(Note: looks like im kinda late, will post this neverthless.)
I dont think this topic is about all the remakes specifically but more about overwriting maps in general to improve the visualization of them. Not fitting to the topic to spam more remake examples since toolwut already gave some (curb your ego whoa).
First of all, I want to say that I like this idea. Better looks leads should lead to a better game, right? Well yeah, I also kinda like the theoretical idea behind it, but its simply not doable:
A lot of maps have been created in a time, when PCs were far more limited than nowadays. That's why many currently popular maps are geometrically more spartanic than necessary, have bad lighting etc
I disagree. Its was not only the fault of the poor PCs of that time. Look at maps like pbcup_renoir and freedom, both of them have high wpoly (i still have HUGE fps drops on my laptop with reflective water) but both are still played on matches nowadays. The reasons is more the idleness or unexperience of mappers: Lets come to modern maps (i will intentionally use your guys maps as an example, because you are part of this discussion), do you think botanic_b1 looks good? Same for azur and brokendojo (broken has too high wpoly too). All are blocky maps that are lookwise not that great compared to other maps. Mappers just have to invest time, good looking maps are possible even without high wpoly. Best example are probably all the rassy, rimini and jmr maps.
The issue nowadays is that map remakes are hardly accepted by the community. Using many maps that are far below even the DP2 engine's capabilities makes the game look far more ugly than it actually is. At the same time it suggests to mappers that they could also spend their time differently, players stick to what they know anyway.
For a reason, atleast in my opinion. Never saw a only retextured version of a map, where gameplay is 100% the same. There were recent tries, but those mappers are (for reasons) not releasing those maps, which is really a bummer. Mappers are also CHANGING the layout of the map, which not only leads to multiple versions of the SAME map (e.g. all the wobluda versions) but also a changed gameplay (opening up too many new lines, making some jumps much harder ? this is what was made in one of the newer wobludas by just making the barrels smaller by the way). And another thing: im pretty sure that you cant wallstrafe on that sewer properly (toolwuts sewer picture), thats one of the movement features of q2, which gets so many older players back, because this game is simply unique. And older players coming back was always a part of this game. Also: as DT says, a match map should be as bright as possible, which is not the case in whoas sewer (although actually i cant really tell if it looks darker than it is). Well, yeah im wont comment every aspect of every map here since this is about overwriting and not remakes.
My suggestion would be overwriting the original bsp file. For the extra nostalgia, it could be kept under a different name / in a different subdirectory. I think that many improved map versions are simply not played because everyone is used to typing "newmap <mapname>" instead of thinking for ages about the remake's name when it has the same gameplay anyway. If e.g. "newmap blitz" would be reserve
I absolutly disagree. I already said it some times ago: planned to match on the older napalm but we COULDNT because the map was overwritten and we had no chance to find the older one (if it wasnt even deleted). This also counts for the nostalgic reasons, an old mapper who cames back, gets on a rented server and cant find his version? No, thanks. I even played some months ago with an ex-committee member on wobluda where we talked about the map and how oBi failed on his version. I still think that the mapping community should work here like dplogin – Names are first come first serve, changing other mappers maps (especially without their consent)? I dont know, i see it as a big disrespect and wouldnt allow this to happen to my maps (if i had any). And about the names, active players shouldnt have any problems at all to find/type their fav. Maps. If im used to play (and type) wobluda_fix, then it shouldnt be a problem right? AND for the case that mappers give long names to those maps (like rome2_160912, sorry rick but why?
) this should be seen as the mappers fault.
Another big problem is see that makes overwriting simply impossible: inactive admins. Pretty sure there are many and everyone knows them. Its just stupid overwriting stuff that isnt overwritten on other servers (that also have match servers) – and i absolutly dont wanna re-download every remade map. Server admins also are not forced to follow any guidelines, no-one can restrict their rights (as long as it is „legal“ i guess) AFAIK. That means that even smaller serveradmins could follow their own rules, right?
