Shortcut Abusement in maps to get times.

[TENNK001]

"Another problem that follows on from this and that I may as well bring up now is mapmakers who (often intentionally) add shortcuts to their maps and then exploit them in order that they can achieve the top times on their own map. I've seen this happen a couple of times and it perhaps raises another question of how to tackle that. Perhaps mapmakers shouldn't be able to submit times for their own maps."

^ I completely disagree with this. One of the best parts of making a map is when you get to actually play it for real on the server. I suggest having a special group of players specifically dedicated to testing map submissions maybe. Because to be honest, it's the staff's fault to accept a map with a huge shortcut like that, the only exception would be if it's completely hidden, in that case just do a map reset in times and it'll be set.


Thats all I can think of currently for this discussion. I hope I was at least some sort of help here.

 

[CreepaShadowz]

Last but not least, you need to set a line between what you can or cannot do, because sometimes I find a shortcut that'll skip 5 seconds off the map, for example, the one on Blockville that Zatharel fixed today, and I'll be uncertain of whether or not it's okay to take. In this case, apparently it wasn't.

This would be hard since shortcuts are generally dealt on a case-by-case basis. Just use your judgement, if you are unsure, ask staff.

"Another problem that follows on from this and that I may as well bring up now is mapmakers who (often intentionally) add shortcuts to their maps and then exploit them in order that they can achieve the top times on their own map. I've seen this happen a couple of times and it perhaps raises another question of how to tackle that. Perhaps mapmakers shouldn't be able to submit times for their own maps."

^ I completely disagree with this. One of the best parts of making a map is when you get to actually play it for real on the server. I suggest having a special group of players specifically dedicated to testing map submissions maybe. Because to be honest, it's the staff's fault to accept a map with a huge shortcut like that, the only exception would be if it's completely hidden, in that case just do a map reset in times and it'll be set.


Thats all I can think of currently for this discussion. I hope I was at least some sort of help here.

This isn't okay on any level. Designing a map with a secret path to get a top time that only you could obviously know shouldn't be accepted.

On the subject of dedicated players for testing maps, it is just easier to open up map testing to greens+ (as it is now). Even with this, some maps languish on the board.

Final note: How is it the staff's fault to accept a map with a massive shortcut? They are human, they don't spend their time looking for shortcuts in maps. It is pretty much expected that greens report shortcuts. The blame shouldn't fall on the staff, but those who abuse them.

 

[rickyboy320]

^ I completely disagree with this. One of the best parts of making a map is when you get to actually play it for real on the server. I suggest having a special group of players specifically dedicated to testing map submissions maybe. Because to be honest, it's the staff's fault to accept a map with a huge shortcut like that, the only exception would be if it's completely hidden, in that case just do a map reset in times and it'll be set.

Thats all I can think of currently for this discussion. I hope I was at least some sort of help here.

In some cases the shortcut wasn't around when the map was published, but made for a few minutes just to get the top time, and removed quickly after.

You can imagine it as if the mapmaker starts the timer and builds/mines his way to the end directly, without doing any of the intended route.

We are already testing map submissions and reviewing them extensively, and in both cases there was no such shortcut available at all.

 

[Zatharel]

We do test map submissions on the board and we do patch any obvious shortcuts we find during that period. Some maps in FFA were built prior to our review system and the shortcuts were never found because they never went through it, that's exactly why we want players reporting these shortcuts rather than abusing them.

But I'd also like to clear up that the staff are not robots and you can't expect us to be able to locate every single issue that exists in a map, or on the server in general. We do try our best to give you the best experience, but with the amount of things we have to control, I don't think it's fair to blame us if we miss something. Other than being volunteers at MINR we do have our own lives and we do have to spend time on them, and, however much we may love this community, life is a far bigger priority.

 

[TENNK001]

Guys just want to point out, my The Portal time was legit, no shortcuts used at all. (There is a shortcut however, but it is insanely hard to do to the point where its not even worth trying).

I'm only saying this because I don't want my time reset AGAIN, as last time on Blockville it was mistaken that I used a shortcut, although I didn't.