From my limited understanding, right now the process is a map maker (scene editor):
- submits a map,
- it either gets sent back for improvement or it is accepted for testing,
- it passes general testing and is placed in server rotation awaiting server restart,
- servers are restarted by one of a very few of the devs (usually only when there is a patch or hotfix, so with ongoing development of MG:B, these are getting fewer and farther between),
- map is played (and hopefully enjoyed) until,
- general complaints - unbalanced, too balanced (yes this has happened), glitches, exploits, buggy,
- map is worked on and improved (hopefully),
- updated map is submitted,
- updated map is placed in server rotation awaiting server restart,
- updated map waits anywhere from 1 week to 8 months for server restart depending on hotfixes (if any) or end of Strategus.
Naturally this poses a rather large problem for map makers (scene editors). I myself have 5 updated maps for DTV (a 6th update soon and possible 2 new maps i the near future), and several updated battle maps ranging from the golden year(s) (aka when cRPG left alpha and went beta) to the present.
My suggestion is this:If it is possible, set the servers to automatically restart once a month during a time of lowest traffic. You don't have to give control of the servers to anyone else, and you don't have to perform an expensive background check either!
Admittedly, with as few
active scene editors as we have (or at least that I've seen), this might be benefiting me more than other scene editors; however, I think this would be a serious improvement to the gaming experience.
