When releasing a new map, here are the steps you need to go through before it's finalized.
1) Build the map to completion as best you can. Align all of your textures, run a final compile to get full vis and lighting.
2) Give the map a beta extension (example: yourmap_beta1.bsp), and zip it if you're releasing any other media with the map. Be sure to include the directory structures as follows:
pball/maps/beta/yourmap_beta1.bsp
pball/textures/yourtextures/yourtexture1.jpg
pball/textures/yourtextures/yourtexture2.jpg
...
Players wanting to test the map should be able to simply extract the zip to their paintball2 directory. Beta maps should always be kept in the maps/beta directory to avoid clutter in the maps directory. Also, be sure to use all lowercase for the map file name. Some OS's are case sensitive and if you use different cases, it can cause problems.
3) Create a new post in the Mapping Forum containing the following:
- A brief description of the map (be sure to mention different game modes if there are any).
- A couple screenshots of the map to give an overall idea (no need to go overboard and try to cover every square inch of the map - just enough to give an idea of what the map looks like).
- The above zip (either as an attachment or link).
4) If the map is considered complete enough for beta testing, it will be put in rotation on the beta server for play testing.
5) Listen to the feedback people provide and make changes as necessary.
6) Post a new beta of the map, increasing the beta number (yourmap_beta2.bsp, yourmap_beta3.bsp, ...).
7) Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all of the bugs, texture misalignments, gameplay problems, and other issues are worked out. The final map should just be the last beta renamed. After the map has gone through sufficient testing and no errors are found, it will be moved to the completed maps subforum.
