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I recently approved this topic as a sticky to hopefully help mappers with their unfinished maps. However, in editing some of the points, I've been forced to think about a few things. One in particular is the nature of map making itself. Should making it just be for fun? Or should the fun come from completion, and be bought from the sometimes un-fun process of making the map?

In the end, I decided in either case that a person's philosophy is ultimately up to them, and even I don't have the right to prescribe that. While I personally go for the latter case, the fact is I've yet to produce a true "hit" map (I don't count movies, experimental/concept, or even Rush as "hit" in the common sense), so I can't necessarily say that particular philosophy is the right one.


Of course, I've learned a hell of a lot by doing it, gained (and lost) lots of friends, had a few high moments throughout, and certainly gained a portfolio of maps that few compare with. But would I have been just as well off if I'd just done ordinary maps? I just can't say.



So tell me: What is the reason that you think you make maps?

When I started map making I did it for uh..publicity. I wanted ppl to know me. But then I found Dada, and learned that map making was fun and learned that a finished map can bring pride to someone. Map making does get interesting,though, in competitions, knowing that other ppl are making a map to compete.

So by publicity you take your enjoyment, and therefore you made maps to "buy" your fun instead of simply as fun in and of themselves. Then you realized you could have fun just from the creation process itself; either by exploration or as a social medium (competition).

Hmm...

I do what I want and believe will make me happy. Sometimes this includes or means mapping.
The deeper question is why it is what I went or why I believe it makes me happy. This stems for a lot of things: sense of accomplishment, desire for fame (ego, yay), desire for control and creation, desire to play better maps, desire to play maps that I've created, etc.

I'm currently a novice Warcraft mapper, and the reason I'm doing it is to expand on a certain genre of maps, fixing them and setting a standard, as well as publicity. I'm also hoping to start a clan on the specified genre, but until I beat all the others out there I don't want to try.

Well the deeper question just ends up in the usual endless loop of philosophy debates discussions, so I'd prefer to avoid that. We'll just assume 'fun' is some tangible goal we're all trying to get at, and leave it at that.

So you're both buying your fun too. Interesting.

ADDITION:

A bit of both then? Hmm.

It's fun to watch others enjoy your maps, which is probably full of dedication. It's also nice to see how well your triggers come out, especialy when you try something new.

Ok, so I don't have many famous maps, and I know a lot of map-making, and I haven't made that much maps (and never released them on sen). But the reason why I started was mainly like Agamemnon. I love creating new things. Like new ideas for chess, or just a new board game on a sheet of paper. I would basically say that I started mainly because out of a creative mind. When I was playing SC, and found the X-Tra editors and stuff, I finally found something easy to use, and to put my creative ideas on. Thats why I mainly started.

Tuxedo makes me feel shallow. And, of course, the obvious, a sense of pride in your achievement .

Yes both are fun, but I'm attempting to answer the question of which way of achieving fun is ultimately the most 'fun', and which produces the best maps.

I'm looking at an interesting predicament here. I'm wondering if the best maps come from the least fun way to go about making them. And if so, if our goal is to have fun then does it matter if it's to make the best map in the first place?

I'd say that no matter how you take it, maps will always come out best under pressure. Lots of good maps have come out that way. Or maybe if they are given a theme? Well, map making is like a miniature of the world, companies trying to make the best product for others to buy.

So you sound like you make maps more to buy your fun than because the making of them is fun by itself.

Would you consider yourself to have made good maps?

ADDITION:

I'm not sure about that. Pressure drives most map making, but I'm wondering if the best maps come from being unpressured and free instead. Of course I know that usually you don't get good maps out of spontaneity. You have to plan and work for them. Plus you can't rely on anything out of spontaneity, by its nature.

The question then is whether the fun you "buy" from working and planning is more valuable over the long run than simply doing only what feels fun to you.



Is instant gratification worth less than delayed gratification when it comes to Starcraft mapping?

I just feel like making maps sometimes. I make maps mostly because the current maps dont entertain me and there arent many unique ones. I also make maps because making maps is like making your own game but with limited access to things. It's the farthest I would probably get in making my own game. I also try to make one that suits the public's interest. If it doesnt, I delete it and never play again, but I rarely do it for the public. Only if I need people to play with me .

Forgot to mention that it also helps me with architecture. Not really but in some aspects.

At first i wanted the fame of having my name all over battle.net. Then, as i grew older i took into account all i was going to be famous for was a map. A map for a game years out of date with a dying hardcore audience of players. A map that would mean nothing in a few months, a year at best.

I now map because i like to. I now enjoy it, not that i didnt before, but now the purpose is to make the best map i can make and have fun in the proccess. I wouldnt map if i didnt like to.

Map Making is a very good hobby.