StarCraftWire Map Database

From StarCraftWiki

The StarCraftWire Map Database is a project to create the best StarCraft map database on the internet in preparation for StarCraft II. Name is subject to change, but used as project name.

Contents 1 Background 2 Alpha/Beta the database 3 Specification Sheet 3.1 Ownership and Status 3.1.1 Version 3.2 Upload Type 3.3 Game 3.4 Players 3.5 Map Size and Type 3.6 Map Classification 3.7 Map Features 3.8 Mod Classification 3.9 File Settings 3.10 Community Requests 3.11 Community Wish List 4 Gathered Ideas 4.1 Storage Types 4.2 Map Filters 4.3 Map Maker pages 4.4 Community Interaction 5 Current problems with old system

[edit] Background

Work has almost started on the proposed mapping database, with Leord receiving confirmation from Rush that the project is "next in line". Over the past few weeks we've been collectively getting some thoughts together on what should, and should not, be in the database.

[edit] Alpha/Beta the database

It has been suggested that a beta be set up for the map submission and search pages. A group has been set up in preparation for this, feel free to join the StarCraftWire.net Helpers if you are interested in helping us test the database. It will remain open to join until shortly before work commences, and will then be made private.

[edit] Specification Sheet

This is the official Spec Sheet compiled from threads in the forums, and ideas added on the wiki.

[edit] Ownership and Status

• Title
• Author (multiple)
• Version (version number for Author/testing use)

[edit] Version

(dropdown)

• Pre-Alpha
• Alpha
• Beta
• Release

(Release = preselected) - Page needs to have info of what it means.

[edit] Upload Type

Type (dropdown) - If the database can analyse file ending, it can be done automatically.

• Map Project
  • SC*
• Mod Project
  • ZIP
• Replay
  • REP*

[edit] Game

Game (dropdown) - If the database can analyse file ending, it can be done automatically.

• StarCraft
  • SCM
• SC BroodWar
  • SCX
• SC2 Wings of Liberty
  • SC?
• SC2 Heart of the Swarm (not with launch)
  • SC?
• SC2 Legacy of the Void (not with launch)
  • SC?

[edit] Players

• Minimum Player Number (dropdown 1-8)
• Maximum Player Number (dropdown 1-8)
• Suggested Player Number (dropdown 1-8) (optional)

[edit] Map Size and Type

Might be possible to extract this automatically when we know of the MPQ format. Map Width (dropdown)

• 64
• 128
• 192
• 256

Map Height (dropdown)

• 64
• 128
• 192
• 256

Map Tileset:

• Map Base Tileset (free text) (optional)

[edit] Map Classification

(old Map Category) (multiple choice checkboxes) - Multiple

• Melee
• RPG
  • Open RPG
• Defence
  • Hero Defense (*)
  • Tower Defense
• Hero
  • Hero Arena
  • Hero Defense (*)
• Campaign
• Cinematic
• Altered Melee
• Mass Control
• Maze
• Hide & Seek
• Sports
• Arcade
• Tutorial
• Other

[edit] Map Features

(multiple choice checkboxes) (optional) - Mainly for advanced search. They are needed as maps can be "FFA RPG" or "Cooperative RPG". A map can also have several different ways of being played, which can be chosen in the game, such as both "FFA" and "Teams".

• Single Player
• Cooperative
• Free For All
• Teams
• Single Winner - Game is possible to play single.
• Alliances
• Players Interact
• Difficulty Scales
• Artificial Intelligence

[edit] Mod Classification

• Models
• Textures
• Voices
• Music
• Sound Effects
• Ambient Sound

[edit] File Settings

The database needs to support the following file types. No other file types are acceptable:

• SCM - StarCraft Maps
• SCX - StarCraft BW Maps
• REP - StarCraft Replays
• XXX - StarCraft II Maps
• XXX - StarCraft II Exp1 Maps
• XXX - StarCraft II Exp2 Maps
• XXX - StarCraft II Replays
• ZIP - Project File (3D models, doodads, textures etc)
• RAR - Project File (3D models, doodads, textures etc)

Allow files up to 20MB at the very least, mapmakers want 100MB. SC2 maps have potential to be a lot larger.

[edit] Community Requests

• Fix the renaming of the submitted files, as renaming it will force the person downloading it to download it again when on battle.net, if the names don't match with the original map used.
• Fix the flags showing language. They are inverted when you browse maps but is correctly shown when viewing a specific map (same on WoWUI).
• Enable use of the double quote sign [ " ]. If you try it is replaced by non-fitting text when you edit/post your map/comments. Possibly other signs as well.

[edit] Community Wish List

• An advanced search filter. Including search for Author.
• Projects to have multiple authors.
• Projects to have allowance for multiple maps/files on one page. (for similar version maps for instance, or for mod packs)
  • The above OR allow some sort of logical linking between projects and easy navigation.
• Projects to have a version archive, saving older revisions.
• Author page with optional website link and list of maps authored/collaborated.
• List Author when browsing.
• Link gallery to other maps on the site.
• Keep the "+/-" voting system, but have a "Top 20 of last 30 days", so as to not bias the older maps with more votes.

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[edit] Gathered Ideas

This is the compilation of forum ideas and wiki additions used to create the Spec Sheet.

[edit] Storage Types

Supporting both StarCraft I and StarCraft II

• Maps
• Replays
• 3rd Party Software (special permission required)
• Custom Models/Skins (perhaps also Cinematics, Doodads, Objects and Effects, Icons, Tilesets)

[edit] Map Filters

"I think you should consider [these] fields as opt-in, and not a boolean Yes/No. If you are considering adding a bunch of these fields, you should have a third option, which is no information given. So you would have required fields and optional fields, with unfilled optional fields yielding no information." (Shvegait)

• Maximum Player Number.
• Suggested Player Number.

• Map Size.
• Map Base Tileset.
  • I'm not sure if this is relevant for SC2, it sounds like they may do away with tileset distinctions altogether. But the database will support SC1 as well. NobleHelium 12:43, 26 August 2008 (CEST)
• Single Player Ready Checkbox.
  • I'd name this "Playable in Single Player." NobleHelium 12:43, 26 August 2008 (CEST)
• Map Classification, multiple categories (checkboxes) instead of a single drop-down
• Version archive.
• Game, e.g. SC1, SC2.
• Version, e.g. Original, Expansion.
• Different play types, multiple can be selected. (-=U.I.O.P=-)
  • Single Player - a single person can play and win this map.
  • Cooperative - all players share a common goal.
  • Teams - two or more teams of players play against each other.
  • Single Winner (King of the Hill) - Every player is ultimately playing against all others.
  • Alliances - players can form and break alliances with each other through the game.
  • Players Interact - players can (or are meant) to interact with each other, other then chatting. (ie. the opposite of multi lane TD maps, where everyone defends their own lane, and creatures never passes over to other players).
  • Scaling Difficulty per Player - The difficulty/resources of the map is increased or decreased depending on the amount of players.
    • I'd name this "Difficulty Scales with Number of Players." NobleHelium 12:43, 26 August 2008 (CEST)

[edit] Map Maker pages

• Project status (multiple authors, multiple versions in one page)
• Author pages (summary of maps by specific user, and a comment field for the user, like a "forum")
  • Optional Website link
    • "A lot of people who submit maps have their own forums or their own websites to support their maps and it would be nice to have it in a consistent place for users to find without having to search through the text for a link." (CHUNK)
  • Map/Project development pages.
    • "Development pages would be sort of like a gathering/conception point and wouldn't require an actual map to be uploaded (although maybe there could be an option to upload alpha/beta stages of the map for playtesting or collaboration)" (CHUNK)
    • "The problem with this is that I suspect way more maps undergo development than what actually gets finished and released and so there would probably be a lot of cluttery unfinished development pages that would have to be managed somehow." (CHUNK)
    • "I'd be fine with unfinished projects laying about. Perhaps ask of authors to keep an unprotected map "private" in the Project, so that someone else can take over if they disappear." (Leord)
• Map Version Archive.
• Allow multiple maps/files on one page (-=U.I.O.P=-)
• Link gallery to other maps on the site (-=U.I.O.P=-)

[edit] Community Interaction

• Voting. (Voting on maps)
  • System
    • "I like the simple +/- rep system that is currently used on the war3 site, it is much less subject to abuse then the old system where you could vote 1-5, and the result became the average voting score. The +/- system is however flawed in the way it favors old maps... You could perhaps have a vote decay" (-=U.I.O.P=-)
    • "KISS! Keep It Simple, Stupid. =)" (Leord)
    • "The current system is perhaps the best one they've had in a while. I actually liked the original voting system better (votes were weighted, member weights were determined by how they voted and how active they were, etc), but the new one is subject to very little abuse and the original was heavily abused. However, I agree with UIOP's point - it does bias things towards older maps - but if there were a "top 20 of the last 4 weeks" list (like there was back in the day), this wouldn't be as much of an issue." (CHUNK)
    • "...we could have a "Top maps within the last month", two months, 6 months, a year, and all-time. Now, what makes a top map depends on the vote system, but someone will figure that out soon." (Zantetsuken)
  • People Allowed to Vote
    • "Have you considered allowing non-logged in players to vote? Saving their IP, instead of their username? This would increase abuse a lot, but you would probably get a huge increase in the number of voters to compensate (as most people that download maps will not be logged in, or?)" (-=U.I.O.P=-)
• Limitations on map downloads for non-members? (Voting on maps)
  • How will you limit the downloading of maps? ... 1, Users that aren't logged in cannot download maps. 2, You are free to download as much as you want when you are not logged in. 3, Limited download, like lower bandwidth and/or limited amount of downloads per hour/day unless you log in?" (-=U.I.O.P=-)
• Reputation. (Rep system)
  • "Wouldn't it be nice to have a reputation system? So if ever someone does an excellent job creating some sort of tool or map, people can give them reputation points. This could be useful to identify talented mappers/modelers/programmers on the site." (JnM)
  • "I generally think they are subject to abuse and create some problems in certain communities (I'll do X if you give me rep!). It's usually pretty obvious who the talented mappers/modelers/programmers are - their work stands out." (CHUNK)
  • "Reputation systems don't accomplish anything. People become obsessed about them for some reason, and it takes away from the focus of the site" (Shvegait)
  • "Clarifying: [To curb abusive rep giving] You can't give a second point of rep to a person before 4-5 people already also have done so." (Leord)
  • "Abusable ego rubbing features should be avoided methinks." (synteny)
  • "The rep system on wc3campaigns.net is a good idea what'll happen for the future of the site - it's become entirely useless and pointless. It did show 'some' of the good people of the community, most of the time, however, it seemed people preferred to rep those who made models, skins, and awesome looking screenshots only, those who could do a good map 'usually' got rep, but not often." (player_72985)
• Map Reviewers. (Map Reviewers Suggestion)
  • "to have some members be site-approved reviewers (either elected or chosen)." (CHUNK)
  • "Custom map reviews. Either separate, or linked with the map + author of review. Text as well as a grade." (Leord)
• Mapmaker rewards. (Mapmakers getting paid?)
  • "Automatic PayPal donation button." (Leord)
  • "While the idea is cute, it also seems borderline with respect to the agreement you tacitly accept when you open the map editor and I think you have to be careful how you are handling it" (CHUNK)
  • "This is basically the same. It's advertisement of a kind, or donations (mind you, it will never be lots, unless you make the next DotA), and we are NOT charging anyone for anything. Letting a fan of a mapmaker give the mapmaker $1 just because he feels like it is hardly breaking any Blizzard EULAs." (Leord)
  • "If mapmakers would abuse the system, and "blackmail" people with expansions etc, then we'd have to take action, but as moderators, we'd take actions against any kind of abuse." (Leord)

[edit] Current problems with old system

• The renaming of the submitted files.
  • "The current WC3 MnM database renames the map files "for security reasons", but the users complain about this constantly (as they probably should) because if you download a map from that site and try to join a game on bnet, it will force you to download the map again, because it treats them as different maps" (CHUNK)
  • "Could it be a solution if the site zipped the file itself and added the strange name to the zip?" (-=U.I.O.P=-)
• The flags showing which language that is supported in the map is inverted when you browse maps (but is correctly shown when you look at a specific maps info)
• You cannot (or at least could not until recently) use the double quote sign [ " ]. If you try it is replaced by non-fitting text when you edit/post your map/comments. This could perhaps affect other signs too.

Mapmaking Navigation [e]
Basics:	Terrain | Triggers | Cameras | Variables | Object Editor | Mods | Campaign Editor | StarCraft II Map Editor | WarCraft III World Editor | Tilesets | Use Map Settings | Locations | Map | Doodad | StarCraftWire Map Database
Advanced:	Hyper Triggers