{GEARS 3 Map Editor/Creator Support Thread}

[BLOOD&METAL]

NOTE: Since there's been a lot of talk about this with no reference to the original topic, I thought I'd finally post it in the Gears 3 section and for those who didn't know about it.
Also, the previous poll stats were - 139, 9 and 8.

Signature Support Code

[URL ="http://gearsforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=727467"]GEARS 3 MAP EDITOR SUPPORT THREAD[/URL]

This thread is to be used by the community who support the ability to create, customize and upload their work for the masses to play on.
This will provide a constant flow of new battle grounds for Gears of War players around the world as at many times the official maps can be repetitive to play.
Here, the community will share their ideas and concepts on how a map-creating system can be introduced into the 360 version of future Gears of War releases.

I'm hoping that together, we can come up with a workable concept, saving time for EPIC by being inspired with our ideas.

Unreal Editor

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3BiFYJ5wH0

A key quote from the vid: "you can then publish the map by clicking on the publish button and the editor will automatically prepare the map for loading in-game.
Your map will now show up in the Gears of War menus, and you can send it out on the Internet to share with your friends for even more online multiplayer fun"

How would the editor/creator be introduced?
would it be a separate piece of PC software similar to Unreal editor but would have capabilities to connect to the 360?
or would it be an in-built editor similar to others that are shipped with the game? Would it be on a separate disk?
Or would it be in DLC form? How user-friendly will it be?

How would the map playing process work?
The last thing we would want is poorly designed maps flooding the publics. How would this be monitored?
Would there be a way for us to first upload the maps to EPIC for them to be reviewed and if good enough they can then be released to the public otherwise only played in private?
would EPIC have time to review hundreds of submissions?
Or would it be better to have a voting system for the online Gears community to use, and once the map has reached a certain level of votes, it can then be released publicly?
Would there be good maps over looked and missed?

These are the kind of questions and concerns that we the community can answer and also hopefully have a strong workable concept for.

Dan 0f War's map from Simburgur's Community Map Design Contest
This map along with all other submissions is a clear and obvious example that the community is full of ideas.



Popular Statements:
"People won't buy EPIC-realesed map packs"

I'm convinced people will always purchase official company products.
EPIC's maps will be different. They will be designed differently and will have their own unique.

"Microsoft doesn't allow user-made content"

Please research the industry. : )
__________________________________________________ _______________

If you feel you can add to the topic or how to improve this thread, please give your thoughts. : )

Community Quotes

A map Editor for GoW3 would surely make it stand more of a chance against beating Halo 3 and CoD:WAW. They should also make changes to their existing game types and add a few more, like Lambent Infection for example(In my signature). People like customization, the more freedom you have in a game, the more replay value.

i think all the user created maps would have to be played privately. but somewhere to rate and download them through your xbox.

they would have to be made via a pc, uploaded to epic and then made available to download by searching map name or user.
it would not be in depth enough to have one on the gears disc.

you wouldnt get loads of poorly designed maps flooding their servers since people would be able to rate them if they have either 1star for a week the get taken off.
or if noone has downloaded in 3 months it will also get taken off.
if a map got taken off it wouldnt really effect you and your friends if you actually liked it and all already downloaded it, since you could then still play it privately.

From user crated maps they could hold a comp for like best 3 will be made available to use in public ranked matches aswell.

I'd like to add something to this. *(reply to feyri's post)

-First, before you start making the map, you must select the gameplay you want it for. (Multiplayer or Horde)
-Maps are automatically rated 1 star and you cannot rate your own maps to avoid badly designed maps flood the servers.
-The editor would have to have a built in error and bug finder, if it finds a flaw on the map, it would not be able to be uploaded to the servers based on a flaw rating:
*3 - Severely flawed map.
*2 - Flaws do not interfere with the gameplay, but need to be fixed to publish the map.
*1 - No flaws/almost not that many flaws that interfere with the gameplay. Can be published when finished.

I strongly support the idea of a map editor in Gears 3.

However, it would have to have "layers" so we could add stairwells and floors, without going through the obnoxious procedure of stacking objects, like in Halo 3. With layers, every map would be proportional, and it would be easier to design maps this way. I wouldn't want another Halo forge mode, it sucks.

It should definitely be built in, much like Halo 3 and Far Cry 2. This would bring more people to the Gears community, and make it worth more than $60(although it wouldn't cost that much to produce, so Epic still nets profits-win/win).

It should also have a "copy" and "paste" feature, much like Far Cry 2, where you can select a group of objects, then "clone" them and move them. This would provide custom maps with continuity with Epic's maps, as they are pretty much(if not all) symmetrical. This would also reduce the need for a high-tech filtering system, as it would pretty much be guaranteed to have balance.

Once this filtering system has done its job(I like Gerbur's idea), Epic can then look through the best of the best to figure out which maps should be rotated in public matches.

The biggest problem I see is that many people won't want to play some of the maps created, and thus a new voting system should be implimented. This idea would be an entire reboot of Gears and something completely different(as far as I know) than any other system prior.

1)Select gametype(ie Execution, Warzone, Annex)
2)Puts you into a "lobby" of sorts(client end, meaning you won't see everyone else, just map choices), with all the other players who selected that gametype
3)Each player votes for 2 maps out of the 4 listed
4)Map votes are averaged and the system picks 5 UNIQUE maps(no 2 of any map)
5)Players are split into teams-5 v. 5, and sent into different lobbies
6)A random map(unique to the list, meaning no 2 Gridlocks) is thrown into the mix
7)Players start--->finish game.
8)Whoever is left gets extra XP for staying, and can choose to leave or stay during the intermission.
9)Players CAN join during the intermission, but not during the game.
10)Bots replace players who left, like upcoming TU3 system
11)Whoever stays all 3 maps, gets another bonus

This system has its flaws, like some maps NEVER getting played, but through step 6, the least picked maps can be options for Epic to throw in, since the system entices people to stay, due to bonus XP after the first and last match.

I'd love a map editor! I think it'd be an awesome idea for an expansion to Gears 2. Rather than wait for Gears 3 (if it is released), bring it out as a DLC or game expansion like Halo 3: ODST.

Maybe make it so you can only play them in private matches (a use for private matches now), maybe like a custom match quick search which drops you into a private match with a custom made map - endless replayability factor.

Then maybe EPIC scans through some of the most played and has a Custom Playlist with 3 chosen maps from the publics custom made ones which we can all play on for 2 weeks before another, brand new 3 are chosen.

Only way I can see a Map Editor that's not trash like Forge working on a console is if they do it Far Cry 2 style. They could also give users basic programming tools. Not as complex as Unreal Editor on Gears PC, but if someone wants to make an Elevator that moves they should be given that luxury.

This would be an awesome feature to only add onto Gears of wars ambitious plan to take over the online multiplayer world!

Using the UE Editor on the PC can be alittle intimidating at first I'm still learning how to use it so I can start to learn how to script my own AI.The UE editor is ambitious tool to create unique and custom maps and import your own assets. I believe that Epic I would be escential of you to add a PC to Xbox 360 Transfer of all create maps and/or an actual ingame editor.

Notice that Epic has shown that it is capable of implementing this feature becuase it was a key addition to the new build of Unreal Engine I think it was showed at GDC.

Wouldn't that be crazy the idea of adding in your own assets to Gears of war 3. New Models/ Static Meshes, animations, stats.... the possibilities are truely endless.

DLC would be nice im sure there are gearheads that would still buy it.

But the ability to mod the game and patch it yourself over Xboxlive would be intense!

Think about it Epic. Do your game justice!

Links of interest:

Simburgur's Community Map Design Contest
http://gearsforums.epicgames.com/sho...d.php?t=682717

Custom user-made content

http://gearsforums.epicgames.com/forumdisplay.php?f=331

Compilation video of many custom maps
Watch in HQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HG9w...e=channel_page

War Machine winter remake
Watch in HQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUtxB...e=channel_page

Gallery
Designers: Deez, Kantham, Crayfish, alifebythesword, theron.

[TheJMAN]

Hell yes!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Loom]

Holy crap! This beats my thread tenfold!!!!

Still feel free to add any helpful information from my thread if you like (bottom link in my sig). There's some info there that might help with this one.

[Big Loom]

Those maps are so incredible!

[Eternalnow]

I'm really hoping they include an editor, then I can make the forest map I've always wanted

[emc]

I think it's a really good idea. If anything, they could license out a special edition of Unreal Editor 3 that only uses Gears of War content. This special tool could also make uploads to your xbox through an internet connection and can allow you to run map tests on your computer. The tests could allow you to just run around the map and make sure everything is fine, but it wouldn't be a full blown game on the PC, just a way to test your map.

[darksin]

bring to pc with a better upgrade map editor, and people can make mods too...

[MaxiPower90]

amazing fuel depot remake with the beserker horde lol

[xLilx xMavrickx]

I really don't think a map editor would work in Gears. It'd be cool but I just don't think it would work.

[Skilled]

I have always wanted a gears map editor, I was gonna buy gears 1 for pc just for it.. Then I was how complex and confusing it was and I was like WOAH!

[DaJasonX12]

I hope they would add a map editor just for fun. I posted a map editor thread a while ago but I like this one. Love the descriptions.

[Crotale]

Making maps to the level of detail you see in those examples and in the retail version of the games is not possible in a simple map editor such as Forge. The Editor (Unreal Engine games editor) requires a PC. The 360 is not development platform, therefore, it cannot provide you with the capabilities inherent to a PC. In order to provide the user with any form of level creation on the 360 itself would require Epic to make a whole new editor just for one game. And again, even if Epic was to decide to put forth the monies and effort to make this happen, the end product would not give the user the ability to create maps with the usual level of detail.

Besides, the maps shown in the OP took weeks, if not months, to build.

Edit:/I'm not trying to be overly negative here, just trying to provide extra input into the discussion.

[DaJasonX12]

Hey peeps! Vote on my map editor thread, it doesn't take you to an unreal tournament random thread!!!

[darksin]

First hope port to pc, then editor is more possible, not that easy to suppor this.......

[Scooby803]

it'd be cool if you cud make the map on your pc, then upload it to the gears site. And then download it to your gears of war. Kinda like Halo's File Transfer thing

[Big Loom]

bump
(10 bumps)

[Dark_rider2403]

at first i thought of halo's forge, but this looks awesome, hope they find a way to do it

[julianwelton]

Even something like what Halo 3 had where you could remove and replace the objects that were used on the map would be great.

[Mike Damone]

The question is can the 360 handle an idea this ambitious give then processing scale of the unreal engine, and particularly how that relates to Gears graphics

You create this feature in a robust, easy to use accessible way (unlike gears pc) on the 360 with a game like gears, you would have the crowning achievement of this consoles lifespan

[Rayvon954x]

I really support this it reminds me of forge kinda on halo 3 and halo last a long time on xbox live with people making there own maps and own customs games which need in gears of war 3 gears pc is still going even tho the user are making maps for the game constanly