Staredit Network

I had this idea one day, when a forum friend of mine expressed his disappointment about a protected map that had a few bugs, and even though the author had left contact information, his email address is long gone. Although I am not an active player of UMS, I am convinced there are dozens of buggy maps out there, with the authors of them unreachable, and the map protected.
Therefore, I propose the creation of the Map Restoration Society, which would be a highly selective organization, consisting of volunteers dedicated to using non-publicizable tools and hex-editing to fix bugs in maps, especially protected ones.
The Society's goal would not be to stamp its name onto such maps. It would solely exist to repair maps. Such maps would be released with as minimal non-essential modifications as possible, most likely with updated map protection.

Would anybody be interested in joining such an organization?

Please note that the members must be trustworthy, and care must be taken to keep the number of members to a minimum to ensure the safety of the tools and techniques used, as well as preventing an unprotected map release from falling into the name-stamping n00b hands of amateur mapmakers.

UED77

Sounds like a lot of fun, if i could get a little help hex-editing i'd love to join.

If I only knew how to hex edit...

This sounds like a good idea. I've oftern wanted to fix various bugs or small minute details like terrain issues and displayed text issues on maps. Supposing we don't necessarilly have to know how to hex edit, I'd be interested in joining.

If you need help opening maps, PM me. You just needa convince me that its a map that should be opened.

Thanks, SI, for the offer, and that is indeed what I was planning. An association of programmers who know all there is about protection, and are willing to help us out, and a group of mapmakers who are adept at tracking bugs down amongst obscure triggering constructs.

I will most likely enlist your help, SI, when the time comes.

Also, if anyone has any maps in their mind that would need to be patched up, please, post. But keep it serious.

UED77

Please inform me about this society. I would love to join. I don't know how to hex-edit but I can help fixing bugs and stuff. I encounter many bugs and just forgotten stuff in protected maps myself so I want to join and help.

Sounds good but we're going to need to learn hex editing.

And some people might not want their maps to be tampered with whether it be in a good or bad way.

how much do we get paid?

Sorry for not posting for a while. The question of ethics is always there... In my opinion, positive, bug-fixing, and contructive modifications are justified.

Pay will be $20 for every map you fix, sent to you in a 512-bit encrypted one-time-use self-destructing PDF file, which you are free to print out as many times as you wish

Now that there is some interest in this project, could anyone recommend buggy maps to fix?

UED77

I'd do this for free if I knew how to program and hex-edit and all that programmish stuff. -.-

I think this is a good idea. As long as you restore decent maps, and not noob maddness maps and such. The only problem would be getting the authors permission, some people don't want there map tampored with, thats why they protect it. If the author agrees to let the team restore his/her map then they can give you an unprotected version of it.

You have 512-bit encryption?

Wha? rofl are u kidding me UED77. rofl u wouldnt pay anyone to fix maps, and its not even in real life

Lol, SiLeNt-SwiFt, I am guessing you failed to see the depth of humor in that post

Anyway, the controversy about this proposed group would be the author's permission part. If the author is still reachable, then the Society would attempt to request permission. However, if the author is unavailable? How would you feel in such a case?

I am leaning towards "constructive map correction" being justified, as long as only bugs are fixed and missing/misdone triggers/units/terrain are corrected, but no additional content or significant gameplay change is added. However, if the majority of people believes that is unethical, then I will comply and the would-be Society will not worry about maps with unreachable authors.

UED77

Is there a way to join your society? I really would like to. And you can find small but annoying stuff almost in any going B.net map.

I would help, but it looks like you need people who know how to hex edit.
If you ever need someone whos just a normal mapper, I'll be happy to help you people.
Oh, and I have a map to suggest, Resident Evil: Raccoon city, its nearly perfect, but the way checkpoints send reinforcements to each other gets bugged up and the reinforcments dont fire, thus making a big wall of men blocking checkpoint enterances that doesnt shoot and has to be killed by players to get through.

I'm interested in joining. I can help unprotect the map, find the bugs, fix the bugs, and reprotect it with the latest protection

Well what are you waiting for? You should pick a team and start on this project enough people seem interested, And yeah if you want to do Raccoon city I have the unprotected version of it if u want it.

Yes we should really start. But it look like UED77 is not very active so we are standing still right now. I could take the organization stuff on me. I am on SEN every day, for a limited time but still every day. I am pretty active on SEN and I have a lot of free time. So I think I could organize our team. I could keep the maps and pass them whenever it will be needed. Like we receive a new map I pass it to hex editor then further to free bug fixer and further to legacy who will protect it with the best stuff and the last to testers who will host and distribute the maps on B.net.

So what do you think guys.

I'd like to join.

Hexing = FunFunFun

Hey, you know i'm in....

I could submit maps with bugs in them for fixing.

Ok please PM me the maps and add a small description of bugs in them.

There's nothing stopping you from taking a map makers idea and making it your own. It was never considered stealing, nor do you need credit or premission from anybody.

We are going to fix the maps not remake them. And we will do this stuff only if the maker is not accessible.