Let me optimize your map

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Lpfreaky90
2,842 Posts
Posted Feb 09, 2013
Hello everyone,

I've seen a lot of portal 2 maps with quite bad optimization, I kind of like to optimize maps. It's a bit of a puzzle to me to see how a specific map can be optimized. So this is why I want to optimize some maps for you guys.

So, how would this work:
1: you post a post in this thread, in the full editor you click upload attachment and attach your vmf+instances in a zipped file. (.zip/.rar/.7z)
2: I'll open it in hammer, optimize it and record the process.
3: I'll re-upload the optimized version, post a video on youtube and add it to the thread.

When should you be concerned:
1: If your map is really laggy
2: If other people complain about lag
3: If the step buildvisleaves is taking more than a minute

What advantages does optimization have?
1: The map compiles faster.
2: The file size decreases.
3: The lag is reduced.

Rules:
1: only one map per person at a time. you can submit maps again after I optimized one of yours, but they'll have lower priority.
2: you must watch the video of the process. It's also meant to teach you some strategies.
3: I do not accept PTI maps.
4: vmf's and custom instances should be supplied. I don't need custom models/textures.
5: WIP maps are always welcome.

If you want you can also drop the file in a pm to me, please do post in this thread though. If there's no post in this thread I will not optimize it. I will always upload the optimization process to youtube. I won't be playing through your maps so there won't be gameplay spoilers.

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Gemarakup
1,183 Posts
Posted Feb 09, 2013
Replied 1 hour later
That's really helpful for the starter mapper. But I would not do that for too many maps from the same person because it's good to struggle to do it yourself.
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Lpfreaky90
2,842 Posts
Posted Feb 09, 2013
Replied 1 minutes later

yishbarr wrote:
That's really helpful for the starter mapper. But I would not do that for too many maps from the same person because it's good to struggle to do it yourself.

It's not only really helpful for starter mappers, I've seen various more experienced mappers also still running into trouble with this. And yes, I'm not planning to do all maps of a person, that's why other maps always have more priority and you can't submit more than one map at a time. Because it's also meant to be a learning experience I'll add a video of the process with voice commentary as well. :thumbup:

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zivi7
649 Posts
Posted Feb 09, 2013
Replied 13 minutes later
I can only recommend this. I can't count the times I was stuck on problems with visleafs and LP knew a solution in no time. :thumbup:
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Gemarakup
1,183 Posts
Posted Feb 09, 2013
Replied 50 minutes later
True.
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Skotty
671 Posts
Posted Feb 10, 2013
Replied 21 hours later
Seriously, there could be maps where you would need to rebuild them to get optimized work :razz:
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DaMaGepy
361 Posts
Posted Feb 10, 2013
Replied 3 hours later
I also often optimize maps fro friends, and cuttin 1 hour compile to 2-3 minute. I especially love the "boxed" maps where I must fix 100+ leaks because props hang out or they use 1-2 sized grid, arrrgh. :smile:
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Ace_StorM
75 Posts
Posted Feb 10, 2013
Replied 1 hour later
Why not ask around, if there are more people who'd like to do this and then make a usergroup out of it to help people who have problems with their maps?
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Lpfreaky90
2,842 Posts
Posted Feb 10, 2013
Replied 1 hour later

Ace_StorM wrote:
Why not ask around, if there are more people who'd like to do this and then make a usergroup out of it to help people who have problems with their maps?

Because I'm trying to help people who ask for help, and who want to learn from it. I'm not trying to make it my day-job or anything :wink: Besides; these forums are already for that? :wink: much more efficient than a steam group :wink:

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Ace_StorM
75 Posts
Posted Feb 10, 2013
Replied 50 minutes later
Steam group? No, you got me wrong. I was talking about a usergroup here. People who are experienced in creating maps and optimizing them could join the group to provide help. Anyway, you got a point there.
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srs bsnss
552 Posts
Posted Feb 11, 2013
Replied 10 hours later

Ace_StorM wrote:
Why not ask around, if there are more people who'd like to do this and then make a usergroup out of it to help people who have problems with their maps?

It could be like the A-Team, except for map making. The...H-Team? :lol:

On-topic this sounds like a great idea LP :thumbup: . At some point down the track I'm probably going to need this.

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Gemarakup
1,183 Posts
Posted Feb 11, 2013
Replied 52 minutes later

There's no problem with optimizing other maps but it is important to know this from Tophattwaffle's FAQ.

Quote:
Can I pay you to fix my level?


No, N O, no. N to the O. I would rather see you struggle though a problem, and learn from it than have me fix it. I'll be there to help you as much as I can. But face it, you came here to learn, and learn you shall. I've scrapped many maps in the name of learning, and I think it's gotten me pretty far. So once again, no.

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Lpfreaky90
2,842 Posts
Posted Feb 11, 2013
Replied 7 hours later

yishbarr wrote:
There's no problem with optimizing other maps but it is important to know this from Tophattwaffle's FAQ.
Quote:

Can I pay you to fix my level?


No, N O, no. N to the O. I would rather see you struggle though a problem, and learn from it than have me fix it. I'll be there to help you as much as I can. But face it, you came here to learn, and learn you shall. I've scrapped many maps in the name of learning, and I think it's gotten me pretty far. So once again, no.

That's why I make a videos so hopefully people will also learn from what I do to their maps :wink:

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msleeper
4,136 Posts
Admin
Posted Feb 11, 2013
Replied 5 hours later

http://www.optimization.interlopers.net/

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ChickenMobile
2,460 Posts
Posted Feb 12, 2013
Replied 7 hours later
Remember that leaf comic I made a little while back? I repost!

COMIC
img

Also I can help with this. I was going to write a response ages ago but I had no internet for like 3 days.

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portal2tenacious
393 Posts
Posted Feb 12, 2013
Replied 13 hours later

ChickenMobile wrote:
Remember that leaf comic I made a little while back? I repost!

COMIC
img

Also I can help with this. I was going to write a response ages ago but I had no internet for like 3 days.

:potd:

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msleeper
4,136 Posts
Admin
Posted Feb 12, 2013
Replied 1 hour later

ChickenMobile wrote:
Remember that leaf comic I made a little while back? I repost!

COMIC
img

Also I can help with this. I was going to write a response ages ago but I had no internet for like 3 days.

I haven't seen this before. This is amazing.

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DaMaGepy
361 Posts
Posted Feb 12, 2013
Replied 6 hours later
I also planning to make video about visleaves and optimizing, and examples, but these kind of things are only good if they have voiceovers, and I sux with that. But maybe I'll try anyway.
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zivi7
649 Posts
Posted Feb 13, 2013
Replied 9 hours later

DaMaGepy wrote:
But maybe I'll try anyway.

Do it! There might be hundreds of tutorials and videos about it already, but they mostly deal with very simple problems.

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srs bsnss
552 Posts
Posted Feb 18, 2013
Replied 4 days later

zivi7 wrote:
There might be hundreds of tutorials and videos about it already, but they mostly deal with very simple problems.

"Fortunately, this map's pivotal point is this corner. So we'll put a diagonal hint brush here, and we're done! The map is now optimized!"