Hey everyone, today is the day we've finally released the v2.0 of the Universal Map Pack.
LINK:
https://www.moddb.com/games/aliens-vs-predator/addons/universal-map-packALTERNATIVE MIRROR:
http://avpunknown.com/avpclassic/files/maps/universal_map_packv2.zipThis contains fixed up and improved versions of all of the official Rebellion custom maps (adam, Azure, Bane, Biosphere, Bleak, Conflict, Ethereal, FleshBox, Fossil, Jungle, LastStand, mult, Neon, Piranesi, Reactor, Storage, StorageXL...and all of their coop counterparts) as well as fixed up and improved version of a lot of the most promising fan-made maps made between 2001-2010, such as Midwinter, OPPavpge1 (aka Pyramid), Jungle-XL, Goldeye_facility, and Research Base.
Now I understand people might be concerned about what constitutes a "fix" in our eyes. Well we've been working with the AvP mapping tools for years at this point and we know not only how to eliminate bugs, but also how to polish and refine a map to look as pristine as the official maps. The touch-ups we've given these maps have zero to do with balancing changes or adding alternate areas, adding little secrets, removing things we don't like, etc. The original identities of the maps are left completely intact and to the untrained eye might not appear any different. We've only believed in adding light quality of life improvements for visibility, audio, accessibility, easier installation, organization, and/or file consolidation. This ranges from linking modules (areas for visibility) and adding proper item destruction sounds and fragments to fixing bugs such as maps spinning and players spawning or falling into a void. Changes are only ever made for optimization and a better experience. Not every map has been touched, only the ones deemed worth improving have been improved. A full list of map edits is available in the document entitled AvP Universal Map Pack v2 Changes.rtf
Furthermore, as part of the initial announcement of our AvP 25th anniversary project, we had guaranteed at least three custom maps. We believe in going above and beyond, as we have overshot that mark. The UMP v2.0 contains not three, but 10 new quality maps made by us since only our initial announcement back in late April: Block Fort (Coop and DM), Ice Station Zeto, AvP Jag Sublevel 3, AvP2-Outpost4, Lab 15, Lab 16, Lab 17, Statue 2, Hall of Statues, and Oblivion.
It's been a long wait but hopefully upon reading the change notes, you'll see why it's taken us this long to get the v2.0 released. Bear in mind that the map pack contains nearly 220 maps and we've meticulously tested each and every one. In many cases we've put more work into fixing maps than have been put into making them (no exaggeration). However, we're not miracle workers and we can't turn shit into gold, which is why many of the old maps that barely had any effort put in will just remain as is.
We have two more releases planned for the community this year, the first being our quality-of-life-improved vanilla multiplayer maps, and the second being the same treatment to the vanilla single-player maps. Stay tuned for more information later. Thanks!