There are certain things we are looking for when considering a new map to be released on the Backlot. As a mapper, you must make sure each one of these conditions is met before your map can become official. Consider these conditions design standards or guidelines:
- proper .pk3 assembly (see the Making the .PK3 page)
- each person who contributes a third party texture, sound, or model must be acknowledged in the read-me
- recommended .pk3 size of 8 MB or less
- no missing textures, shaders, or sounds
- no copyright violations, trademark usage, or offensive content
- no level music (note: target_speakers are ok)
- minimal visual glitches (sparklies, z-fighting, texture misalignments, overlapping brushwork, stray shadows)
- playable in both lightmap and vertex light modes
- must have target_locations (20-35 recommended)
- must have info_player_intermission
- imagelist: recommended 4.8 megatexels / maximum 5.2 megatexels (see the Texture Memory page)
- r_speeds: recommended 8,000 / maximum 10,000 (see the Polygon Counts page)
- r_speeds in areas with many models or patches: recommended 10,000 / maximum 12,000
- r_speeds in terrain maps: recommended 12,000 / maximum 15,000