Suggested Level Template for Unreal (First Draft - June 15, 1998)
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Files:
   Level_Template.txt
   Level_Template_Example.txt
   Readme_Level_Template.txt

Way back in the Doom days, someone came up with a standard "readme" template
that map makers were encouraged to include with their maps.  These templates
were wonderful for the end user and helped keep map archives organized with a
minimum of duplication or miscategorization.  It also made it simple for the
map designer to create a readme file -- just fill in the fields.

For the most part, these same templates carried over to the Quake world.  It
was always easy to distinguish between Quake, Hexen2 and Quake2 maps and
between SinglePlayer and Deathmatch when that information was included in the
txt file -- and if there are preset fields for these items, as in a template,
it becomes *easy* for the author to remember to *include* this information.

We are likely to see a vast flood of maps created for Unreal.  It would be a
fine thing to have a standard *.txt template and some file nomenclature
standards (such as exist in the Doom/Quake world).

I have uploaded a suggested template (LevelTemplate.txt and
LevelTemplateExample.txt) that I constructed by piecing together some Quake2
map text files while taking into account the special needs of Unreal.

This is a first draft.  Since I am just a player and not a map author, I have
surely made some errors and/or ommissions.  Additions and changes to this
template are, therefore, welcomed from map authors.

There is one other suggestion I have for map authors:

   Please give these txt files the SAME BASE NAME AS THE MAP.  This makes it
   easy to sort out what readme belongs with what map when all the maps and
   txt files are in the same directory.  Files called "readme.txt" tend to
   get overwritten by someone else's "readme.txt".  It also makes sense to
   use the same base name for the zip file.

For example:
   foobar.unr -- the map file
   foobar.txt -- the readme file
Just zip them together as:
   foobar.zip

If everyone does this, file name conflicts (map, text and zip) can be avoided
making distributing, reviewing, cataloging and playing Unreal maps *so* much
more enjoyable.

I do not know who the original authors of the Doom, Doom II and Quake
templates are.  If anyone knows who they are, please let me know and I will
include proper credits in this readme file.

These files can be found at
   ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/unreal/levels/

I extend my thanks to Mr. Joost Schuur (jschuur@agency.com), maintainer of this
ftp site, for permission to upload these files.

Barry Weck -- June 15, 1998

Please feel free to send comments to:
   Barry Weck (bweck@eng.ua.edu)