I would like to introduce everyone to Gametoast’s newest section, map reviews. This is ShadowHawk and I am here to bring you the most informative and accurate reviews of the maps made by and for you, the Star Wars: Battlefront Community. I would like to extend my thanks to Guru for giving me this opportunity to review the different types of maps submitted for play here on Gametoast.

Before I begin reviewing any submitted maps, I would like to explain how I rate each map that is reviewed. Each map is rated according to five categories, each rated on a scale of 0%-100%. These categories are as follows:

• Gameplay - This category rates the ease of which a player can navigate around the map. A high score signifies everything is smooth and not to difficult to get to the objectives. A low score means everything seems out of place and navigating the map is more of a burden to the player.
• Graphics - This category rates how well the in game scenery looks and how "buggy" it is. A high score signifies that the graphics are great and there were no glitches.
• Game Balance - This category rates how well the game balance is. A high score shows the game is well balanced, a low score means it is too easy or too hard. The only time there will be leeway on this section is if it was meant to be hard. For example (To use an updated WWII scenario): The imperials have established a beachhead and have been embedded for a long time. The rebel’s objective is to take and hold the beachhead against overwhelming odds. If the mapper, however, makes it nearly impossible for the less fortunate side to win this scenario, then it would be classified as unbalanced. There is a difference between strategy and unfairness.
• Design - This category rates how well the map itself is laid out and designed. If everything looks like it belongs and the layout shows it took a lot of work, then it will get a high rating. A sloppy map with very little ingenuity put into its creation will get a low score. This section has potential to exceed the normal rating scale. If a map is completely done with original objects and these new objects are splendidly crafted, expect to gain well over 10 points. But to achieve this, it has to just blow me away on the visuals.
• Fun Factor - This category is pretty self explanatory. High score is extremely fun and re-playable over an over, a low score just plain boring.

After all the scores are totaled and the average is found, the result will be converted into a percentage and go into an overall rating. This rating is average by the amount of maps reviewed to give the overall score of the mapper. The lowest two scores will be dropped from the average. I understand there are some people new to mapping so they should not get penalized for trying. This average will not show until four (4) maps have been submitted and rated. The Definitions for the overall rating are as follows:

• 0%-30% - Not Worth Playing. Don't even waste the download time.
• 31%-50% - O.K. It is good, but needs some improvement.
• 51%-70% - Good. It is pretty good, but I would recommend this only for a change from the usual.
• 71%-90% - Excellent. There are few problems, but not enough to hinder the overall experience.
• 91%+ - Reviewer's Choice. I would highly recommend this map. Very few maps will fall in this category. A map has to be close to flawless or completely original.

These ratings are strict, but they should be used as a guideline for future maps. Low scores don't necessarily mean the mapper is terrible, it just means they need to step up the competition and show everyone what they can do. This will hopefully encourage everyone to make high quality maps for others to play. I am not and will not be biased and if I decide to submit a map myself, I will not be the one to review it for that reason. I follow the same rules as everyone else.

All reviews are viewed objectively with an open mind and does not reflect my personal view of the mapper, meaning don't take it personally. My reputation as a fair and accurate critic prevents me from judging poorly based on hurt feelings. It is my duty to help you get the most out of your game.

I am looking forward to viewing your maps in the near future. I hope everyone enjoys the reviews and that you are able to find them very informative.

sdwhwk,
i realy looking forward to your reviews. Hope they will be well done
But there is no need to take care of us modders anymore. We are now at a stage able to create maps perfect like the shipped ones.
No excuses anymore that we modders don´t know todo something. And if someone don´t know this or that here is the place to ask and i´m pretty sure anyone knows the answer ! I explained all in a thread about final versions anyone can read here:
index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=572

Rends

I doesn't know how to make good maps, and making maps ISN'T my special but I'm THINKING of trying to make something, but I'm MOST interested in making homemade characters to maps, instead of programming... I JUST have to learn how to do things like that but I'm thinking of trying to make a map... does anyone have an idea???

C ya - and I hope (no, I KNOW), that your reviews will be fair and square.

Congrats to sdwhwk for offering his time to make professional reviews for everyones sake. I think this will improve the site to know what your downloading and next it may even produce better maps by inspiring mappers to make their best , its healthy competition.

I would like to request anyone submitting files please include the following information in a text file:

• map/mod name
• short story (maps) or detailed discription (who owns it, what is it, when does it take place {cw or gcw}, where is it used, why was it created.)
• What to focus on. If not specified, I will look at everything. So if you made a new aircraft and placed it on a plain jane map, I will review it as a map because you didn't specify to look at the aircraft.
• Developement status. (version x.x for completed, beta for testing.)

I will not do a full review on any beta maps or mods because they change too frequently and it usually does not look like how it started. But I will post a comment and maybe a few suggestions if you would like me to. If you are trying for comic relief, please, just tell me. Some things are obvious (like a flying sofa and a melon gun; you know who you are ) but some are way to suttle or not even close to funny (a blue-green ewok skin, unless it has a clown nose and its weapon is a pie shooter. I know I'm going to regret saying that.) If there are no details included with the submit, I won't bother to look at it because I won't know what I'm looking at. So please help me out by posting the above info or any other info you can think of. I will be updating these criteria as needed.

The pie shooter clown ewok mod! hehe.

what about adding an extra "review" link to the left Main Manu bar?

so players can add reviews to maps? or just a whole new area with all the reviews separate from downloads?

Second one. a new area separate from the downloads.

added, im still working on it, text colors are off etc.. but all users can now post their own reviews on any mod map the wish. via the new downloads reviews on the leftmenu.

In addition im updating the downloads area , to be cleaner , faster, and allow us to add editorials to each map/mod.

should all be done with in a day or so. good idea rends, you win a cookie.

I think he should get a dozen cookies. He needs the energy.