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--- help:how_to_package_and_release_a_file [2013/02/14 13:56]
Spirit created
+++ help:how_to_package_and_release_a_file [2013/02/14 14:30]
Spirit
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-==== Maps ====
+==== Naming ====
+=== Maps ===
 Pick a good filename for your .bsp file. People commonly use their nicknames and a counter or try to find a good short word describing the map. Adding a "sp" or "dm" or "ctf" bit to the name helps indicating the intended gamemode. If you decide for a "boring" numbering scheme and you also release maps for other games, you might want to stick a "q1" in there as well.
+Don't forget to set the title field in the .bsp file to something useful.
+=== Mods ===
+For mods the standard seems to be a more descriptive filename. Usually it is a short form of the mod's title. If it is a mod just supporting one map (so it's more of a map than a mod) the map naming suggestions above apply though.
 === Examples of good naming schemes ===
   * efdatsp1.bsp - The Place of Dismay by efdat, full nickname since it is short & sp & number
-  * chessp1.zip - Shrine of Skank by cheshire, abbreviated nickname & sp & number
+  * chessp1.bsp - Shrine of Skank by cheshire, abbreviated nickname & sp & number
-  * ikspq1.bsp - Before Nightfall by Iikka "Fingers" Keränen, abbreviated nickname & q & sp & number
+  * ikspq1.bsp - Before Nightfall by Iikka "Fingers" Keränen, abbreviated/acronym nickname & q & sp & number
-  * ac.bsp - Adamantine Cruelty by Vondur, abbreviated level title
+  * ac.bsp - Adamantine Cruelty by Vondur, acronym of the level title
   * ant.bsp - Antediluvian by metlslime, abbreviated title
   * cogs.bsp - Cogs Of Conflict by spd, a single prominent word from the title
+=== General considerations ===
 Be aware that filenames longer than 8 characters will be a pain to use on DOS. So if you are a nice person, find a short one. It will also be nicer to type (if the user's engine does not support tab completion).
+Avoid any characters that are not a-z or 0-9. A single dash - might be ok. Quake engines do not handle international keyboard layouts well. Do not use uppercase characters for any files.
-Avoid any characters that are not a-z or 0-9. Quake engines do not handle international keyboard layouts well. Do not use uppercase characters for any files.
 Before you settle, search the web for the name and make sure it is not already used.
+==== readme.txt ====
+You must add a text file to your release documenting at least the title of the work and your (nick)name. You should also include a release name, the intended purpose, contact details and the like. Without this, your file(s) might be lost in "who on earth made this and when and why?!" limbo.
+Best practice would be using the good old base.txt template: [[/files/idgames2/levels/base.txt]]
+Name the text file exactly like your zip file and/or your bsp file and/or your mod directory! For example the readme file for abc123.bsp would be abc123.txt. For the mod qwe456/ the readme file would be named qwe456.txt and placed into qwe456/ : qwe456/qwe456.txt!
+If you have creativity oozing out your pores, well, some mappers include erotic short stories too.
+==== Packaging ====
+Package your files into a standard zip archive. Not rar, not a self-extracting exe, just a plain zip. Zip is widely supported, Windows natively can handle the format since Windows XP. MacOS and Linux have no trouble either.
-Packaging feedback:
+If you feel like you must use a more modern and smaller format, use the free format 7z. But seriously, please don't. Only even think about this if you want to release a huge amount of files and using 7z would considerably reduce the file size.
-Please do not put stuff into pak files unless you make a mod. Standard Quake engines will only load pak files with numbers (pak0, pak1, pak2, etc) and only until there is a gap. Please use a standard zip file instead. Name it the same as the bsp file.
+If you release a single file, put it (and its readme) directly into the zip file. Do not add a directory. If the user extracts the file straight into his maps/ directory, it should be correct.
-Please write a readme text file. Even if it is just "This is the Xth beta of my map ABC (xyz.bsp). -YourNick". You did not even add a title or nick to the bsp file itself which means no one knows who made it. Name the text file the same as the bsp and zip file.
+If you release a mod, put a directory into the zip file so if the user extracts the zip into his Quake directory, the mod will be properly installed. Remember to mind the character rules, lowercase only, a-z and 0-9, no special characters except maybe - and no spaces whatsoever. Put all your files inside that directory.
-If you release beta versions, make sure to indicate that in the filenames. For example bdm1_beta2.bsp or if you want to stay more compatible: bdm1b2.bsp.
+If you are releasing a single file, name the zip the same as the file. For example abc123.zip would be the archive for abc123.bsp and abc123.txt. If you release a mod, try to do the same.
-I highly recommend only using letters and numbers, no other characters like _ or -. Quake engines are notoriously bad on supporting international keyboard layouts.
+==== Hosting ====
+If it is a finished work, you can contact [[quaddicted.com:Spirit]] to get it hosted at Quaddicted. Feel free to mail it straightaway.
-As a straightforward host you can use http://www.quaketastic.com/ (pw for uploading is ilovetheshubhub). Make sure you chose a good filename!
+If that is not an option, if it is a work-in-progress, you do not want to wait a week before Spirit replies (though he is quick if you packaged everything well) or otherwise you want to host elsewhere, http://www.quaketastic.com/ is there for you. The password for uploading is "ilovetheshubhub".