Map Sample Rules Options

[amerk]

PURPOSE:

When it comes to RPG Maker, everybody has their special talents (writing, mapping, spriting, eventing, scripting, etc). While quite a few people are skilled in multiple areas of game design, very few (if any) are skilled in every single area. In most cases, it's just a matter of turning to the community for help in search of suggestions, resources, or scripts. But unlike resources and scripts, there is seldom a place to turn when it comes to mapping. Sure, there are plenty of tutorials to help you overcome bad maps, but while some find it a daunting task and would like nothing to do with mapping at all, others simply need a guiding hand and a base of which to work from.

The VX and VX-Ace makers both come loaded with sample maps you can choose to use or work from, but these maps get old after awhile, and there is no such thing (that I'm aware of) for either RM2K/3 or XP.

For this reason this forum was created, to offer people the opportunity to donate their maps (in a project form) for others to use. Likewise, this gives mappers the opportunity to host their maps to be used in game projects without the need of being recruited. And while some game designers will still want to recruit their own mappers for a unique project, this will give other developers an extra tool to assist them in game design.

But like everything else forum-related, there are rules that must be followed.

HOW THIS WORKS:

Submitting
You are allowed to make sample maps for any game maker you choose. The maps will be housed within a project download, and will be uploaded to a site such as MediaFire for others to download. The project must be kept unencrypted, obviously, so that others can copy and paste your maps into their own projects.

If you would like to post a new topic here, then submit it to the Submissions forum using the Map Sample Template.

Please indicate clearly that this is a Map Sample Pack and which game maker this is for (ie., Map Sample Pack for VX-Ace).

Note that the purpose for this is not to critique a person's mapping ability and determine whether or not it's worthy of being offered as samples for others to use, although suggestions and advise are still welcomed. If you are not interested in donating maps, but would like feedback on your own mapping abilities, there is the Level Design forum you can use.

Please also remember to include a few screenshots to give people an idea of your mapping style. Also note that the only events that should be used are those for map enhancements (waterfall, doors, 3rd layering, etc).

Bumping
You may bump your topic only if it contains a significant update. Generally, this will apply when the mapper would like to update his or her download of donated maps.

Necroposting
Topics older than 4 months can be revived if you are the creator and are posting a significant update.

All other global rules apply.

EVERYBODY MUST BE CREDITED:

Only maps you have created are accepted. Editing other maps and passing them off as your own will not be accepted and could lead to a ban.

The mapper must credit all resources they are using to design their sample maps. If the mapper is using the RTP or their own custom resources, they need to state that as well, to ensure users know exactly who to credit. Also, since users will have access to these resources, please the mapper should only design their maps with resources they are comfortable with other people using.

The users are required to credit both the mapper as well as the resources they are using. Even if they only use the maps as a sort of base for their own design, or opt to use a different set of resources but keep the original map outline, they need to credit the mapper.