A Step by Step Guide to How to Playtest Your Own Map
PRO | DRAGON 🐉
CREATIVE TIPS | PLAY-TESTING YOUR OWN MAP
FCHQ offers play-testing every Friday! You can submit your map to be play-tested by amazing creators who have a proven track record of experience and knowledge within the creative industry. It's an amazing way to get valuable feedback on how you can improve your map and skills as a creator! But before you submit your map to be play-tested, it is imperative that you play-test your own map. This way you can submit your best work and focus on other issues you might not have been aware of when someone else is play-testing your map.
Now when play-testing your own map, it can be easy to overlook a few details, so
Here Are Two Tips on How You Can Improve Results When Play-Testing Your Own Map
1 | **RUN A TEST BEFORE PUSHING TO DISCOVERY **
Many may not know it yet, but you can run a test of your map before it is pushed to Discovery!
After you publish your map, go to the matchmaking portal in the hub. Input the version number of your map like so: ?v=1.
Here is an example to help. Let's say your map code is 1111-1111-1111 and you just published version 1, then you will enter 1111-1111-1111?v=1 in the matchmaking portal. This will pull up that version of your map, and you will be able to run a test as if it is live in Discovery.
When you do this, check for any errors you may come across, this include barriers that may not be placed correctly, from devices not working properly.
You can then go back to hub and back to your map portal to correct the errors and publish again. Continue to run tests until you feel it is working properly.
2 | DOUBLE-CHECK EVERYTHING The most common things that are missed are unclosed barriers, collision issues, devices not linked or properly set up, teleporter rifts showing in pregame. And those are just to name a few. All these issues can be addressed promptly when you develop a process to double-check evey thing before publishing the map. As you are building and laying down mechanics, run frequent tests and go through your map with a fine tooth comb. Check every crevice, and every detail as much as possible. You will find that doing this is also a great way to determine if what is going on with your map is a bug issue or a mechanical error. If you have a large map with different areas that will have gameplay, for instance mini-game map, adventure map, etc, then test those areas separately in batches one at a time and fix any errors that you find in those errors. Then run a test in which you play through the entire map to ensure everything is flowing properly.
YOU GOT THIS
Double-Checking your map paired with running a test before publishing is a great way to ensure that you are putting forth your best work! And when it comes time for the next phase of play-testing, you will be able to focus on other issues that could help you further improve your gaming experience for others.
If these tips helped you, We'd love to hear it! Feel free to share it with everyone in the community in the FCHQ DISCORD!
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