Discussion on: NewDoom Wad Reviews #-1 (11.5.05).

[Danimetal]

Welcome to the discussion part of the NewDoom Wad Reviews. Here´s where you go to speak your mind, give your opinions and well, interact with the whole project :). Before starting, please, make sure you do two things:

-Read the rules (http://forums.newdoom.com/showthread.php?t=29002).
-Notice that reviews are work of individuals and not absolute terms.

That said, have a nice day and go discussing!.

[FATAL]

Oh damn, I didn't know I can write so good reviews. It's good to have me onboard!

[Aliotroph?]

LOL My review ended up being of a bloody megawad. It's taking forever just to play it! That said, I can practically guarantee a really long, detailed review with all kinds of praise, criticism, suggestions, flames, pr0n, slander, etc. Ok, well maybe not the last three... :D

I'm going to read some reviews now. Weee.

[PumpkinSmasher]

Yall did a good job with the reviews. The only thing i can suggest is a better host. Maybe phobos could host your site here on New Doom, it might help. But I congratulate you all on the work you put into this, it has been nicely done. Even makes me want to reinstall Doom on this computer so I can make a map to get reviewed.

[FATAL]

We didn't get any space from Newdoom. That's why we're looking for alternative hosts. If someone's willing to give some space, then we would be most grateful! A couple of megs should be enough, since this is mostly just plain text, since the pictures are located at imageshack.

[Phoebus]

We didn't get any space from Newdoom. That's why we're looking for alternative hosts.We were never asked. And let's not continue that discussion here.
I can send you the NewDoom.com Hosting Info directly, then you can respond via email.

[Danimetal]

Sorry, there was a bit of misunderstanding since the plans were changed. We don´t need that lot of space right now but only what´s neccesary to host the html files and the background images (I don´t think Imageshack is gonna crash and leave us without hosting anytime soon ;)).

About the info, as you can guess, we would be most pleased to recieve it. After all, this is a Newdoom project. Please, use marlborometal (at) gmail.com for the info.

Thanks in advance.

[PumpkinSmasher]

it sounds like he sent it to fatal.

[Doom_Dude]

Still no word from PS on the Conglom map. Do or do not, I do not know.

Nice job on the reviews. Kinda confused why there's a need for a seperate site. Wouldn't it be easier to either just put the reviews on the site or just put them in the forum. Why make xtra work for no apparent reason... or am I missing something? Not saying you shouldn't do this... doesn't matter to me how you guys go about this. Can't help but wonder what the reason is. Anybody coming to the forum has to then go to anouther link to read a review? I guess I just assumed it would be done a different way.

[Danimetal]

It´s just that it´s easier for us to do it that way since there´s no limit to the images we can post and well, we could use generic text links but the idea of thumbnails is nice :).

Notice too that what you see on the forums are just summaries while the complete reviews are on the site. This has a reason to it: this week we had more than 13 pages of text in reviews and we didn´t think that anyone would like to read through them all in raw, forum format... Imagine how it would look if we pasted the whole reviews in a forum post with no images and no separators and stuff... Even if we had them separated by "quote tags" it would be messier.

The site only hosts the complete texts in case you want to read them all. If you don´t, you can always read the summaries and hit the links for the complete reviews you want to read. Of course, it´s a bit of extra work, but only a bit and we think that the result is worth and informative enough to justify it.

Needless to say that a separate site doesn´t mean that this is not a Newdoom project: it´s a project on this community by people on this community and hosted by it so definitely, this is intended to be part of Newdoom.

Anyway, any feedback and questions are welcome as well as discussions on the actual wads :).

[Doom_Dude]

I suppose that makes sense now that you explain it like that.

I need to get back into mapping again....

I'm sure you'll get more feedback the more people that discover the reviews.

[Danimetal]

I suppose that makes sense now that you explain it like that.
I need to get back into mapping again....
I'm sure you'll get more feedback the more people that discover the reviews.
Glad you see it makes sense now. We feared that a separate site could be interpreted like separating this forums from the reviews... Just think about the site as a support to the forum and it´s users.
Your maps will be welcomed... Of course, this goes too for everyone else´s (there´s a "submit" wads instructions somewhere on this forums :)).

[Doom_Dude]

Yeah I know I'll like it more when I get used to the way you guys have it set up.

One suggestion I would like to make. In the summary for each wad, it would be most helpfull if the port requirements and game (Doom, Doom 2, Ultimate Doom, etc...) and wad type (SP, DM) were listed alongside the title and the author.

[+Acyclitor+]

agreed with Doom_Dude. not that we should emulate T/NC, but Doomwold's been doing weekly reviews for a long time and has a good system to barrow ideas from.

[Grazza]

In the summary for each wad, it would be most helpfull if the port requirements and game (Doom, Doom 2, Ultimate Doom, etc...) and wad type (SP, DM) were listed alongside the title and the author.I'd also suggest that a link is given to the wad's text-file, so people can read that before they decide whether to download. Also, the external text-file isn't always identical to the one inside the zip, so some important info might be missed by those who download only the zip. The url for the text-file is the same as that for the zip but with "txt" instead of "zip".

I'd also suggest including the number of maps in the basic wad info summary.

Regarding the port requirements, this should of course be the *minimum* port requirements (e.g. "any limit-removing port" or "any Boom-compatible port", etc.).

[Danimetal]

I don´t think there would be any problem in adding the "port required" and "primary purpose" fields. We can even give them fun looking colours :). As for the txt files I think that Grazza is most right... It takes little for the user to type .txt instead of .zip and not everyone reads through the .txt files but, you know, it takes also little work to add a [txt] link and make the whole thing better.

As for the number of maps they´re not in the summary but in the "Wad info" field on the reviews themselves (if bigger than one). I don´t know if adding this would make it look bigger, but we´ll make sure to discuss it.

Thanks for the contributions so long: being this a "beta" issue we expected readers to point out problems and things they would want to see :).

[Nuxius]

Congrats on getting the first 'issue' out guys. :D

I'm going to read the reviews in a little bit. I'll be sure to let you know of any comments/critisisms I have when I get done. :)

[Doom_Dude]

Yes adding that little bit of wad info would be most helpfull. Also using color text would make it easier to spot the next line of info... that way a guy looking for a ZDoom map review for example would find it easier to locate. ;)

[rustyslacker]

What is your guys' opinions on joke wads? For example, a Legacy wad of a gigantic bathroom? Would you review this, or should I even bother?

[iori]

I wouldn't bother, It's been done before..to uh.. 'mixed' reviews.

[Danimetal]

Let´s see... We don´t "preview" wads before reviewing. All we have are the text files to look at them. Also, we don´t have any rules regarding what should or should not be reviewed: it´s all up the reviewers.

I will personally review everything except old 1994 deathmatch wads being them a joke or not. If it has been done before or not it´s not my personal concern: I will only rate the fun I had with it and how creative the wad was. Now what other reviewers will do is something I can´t tell since we all are given freedom and flexibility in our work.

Finally, notice that wads may be left out. It´s not our objective to review all wads each week. Not until we have a bigger team.

[Doom_Dude]

What is your guys' opinions on joke wads? For example, a Legacy wad of a gigantic bathroom? Would you review this, or should I even bother? I hate joke wads. I don't see whats funny about garbage maps made crappy on purpose. :p

[Danimetal]

Well, a wad like "Action Doom" (the fake) or "Riders of the lost phallus" won´t be reviewed, of course. Let´s see for example, the later. I loaded it, saw an enormous penis and instantly knew that there wasn´t anything on it about gameplay and stuff... I guess it´s all a question of definitions: what if a joke wad has actual gameplay and it´s only joking about something?. I would review it.

[Doom_Dude]

A joke wad that has gameplay and is only joking about something might be worth playing. LOL@Riders of the lost phallus. :p

[PumpkinSmasher]

well if yall want to review any of my wads i'd appreciate it, idk which ones are on idgames, so you can search through there or on my site if you wish.

I really like the way you have done the reviews, a few minor tweaks might be made, most of which have already been said. But that is bound to happen on the first time. Keep up the good work.

[Danimetal]

A joke wad that has gameplay and is only joking about something might be worth playing. LOL@Riders of the lost phallus. :p
I wouldn´t want to ride that for sure. You gotta see the map´s layout to understand it on its full detail XD!. Anyway, as long as it´s fun it may be worth playing (except if it has obscene phallic content and stuff). Now we can talk about the Kama-Sutra ending XD!.

well if yall want to review any of my wads i'd appreciate it, idk which ones are on idgames, so you can search through there or on my site if you wish.
Either give me links or send a formal request as stated on the rules and stuff and we´ll be glad to take a look. There are little wads out this week!.

[FATAL]

There are little wads out this week!.
And a little less reviews.

These megawads take a year!

[Danimetal]

Nah, we´ll give people something to read for sure and update the "coming soon" part on this forums. I´d say to count with, at least, 6 reviews.

[PumpkinSmasher]

Its all about quality not quantity. The megawad reviews take a while, but their reviews will be very much appreciated.

[Doom_Dude]

Six reviews sounds good to me. :)

[rustyslacker]

Well, it might have gameplay. I'd like to make a looping script to spawn in monsters, respawning ammo, and the only weapon on the map is a plasma gun. Interesting concept, to be sure. And could I script the "idfly" command so the player can fly around?

[Danimetal]

Well, it might have gameplay. I'd like to make a looping script to spawn in monsters, respawning ammo, and the only weapon on the map is a plasma gun. Interesting concept, to be sure. And could I script the "idfly" command so the player can fly around?
Of course but, what exactly are you talking about?. I think this was in the "Else" Legacy thread or something :P.

And about the number and quality of the reviews... I personally find that the thing is about quality too. Of course, quality is nothing objective: there are five or four persons doing reviews here, each one in a different fashion and style but, you know, I think we all share a common point: we play the wads, we write what we think about them and we try to reach some depth while doing that. There´s nothing absolute about what we say, our scores or our opinions but at least I think they´re informative enough.

As for megawads, they take a hell of a lot to review but I always tend to think the following: how would I feel if I crafted 30 levels and they had little attention span?. It´s a work of almost a year of even more so it´s worth playing with some time :).

[CrashOverRide]

agreed with Doom_Dude. not that we should emulate T/NC, but Doomwold's been doing weekly reviews for a long time and has a good system to barrow ideas from.
Good idea, I think, but we should also try to be a bit original.....if that is even possible nowadays, with everything being copied ad nauseum and all. :)

Yes adding that little bit of wad info would be most helpfull. Also using color text would make it easier to spot the next line of info... that way a guy looking for a ZDoom map review for example would find it easier to locate. ;)
Lol. I told Dani colored text would be both helpful and cool, and that was a week or so ago. *rolleyes*
Well, a wad like "Action Doom" (the fake) or "Riders of the lost phallus" won´t be reviewed, of course. Let´s see for example, the later. I loaded it, saw an enormous penis and instantly knew that there wasn´t anything on it about gameplay and stuff... I guess it´s all a question of definitions: what if a joke wad has actual gameplay and it´s only joking about something?. I would review it.
I like some of the adult wads myself, for *obvious* reasons....as well as the funnier ones, if they have content that is.
Its all about quality not quantity. The megawad reviews take a while, but their reviews will be very much appreciated.
Exactly. Quality is important....and as my boss used to say: It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

[Danimetal]

Lol. I told Dani colored text would be both helpful and cool, and that was a week or so ago.
Yeah you did... Now I remember :P. I´ll see what can be done for this next issue :).

[FATAL]

Lol. I told Dani colored text would be both helpful and cool, and that was a week or so ago. *rolleyes*
I know it doesn't belong here, but I resist.

[CrashOverRide]

I know it doesn't belong here, but I resist.
Isn't resistance futile? Or textile? I know it's one of those. *rolleyes* *drinky*

[AlysiumX]

i just wrote a review for the test wad. hope to hear from you guys soon :) im also going to be able to spend more time on here didnt have much before.