Poll Question 047 - What is the deciding factor when choosing which mod or map to play?

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3

About

With so many games and mods available to play choosing can be difficult. If, unlike me, you play multiplayer games and mods then the choice can be even harder. So this week’s question focuses on how you make that choice.

What is the deciding factor when choosing which mod or map to play?

Me?

If I have the game installed then I play it. I really don’t know why, probably because I want screenshots for it, so that when I add it to the site it has something interesting to show! If I didn’t run the site then I probably would rely on screenshots.

Never One Thing

Of course, choosing a mod or map to play is never about one particular point, it’s a combination, but for this poll you have to choose one, sorry.

Other?

I’ve added an Other option and I will copy and paste the answers people use into the comments.

About this entry

Published:: 7th September 2007 at 4:19 pm

Category:: Poll Questions

Responses:: 12 Comments (add)

Memobot 7th September 2007 at 18:37 1

I tend to play anythibg that looks interesting, by looking at both reviews and screenshots, but people’s opinions are…well…opinions.
So I find out how good it is by playing it myself.
Cygnus100 7th September 2007 at 20:02 2

No one thing ever gets me to d/l and play a mod, but I do have to say that peoples reviews do influence me heavily. Some people more than others. I have found that , esspecially on this site, that I tend to agree with certain peoples ideas of what makes a good mod and what sucks. Therefore I would count their reviews more than others.
That said, I have to add that I do have a twisted sense of humor so I do like some of the more original or less traditional mods too.
geekofalltrades 7th September 2007 at 22:43 3

Of the given options, the biggest factor for me is size. I like a nice, beefy mod with at least an hour of gameplay. Because of the way my computers are set up (my gaming rig does not have internet access, and the computer that does have internet is incapable of playing games), it can be something of a hassle to get mods installed and running, and that trouble isn’t really worth it to me for ten to twenty minutes of gameplay.

Pretty soon I’ll be off to college and have an internet connection of my own, so this won’t be a problem any more, at which point the deciding factor becomes others’ reviews of the game. (Although I still like a nice beefy mod over a short one.)
MMAN 8th September 2007 at 02:21 4

When I have a big choice of maps general reviews is what I usually go for, and what I voted.

I guess “specific reviewers” might be more accurate in that a lot of games have a very limited choice of places to go for reviews (UnrealSP.org is pretty much the only place for Unreal for instance, and, with the rarity of Half-Life review sites right now, my main place for HL SP is tenfour, which, annoyingly, is pretty much down right now).
MikeS 8th September 2007 at 02:56 5

I take more notice of the comments here on PP than I do screenshots. Indeed, the screenshots hardly matter. Another factor is the author’s intro. If I read “This map isn’t finished yet but…”, then I’ll wait until it is finished. I hate maps without a proper ending, where you’re left to look for anon-existent way out.

Also I play HL2 mods/maps and right now I’ve had enough of zombies, so that’s a deciding factor. I’m not about to d/l a map called (for example) “A Shipload of Zombies”. (c:
planetphillip 8th September 2007 at 11:59 6

Firstly, I just realized I hadn’t added the Other option, so I have just done that. Sorry!

I’m interested in the point about specific reviewers. I wonder if there is something I could do here on PP for readers to vote for their favorite reviewer.

planetphillip Said:

UnrealSP.org is pretty much the only place for Unreal for instance

True, but all those reviews will eventually be available on PP.

planetphillip Said:

my main place for HL SP is tenfour

WHAT! Not here? Just kidding. TenFOur is a fantastic site and it is a shame that the reviews seemed to have dried-up.

IS there anything you prefer about TF compared to PP? LAter this year I will be starting an award system, similar to GOld, Silver and Bronze.
Ad3 8th September 2007 at 19:05 7

Personally, since I found this site, I’ve started from the letter Z and made my way up to O, so far. But I avoided a lot of maps. I prefer a mod with a story to it and a purpose and at least 2 maps. Screenshots rarely matter to me, so I’m left with the opinions, reviews and presentations. Still, I left out very few mods because I’m curious if the names have any meaning or connection.
MMAN 9th September 2007 at 04:19 8

“True, but all those reviews will eventually be available on PP.”

I can recall seeing UnrealSP on the syndicated reviews list at some point, but then it disappeared, what happened? I did I imagine it?

“WHAT! Not here? Just kidding. TenFOur is a fantastic site and it is a shame that the reviews seemed to have dried-up.”

I forgot to mention that, with TenFour in stasis right now, I actually use here as my main source of Half-Life (2) mods.
planetphillip 9th September 2007 at 12:27 9

planetphillip Said:

I can recall seeing UnrealSP on the syndicated reviews list at some point, but then it disappeared, what happened? I did I imagine it?

When I first read this I said “He must have missed it” but then I looked and couldn’t find it. I’m worried now. I’m sure I republished some UnrealSP.org reviews. I remember clearly having to choice which ones because I am only allowed to republish the newer ones, not the old ones.

This means more admin work for me now.

planetphillip Said:

I forgot to mention that, with TenFour in stasis right now, I actually use here as my main source of Half-Life (2) mods.

But not Half-Life 1? Where do you go for those reviews? Are you multilingual? Perhaps a non-English website.

Lastly, you should quote using the link near the submit button or doesn’t it work for you?
planetphillip 9th September 2007 at 13:47 10

I’ve added the Unreal SP Syndicated Review link back and will start adding them soon
MMAN 10th September 2007 at 02:45 11

So the UnrealSP review link just disappeared on its own or something?

The () was intended to imply I meant HL1 as well.

Thanks, I was wondering how you use quotes.
Arque 15th September 2007 at 17:10 12

Story.
If it adds to the Half Life universe, for example,in an appreciable fashion then, yah! If it creates it’s own time-line, universe and thread then, yah! If it is a series of muddled levels with no direction or point then, boo! I also prefer fantasy worlds like Unreal to more realistic settings like Medal of Honour.