Recently, there was a thread opened over at the Action Quake Forums called, “WTF!!?!?! Is mapdepot down??,” which has draw some attention surrounding the current status of the Action Quake Map Depot (AQMD). Many individuals have expressed their opinions as to how AQMD should be run or how maps should be tested and released. Swoosh gave of his take on the situation,

“The “Swoosh” testing was the result of a session of brainstorming between me and Neg and mayb ea couple others one day. Our desire was to find some common ground to make everyone’s map experience easier. I think it worked for awhile, personally, but times have changed.I am fully in agreement with those that suggest that maps could be better. Its not true that we pass everything that comes our way. In fact, I absolve myself of any responsibility because I am not a tester. But what we have here is a clash of ideals. Half the posters to this thread think the AQMD should post every map. The other half thinks we should post only the tip top. We are somewhere in the middle, apparently pleasing nobody.I don’t know how to break it to you guys, but there is nothing I am willing to do about it. I came onto the staff during a time of crisis and have stuck around as Message Board Monkey Wrangler. If you guys want to see your ideas come to pass, either get to know those who will implement them, such as Death Magnet, whereever he is these days, or join the staff yourselves.I wish you guys wouldn’t all talk so much shit about the AQMD. Especially you Oswald, you never have a good thing to say about us, I admit, I’m slightly offended by that. I don’t expect any thanks necessarily, but a bit of appreciation or at least lack of disparagement would be nice.Again, I stand behind the AQMD. We aren’t perfect, but we aren’t some creative tutors here on this planet to mold every map into a work of art. That is the mappers job. All we can do is smooth out the rough spots that the mappers possibly overlook.For the record, I hate high r_speed maps. When I was a tester, I always scored those maps very low, like it ever did me any good.Anyway, I’m sort of rushed right now. Talk to Magnet or join the staff yourself! Quit bitching and start itching! Errr, yeah!————-Swoosh, Map Depot Message Board Monkey WranglerJunior Member at heart (:”

None of us, as Swoosh puts it take on the daily challenges which face those who run AQMD. We do have the the right to complain, but must remember that those involved at AQMD do this voluntarily and usually receive little in praise. This comment by Swoosh was followed up by Negative Creep, former head man in charge of AQMD. He had some interesting comments, in defense of AQMD, which seemed pertinent,

“Having been away from AQMD, I won’t comment on current ops over there. That said, I feel compelled to respond on their behalf…Webmastering AQMD is a bitch – too many people to satisfy can burn a dude (or dudette) out pretty damn fast. I hung on the bucking, kicking and squeeling bronco as long as I could. Now I know why Cliffe was so eager to pass the reins over to me…hehe.The problem with AQMD is that it supports a game that has gone through some extreme amount of growth. Everybody has access to the tools and tutorials and is an “expert” mapper. There are literally thousands of opinions on what is and is not a great map. As the esteemed Swoosh, McDizzo, and myself have said in the past, some want only the tip-top quality and speedy maps to be released, others want everything irregardless of r_speeds, lagging, etc. We tried desperately to satisfy the majority while keeping the minoritys’ opinion’s in the backs of our heads. If AQMD rockets a map through and it hits the street and lags everybody to death or looks like crap, the AQ2 community (and AQMD) suffers the consequences. If they hold things close and test in secrecy, then the flaming arrows and spears begin hitting the message boards because the public thinks that AQMD is just playing the maps and not letting them go out the door or that their taking too long. The challenge is to find a happy balance. I couldn’t figure out a sane way of doing it.My email box was full of 50 more 60 emails a day. Testing bogged down due to Clans being too busy or players were burning out. I finally couldn’t stand it any more – the stress on my marriage and my intercranial pressure was rising algorythmically – the 6 or 8 hours a night I was spending keeping atop AQMD was never enough.Folks need to keep in mind that AQMD, like the rest of the AQ2-related stuff is totally voluntary – nobody at AQMD profits from the late hours and sweat that is expended in the attempt to keep this mod support going. Reality is finally catching up with the entire AQ2 Mod – it has outgrown its britches.Another comment…seriousness versus having fun. I took the responsibility for AQMD very serious because I, as was the case with the entire AQMD staff at that time (and I am sure the current staff as well) felt that the players, mappers, and serverops deserved the best we could give them. I can say that going back to playing the game has done much to reinvigorate my AQ2 hunger. I love nothing better (game-wise) than putting a high velocity slug or shot into a victims skull…hehehe.Like Swoosh said…if you think you got the time, the dedication, the tools, the experience, and the “balls”, give up playing AQ2 for a spell and jump in the AQMD saddle.Cut your BS whining and do something to make it better. Join AQMD – don’t bash them.I can hear it now…well MapZone doesn’t have these problems…well, they aren’t under the “OFFICIAL” AQ2 umbrella and who gives a shit if they don’t post a map – you still have AQMD to fall back on for the “real deal”. It saddens me to MapZone operating, but this is a democracy. If you want to play just ANY map…keep going to MapZone.Until next time…keep up the good work AQMD – I feel your pain.‘Nuff said……now where’s my HC and slippers?——————Negative Creep—————“Never argue with an idiot…bystanders may not be able to tell the difference”“Have you fragged a llama today?”