
But here it is for you.

http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/pastebin.php?id=fdug0w

Things I still need to fix are:
- Starcraft theme and Gold (new) theme.
- Links to rules and other staff.
- Some general polishing and code optimizing.

Please post your suggestions and critics.
Note that images are from outside thw so that must be fixed as well.

And for the end, don't use this before I officially approve it.

 

[Daffa]

And for the end, don't use this before I officially approve it.

can we use it at Pastebin for testing purpose? To see if there's any bug we might found?

 

[Binsu]

It will look exactly the same for each user, that's the point.
We will remove useless reviews from map section and
people will come ask you to judge their map.

Yes but the idea of removing useless reviews that you said gives me the thinking that you will remove other review not using this template and I really suggest not for they are really a valuable feedback but if I got your idea wrong, Im very sorry.

 

[Daffa]

just run a test using Preview Message option, it seems our PM/VM aren't linked yet?

 

[-Kobas-]

@Daffa the Mage
Sure go ahead and use pastebin, after all only testing can be done here on thw.
@Hell_Master
We won't delete other reviewers, everything will be like it always been.
People can ask any user to write review if they want, after all reviews are there for map author as some kind of well documented feedback.
I just want to say, that those reviews make by this group map reviewers will be considerable by map moderators.

I imagined it this way.

1. User request map review.
2. Someone of you, or few of you make reviews.
3. Moderator moderate map.

Ofc moderators will be able to moderate maps without reviews bla bla bla.

 

[Daffa]

Okay, done some testing, seems no flaws except the one referred in this post.
Anyway, it is a great tool and really saves time.

 

[-Kobas-]

Ok, I will fix that asap. Add few more things I have on mind and finish 2 new themes.

 

[Daffa]

Will wait for that.
I wish it can be done ASAP, I'm very thrilled to test it in action!

 

[-Kobas-]

I have uploaded tool in release mode this time, it should work even faster now.
Design changed a little and I have fixed all errors reported so far.

Starcraft and Gold themes are still unfinished.
Images are still on hosting sites (not hive).

Asap I create images in photoshop I will present 2 new themes as well.

Please check tutorials located in each category (originality, presentation etc).
Also suggest important links you may want to see included.

 

[-Kobas-]

For all you newcomers out there: http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/pastebin.php?id=35ruym

------------------
Tool is now finished, pm was sent to all members.
This topic is now open to suggestions and tool functionality.

 

[Daffa]

I suggest Make Site Rules Linked to this thread or this Forum

 

[Binsu]

I'll use this reviewing tool now so I can gain some reps as a part of this

 

[bounty hunter2]

Keep on the good work

 

[-Kobas-]

It seams gmail servers differ from country to country.
If tool give error while sending me report just send me PM here so I can update your status

 

[Binsu]

As I suspected so thats why it does not work for me. I'll just send PM very well then.

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

Where would I download this?

 

[Daffa]

Get the latest version from Kobas's PM.

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

Will do. I will compare to see how I prefer my layouts to this ones. I just created some reviews not using the tools for me to compare.

 

[Bugz]

Interesting, very interesting.